Tangled

77 Ava: Running

The haunting howls of wolves echo through the night, sending fear deep into my soul.

I shudder.

The strange shifter with the drugs curses under his breath. “They’re on the hunt,” he says, his voice low and urgent.

Lucas‘ arms tighten as he runs. It’s not the most comfortable, with all the jostling, but he manages to run while holding me as though my extra burden

doesn’t affect him at all.

How long has it been? Hours? That he’s maintained his pace without faltering. I can’t help but admire it, even

as I worry.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs, his tone cold with

determination.

We pick up the pace, the shadows of the forest

seeming to press in around us as we hurry along. The howls grow louder, closer, sending icy tendrils of fear slithering through my veins.

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77 Ava: Running

“How much farther?” I ask, my voice a hushed whisper.

Lucas‘ subordinate’s response is grim. “Too far to be comfortable.” There are a few grunts of agreement among the other wolves. “We should have shifted. We would be there by now.”

Lucas just growls. “Not an option.”

The weight of his words settles over me, and I realize with a pang that he knows–he knows I can’t shift.

I swallow hard. How long has he known?

It isn’t as though it was a secret in our pack.

But it still hurts.

grow louder still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his

head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as

seems to hold its breath

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Ava:

this agonizing

shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls,

he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself

growls, his voice

hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they

lowers

it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops

rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if

but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your

I nod.

but

grabs at my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small

I have to.

Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny

Freedom.

push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air.

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a

it sound

I did.

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through

knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if

stride falters, and he grips my arm, pulling me -to

golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

a long moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant space between us.

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