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.

heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from

around. He signals to the others, and they

1. us.

air, thick and palpable,

forest seems to hold its

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217

Ava:

this agonizing moment.

its eyes glowing like embers

fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable command.

pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each

lowers its head in a grudging show of

a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so

says, like that’s nothing.

can run,” I say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down. “I

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77 Ava: Running

time if you

protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll keep you

I

still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer.

squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back.

I have

not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark of hope within me.

Freedom.

push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace,

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

my head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words

it sound like

if I

And it is.

it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

that I’m right. “We’ll

me -to an

worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in

finally, he