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.

at our heels. Anxiety spikes my

left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as

to hold its

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77 Ava: Running

this

like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and

his voice laced with an

in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as

says, like that’s nothing.

pushing at his arms until he lets me

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding me.”

it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll keep

howl. I nod.

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

it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile

I

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

Freedom.

word echoes through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

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

sound like it would be

if I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

say, knowing deep inside that I’m

arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

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

he nods.