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.

377

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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.

head whips around. He signals to the others,

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick

to hold

13.08

217

Ava:

in this

figure emerges from the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I

sets me down and steps

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

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

fades, and it lowers its head in

his

says, like that’s nothing.

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if

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

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

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

hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I

this. I

running, the ache in my feet from the ill–fitting sneakers is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping

Freedom.

The men around me struggle to keep pace,

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

Selene’s words

made it sound

I

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

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

my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His

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

moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and

he