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.

nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing

Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others,

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as we

to hold

13.08

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77 Ava:

this

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

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

growls, his voice laced with an

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

and it lowers its head in a grudging show

it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression

rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m fine.

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding

that he wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will

howl. I

trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still

quirk into a small smile as I squeeze

this. I have

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 breath. But each

Freedom.

my legs to 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

concern.

Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent

She’d made it sound like it would be

I did.

And it is.

my skin, like electricity crackling through

that I’m right.

stride falters, and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

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

finally, he