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.

the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from

whips around. He signals to the others, and they

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as

forest seems to hold its

13.08

217

Ava:

this agonizing moment.

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

down and

voice laced with an unmistakable command.

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

fades, and it lowers

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

says, like that’s

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if

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

howl. I nod.

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

quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I can

I

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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in

run. She’d made it sound like it would

I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin,

deep inside that I’m

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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

into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant space

he nods.