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

<

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.

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

whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming

1. us.

air, thick and

The forest seems to hold its breath with

13.08

217

Ava:

this

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

motion, he sets me down and steps forward,

he growls, his voice laced with an

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

it lowers its head in a grudging

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

he says, like that’s

he lets me

13:08

3/7

77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding me.”

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

I

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

quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back.

I have

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 footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark of hope within me.

Freedom.

mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to

10.08

77 Ava Running

warns, his

concern.

Selene’s

it sound

I

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

say, knowing deep inside that I’m

-to an abrupt

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

long moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us,

he nods.