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,

whips around. He signals to the others, and

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as we

seems to hold its breath with

13.08

217

Ava:

this agonizing

massive wolf, its eyes glowing like

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

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle of wills.

and it lowers its head in a grudging

to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up

a rogue,” he says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if

of it. “Fine. Let’s

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

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

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

this. I have

still grips

Freedom.

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

10.08

77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a

She’d made it sound like it

I

And it is.

it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right.

arm, pulling me -to an abrupt

golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling

finally, he