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.

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

head whips around. He signals

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as

forest seems to hold its breath

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217

Ava: Running

in this agonizing

figure emerges from the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers

fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an

wolf hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle of wills.

it lowers its head in a grudging show

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

rogue,” he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if

but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s

I nod.

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

hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I have to.

still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor

Freedom.

faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed with

concern.

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

made it sound like it would

I

And it is.

beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster

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

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

moment, 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 scant

finally, he