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.

our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid presence.

our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective circle around

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable, as we

seems to hold its

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77 Ava:

this agonizing moment.

wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the

down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and me.

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

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

it lowers its head

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up once

a rogue,” he says,

lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding

he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s

I nod.

but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles out.”

at my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I have

is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus

made it sound

I did.

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

knowing deep inside that I’m

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

Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on

the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our

finally, he nods.