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.

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

a rustling sound comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out,

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable, as we

hold its breath

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77 Ava: Running

in this agonizing

like embers in the darkness. It snarls,

With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps

his voice

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

it lowers its head in a grudging show of submission.

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

he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t

thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s

howl. I nod.

haven’t caught our trail, but

reassurance. My lips quirk into a

I have

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 rasping breath. But each

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

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

made it sound like it would be

if I did.

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

inside that I’m right. “We’ll be

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

confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

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

finally, he nods.