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.

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

around. He signals to the

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as

hold

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing moment.

its eyes glowing like embers

fluid motion, he sets me down and

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an

unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each

fades, and it lowers its head in a

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

a rogue,” he says, like that’s

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

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding

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

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

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

My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze

I have to.

yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with

Freedom.

The men around me struggle to

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77 Ava Running

warns, his brow

concern.

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

made it sound

I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through

to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll

falters, and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes

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

a blur of shadows and silence. It’s

he