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

and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as

to hold its breath with

13.08

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77 Ava:

this

like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

voice laced

to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a

and it lowers its head

a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever

a rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

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

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t

that he wants to 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 safe.”

howl. I

but they’re getting

it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a

I

pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

his

concern.

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

made it sound like it would

I

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like

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

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

worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just

he nods.