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.

still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid presence.

He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick

seems to hold its breath

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217

Ava:

this

shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

Lucas doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps

his voice laced with an unmistakable command.

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.

snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of submission.

me, his expression softening ever so slightly as

a rogue,” he says,

at his arms until he lets me

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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

I nod. “Okay.”

but they’re getting closer. We’re

it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back.

this. I have

running, the ache in my 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

Freedom.

every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling

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77 Ava Running

warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging me onward.

made it sound like it would

I did.

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through

I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right.

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

emotions swirling in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ

long moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged

he