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.

trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels.

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

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and

to hold its

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing moment.

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

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and

his voice laced

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.

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers

spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly

he says, like that’s

me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding me.”

he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other

I

our trail, but they’re getting closer.

quirk into a small smile as I

I have to.

pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every

Freedom.

to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

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

sound like it would

if I did.

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin,

that I’m right. “We’ll be faster

me -to

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

fading into a blur of shadows and silence.

he nods.