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

rustling sound comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as we

The forest seems to hold its

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217

Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

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

voice laced with

it pause. For a

fades, and it lowers

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up

a rogue,” he says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you

of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll keep

I nod. “Okay.”

our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re

my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into

this. I

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 footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark of hope within me.

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

for a reply. Selene’s

it sound like

if I did.

And it is.

my skin, like electricity crackling

say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if you

pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into mine, a

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

frozen, the 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