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.

the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing

head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick

seems to hold its breath with

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217

Ava: Running

in this

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

motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself

down,” he growls, his voice laced

hesitates, its hackles raised, 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

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging

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

he says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding me.”

it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava.

I nod.

grimaces. “They still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re

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

I

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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

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

it sound like it would be

if I

And it is.

beneath my skin, like

need to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that

pulling me -to

in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling

he nods.