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.

377

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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 my pulse and I

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

1. us.

air, thick and

seems to hold its

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77 Ava: Running

this

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

motion, he sets me down and

down,” he growls, his voice

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

and it lowers its head in a grudging

glance. He turns back to me, his expression

rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if

protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close,

howl. I nod.

“They still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles out.”

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

I have

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

Freedom.

push harder, faster. The men around me struggle

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77 Ava Running

his brow

concern.

shake my head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging

run. She’d made it sound

I

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my

say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes

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

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

he