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.

itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my

our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as

The forest seems to hold its breath with

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing

wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a

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

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever

says, like

lets me down. “I can’t

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t

better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay

I nod. “Okay.”

still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re

reassurance. My lips quirk

I have

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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

warns, his

concern.

Selene’s words ring in my ears, a

She’d made it sound like it

I did.

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

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

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

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

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

he