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 pulse and I

whips around. He signals

1. us.

air, thick

to hold its breath

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77 Ava: Running

in this

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

sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and me.

he growls, his voice laced with

give it pause. For a

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

his expression softening ever so

a rogue,” he says, like

me down. “I can’t

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding

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

I nod. “Okay.”

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

it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a

this. I

running, 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 me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark

Freedom.

harder, faster. The men around me

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed with

concern.

Selene’s words ring in my ears, a

it sound like it would be

I did.

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

I say, knowing deep inside that

grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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

moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us,

he