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.

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

sound comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as

hold its breath

13.08

217

Ava: Running

in this

emerges from the shadows–a 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 steps

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an

it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle of wills.

and it lowers its head

back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly

rogue,” he says, like

until he lets me down. “I can’t

13:08

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding

“Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay

howl. I nod.

haven’t caught our trail, but

in reassurance. My lips quirk into

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

Freedom.

echoes through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men

10.08

77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed with

concern.

a reply. Selene’s words ring in

it sound like it would be

I did.

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m

stride falters, and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an

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

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

finally, he nods.