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.

our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid presence.

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

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick

hold

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing

the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the

sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable command.

wolf hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other,

snarl fades, and it lowers its head in

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

rogue,” he says, like that’s

lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you

to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side.

howl. I

but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles out.”

it in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I

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

Freedom.

my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But

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77 Ava Running

warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

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

sound

if I

And it is.

it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through

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

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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

a blur of shadows and silence.

finally, he nods.