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

<

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.

sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling

a rustling sound comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming

1. us.

in the air, thick

The forest seems to hold its

13.08

217

77 Ava:

in this

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

he sets me down and steps forward,

his voice laced with

Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other,

it lowers its head

a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up once more.

he says, like

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

13:08

3/7

77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding me.”

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

I nod.

still haven’t caught our trail, but

reassurance. My lips quirk into a small

I have to.

not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my

Freedom.

with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me

10.08

77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

a reply. Selene’s

run. She’d made it sound like

if I

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin,

that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if you

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

depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our

finally, he