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.

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

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

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as

forest seems to hold

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77 Ava:

this agonizing moment.

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

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

voice laced

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

wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of submission.

turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up once

rogue,” he says, like

pushing at his arms until he lets me down. “I can’t shift,

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t holding

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

I nod. “Okay.”

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

my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I

I have to.

start 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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

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

She’d made it sound like

I did.

And it is.

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

need to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right.

and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt

worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on

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

he nods.