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.

still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid

our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He

1. us.

thick and palpable, as we

forest seems to hold

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217

Ava: Running

in this agonizing

a figure emerges from the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs,

motion, he sets me down and

down,” he growls, his voice laced

to give it pause. For a long,

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its

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

a rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t

that he wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go.

I nod.

but they’re getting closer.

in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I can

this. I have to.

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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his

concern.

breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging me

made it sound like it would be

if I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin,

that I’m right.

pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes

emotions swirling in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant

he nods.