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.

nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I

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

1. us.

in the air, thick

forest seems to hold its breath with

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217

Ava:

this

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

doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and

down,” he growls, his voice

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, locked

fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of

back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as

says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you

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

I nod. “Okay.”

still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re

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

this. I have to.

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.

word echoes through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the

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77 Ava Running

his

concern.

to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words

made it sound like

if I did.

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin,

to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster

stride falters, and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes

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

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

he