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.

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

head whips around. He signals to the others,

1. us.

thick and palpable, as we

The forest seems to hold

13.08

217

Ava:

in this

wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I

down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf

he growls, his voice laced with

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

snarl fades, and it lowers

back to me, his expression softening ever so

says, like

I say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down.

13:08

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77 Ava: Running

if you

wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll keep you safe.”

I nod.

haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles out.”

squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a

I have to.

distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every

Freedom.

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 air. But I’m just getting

10.08

77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

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

sound like

if I

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

inside that I’m right.

arm, pulling me -to an

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

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

finally, he