Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 77

Chapter 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.

"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.

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

comes from our left, and Lucas' head whips around. He

air, thick and palpable, as we wait. The forest

shadows—a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the

fluid motion, he sets me

voice laced with an

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

lowers its head in

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

a rogue," he says, like that's

until he lets me down. "I can't shift, but I can run. I'm fine. We'll probably make better time if you aren't holding

of it. "Fine. Let's go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We'll keep

howl. I

grimaces. "They still haven't caught our trail, but they're

squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile

we 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 rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark

Freedom.

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

warns, his

breath for a reply. Selene's words

sound like it

And it is.

now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

knowing deep inside that I'm right. "We'll be

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