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

our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective circle

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable,

to hold its breath

13.08

217

Ava:

in this agonizing

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

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable command.

hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard

lowers its

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

rogue,” he says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you

that he 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

I nod. “Okay.”

but they’re getting closer.

lips quirk into a small smile as I

I

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

Freedom.

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

10.08

77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

a reply. Selene’s

it sound

I did.

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

I say, knowing deep inside that I’m

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

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

he nods.