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.

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

He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and

hold its

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77 Ava: Running

in this agonizing

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

motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

his voice laced

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

it lowers

second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as

rogue,” he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding

says 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.

howl. I

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

lips quirk into a small smile as I

this. I have to.

exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But

Freedom.

my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But I’m

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent

She’d made it sound like it would be

if I did.

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

inside that I’m right.

grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes

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

finally, he nods.