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.

grow louder still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels.

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

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as we

The forest seems to hold its breath with us.

13.08

217

Ava:

in this

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

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down

he growls, his voice laced

Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a

fades, and it lowers its head in a

back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly

says, like

me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m fine.

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding

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

I nod.

“They still haven’t caught our trail, but

grabs at my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I can

this. I have

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

Freedom.

legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants

10.08

77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

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

sound

if I

And it is.

now, a thrumming beneath my

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

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

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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 the scant space between us.

finally, he