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.

heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to

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

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable, as

forest seems to hold

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217

Ava: Running

in this

wolf, its eyes glowing like

me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

down,” he growls, his voice

raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause.

wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers

me, his expression softening ever so

a rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t

says that he wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay

howl. I nod.

our trail, but they’re getting closer.

reassurance. My lips quirk

this. I have to.

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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his

concern.

head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s

She’d made it sound like it

if I did.

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my

that I’m right. “We’ll be faster

my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt

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a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged

finally, he nods.