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.

377

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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.

still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to

and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to

1. us.

thick and

to hold its breath with

13.08

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77 Ava:

this

like embers in the darkness. It snarls,

me down and steps forward,

growls, his voice laced with

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

lowers

a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever

he says, like that’s

say, pushing at his arms until he lets me

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t

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.

I nod.

trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles out.”

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

I have to.

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

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

a reply. Selene’s

run. She’d made it sound like it would be

I did.

And it is.

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

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

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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long 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 nods.