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.

the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I

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, as we

to hold

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77 Ava: Running

this

massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

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

his voice laced with

seems to give it pause.

it lowers its head

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as

says, like

me down. “I

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if

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

I nod.

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 back. I can

I have

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 on the forest floor

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

his

concern.

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

made it sound like it would be

I

And it is.

beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through

inside that I’m right. “We’ll

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

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into a blur of shadows and silence.

finally, he nods.