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.

our heels.

head whips around. He signals to the

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable,

The forest seems to hold its breath with us.

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217

Ava: Running

in this agonizing moment.

the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and me.

his voice laced with

wolf hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they

fades, and it lowers its head

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

says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t

Let’s go. Stay close,

I nod.

our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re

squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small

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

Freedom.

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

warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

reply. Selene’s words

made it sound like it

if I did.

And it is.

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

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

stride falters, and he grips my arm, pulling me -to

of emotions swirling in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

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

finally, he