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.

nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my

comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others,

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as we

hold its breath with us.

13.08

217

77 Ava:

in this

like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward,

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable command.

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

and it lowers its head in

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

a rogue,” he says, like

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

13:08

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you

he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll keep you

I

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

grabs at my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I

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 each footfall

Freedom.

harder, faster. The men around

10.08

77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

reply. Selene’s words ring in my

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

I

And it is.

now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

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

he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into mine,

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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

he