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.

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

comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective circle

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as we

seems to hold its breath with

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77 Ava:

this agonizing moment.

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

Lucas doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and

he growls, his voice laced with

give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle of

lowers its head in

second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up once

he says, like that’s

I say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m fine. We’ll

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding

that he wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles

grabs at my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back.

I have to.

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 kindles a tiny spark of hope within

Freedom.

every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But I’m just

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77 Ava Running

his

concern.

breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears,

She’d made it sound

if I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

say, knowing deep inside that

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

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the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant space

he nods.