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.

howls grow louder still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and

head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective circle

1. us.

thick and palpable,

seems to hold its breath

13.08

217

Ava:

in this agonizing

shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like

doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

voice laced with an

it pause. For a long, tense moment,

wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head

it a second glance. He turns back to me, his

says, like

say, pushing at his arms until he lets me

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding

face 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.

howl. I

grimaces. “They still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five

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

this. I

from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every

Freedom.

echoes through 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. But I’m just getting

10.08

77 Ava Running

his

concern.

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

sound

I

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my veins.

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

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

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moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling

he nods.