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

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

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as we

seems to hold its breath

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217

Ava: Running

in this

eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring

motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting

down,” he growls, his voice

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

snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of

to me, his expression softening ever so

he says, like that’s nothing.

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

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding me.”

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. We’ll keep you

I

but they’re getting

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

this. I

yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his

concern.

breath for a reply. Selene’s words

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

if I

And it is.

beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if

my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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

he nods.