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.

the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my

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

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable,

forest seems to hold its breath

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77 Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

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

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable command.

to give it pause.

slowly, the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head

me, his expression softening ever so slightly as

says, like

he lets me down. “I

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77 Ava: Running

time if you

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

I

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

My lips quirk into a small smile as I

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 on the forest floor kindles a

Freedom.

my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his

concern.

shake my head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging

run. She’d made it sound

I did.

And it is.

thrumming beneath my

that I’m right.

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes

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

he nods.