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.

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.

crackles in the air, thick and

seems to hold its

13.08

217

Ava: Running

in this agonizing moment.

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

me down and steps forward,

he growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

give it pause. For a long, tense

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers

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

he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t holding me.”

thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s

howl. I nod.

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

quirk into a small smile as I

this. I have

ill–fitting sneakers is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils

Freedom.

word 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

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

reply. Selene’s words ring in

made it sound like it

if I did.

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin, like

knowing deep inside that I’m right.

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

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a 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 the scant space

finally, he nods.