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.

heels.

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

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as

hold its breath with us.

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing moment.

the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in

down and steps

down,” he growls, his voice

in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For

wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head

me, his

he says, like

lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding

to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side.

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

but they’re

lips quirk into a small

I have

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 tiny spark of

Freedom.

legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace,

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

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

She’d made it sound like it would

I

And it is.

my skin, like

to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster

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

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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

finally, he