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

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

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and

forest seems to hold its

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217

Ava:

in this agonizing

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

down

he growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

presence seems to give it pause.

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his

a rogue,” he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

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

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

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

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

it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back.

I have to.

grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging

made it sound

if I

And it is.

it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling

deep inside that I’m

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

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

he