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 pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing

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

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as we

The forest seems to hold its breath with us.

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217

Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs,

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between

he growls, his voice laced with an

to give it pause. For a long, tense moment,

snarl fades, and it lowers

to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he

he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t holding

thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s

howl. I nod.

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

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

this. I have

Terror still grips me,

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

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77 Ava Running

his brow

concern.

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

sound

if I

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my veins.

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

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into mine,

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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 intermingling in the scant space between

finally, he nods.