Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 77

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 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 strength from his solid presence.

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

1. us.

Tension crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as we

wait. The forest seems to hold its breath with us.

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partners in this agonizing moment.

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

But Lucas doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and me.

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

The wolf hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle of wills.

Then, slowly, the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of submission.

Lucas doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up once more.

“Just a rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

“I can run,” I say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m fine. We’ll

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77 Ava: Running

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

His 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 side. We’ll keep you safe.”

Another howl. I nod. “Okay.”

Don’t run. She’d made it sound like it would be