Chapter 68
Rachel’s POV
The storm unleashed its fury as David and I raced through the outsk ts. Rain pounded against my skin, plastering my copper hair to my face and neck.
I could barely see where we were going, but I kept following David’shadowy figure ahead of me, illuminated only by occasional flashes of lightning.
My lungs burned from exertion, but I pushed forward, one hand instinctively protecting my belly where my unborn cub grow.
I must survive for my child’s sake, no matter what lies ahead, I thought desperately.
“This way!” David shouted over the howling wind, gesturing toward what appeared to be nothing more than dense shrubbery.
He dropped to his knees and pulled aside branches, revealing a small door I would have never noticed.
With surprising ease, he yanked it open and motioned for me to enter first. I hesitated for only a second before ducking inside.
The narrow, damp stone tunnel was a stark contrast to the elegant corridors of the castle I’d just fled. David pulled the door shut behind us, instantly muffling the storm’s rage.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly from both cold and fear.
“This tunnel ends outside the wall. It’s an ancient werewolf escape route from war times. Few know about it, David explained, moving confidently through the darkness.
“And then?” I pushed wet strands of hair from my face, trying to keep pace with him.
“Then we run through the forest for a few hours to a safe house. Your wolf should be able to keep up with my pace.”
I stopped abruptly, my hand flying to my stomach. “Shift to wolf? David, I’m pregnant.” Fear flashed through me at the thought. “I’m
not sure it’s safe for me to shift.”
“Damn it.” David halted, his eyes glowing in the tunnel’s darkness as he assessed the situation. “It’s fine. I can carry you if
necessary.”
We continued through the tunnel, our footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The air grew colder the further we traveled.
“What happens after we reach the safe house? I asked, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth.
“We head to the coast. There’s one of Raymond’s ships leaving from the Eastern Harbor tomorrow morning. No one will check that
ship.”
My heart raced at the thought of Nathan finding us. “Do we have money? If Nathan tracks us…”
“Don’t worry about money,” David cut me off. “Madison made sure we have enough resources.” He glanced back at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light. “Nathan won’t find you–you’ll ‘disappear, Rachel.”
Those words should have terrified me, but instead, they offered a strange comfort. Disappearing meant survival. For both me and my
child.
As we delved deeper into the tunnel, doubts crept into my mind. Was this truly an escape, or was Madison playing a more sinister game? Was I trading one form of death for another?
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Chapter 68
But I had no choice. Any chance of survival was better than the certainty of death that awaited me at Nathan’s hands.
“Thank you, David,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He slowed his pace slightly, allowing me to catch up.
“I can’t express what this means to me,” I continued, feeling tears welling up in my eyes. “You’ve given me and my child hope of survival. I thought… I thought we had no future. You’re risking everything to help me. If Nathan discovers what you’ve done….
“Don’t think about that,” David said firmly. “I promised to keep you fe, and I won’t break my word.”
“Thank you,” I replied simply, a tear mixing with the rainwater on my cheek.
Minutes later, we reached the end of the tunnel where a fusty iron ladder led back to the surface.
The moment we emerged, the full force of the storm hit us again.
David pulled a rope lader from his backpack and threw it with practiced precision to the top of the imposing wall before us. Without hesitation, he began to climb, moving with the agility of a predator.
I watched him reach the top, then took a deep breath and began my ascent.
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