Chapter 69
My fingers grew numb from the cold rain, and by the time I neared the top, I could barely feel the rungs beneath my hands.
“Give me your hand, Rachel!” David called over the storm. “I won’t le you fall!”
I reached up, and his warm hand grasped mine firmly, pulling me the rest of the way. The relief of making it to the top was overwhelming.
“Well done, Rachel,” he said with approval. “You’re braver than I expected.”
He quickly flipped the ladder over the other side of the wall and began to descend. About halfway down, his hand slipped on the rain–slick rope, but he recovered gracefully and landed on his feet.
As he steadied himself, something slid from inside his jacket–a gleaming silver knife that caught the lightning’s flash.
My breath caught, and quickly,averted my gaze, instinct telling met was better if David didn’t know I’d seen the weapon.
I was safe in the castle, but now… Fear crept up my spine as I realized how vulnerable I truly was.
Maybe he just has it to protect us. The wilderness outside werewolf territory is dangerous. I tried to rationalize, but doubt had already taken root..
Either way, he doesn’t know I brought my own knife. The small blade I’d tucked into my coat suddenly felt like my only real security.
“Hurry, Rachel!” David called up to me, urgency in his voice.
With trembling hands, I made my way down the ladder. David helped me with the last few feet, his firm grip steadying me as I reached the ground.
We had done it–we were officially outside.
Without wasting time, David began removing his outer clothing. The sounds of his bones shifting and rearranging themselves were audible even through the storm.
I watched in awe as his human form gave way to that of a powerful brown wolf, his golden eyes glowing in the darkness.
I carefully gathered his clothes and stuffed them into the backpack as instructed.
Then, with some hesitation, I climbed onto the wolf’s back, my fingers burrowing deep into his thick fur for security.
We had barely begun our journey into the forest when a heart–wrenching howl pierced through the stormy night.
The sound cut through me like a physical pain, and I knew instantly it was Nathan.
He’d discovered my absence!
My wolf whimpered inside me, responding to the anguish in that call despite my determination to escape.
I tried not to think about Victoria and Gina finding my goodbye note or Tyler realizing I was truly gone.
“They’ve found out!” I whispered into the wolf’s ear, my voice trembling with fear.
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Chapter 69
David surged forward, his powerful muscles working beneath me as rated deeper into the forest.
The dense canopy offered some shelter from the rain, but the cold water still found ways to seep through my clothing, chilling me to the bone.
Though David was incredibly agile, the exposed roots and slippery gound occasionally caused him to stumble in the storm.
After what felt like an eternity, I noticed his pace
“David, you need to rest,” I said, patting his “I have water.”
slowing, his breathing becoming labored.
amp fur. The relentless pace was taking its toll, and we still had hours of travel ahead.
I slid from his back and retrieved a water bottle from my pack, careful not to let him notice that I’d already opened the seal.
“Stay as wolf. I’ll help you,” I said, carefully pouring water into his mouth while scanning our surroundings for any sign of pursuers.
After the brief respite we continued our journey toward the safe house. I clung tightly to David’s für as we moved through the stormy night, rain and fears blurring my vision.
Behind us, Nathan’s howls had faded into the storm, but I knew our escape was only beginning.
One hand protectively covered my stomach, feeling the faint but determined connection with my unborn cub.
With each step David took, we moved further from Emerald City.
Who knows where we’ll wind up? My mind is never at ease, always anxious about what’s coming.
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