<b>3/3 </b>
Chapter <b>106 </b>In The Middle of the Wood.
<b>Chapter </b>196 In <b>The </b>Middle Of The Woods
TESSA
I <b>was </b>already tired of her, but Zaria recklessly lunged again. Her nails barely grazed the <b>air </b>before I caught <b>her </b>wrist and twisted, forcing her to take <b>a </b>step back. The sound of her breath told me enough<b>. </b><b>She </b><b>didn’t </b><b>have </b>the strength anymore, not the way she used to.
“Goodness,” I exhaled, shoving her away. “You’re weak now”
Her eyes red, but instead of charging again, sheughed like a lunatic.
“Just go.” I sighed, rolling my shoulders. “I don’t have any ns of going between you and Rowan, <b>if </b><b>that’s </b>what you’re worried about. I just came here for Arden.”
waiting for me to say that.
“Good.” She crossed her arms, chin lifting high. “Because we’re happy now.”
Zaria smirked, appearing like she had been cruel little smile. “Even if you two are mates, he acts
“He treats me well,” she added, her lips curving into a
more like a mate to me than he ever will to you. And he-
words could pierce deeper- “can use his body really well.“.
she stepped closer, lowering her voice so her
My wolf howled inside, demanding I react and defend what was ours. However, I just stood there, unmoved.
She seemed irritated that I didn’t flinch. Her smirk faltered for a second..
Still, she pushed on, refusing to let the silence win. “But even then,” she said, her tone turning sharper, “even if I’m not threatened by your presence, I think it’s time for you to pay for everything you’ve done.” A chill climbed down my spine. Her eyes gleamed, not with pain or envy, but with something far darker. That was when I smelled the scent of other wolves. My stomach sank as I turned my head just enough to catch shadows moving around me. Footsteps against gravel. Four, maybe five. My muscles tensed. Crap.
Who the heck were these people?
“Zaria,” I said slowly, scanning the circle tightening around me, “what are you doing?”
Her smirk spread wider. “I told you,” she whispered sweetly. “I’ve changed.”
She gestured at the men like they were pawns on her chessboard. “I’m not the same sister you remember.” Her voice hardened. “Now, I’m more evil.”
The wordnded heavy, but not as heavy as the realization that she meant it.
I closed my eyes for half a second, grounding myself and listening. Four sets of lungs. They weren’t here to scare me. They were here to finish me.
When I opened my eyes, her face was inches from mine. She looked at me with triumph burning in her gaze.
Chapter 196 In The Middle Of The Woods
You should <b>have </b>died a long time ago<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>she </b><b>spat</b><b>, </b><b>every </b>syble <b>dripping </b>with hatred
<b>The </b>circle <b>of </b><b>wolves </b>growled low, surrounding me like predators testing <b>prey</b>.
Then <b>she </b>raised her hand.
<b>My </b>lungs froze.
“Kill her.”
Who would have thought I would be murdered at my best friend’s wedding?
Definitely not me.
But I guess I also wasn’t surprised. Zaria was unhinged to the core.
The moment her wolves leapt at me, instinct roared louder than fear. My bones cracked, skin tearing as fur burst out, and I shifted into my wolf without hesitation. My paws mmed against the ground with force, ws digging into the earth as I bolted. The sharp tang of bloodlust <b>was </b>on their breath, and the air behind me rippled with the sound of pursuit.
The tipsiness that had lingered from the celebration drained out of me in an instant. Adrenaline surged through my veins like liquid fire, clearing my head, sharpening every nerve and muscle. My senses locked onto everything. My ears twitched left, right, and back, adjusting my trajectory based on my calctions.
I veered sharply right, cutting through a narrow patch of trees, brushing my fur against the rough bark. The wolves chasing me wererger and heavier. If I pushed them through tighter spaces, they’d lose speed. I vaulted over a fallen log, twisting my body midair, and heard the satisfying thud of one wolf stumbling behind me. Three left.
I darted into a shallow stream, letting the water ssh over my paws. I ran upstream, fighting the current, knowing it would dull my scent trail.
My breath came heavy, but I forced myself to keep pace, to focus on the rhythm–inhale, exhale, run. The sshing behind me told me at least two of them followed.
I burst out of the water and immediately threw myself down into a hollow dip in the earth, rolling my body against the moss.
Then Iunched forward again, zigzagging between trees. I didn’t dare stop.
The forest blurred around me–branches scratching against my fur, roots wing at my paws<b>. </b>
My medical training had honed me in ways I never thought I’d use in a chase. I knew the body and how stamina could copse if pushed. I could hear the huffing of one wolf already faltering, its lungs working too hard. I bolted up a ridge and then slid down the other side, listening to the yelp behind me when another lost footing on the rocks.
One left.
I didn’t even know where I was heading anymore. My gut told me East, but the moon’s angle told me
otherwise.
c.11
Leouldn’t stop. My paws burned against the earth, my chest rising and falling in quick bursts. I leapt
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Chapter <b>1906 </b>In The Middle Of The Woods
<b>into </b><b>a </b>patch of <b>brambles</b>, Ignoring the sting <b>of </b>thorns digging into <b>my </b>sides. The <b>wolf </b>behind me w <b>lucky </b><b>he </b><b>crashed </b><b>into </b>the <b>undergrowth</b>, snarling <b>and </b>getting tangled. I darted <b>through </b><b>a </b>narrow ch <b>before </b>finally <b>being </b>engulfed in silence.
<b>I </b><b>stopped </b>dead in my tracks, panting. My ears perked. Nothing.
Had I lost them?
I tilted my head, listening again, my heart still hammering in my chest, I clicked my tongue <b>against </b><b>my </b>teeth, the sound soft but irritated. “Tsk.” Relief mingled with uncase.
I was safe for now. But I had no idea where I was.
The forest stretched endlessly. My muscles ached, my body trembling from the exertion, but I forced myself to move forward, carefully this time.
My paws pressed softly into the ground, avoiding branches that might snap and give me away,
And then, I saw a house.
My eyes widened. It stood in the middle of nowhere, looking oddly out of ce. It appeared newly built, the wood still fresh and unweathered, not like the old cabins abandoned in these woods. A house meant shelter. Maybe even help.
I shifted back, cursing when I felt the cold air hit my bare skin. I didn’t have time to keep my clothes because everything was so sudden. I stood on shaky legs, naked and covering what I could with my arms.
My gaze roamed over the ce–the gate stood open, inviting. My steps were cautious but hurried. I slipped inside, bare feet brushing against concrete.
There was a pool. My eyes widened further at the sight of it, water glinting faintly in the moonlight. Who built something like this here? A pool, in the middle of the woods? My unease prickled again, but exhaustion numbed it.
The house loomed before me, its front door slightly ajar. The lights were off. Still, something about the open door made my chest tighten. I hesitated. My instincts screamed to step back, but my body was too tired to argue.
I stepped forward.
The floor was cool beneath my feet as I pushed the door open wider, the faint creak echoing into the silent space. My eyes darted left, right, but saw nothing in the darkened interior. Relief flooded me again. I was safe. I could finally breathe—
And then dread filled my stomach.
The scent hit me.
Familiar. Irrefutable.
Before I could bolt, before I could even turn, a hand mped around my arm and yanked me sideways. My back mmed against the wall with a dull thud. My breath hitched, eyes widening in panic.
And then–I felt a hot breath ghost over my lips<b>. </b>
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Chapter 196 In The Middle of The Woods
You a voice <b>muttered</b><b>. </b>
<b>Rowan </b>
<b>Am </b>I even hallucinating about you, Tessa<b>?</b>”