Chapter 213 Run To You
Chapter 213 Run To You
ROWAN
Tessa’s lips were still a little swollen.
The sight nearly undid me.
31
+10 Free Coins
Her damp hair clung to the side of her neck, and I had to grip the bedframe in front of me to stop myself from stepping forward, brushing it aside, and sinking my teeth into the soft curve of her throat where my mark should’ve been all along.
Mine.
The word throbbed in my chest like a second heartbeat.
I wanted to im her right then and there, to pull her into my arms and remind her that she was mine–not just because the Moon said so or because of some bond I once rejected, but because she was the only one I wanted now.
However, I knew I needed to take this slowly. I needed to do this right this time, earn every single step back to her.
Still, she was so beautiful it made my teeth ache.
Cute and pretty and soft and stubborn all at once. I wanted to make her smile the way she smiled when she petted that bunny earlier, that fleeting moment where she looked like she wasn’t carrying the whole damn world on her shoulders.
If we had a pup…
The thought came uninvited and hit me so hard.
I shut it down immediately, shaking my head. It was too soon.
Tessa was already pulling her bag onto her shoulder, shaking droplets of water from her boots.
“I need to go now before it gets dark again,” she said.
<b>“</b><b>, </b><b>σεμ </b><b>ο </b>
Chapter 213 Run To You
My eyes narrow. “Now?”
She didn’t even look at me.
<b>31 </b>
+10 Free Coins
Cade didn’t look surprised–hell, he looked downright entertained, leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed, watching me like he wasn’t just crying a few moments ago.
Tessa moved to Arden’s bedside. Arden stirred faintly, her eyes opening just enough to focus on her friend.
“Tessa?” Arden asked, her voice soft and still weak.
But when Tessa smiled at her, it was like the sun breaking through clouds.
It was the same smile she used to give me before everything went to hell.
She hadn’t smiled at me like that in years.
“I’ll be back to visit you,” she promised softly, brushing a damp lock of hair from Arden’s forehead.
“When?” Arden asked. It sounded like a quiet plea. It seemed Tessa had be the center of Arden’s attention in this pregnancy. Poor, Cade. Wait, no. I changed my mind. Cade deserved this.
Tessa hesitated to answer, biting her lip.
“Please,” Arden whispered. “You need to be here for my baby.”
Tessa’s brows drew together. Finally, she sighed, defeated. “In three days.”
Arden’s face lit up like someone had just handed her the moon.
And damn it, mine did too.
“Thank you, Cade,’ I thought wryly. Thank you for loving Arden, for giving her a reason to stay here, for giving her that pup that would keep Tessaing back.
Chapter 213 Run To You
I almost felt guilty for the thought, but I didn’t care.
Three days.
Tessa was going toe back here.
With that, she waved at Arden and quickly moved to the door.
31
+10 Free Coins
Of course, I quickly followed. However, Cade’s voice followed before I got out.
“What are you, a stray dog?” he called, his tone dry butced with amusement.
I didn’t bother to turn around. “Whatever, man,” I muttered, earning augh from him before I pushed out into the evening air.
The wind hit my face as I spotted Tessa heading down the path toward the docking area where the public boats waited.
She was walking fast, her wet hair trailing behind her, her bag bumping against her hip with every hurried step.
“Wait up,
Tessa!” I called, striding after her.
She nced back once, just long enough to see me, and then she picked up her
pace.
I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my mouth.
So she wanted to run?
I’d chase her if I had to.
But before I could close the distance between us, a voice called out sharply from behind me.
“Rowan!”
I turned on instinct, my body stiffening. As I ran toward Arden, another person ran toward me–Zaria.
Chapter 213 Run To You
31
+10 Free Coins
For a moment, I thought I saw Tessa pause. There was a brief hitch in her step before speeding up. The distance between us grew further, and I couldn’t wait to close it.
I turned back reluctantly to Zaria, who had finally stopped running, her breathing
uneven.
“What?” I asked.
Zaria bit her lip, brushing strands of dark hair out of her face. “Wilder is sick. That’s why he wasn’t able to guard the borders himself today.”
I frowned, annoyed that this was what she stopped me for. “What does that have to do with me?”
Her expression hardened slightly. “He told you,” she said. “You were supposed to be covering the borders instead. Your parents want us to have a meeting about this.”
I dragged a hand down my face, already exhaling a long, tired sigh. That was most definitely a lie. He wanted to push the me onto me again.
“Whatever,” I muttered, already turning away.
“Rowan!” Zaria’s voice rose in sharp exasperation.
I didn’t stop walking.
“This is important!” she shouted.
I shook my head, not even looking back.
Important?
Right now, there was nothing more important to me than the woman walking further and further away from me, every step threatening to leave me behind.
The sight of her shrinking figure in the distance made my chest tighten until I thought it might crack open.
Chapter 213 Run To You
I broke into a run.
0:
31
+10 Free Coins
The wind whipped at my face as my shoes hit the dirt path, sshing through shallow puddles. When I finally caught up to her, I reached out and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her gently but firmly to face me.
Tessa frowned, startled, then narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Why?” I asked, my voice softer.
Her frown deepened.
Her gaze flicked over my shoulder toward Zaria, who was still standing back on the path, watching us like a hawk.
“Shouldn’t you be with her?” Tessa asked coldly.
“Why would I be with her,” I said immediately, the words tumbling out before I could stop them, “when you’re here?”
Her brows furrowed even more. Her guard was irond, and I could feel her trying to push me out of this moment the way she always did when she thought I might get too close.
“Just go,” she said, shaking her head.
“No,” I said.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I stepped closer, feeling the thrum of the bond between us tugging at my chest.
“I’m going to stand here and watch you take that boat,” I said slowly. “Even if I don’t know where it’s truly heading. And then I’m going to pray to the Moon Goddess to keep you safe at all costs–because I want to see you again.”
She opened her mouth, but I cut her off gently, holding her gaze.
“I’ll see you again in three days, Tess.”