Elijah's aims were wrapped tightly around me, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, and for a moment, it drowned out every fear and drilst lurking in the back of my mind. I nestled closer, savoring the warmth and safety of being held by him.
But he was ton quiet-too still. I shifted slightly, looking up hunted, and I knew his mind was far away.
linds gaze fixed on the tent's fabric above us. His eyes looked my fingers along his jaw. He turned as head, givinga small, half-hearted smile.
"Elijah?" I whispered, brushing my "Sorry," he murmured. "Didn't mean to wake you" 1 shook my head. "You didn't.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt'L. What's going going on?" He didn't answer but gavea small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Can't sleep?" Lcontinued stilling curious about what was on his mind.
He shook his head. "I was just thinking." "About what?" He looked away, his jaw tightening. "About my parents," he finally sad, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Being with you. with all of you... it makes it easier to forget sometimes. To push the pain to the back of my mind and just... live." My chest tightened, and I reached up to brush my fingers along his wline. "Elijah.......".
He gavea sad smile. "I still see them sometimes, in my dreams. The way they looked the last tI saw them tge day we were leaving. I can't help but wonder what their last moments were." My heart ached for him, and I cupped his face gently, forcing him to meet my gaze. "You didn't fail them. They would be proud of you, Elijah, You're strong, and you're fighting to protect those you care about. You're doing everything you can like the good Alpha you are" He hesitated, his hands trembling slightly as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You make it easier to breathe, you know that?" I couldn't help but smile, even though my heart felt heavy. "You guys do the sfor me." He leaned in, pressing his forehead to mine. "No matter what happens, I want you to know that I love you! you," The words sank into my heart. I pulled him closer, kissing him softly, His lips were warm and tender against mine, and I poured every ounce of my feelings into that kiss, letting him know that I loyed him When we pulled back, he took a deep breath, his expression more relaxed. "We should probably get going. The others are waiting." Then I heard the movements outside and knew it was time.
As we stepped out of the tent, the cool night air greeted us, and I spotted the others gathered around the dying embers of the campfire.
Isaiah raised an eyebrow. "Finally awake, Sleeping Beauty?" smuked, shooting him a glare. "Sof us actually need sleep, unlike you insomniacs." Austin grinned. "Or maybe you just needed Elijah's warm embrace to keep you cozy." 1/3 Chapter 163 Mijan shot him a warning job, but I couldn't help but lugh.
6 we were all gother: J. Austin glanced at the, "Bà, what exactly "we looking for in this kinet7- I repeated the inscription from the stone tablet, "Only with the dew the Echoing Pines shall the path he revealed." Isaiah valued a brow, "Dew from which tree exactly? There are thousands of pines here. Are we supposed to collect des from every single one?- Austin frowned, pulling out the worn old book and flipping through acoustics, where honels create endless echoes," he read aloud.
Isaiah straightened. "That means we have to shift." We glance at each other, knowing it was the only way to navigate "The Eichning Pines is a mystical forest known for its forest. Carefully, we placed our clothes and the pieces of the store tablet into waterproof bags to carry. I inhaled deeply before te ting my wolf take over.
My bones shifted, muscles stretched, and my fur burst forth, coating my body in shimmering silver light. It had been so long since I'd run in my wolf form-just for the pure thrill of it.
The others shifted too-Elijah's powerful black wolf, Isaiah's sleek smoky grey, Alex's and Austin's golden brown wolf-all standing beside me, ready for the challenge.
Together, we plunged into the forest, paws pounding the earth, and the thrill of freedom made my heart race.
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The forest seemed alive-branches swayed despite the lack of wind, m adows danced even when the moonlight didn't touch them. It was as if the woods themselves were playing tricks on us. But I didn't care. I was running with my mates, the light from my fur casting a glow around us as we moved like a single unit.
After a while, I slowed to a trot, ears pricked as a faint sound echoed through the e trees-a distant howl, repeated over and over as if bouncing off invisible walls. I howled back, my voice carrying through the forest.
The others joined in, their howls intertwining with mine. The sound resonated through the trees, harmonizing until it becone powerful note that vibrated through the ground.
The vibrations intensified, and suddenly, the forest shifted. Trees moved as if uprooted, rearranging themselves into a path, leading deeper into the woods. The path led to a massive pine tree that towered above the rest. Its branches stretched wide, reaching up to the sky like a giant guardian. At the base of the tree, a small hollow in the roots collected dew, droplets shining like tiny diamonds. As I approached, the light from my fur made the droplets glow even brighter. The dew trailed from the leaves to the hollow, shimmering bike liquid silver. I shifted back to human form, the others following my lead. We quickly dressed, still catching our breaths from the exhilarating run.
"That's it," I whispered, pointing to the hollow at the base of the massive tree. Dew had gathered there, pooling in the smallindentation. I pulled out the stone fragments and gently placed them into the hollow, letting the water seep into the cracks. Isaiah walked up behind me, eyes wide. "That's it. The dew of the Echoing Pines." 1 took the waterproof bag from Alex and pulled out the stone pieces. Crouching by the hollow, I gently placed the pieces in the dew. A soft glow emanated from the stone, and the fragments sealed together, the lines where they once split vanishing completely. I picked it up, my heart pounding in anticipation.
2/3 Chapters ta Swedenby, it crumbled in my hands, and I gasped, texting we'd broke it somehow, hex within the dust wat stigle folded achement I varehilly unfolded H. revealing an old, worn map Chapter Comments LIKE POST COMMENT NOW