Chapter 148: We'll Be There Soon
Evelyn's POV
Freya lay motionless in the undergrowth where she'd landed. My heart raced as I hurried over and carefully turned her body.
"Freya! Wake up!"?
She let out a weak moan and coughed, looking alarmingly fragile.
"Maybe a heads-up next time before I go flying," she muttered, a strained smile crossing her pale face.
The growls behind us intensified, with more pursuers clearly joining the hunt. I shifted back to wolf form and nudged her arm with my nose, signaling for her to climb onto my back. No time to waste.
Freya struggled up, her entire body trembling. Once she gripped my fur, I took off without a backward glance. Robert and Peter had made their choices. Whatever happened to them now was their own problem. Deep down, I hoped Robert might find some path to redemption, though after what he'd done, I couldn't offer forgiveness.
My wolf raced through the forest, following those faint silver points of light. Was this truly the Moon Goddess guiding us, or just my desperate mind creating hope? I pushed the question aside and focused on putting distance between us and that nightmare.
As we entered the dense tree line, a warm current suddenly enveloped me. Familiar voices flooded my mind, nearly stopping me in my tracks.
We found her!
Evelyn? Holy shit, is that really you?
Keep moving! We're coming!
Tears dampened my fur. They'd found us! This wasn't a hallucination - we were actually going to be rescued.
The pursuers seem to have backed off, my wolf cautioned, but stay alert. Could be a trap.
Alpha King Nathan, I've got someone with me, I responded, my voice shaking. She's been imprisoned for over a year and needs medical help. She's been through... a lot. Could Diana handle it?
We'll take care of it, Nathan replied simply, his voice carrying undeniable authority.
Conrad, Mia's alive, I added quickly. She helped us escape but couldn't come with us. I'm sorry I couldn't -
Don't, Conrad cut in. Mia knew what she was doing. I can feel she's safe - that's what matters. Just hang on, we're coming.
I pushed forward, letting the Sentinel mark guide me. Freya clung to my fur silently, afraid of falling again. In that underground hell, I'd stubbornly insisted I could handle this mission despite everyone saying I was too young. Now, after witnessing those horrors - and knowing they were just a fraction of what Freya had endured - I realized how na?ve I'd been. That innocent version of me was gone forever.
Taric's voice came through the link saying they were approaching, but I'd lost all sense of time. How long had I been carrying Freya? My muscles screamed with each step. Was it the imprisonment weakening me, or had we been running for days?
"Almost there," I murmured to Freya, unsure if she could even hear me in my wolf form.
I had to slow down; my breathing was becoming ragged. Though we hadn't heard pursuers since connecting with the team, I couldn't risk getting careless. Without food and water, we wouldn't last much longer. My strength was fading fast.
Anyone still there? I asked, anxiety creeping into my voice.
Right here, Evie, Conrad responded immediately. You've gone farther than we expected. Keep following the mark. Alpha King Nathan went to find Diana for medical supplies.
I'm running on empty here, I admitted. If someone catches up, I've got nothing left for a fight.
Find water first, he urged. Slow down, use what I taught you. We're hauling ass to reach you. His rapid breathing told me he was pushing himself to the limit. Keep talking - tell me what you see. Helps us pinpoint you and keeps you alert.
Seriously? You want a nature documentary right now?
Absolutely. Trust me on this.
Fine. I'm in a forest. Sun's setting. Trees everywhere, all looking the same. Completely lost, no clue which direction is which.
That's my girl, he laughed, others joining in. Look around - where are the mountains? Any detail helps us find you faster.
I scanned the area, using my wolf's enhanced vision. Mountains are below us - we've been climbing. Smell water southeast of here. Heading that way, though it's not exactly where the mark's pointing. Who am I tracking anyway? Please tell me it's not the whole team - I thought you guys were at fixed positions.
The link went quiet momentarily, making my stomach knot.
It's Taric, came the eventual answer. We're staying human to find the fastest route. You need supplies, and we need to be ready. Shepherd just pulled up a map. You're in the mountain range east of us. Find a cave near water and hunker down till we arrive.
Got it, but don't drop the connection, I pleaded. Even if it was just in my head, this link was the only thing keeping me going - my lifeline in the darkness.
They took turns telling stories - some obviously made-up jokes, others recent mishaps from the training center. Cyrus described Mark's embarrassing training fails so vividly that my wolf nearly laughed out loud. I kept describing everything I saw - avoiding human paths and campsites. Though I'd have welcomed help from ordinary people, a wolf carrying a half-conscious girl would definitely cause problems.
"You hanging in there?" I asked Freya, worried by her silence.
"Still here," she answered faintly. "Just... cold. So tired."
"Not much longer now," I promised.
Finally, we reached a mountain lake where water had carved a gorge through the hillside. I stopped to catch my breath, letting an exhausted Freya slide from my back.
"Geez, a little warning?" she protested weakly, barely able to support herself. "Nearly broke my neck."
I shifted back to human form and assessed her condition. Her face was frighteningly pale, sunken eye sockets bearing witness to a year of captivity.
"How're you feeling?" I asked, heading toward the water. I'd intended just to taste it, but once it touched my lips, I drank desperately until my stomach ached. When I looked back, Freya was still staring at the water, seemingly frozen in place.
"You should drink too. Actual clean water - first time in a year, right? It'll help." But she remained motionless, as if in a trance.
I walked over and gently touched her shoulder. She flinched, turning to me with an unfamiliar, wary expression - like we were meeting for the first time. I didn't speak; no words seemed adequate for what we'd been through.
Reality was just beginning to sink in for her: she was free. This was probably her first moment of true safety in over a year. Shock and disorientation wrapped around her as she faced her sudden freedom. I didn't push, simply extending my hand and waiting for her to make her own choice.