Chapter 93. A Desperate Reckoning

Evelyn.

The woods swallowed me whole as I sprinted deeper, my heart pounding in my ears like a relentless drumbeat. The echo of my own howls reverberated through the dense trees, a desperate attempt to reach someone, anyone, through the mind-link. Yet, the woods remained silent, the connection severed, leaving me with an unsettling silence.

Initially, the sensation of being pursued fueled my frantic pace, shadows flickering at the corners of my vision. But as the distance stretched between me and Callahan's soldiers, an eerie calm settled over the forest. No sounds of pursuit reached my ears, and a chilling realization crept in — I was alone. Duke Ethan must have taken care of the soldiers chasing after me. Relief mingled with exhaustion as I slowed my pace, the fear of being hunted dissipating like morning mist under the sun's warmth. I desperately hoped he was alright as well.

Yet, fatigue clawed at my limbs as I pushed forward, deeper into the heart of the unfamiliar woods. I tried