CHAPTER 254: CHAPTER 254 OUT

Every so often, his feet scraped the ground, making him tuck himself in even tighter, too petrified to risk falling.

Addison, meanwhile, clung tightly to Shura’s thick fur with one hand while cradling the bundle of cloth in the other. She leaned closer to the wolf’s body to keep herself from falling off as Shura dashed at full speed through the cave.

Even the hallway they had passed earlier was now beginning to crumble, chunks of debris scattering across their path. Shura weaved and maneuvered around them without slowing, while Maxwell and Levi trailed just a few feet behind, straining to match its pace.

As Addison pressed herself closer to Shura’s body, the world narrowed to the deafening rumble of falling limestone and the pounding of Shura’s wild heartbeat beneath her. The beast was nervous too—she could feel it in every jolt of muscle—but it poured all its strength into speed. Each massive paw struck the ground with such force that deep imprints were left in its path.

"Just a little longer!" Addison urged, her voice low but meant to cheer Shura to push onward. At her words, the beast surged forward, weaving through the rain of rubble. They were almost at the limestone staircase when a deafening crash erupted behind them, followed by a thick cloud of dust that billowed outward, choking the air and blurring their vision.

They burst through the haze and bounded up the stairs. Addison dared a glance back, her heart tightened. The hallway they’d just crossed was now buried beneath the collapsed ceiling, and she knew the stairs wouldn’t hold for long.

Sure enough, cracks from the earlier chamber had already reached them, and chunks of stone were breaking away, tumbling into the darkness below. Time was running out.

Addison pressed herself closer against Shura’s back, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it echoed in the darkness. The cavern swallowed all light, leaving only the sound of her own rapid heartbeat mingling with Shura’s heavy, rhythmic breaths and the fierce thundering of its chest beneath her hands.

Lub-dub.

Lub-dub.

Lub-dub...

For some reason, the sound made her tense—but not afraid. Her gaze stayed fixed far ahead.

Then, Addison felt Shura gather its strength and launch into a massive leap, her stomach lurching as they soared. If she hadn’t been clinging to its thick fur, legs firmly straddling its sides, she might have been thrown off. Only then did she notice the gaping void where part of the staircase had collapsed into the darkness below.

Shura’s full-speed run gave them just enough momentum to clear the gap, but more importantly, it had been alert, spotting the danger in time.

Behind them, Maxwell and Levi nearly lost sight of Shura entirely; in the pitch black, only its golden eyes betrayed its position. They relied on sound and instinct, their ears picking up the rumble of crumbling rock just ahead. Without hesitation, they leapt.

Levi barely made it, his wolf’s left hind leg slipping on the broken edge. For a moment, his heart froze. But regaining his footing, he pushed on, racing after Shura and Maxwell through the darkness.

After what felt like an eternity, they burst through the cave’s entrance. Outside, the fog had lifted, and moonlight spilled over the landscape. The sudden brightness stung Addison’s eyes after so long in pitch darkness, forcing her to squint.

But Shura, Maxwell, and Levi didn’t slow. They knew the ground beneath them could give way at any moment, dragging them back into the collapsing cave.

They sprinted toward the caravan, the thud of their steps echoing in the night. Addison risked a glance over her shoulder, just in time to see the stone platform splinter and drop away. A huge section of earth caved in, leaving a yawning crater where the entrance had once been.

Not long after, Shura finally slowed to a halt, its sides heaving as warm steam billowed from its nostrils. Through the darkness ahead, the soft glow of the caravan’s torches and lamps flickered in the distance.

It had pushed itself to the limit—running without pause through danger and darkness—and now every muscle ached, its body on the edge of collapse.

"Good boy..." Addison murmured, her voice gentle and coaxing. She knew how much Shura had endured carrying her all the way. At her praise, Shura’s ears perked up, and a spark of pride lit its golden eyes. Somehow, the exhaustion weighing down its body didn’t feel quite as heavy anymore.

They made their way back toward the caravan, where Lance waited anxiously. The distant rumble he’d heard earlier still echoed in his mind, feeding his fear. Every passing moment without sight of Addison or the others tightened the knot in his chest.

A sudden, heavy breathing drifted out from the forest. Lance’s ears twitched, his body tensing in defense. With the mages down, they could only rely on themselves. Then came the crunch of dry branches ahead, closer this time. He bared his teeth in a warning snarl, ready to shift at the first sign of danger.

Through the darkness, a pair of golden eyes locked onto him. He froze, muscles taut, returning the gaze. From the shadows emerged a massive, midnight-black wolf, its sides heaving with each breath. Recognition came instantly to Lance; this was Zion’s wolf form. Relief washed over Lance, easing the tension from his shoulders.

Not far behind Shura appeared Maxwell’s sleek, silver-grey wolf and Levi’s lighter, tawny-brown wolf, all three worn from the run but safely returned.

As they drew near, Shura slowed to a halt. Addison slid carefully from his back, but before she could fully land, Lance instinctively stepped forward to help her down.

A low, warning snarl rumbled from Shura’s throat, its lips curling just enough to reveal its sharp canines. The corner of its mouth twitched, its golden eyes fixed on Lance with unyielding intensity.

Shura wasn’t showing mere irritation; it was showing its territorial and possessive nature. Shura had no intention of letting another male lay a hand on his mate. The weight of his presence pressed against Lance like a physical force, a silent promise that if he so much as touched Addison, Shura wouldn’t hesitate to rip his arm clean from his shoulder.

Lance stepped back, and only then did Shura cease its growling. The big wolf then lowered its head, nuzzling Addison as if asking for her attention. Unable to resist, she reached out and stroked its massive head, fingers sinking into the surprisingly soft fur.

It struck her then—how ironic it was. They had been mates for three years, yet this was the first time she had ever ridden on Shura’s back, or even had the chance to run her fingers through its fur. A quiet, wry chuckle escaped her lips at the thought. She gave its head a few more strokes before pulling away and walking ahead.

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A huge thank you to J_L_4504, Marcia_Natowcappo, Jenni_Toney_9894, Shirley_Law_7534, gmartina0309, Nancy_Hasse, Lisa_Summerson, DaoistSwVfZB, Angela_Waring, pinkelephant, and, last but certainly not least, Maria_Urena for all your support and those precious Golden Tickets! 💛

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