Celine's hands trembled as Damien dragged her deeper into the shadowed forest. The evening light was fading quickly, painting the trees in hues of black and gray. Every step made her stomach twist with fear, and the baby inside her made her painfully aware of every jolt and movement.
"Stop struggling," Damien hissed, tightening his grip on her arms. "You're coming with me whether you like it or not. And your wolf won't save you this time."
Celine's heart pounded. She kicked and twisted, pressing her hands to her belly. "No! You won't win!" she screamed, her voice carrying in the forest.
Behind them, Adrian stirred on the forest floor, pain and fury surging through his body. A sharp blow from earlier had dazed him, but instinct and love for Celine flared like fire. His golden eyes snapped open, glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Celine…" he growled under his breath, voice rough, low, primal. Every muscle coiled, every sense sharpened to perfection. He could smell Damien, the pack, and most importantly, Celine's fear. Shadow appeared at his side, growling, teeth bared, muscles tensed. Together, they began the hunt.
The forest seemed alive around him—the scent of earth, the rustling of leaves, the faint crack of distant branches. Every sound pulled Adrian forward, guiding him toward Damien and Celine. His heart pounded, not from exhaustion, but from the intense surge of protective energy flooding every nerve in his body.
Celine's fear was almost overwhelming. Every step into the unknown made her stomach lurch, but somewhere in the chaos, a flicker of hope remained. Adrian will come for me… he has to…
Damien smirked, unaware of how close Adrian had gotten. "You think your wolf can save you? You think he can stop what's coming?" he taunted, voice icy, cruel.
Suddenly, a blur of gold and black burst from the trees. Adrian leapt into the clearing, his body a perfect combination of strength, speed, and controlled fury. Shadow lunged beside him, snarling, teeth snapping.
"Adrian!" Celine cried, a mixture of relief and awe flooding through her. She pressed her hands over her belly, praying for protection.
"I've got you," Adrian growled, eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her tremble—not with fear, but with the undeniable pull of his love and protection. "I will always protect you… always."
Damien faltered slightly, realizing too late that Adrian's rage was unstoppable. The fight between them escalated, fierce and primal, the forest echoing with roars, growls, and the clashing of predator against predator.
Celine tried to move, but Damien's grip was tight. Yet even as terror coursed through her, she could feel Adrian closing the distance. Every instinct, every movement, every calculated strike brought her closer to freedom.
"Adrian… please!" she whispered, desperation and hope mingling. Her voice seemed to push him forward faster, fiercer, more determined.
Damien's smirk faltered as Adrian struck with lethal precision, forcing him to retreat, step by step. The wolves scattered as Damien realized the tide had turned against him, their master no longer invincible in this fight.
Celine's heart pounded violently in her chest. Tears of relief mixed with adrenaline as she whispered softly, "He's here… he'll save me…"
Adrian's growl reverberated through the forest, a low, primal promise: "You're mine… and I will never let anyone touch you. Not you. Not our baby. "
For a tense, breathless moment, the forest held its silence, watching the predator and the prey, the hunter and the hunted, until finally Damien stumbled backward, defeated, and fled into the shadows.
Celine fell into Adrian's arms the instant he reached her, trembling, exhausted, and overwhelmed with relief. Shadow circled them, alert but calm. Adrian held her tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
"You're safe now," he whispered fiercely. "I've got you. Always."
Celine pressed her hands over her belly, leaning against him. "Thank you… for never letting go," she murmured, voice breaking with emotion.
Adrian's golden eyes softened slightly, though the edge of his wild instincts remained. "I will always protect you," he said. "No one will ever touch you, Celine. I swear it."
The forest around them seemed almost peaceful now, but Celine knew the danger wasn't entirely gone. Damien might return, and the shadows could hide any number of threats—but in Adrian's arms, she felt a safety she had never known, and an undeniable connection that only deepened with every heartbeat.