Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Zaira's POV

He didn't need to be told twice. No sooner had the words left my mouth than his was on my skin, sucking out the venom. I felt the pull and gritted my teeth to keep from making a sound. Too late I noticed how the branches and twigs of the strangler fig, as well as its roots, began to move and approached us.

Silent as the night, the thick branch snaked out from behind my back and wrapped itself lightly around my upper arm. Then he squeezed with a ferocity I couldn't do on my best days and drained my blood. I screamed, grabbed the thick strands of wood and tugged at them - nothing happened. Then Arami's hands appeared. His claws penetrated the branch and he tore open violently. The branch snapped as I simultaneously saw roots crawling up my feet and trying to wrap themselves around my leg.

I hastily jumped to the side, bending down in time to avoid a whipping branch.

"We have to get out of here. Now!" Aramis called to me over the oncoming storm and the whipping branches and branches. He grabbed my hand and ripped through another whipping twig, pulling me with him.

"Here, in the jungle." He nodded towards a narrow path between the scrub that led further into the jungle. Hoping to escape fast enough from the shore and its cursed trees, we ran at breakneck speed over the uneven ground.

But it was easier said than done. The roots completely detached themselves from the ground and let the strangler figs come towards us. My breath hitched and I clung to Aramis' hand as if he were a lifeline. I tried to avoid the groaning, whipping branches, but there were too many. One shot out with deadly speed and caught my shoulder so hard it ripped through my shirt and ripped my skin.

Aramis growled, raising his hand and pointing it at the oncoming branches. With clenched teeth, he released his inner power and held the branches at bay. I felt the tremendous energy surge emanating from him.

Filled with adrenaline, I commanded my legs to run faster. A branch wrapped itself roughly around Aramis' neck, I wanted to grab it, but he was already jerking Aramis backwards. His hand slipped and I stumbled. My knees dug painfully into the ground and I scraped my palms in an attempt to break the fall. My knees continued to be pulled back brutally and dirt got into the aching wound as I was abruptly dragged to my foot and dragged harshly across the earth.

I kicked my legs, trying to shake off the root that wrapped itself around my foot and now my leg, and dug my fingers into the dirt. My extended claws squeaked as they were dragged across a rock, unable to hold me there. Panic threatened to engulf me as my mind raced in search of a way out. My t-shirt climbed higher with each passing second, exposing my bare skin to the rough ground. Tears welled up in my eyes and I clenched my teeth.

With a combative roar, I pushed myself to the ground. I threw myself forward, grabbed the root with both hands, snapped out my fangs and bit into it. My teeth penetrated the dirty, rough surface of the root, tearing at it and digging deeper and harder. The wood gave way and cracked.

The clouds were gathering into a black thunderstorm under the howling of the wind as I gasped to my feet and frantically looked around for Aramis.

"Run!" he roared as he ran straight at me. His wolf eyes burned like the sun and his face was twisted with anger. Behind him I saw whole branches and emaciated roots lying motionless on the ground, but that didn't stop the strangler figs to move slower Who would have thought trees could move so fast!

"Zaira!" he yelled again when I didn't move.

I snapped out of my shock, turned and ran. Leaves splashed in my face as I just kept running. I didn't notice anything of the beautiful jungle, my concentration was to avoid all branches and plants and to get ahead as fast as possible.

I came to a halt as a loud roar shook the forest. I swung back and saw Aramis. He, too, had stopped, his arms spread wide, his head thrown back, and he roared angrily at the sky. The storm swept his dark hair and a deep thunder rang out. As his hands clenched into fists, a huge shock wave emanated from him, throwing back every branch, twig, and root that was threateningly stretched out towards him. As soon as they touched the ground, new, thicker ones snaked up and struggled against his power.

I was about to go and help him when a harsh, putrid smell hit my nostrils.

I peered into the dense jungle, trying to see something in the undergrowth. Finding nothing, I relied on my other senses. After all, it was not for nothing that I had fine wolf hearing.

I pricked up my ears and listened. At first I only heard the wind rustling through the bushes and churning up the earth. But underneath it all, I heard a faint drumming. A big wolf jumped out of nowhere. Despite his dark fur, his emaciated condition could not be overlooked, and the scars where he was bald could not be overlooked either. His red eyes are brimming with wild madness.

Ein Rogue.

At the last moment I jumped to the side and he missed me. Without thinking, I shifted into my alternate form, letting my inner wolf take the lead.

The black wolf growled and bared his sharp teeth menacingly before running towards me. I threw myself onto my side again as he made his leap, but this time he was prepared. He threw me to the ground and bit my flank.

I whimpered. Dizzy with pain, I smacked his face, claws out, full on the nose. He let go of me with an annoyed whoop, glaring at me with wild anger from his red eyes only to snap at my neck a moment later.

I dodged, trying to keep him away with my paws. But he was too strong. I could feel my wolf wanting to submit. It wasn't in our nature to fight, to oppose dominant wolves.

I let out another whimper as he was pushed violently by me and hit the ground. A much larger wolf towered over him, its jet-black fur gleaming beautifully. Then the charming big wolf turned to me and looked at me with worried deep green eyes.

Before he could register the danger, the Rogue's teeth locked on his left leg, sinking his teeth into his flesh. Aramis growled and bit his neck. The rogue released him, struggling against the grip on his neck, and yelped in pain. Then there was a crack and his body fell lifeless to the ground.

Without looking at him for another second, he joined me. He lowered his head, whined, and gently nudged my nose. I then rubbed my head against his cheek. Everything okay.

He licked me, sniffed me, and then looked at my wound. He whimpered again, looking at me with wide eyes filled with deep guilt and regret. I'm sorry.

I patted his head with my paw and licked his muzzle. Not your fault.

Then he bent his head over my flank and licked my injury, disinfecting it. He rubbed my head again before pulling away and transforming.

He stood completely naked in front of me, not in the least embarrassed. I couldn't help but look at him. to look at him properly . he was beautiful Despite the situation, I felt a fervent longing for this man, who touched me in a way no one else could but him.

The intense look he gave me told me that he felt the same way.

With a small wave of his hand, he summoned his backpack and pulled out his spare clothes. "You need to transform so I can get a better look at your wound." He handed me his shirt and boxers. "Here, you can have mine."

I just stared at him stubbornly.

A laugh escaped him and he raised his hands innocently. "Okay okay, I'll turn around already."

As he turned his back to me, I transformed into my human form and pulled on his shirt and boxers, cheeks flushed. "Thanks."

"Show me." He lifted his shirt and inspected my wound. His brow furrowed grimly. "Not too deep. It shouldn't take more than a day to heal." His words were calm, but his fists were shaking.

I gently pushed his hands away, causing his shirt to come down to my knees, and looked deep into his eyes. "Thanks."

"You never have to say thank you for something like that," he said firmly.

"Yes, you saved me." I blinked back tears.

He raised his hand and placed it on my cheek. The world stopped. "Zaira..."

"Well, who do we have here?" came a strange voice and destroyed the magical moment.

Aramis spun around and pushed me protectively behind him. He swore under his breath. I only understood a word of it, but that was enough. Gi .

It was a Gi .