Chapter 198
"We have to keep going. I have to find the Heart of Celeste. I can’t fail her. Not again."
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They continued to walk; no one took a break, not with how re-energized Cain suddenly felt after the dream he had.
They kept walking tirelessly. The trees hadn’t changed in hours, or maybe they had, and the forest was just messing with them again. They had no idea. Branches stretched like fingers overhead, reaching out to the sky.
Some of the warriors had stopped talking. Even their footsteps were quiet now, just the soft drag of boots over dirt and leaves. They were tired, worn thin. One stumbled, caught by another. No one spoke about it. No one dared to say a word.
Cain led the way, walking at the forefront while they followed behind.
Just as they rounded a corner, one of the warriors stepped up, exhausted from the long hours. It was like they kept circling the same place with no success.
"Alpha..." he began, ignoring the wary gaze of the other warriors. "We are already..." he was cut short by Cain’s sharp gaze, his finger placed against his lips.
He stopped abruptly, eyes darting around the woods, hand up. A single sharp gesture, and everyone froze.
Cain didn’t speak. His head tilted, listening. His mating mark with Avery had been throbbing for the past hour, like an itch underneath his skin. One he couldn’t get through to... not until now. Now, it felt like it was burning him from the inside. Like the mark was on fire.
Cain’s breath hitched; he could feel it, close and burning.