Page 49 of The Alpha's Fated Destiny

I grab the tree to stand up and hiss in pain. My ribs. Gritting my teeth to hold in a scream, I force myself to my feet.

There is no way I can keep running. Not in this condition.

I need to hide.

But where?

The witches are on my tail. They'll track me down.

Looking around for a spot where I can be concealed, I see a rock formation. Normally, I would have run past it, but from where I'm standing, I can see the vines covering it, hiding the entrance. I take two steps and fall on my face when my right leg refuses to support me. Looking down at it in dismay, I see the bone protruding out.

I didn't even feel it.

A lizard runs past me and I stare at it, dazed.

I don't know what to do.

But when I see it, an idea comes to life in my head. It’s an idea so absurd that it might just work.

Closing my eyes, I cast a curtain of magic around me, trying to blend myself into my surroundings like the chameleon staring at me right now. I see the change in my body and begin crawling in the direction of the cave. Panting, I feel like I'm at death's door. My back is throbbing with each movement. My blood, which spills on the ground, also changes color, and despite the pain, I feel relieved.

I don't know how I do it, but when I make it all the way into the cave, I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

However, I'm still at the entrance. If they walk in…

I begin dragging myself deeper inside the cave, biting back my whimpers.

“Alex, A broken sob escapes me, “what have we gotten ourselves into?”

The cave is deceptively large. It seemingly ends a few feet in front of me, but when I drag myself to the very end of it, I realize that there is a passageway to the right, camouflaged by the rocks. I summon up the courage to go even deeper inside.

That's when I see the faint glow coming from the end. When I reach it, I realize the glow is coming from the entrance to some chamber. I make my way inside. At this point, even I know it would be wiser to just hide in the darkness, but I can't stop myself. A voice in my head is telling me that the deeper I go into the cave, the safer I will be.

But when I enter, a shocked gasp leaves my mouth.

There are candles all over the chamber, and in the center, on top of some sort of pentagram drawn on the cave floor, is a man suspended in the air from his arms and legs.

His dark hair is scraggly and long, and his body is badly scarred.

He's a shifter.

I know he is.

His scent is obvious.

Before I can turn back, I hear footsteps and the voice of the dark witches.

"She's in here. I can smell her blood."

I look down behind me and although my blood is concealed by my magic, I can't erase its smell.

I have no way out of here now.

Where do I go? What do I do?

When I look back at the man, my heart nearly stops in fright.

His eyes are open, a beautiful shade of amber, and he's looking right at me.

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