Chapter 86 – Protect–3
–LIA’S POV–
An hour passed, and nothing happened.
15 min left
I couldn’t find my way outside the forest, and Zane didn’t find me either.
I was stranded, and all alone, with no one coming to rescue me.
Any wild animal could find and kill me.
At this point, I would even appreciate whoever kidnapped me showing up. At least I would have an idea of what was going on. At least things would start to make some sense.
Tired, I sank to the forest floor, listening to the song of the birds and the soft rustling of the plants.
Why could I hear so much? Why could I see so clearly?
Had I… Had I come to the forest myself?
But even if that were the case, even if I somehow sleep–walked here, why would I take off my clothes?
It didn’t make sense.
Even the pendant I wore around my neck was gone.
1/8
16:17
Chapter 86 Protect–3
Zane… where are you?
15 min left
Another rustle caught my ear, this time louder than the others. I turned towards it, but couldn’t see anyone or anything.
I relaxed again, until the scent of blood hit my nose.
My heartbeat spiked, and I stood up, looking around.
Nothing moved. No voices, no footsteps. But something was there. I felt it in my spine.
Another rustle.
I turned quickly, heart racing, eyes darting—then I saw it.
A wild boar.
Large. Dark. Muscular. Its fur was streaked with mud, and blood dripped from its mouth. Maybe it had been feeding on something already. Maybe it wasn’t done.
It wasn’t supposed to be out here. Not this close to town.
And definitely not looking at me like that.
It didn’t charge right away. Just stared. But it was breathing hard, snorting low, its hooves pawing the ground.
2/8
16:17
Chapter 86 – Protect–3
I took one step back.
It took two forward.
No. No. No.
I bolted.
15 min left
Branches slapped my face, twigs cracked under my feet as I ran, barefoot and half–wrapped in that godforsaken cloth. I didn’t know where I was going, didn’t care. Just away. Away from the crashing behind me. The bore was charging after me, and I didn’t know if I could outrun it.
I could hear its grunts. Its hooves pounding against the ground. It was getting closer. I pushed harder.
I cried out in pain when a branch lore across my cheek, but I couldn’t slow down. There was no time.
The forest was denser here, roots thick beneath the leaves. I stumbled but didn’t stop. I leapt over fallen logs, dodged low–hanging branches, zigzagged to try to lose it.
But it was still behind me.
I spotted a bush thick with vines and dove behind it, biting my lip to keep quiet. My lungs screamed. My chest burned. I clutched the fabric around me and stayed low, heart hammering against my ribs.
3/8
L
Chapter 86 – Protect–3
15 min left
The boar skidded nearby, snorting furiously, confused by my sudden disappearance.
Please don’t smell me. Please don’t smell me. Please, just go.
It grunted, moved a few feet in the wrong direction. I didn’t breathe. Not even when it stopped.
Then it turned back.
It charged at the bush.
I shrieked and scrambled backward, thorns tearing my skin. as the animal rammed into the branches. One more hit and it would break through. I ran again, barefoot and bleeding, adrenaline dragging me forward.
I didn’t think. I couldn’t.
I heard it behind me. Closer again.
Why was this happening? Why now?
Why couldn’t Zane find me? He had promised!
I turned sharply, heading for a tree. If I could climb one, maybe. I could buy a few seconds. I’d learned it when I was a child, maybe it was time to put it to use. I grabbed onto the branches. and started climbing, but my foot slipped, making me stumble to
Chapter 86 – Protect–3
the ground again.
15 min left
I screamed now, in pain and fear, as I heard the boar run towards me. It stopped to watch me, opening and closing its blood stained mouth.
“Zane!” I screamed, covered my face with my arm. I didn’t know if he could hear me. Didn’t care. I just yelled again, tears blurring my vision. My legs trembled.
The boar backed up, then charged.
And then there was a blur of movement.
A growl thundered through the forest, deep and unmistakable. A growl I recognised far too well.
I opened my eyes just in time to see the boar flailing as it was slammed to the ground. Dust flew. A snarl tore through the
trees.
Zane.
He was on top of it, forcing it down effortlessly. His hand gripped one tusk, yanking it sideways while his boot drove into the boar’s side. It screamed, an awful, animal scream, and thrashed, trying to throw him off.
But Zane didn’t let go.
Chapter 86 – Protect–3
He shoved again, and there was a sickening snap. The boar jerked once, then stilled.
Silence.
Everything stopped.
15 min left
Zane stood there, chest heaving, blood on his hands, mud on his clothes. His eyes locked on mine.
I didn’t even realize I was crying until I tried to breathe and it came out as a sob.
He was here.
“Lia,” he breathed, crossing to me in a heartbeat. “Are. Are you–”
I collapsed into his chest before he could finish.
you
okay?
His arms wrapped around me so tightly I almost couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t care. I buried my face into him, into the warm, familiar, calming scent of him.
“You came,” I whispered.
“I told you I would.” His voice was hoarse. It sounded like he had cried. “I heard you. I heard your scream.”
“I was so scared. I—I thought…”
6/8
Chapter 86 – Protect–3
15 min left
“Shh…” he rubbed circles on my back, as The Hounds came into view as well.
“Thank the Goddess,” Sheila whispered, looking at me.
I didn’t know what to say. I just held onto Zane.
He pulled back slightly, cupping my face. His eyes scanned me—my face, my shoulders, the cloth barely covering me, the scratches, the blood on my feel. His jaw clenched.
“Who did this to you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I woke up here. I was naked. I—I thought maybe it was The Order, or someone else, I don’t know. I tried to find my way out, but then the boar–”
He hugged me again, gentler this time, then shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around me. His voice dropped to a whisper.
“You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
My legs finally gave out, and he caught me before I hit the ground. He lifted me easily, holding me against his chest.
“I’ll take you home,” he whispered.
And I knew he would.
7/8
16:17
Chapter 86 Protect–3
No matter how I’d ended up here.
No matter what came next.
He’d come for me.
Just like he promised.
15 min left
Write your comment
