Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Astrid's POV

We ran.

Each footfall was a victory, each breath a testament to my newfound freedom. The packhouse receded behind us, swallowed by the darkness, and with every step, the weight on my chest seemed to lighten.

I strained my ears, listening for any sound of pursuit. The baying of hounds, the shouts of guards, the howling of wolves, anything that would indicate we had been discovered. But there was nothing. Only the rustling of leaves and the frantic pounding of my own heart.

Shadow set a relentless pace, her body moving with effortless grace through the undergrowth. I struggled to keep up, my muscles screaming in protest, but the thought of being recaptured spurred me onward.

As we ran deeper into the woods, I began to notice something strange. We were heading into a part of the territory I had never seen before. As Luna, I had thought I knew every inch of Moonshade land, but this place was unfamiliar, wilder, more untamed.

Towering trees formed a dense canopy overhead, blocking out the moonlight and casting long, eerie shadows. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. It was beautiful, in a way, but also unsettling.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice breathless. "I don't recognize this place."

Shadow glanced back at me, her blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. "It's a hidden path," she said. "I found it while studying the pack maps."

"The maps?" I asked, surprised. "How did you get access to those?"

"Let's just say I have my ways," she replied with a sly grin. "The important thing is, this path will lead us to a hill. And at the bottom of that hill, there's a road. A car will be waiting for us there."

"A car?" I repeated, my eyebrows furrowing. "Why so far away? Wouldn't it have been easier to have it closer to the packhouse?"

Shadow chuckled. "That's where Alpha Kaeleen's genius comes in," she said. "He figured that even with the scent maskers, the werewolves' heightened senses might pick up the scent of a vehicle nearby. By placing the car further away, we minimize the risk of being detected."

"That's…that's incredibly smart," I said, impressed.

"Tell me about it," Shadow said, rolling her eyes playfully. "He had me poring over those maps for days. We planned every detail together, every possible scenario. The man doesn't miss a thing."

As we continued to run, my mind drifted to Kaeleen. The thought of him, of his unwavering support and meticulous planning, filled me with a sense of warmth and gratitude. He was truly risking everything for me, and I couldn't help but wonder why. What did he see in me that was worth all this trouble?

Suddenly, a voice echoed in my head, clear as a bell.

'Astrid.'

I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. Has someone found us? Were we being followed?

I turned around, scanning the darkness, but there was no one there. Only the trees, the shadows, and the sound of Shadow's heavy breathing.

"What's wrong?" Shadow asked, her voice filled with concern. "What is it?"

"I…I thought I heard someone call my name," I said, my voice trembling.

Shadow frowned. "I don't hear anything," she said. "Are you sure you're okay?"

'Astrid, it's me.'

The voice again, clearer this time, stronger. It was familiar, comforting, like a long-lost friend.

And then it hit me.

It was Sheena. My wolf.

A wave of relief washed over me, so intense it almost brought me to my knees. I laughed, a shaky, hysterical sound that echoed through the trees.

"It's Sheena," I said, my voice filled with wonder. "It's my wolf. She's finally back!"

Shadow stared at me, her expression a mixture of confusion and concern. "Your wolf?" she repeated. "What are you talking about?"

I grinned, unable to contain my excitement. "I can hear her," I said. "She's talking to me. The device had blocked my connection with her, remember?"I asked Shadow.

"Oh! You can finally hear her." She said, sharing my excitement.

I gave her a nod with a beaming smile. "After all this time, she's finally back!"

I turned my attention inward, focusing on the voice in my head. 'Sheena, is that really you?'

'Yes, Astrid, it's me,' Sheena replied, her voice filled with joy. 'I've been trying to reach you for so long, but something has been blocking our connection.'

'I know,' I said. 'I could feel it. It was like a part of me was missing.'

I told Sheena everything that had happened – my capture, my imprisonment, my escape with Shadow. She listened patiently, her presence a comforting balm to my wounded soul.

'I knew you would find a way to escape, Astrid,' she said. 'You are stronger than you think.'

'I couldn't have done it without Shadow,' I said. 'She's been amazing.'

'She is a valuable ally,' Sheena agreed. 'But remember, Astrid, you are the one in control. You are the one who makes the decisions.'

As I talked with Sheena, I had no idea how much time had passed. I was so lost in our reunion that I barely noticed when we reached the hill.

Shadow turned to me, her expression a mixture of concern and impatience. "Astrid," she said, her voice firm. "We need to keep moving. The car is waiting for us at the bottom of this hill."

I nodded, snapping back to reality. "Right," I said. "Let's go."

We started to climb down the hill, our feet slipping and sliding on the loose dirt. The descent was treacherous, but we managed to reach the bottom without any major mishaps.

And there it was. A nondescript sedan, parked on the side of the road, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Our ticket to freedom.

We ran towards the car, our hearts pounding with anticipation. Shadow unlocked the doors and we piled inside, breathless and exhausted.

Shadow slid behind the wheel and started the engine. The car roared to life, its headlights illuminating the road ahead.

"Hold on tight," Shadow said, a determined glint in her eyes. "It's going to be a bumpy ride."

She slammed her foot on the accelerator and the car sped off down the road, leaving Moonshade territory behind.

We drove for hours, not stopping until we reached the airport.