Chapter 192: Island Refuge
Chapter 192: Island Refuge
(Aria’s POV)
I collapsed against Dominic’s chest, my body shaking uncontrollably as sobs wracked through me. The terror of the past hours crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.
“It’s okay,” Dominic whispered, his powerful hands stroking my back with gentle circles. “You’re safe now. I’ve
got you.”
His cedar scent wrapped around me like a protective shield, slowly calming my frantic pregnant wolf. The familiar warmth of his Alpha presence began to chase away the lingering fear that had consumed me.
“I thought… I thought I’d never see you again,” I hiccupped between sobs. “Alexander, he said he was going to take me somewhere far away. He had this drug that would make me forget everything…
Dominic’s grip tightened around me, his wolf’s protective instincts flaring. “He’ll never touch you again. I promise you that.”
As my crying gradually subsided, I became aware of our surroundings. We were on a small speedboat cutting
through dark waters, the engine humming steadily beneath us. The spray of seawater misted across my face
as we moved through the waves.
“Are you hurt?” Dominic asked, his silver–gray eyes scanning me with concern. “Did they do anything to you? What about the pup?”
I pressed my hand to my belly, feeling the reassuring movement within. “We’re okay. Scared, but okay.”
My wolf’s enhanced senses picked up something that made my heart race with renewed fear. In the distance,
I could hear the distinct sound of approaching motors, their engines growing louder.
“Dominic,” I whispered urgently, my pregnant wolf stirring with anxiety. “They’re still following us, aren’t they?”
He glanced back over his shoulder, his Alpha instincts immediately alert. “Yes. Viktor’s men are persistent.”
“What are we going to do?” Panic began to creep back into my voice.
“We’re going to disappear,” Dominic said firmly, his powerful Alpha presence radiating confidence. “But first,
we need to find somewhere to hide before we run out of fuel.”
(Dominic’s POV)
Looking at Aria’s frightened face, I knew I had to get her to safety before Viktor’s mercenaries caught up with us. My tactical Alpha mind quickly calculated our options as the sound of pursuing engines grew closer.
“Hold on tight,” I told her, my hands steady on the steering wheel. “Our backup is on the way, but we need to buy ourselves some time.”
I had scouted this coastal area during my search for Aria, and my werewolf navigation skills had mapped every island and inlet. There was a small, uninhabited island about two miles northeast of our current position.
“Where are we going?” Aria asked, her pregnant wolf still trembling with residual fear.
* Chapter 10% stand Refuge
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“To our temporary honeymoon suite,” I said with a slight smile, hoping to ease her tension. It’s not exactly the romantic getaway I had planned, but it’ll have to do.”
Despite everything she’d been through, Aria managed a weak laugh. “Only you would joke about honeymoons while we’re being chased by armed criminals.”
Her response told me she was beginning to recover from her ordeal. My wolf settled slightly, knowing that her spirit remained unbroken despite the trauma.
I pushed the speedboat to its maximum speed, the engine roaring as we cut through the choppy waters. Behind us, the lights of our pursuers grew brighter, but I had the advantage of knowing these waters.
“There,” I pointed ahead to a dark mass rising from the sea. “That’s our destination.”
The island was small and rocky, covered in dense vegetation that would provide excellent cover. More importantly, it had several hidden coves where we could conceal our boat.
I steered the speedboat toward the island’s shore, my enhanced werewolf reflexes allowing me to navigate the treacherous rocky coastline in near–total darkness. The boat scraped against the stones as I brought it into a narrow inlet concealed by overhanging trees.
“Perfect,” I muttered, killing the engine and grabbing my tactical backpack from the boat’s storage
compartment.
I quickly activated my encrypted communication device, sending out our exact coordinates along with a distress signal. The message would reach Hunter Hayes and my Shadow Pack forces, but it would take time
for them to mobilize a rescue operation.
“We’re going into the forest,” I told Aria, helping her out of the boat. “It’s not safe to stay by the water.”
Before we left, I set the boat on autopilot with a delayed timer. In thirty minutes, it would automatically start up and head back out to sea, hopefully drawing Viktor’s men away from our actual location.
I pulled rope from my pack and began securing the cuffs and legs of our clothing, my Alpha hands working
with practiced efficiency.
“What are you doing?” Aria asked, watching me with curiosity.
“Preventing venomous insects from getting inside our clothes,” I explained, tightening the rope around her ankles. “This island probably has snakes and spiders that could be dangerous, especially in your condition.”
Her hand moved protectively to her belly. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” I said, finishing the knots. “To think of everything so you don’t have to worry.”
We began making our way into the dense vegetation, branches and vines creating a natural canopy above us. I moved slowly, constantly checking on Aria’s condition and making sure she could keep up.
After we’d traveled about a quarter mile into the forest, I stopped and began unpacking equipment from my tactical backpack. Aria watched with growing surprise as I pulled out what looked like a complex electronic
device.
“What is that?” she asked, her wolf’s curiosity overriding her fear.
“A tripwire alarm,” I explained, carefully setting up the device between two trees. “It’s basically a noisemaker that will alert us if anyone approaches from this direction.”
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Chapter 192 1afar Betoge
My military training had prepared me for situations like this. The device was simple but effective anyone walking through the invisible laser beam would trigger a loud alarm, giving us advance warning of
approaching enemies.
“But what if our rescue team triggers it?” Aria worried, her pregnant wolf stirring with concern
“Don’t worry,” I assured her, adjusting the sensitivity settings. “The power is minimal, designed more for
detection than harm. Besides, I’ll disarm it before they arrive.”
l’activated the device and we continued deeper into the forest. The sounds of the island at night surrounded us–insects chirping, small animals rustling through the underbrush, and the distant crash of waves against
the shore.
“How do you know how to do all this?” Aría asked as we walked. “The boat navigation, the alarm systems.
“Shadow Pack training,” I replied simply. “We’re taught to survive in hostile environments from a young age.
Never thought I’d need those skills to protect my mate, but here we are.”
She was quiet for a moment, processing this information. “I’m sorry you have to go through all this because
of me.”
I stopped walking and turned to face her, my silver–gray eyes meeting hers in the darkness. “Aria, protecting you and our pup is not a burden. It’s an honor.”
(Aria’s POV)
We continued deeper into the forest, Dominic’s enhanced werewolf senses guiding us through the darkness with supernatural precision. I tried to keep up, but my pregnancy made every step more difficult than it
should have been.
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed from the direction we’d come from. The sound reverberated through the trees, causing birds to take flight and my pregnant wolf to panic within me.
“What was that?” I gasped, my hand flying to my belly protectively.
Dominic paused, his Alpha composure remaining steady despite the violent sound. “Viktor’s men probably found our boat’s trail. The explosion will help guide our backup to the right location.”
His calm assessment of the situation helped settle my nerves slightly. “So that’s good news?*
“It’s exactly what we need,” he confirmed. “But we should find somewhere to hide while we wait for the rescue
team.”
We searched for several minutes before discovering a small cave concealed behind thick vegetation. The entrance was barely wide enough for both of us, but it would provide perfect cover.
“This is perfect,” Dominic said, examining the cave with his tactical mind. “Wait here while I go set up some
additional security measures.”
“Don’t leave me alone,” I pleaded, my pregnant wolf whimpering with abandonment fears.
“I’ll be right back,” he promised, his cedar scent wrapping around me reassuringly. “Five minutes, no more.”
True to his word, Dominic returned quickly, his Alpha presence immediately calming my anxious wolf.
“I created some false trails leading in different directions,” he explained, settling beside me in the cramped cave. “If Viktor’s men make it this far, they’ll waste time following the wrong paths.”
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“The rescue team should be here within the hour, Dominic said, wrapping his powerful arme around me ‘tra
Assence described around us, broken only by the natural of insects and right fly my exhaustion beginning to catch up with me But my curiosity was stronger than my fatigue
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Chapter 197 Island Prefuge
His werewolf tracking knowledge was proving invaluable in keeping us safe. I pressed against his side, drawing comfort from his protective strength.
“The rescue tear should be here within the hour, Dominic said, wrapping his powerful arms around me. “Are you tired?”
As silence descended around us, broken only by the natural sounds of insects and night birds, I felt my exhaustion beginning to catch up with me. But my curiosity was stronger than my fatigue.
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