Chapter 71. Fangs and Fury

Anastasia POV

Ethan's presence in the midst of the dense, dark forest is merely a shadow to my limited vision. The waning moon, partially obscured by thick clouds, casts a faint, intermittent light, causing the tree shadows to writhe menacingly. My racing heart feels like a drum shaking my ribs, each beat echoing in the eerie silence of the forest. The air is thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves, mixed with the metallic scent of fear emanating from me.

Rowan swiftly gets off me, his movements are fluid and almost animalistic, but he doesn't help me up. I lack the strength in my legs to stand, remaining sprawled on the earthen ground, feeling the cold evening wind cutting through my skin like sharp blades. The sounds of animals seem to fade in the presence of Alpha Ethan; the silence is oppressive, broken only by the sound of our tense breaths and the occasional rustling of leaves.

"Well, well, well, you had the guts to come here alo