Chapter 142. Breaking the Hex

Astrid

I ran through the dense forest, my heart pounding as fast as my footsteps on the ground. Magnus's scent was fresh, leading me to him. My wolf was just as eager, pushing me to run faster, urging me forward. The trees blurred past me, the cool night air stinging my cheeks. The full moon hung high above, casting an eerie glow over everything.

I burst into a clearing, and there he was. Magnus. He stood tall, but his strong demeanor wasn't showing, just as I remembered, but there was a tension in his stance, a shadow in his eyes. He turned as I approached, his eyes widening with recognition and relief.

"Astrid," he breathed, stepping towards me.

"Magnus," I whispered, closing the distance between us. I rushed to his side as I lifted him, feeling his warmth; he was holding onto an oak tree; for a moment, everything was right in the world. I inhaled his scent deeply, a mix of pine and earth that was uniquely his.

But our joy was short-lived. I pulled ba