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Chapter 275: Chapter 275 Danger
As the night settled in, the soft crackle of the fire and the distant sounds of the forest provided a rhythmic background to the group’s exhaustion. The cave, though offering a sense of safety, still carried the weight of the wilderness just outside. They all knew they had to remain vigilant, which was why they had agreed to take turns guarding the entrance throughout the night.
Lucas and Damon, both assigned the same watch at 3 a.m., decided it would be wise to get some rest early. Their exhaustion was evident, but so was their silent competition. Both male glanced at each other occasionally, as though trying to measure one another’s intentions.
Kyra, completely unaware of the quiet tension between them, had quickly drifted into a deep sleep. She lay peacefully between the two, her body instinctively seeking warmth. Her small hand curled into a soft fist, resting near her face as she slept soundly, her face turned toward Damon. She looked almost angelic, her breaths steady and peaceful.
Lucas, however, had wasted no time in making himself comfortable. He had his arm wrapped protectively around Kyra, his face buried in her soft, red hair. He breathed in her scent, a mixture of pleasant and something sweet, feeling comforted by her presence. For him, this closeness was natural, instinctual even—like he was meant to protect her from everything, even in their sleep.
Damon, on the other hand, lay awake, staring daggers at Lucas. He watched as Lucas seemed to bury himself deeper into Kyra’s hair, his arm tightening around her possessively. Every movement Lucas made sent a wave of irritation through Damon’s chest. His jaw clenched, and his hands itched to pull Kyra closer to him instead.
What does he think he’s doing? Damon thought, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Lucas. Does he really think he can just snuggle up to her like that?
Every now and then, Kyra would shift slightly in her sleep, her face soft and innocent, completely unaware of the silent war being waged over her. Damon’s gaze softened as he looked at her peaceful expression, but the sight of Lucas holding her made his blood boil again.
Lucas, pretending to be fast asleep, smirked inwardly. He could practically feel Damon’s intense stare burning a hole through him, and it amused him to no end. Though he had no plans of moving anytime soon, he couldn’t deny that teasing Damon a little was something he enjoyed. He loved Kyra, but he also knew how Damon felt, and that made this situation all the more entertaining.
Damon eventually sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. This is ridiculous, he thought to himself, though he knew he wasn’t about to give up so easily. He slowly moved closer, his arm brushing against Kyra’s other side, but careful not to wake her. He leaned in slightly, letting his presence be known. His fingers lightly grazed Kyra’s hand, trying to claim a small part of her warmth.
Lucas, ever the instigator, shifted again, pulling Kyra even closer to him, as though staking his own claim. Damon’s eyes flared, and for a brief moment, he contemplated pushing Lucas off the mat entirely.
But then Kyra stirred in her sleep, her soft murmurs breaking through the silence. Both men instantly froze, their rivalry momentarily forgotten. They watched her intently, wondering if she’d wake up, but she merely sighed contentedly, her hand now resting against Damon’s arm while her body remained snug against Lucas.
The tension between Damon and Lucas eased ever so slightly as they both watched over Kyra. Despite their jealousy, one thing remained clear to both of them—they would protect her with their lives. Whether they liked it or not, they had a common goal, even if their methods and feelings clashed.
Suddenly rain started falling outside with sounds, the wind have picked speed tree started moving in that direction, Two first males who are guarding area ash and rowan both are High alert and they even went to look around at slight shake of bushes.
As the night deepened, the first drops of rain began to fall, lightly at first but quickly gaining momentum. The soft patter of raindrops against the leaves soon transformed into a steady downpour, the wind picking up speed and causing the trees to sway wildly. The once peaceful forest now hummed with the sound of rustling leaves, the creaking of branches, and the occasional distant crack of thunder.
Inside the cave, the fire flickered, its flames dancing in response to the wind’s pressure as the temperature cooled slightly. Kyra remained blissfully unaware, lost in her deep sleep between Lucas and Damon.
Outside entrance of cav, however, Ash and Rowan stood guard hidden behind bushes and rock, both fully alert as the rain intensified. They had wrapped their rain cloaks tighter around themselves to shield against the cold wind, but their senses remained razor-sharp.
"This rain’s picking up fast," Ash muttered, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sharp sword as he scanned the perimeter. "It’ll make it harder to see or hear anything out there."
Rowan nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving the dark forest beyond the cave’s entrance. "True. But it also means anything trying to sneak up on us will make more noise too."
A sharp rustle in the bushes nearby caught their attention. Both male immediately stiffened, their muscles tensing as they exchanged a quick glance. Without a word, Ash took a step forward out of small gate of cave they made, sword drawn and ready. Rowan, ever cautious, followed close behind, his eyes focused on the spot where the noise had originated.
They approached the bushes carefully, their senses on high alert. The wind howled around them, adding an eerie atmosphere to the already tense situation. The rain blurred their vision, droplets streaking across their faces as they advanced. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Another rustle—louder this time—sent a jolt of adrenaline through their veins. Rowan signaled Ash to stay back as he crouched down, peering through the thick foliage. His heart raced as he tried to make out any movement in the shadows. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of rain pounding against the leaves.
Then, in the dim light, Rowan saw it—a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring back at him from the darkness.
"Shit," Rowan cursed under his breath, instinctively backing away. He quickly gestured to Ash, who stepped forward, sword at the ready.
