A low, menacing growl rumbled deep within Axel’s chest as he tightened his grip around my waist, his fingers digging into my sides with an intensity that both comforted and alarmed me. With my free hand, I strained to maintain the stability of the shimmering portal that flickered erratically before us, its edges pulsing with an otherworldly light. On the other side, Josiah darted back and forth, panic etched across his face as he desperately attempted to close the gateway, his movements frantic. I couldn't fathom why they were so insistent on keeping me from leaving. What did they see in me that warranted this level of urgency? The weight of their fixation on me felt suffocating, but one thing was clear: we were all resolute in our desire to resist this force pulling us apart.
Axel held m
