Unlawful Shadows | +18

Chapter 18

Elowen's POV

I looked outside the window to see the sun set, darkness slowly taking over the horizon. The moment Lysander's car pulled up to the estate, a sense of dread washed over me. I could feel the weight of their possessive gazes even before I saw them. The brothers felt like my captors, and this mansion was my prison.

I couldn't stay here. As soon as the car came to a stop, I took a deep breath and bolted. I heard Lysander shout my name, but I didn't stop. My legs pumped furiously, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I sprinted towards the forest that bordered the estate.

Branches slapped at my face, leaves and twigs snagging my clothes as I pushed deeper into the woods. The darkness was disorienting, but I didn't care. All that mattered was putting as much distance as possible between me and the brothers.

"Elowen!" Lysander's voice echoed behind me, filled with fury and desperation. Shivers ran down my spine as I registered the unadulterated anger in his voice. I didn't look back. I couldn't afford to. I had to keep moving, had to find a way out.

The forest was dense, the undergrowth thick and treacherous. I stumbled over roots and rocks, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves sent a jolt of fear through me. I knew they were coming. I could feel their presence, an oppressive force closing in on me.

"Come back here, Elowen!" Zephyr's voice cut through the night, cold and menacing. "You can't run from us!"

My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed myself harder. I had to lose them. I had to find a way to escape their relentless pursuit. The forest seemed endless, the darkness swallowing me whole.

I could hear their footsteps, the sound of them crashing through the underbrush. They were getting closer. Panic clawed at my mind, but I forced myself to focus. I had to be smart, had to find a way to outwit them.

Ducking behind a large tree, I held my breath, listening. The footsteps grew louder, the brothers' voices filled with anger and frustration.

"Spread out! She can't have gone far," Zander ordered, his voice tight with rage.

I peeked around the tree, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of them. I saw their silhouettes moving through the trees, their forms like shadows in the night. I had to keep moving. Staying in one place was too dangerous.

Taking a deep breath, I crept forward, my movements slow and deliberate. I needed to be silent, needed to disappear into the night. The forest was my only ally now.

I heard Zephyr's voice again, closer this time. "When we find you, Elowen, you'll wish you hadn't run."

His words sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't let them catch me. I couldn't go back to them, to the suffocating possessiveness that threatened to consume me.

I stumbled upon a small stream and followed it, hoping the sound of the water would mask my movements. The forest seemed to close in around me, the trees like silent sentinels watching my every move.

"Elowen!" Lysander's voice was filled with frustration and anger. "Come back now, and maybe we'll go easy on you."

I ignored him, my mind focused on escape. The stream led me deeper into the forest, the terrain becoming more difficult to navigate. My legs ached, my lungs burned, but I couldn't stop. Not now.

I found a small cave hidden behind a thick curtain of vines and slipped inside, my heart pounding in my chest. The darkness enveloped me, the cool air a stark contrast to the panic that gripped me. I pressed myself against the cold stone wall, my breath coming in shallow gasps.

Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. I could hear the brothers' voices, their footsteps growing fainter as they moved away from my hiding spot. Relief washed over me, but I knew it was only temporary. They wouldn't give up. They would keep searching until they found me.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my strength and slipped out of the cave. I had to keep moving, had to put as much distance between us as possible. The forest was vast, but it wasn't enough to guarantee my safety.

I moved quietly, my senses on high alert. Every sound, every movement sent a jolt of fear through me. The brothers were relentless, their obsession a dark cloud that loomed over me.

I heard a twig snap behind me and froze, my heart racing. I turned slowly, my eyes scanning the darkness. I saw nothing, but I knew they were close.

"Elowen, you can't hide forever," Zander's voice, taunting me, echoed through the trees. "We'll find you." His words seemed like a promise he intended to keep.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with fear. I had to keep moving, had to stay ahead of them. The forest seemed to close in around me, the darkness pressing in on all sides.

I stumbled upon a fallen log and climbed over it, my movements frantic and desperate. I had to find a way out, had to escape their clutches. The sound of their voices grew louder, the fear of being caught acting like a vice around my throat as I struggled to breath.

"Elowen!" Zephyr's voice was closer now, filled with urgency and cold fury. "Stop running!"

I pushed myself harder, my legs trembling with exhaustion. The forest was a maze, each step taking me deeper into its depths. I didn't know where I was going, but I couldn't stop. Not now.

I found a narrow path and followed it, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The brothers' voices faded behind me, but I knew they were still there, still searching.

The path led me to a small clearing, the moonlight casting an eerie glow over the landscape. I paused, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. I had to keep moving, had to find a way out.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned, my heart leaping into my throat. Zander emerged from the shadows, his eyes blazing with anger. His appearance was ragged, his clothes straining against his muscular frame as if barely containing his fury. The moonlight cast an eerie glow on him, highlighting the sharp angles of his face and the intensity in his gaze. He looked like my own personal devil, one I wanted to escape desperately.

"There you are," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Did you really think you could outrun us?"

Panic surged through me as I backed away, my mind racing with fear. I couldn't get caught, not now.

I turned and sprinted towards the forest, but Zander was faster. He grabbed my arm, yanking me back with a force that sent me crashing to the ground.

"You think you can just leave?" he snarled, his grip tightening. "You can try to run and hide, but never escape."

Tears streamed down my face as I struggled against his hold, but it was useless. He was too strong, his rage a terrifying force that overwhelmed me.

Zephyr and Lysander appeared, their expressions dark and unyielding.

"Running away, are we? You really think you can slip through our fingers?" Zephyr taunted, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "We won't let you go. Not now, not ever."

"We warned you," Lysander growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "We told you there would be consequences. Brace yourself, sweetheart. Your punishment will be so unforgettable that you won't dare think about leaving us again."

I looked up at them, my body trembling with fear and exhaustion. "Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Please, let me go. I-I'm sorry, please."

Zander's grip tightened, his eyes burning with possessive rage. "Never," he growled. "You're ours, Elowen. And we'll make sure you never forget that."

As they dragged me back towards the estate, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled over me. Their rage was palpable, their possessiveness terrifying. I knew then that escape was impossible. They would never let me go.

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it's been a while..... I'M SORRY. i'll update regularly now, i promise. muah <3