After the tragic death of her best friend/unrequited love, Cedric Diggory, Elliana Kingsley, a Muggle-born witch, chose to leave Hogwarts and travel with her parents to the continental US, hoping for a fresh start.
But her world is turned upside wh...
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||Edward's P.O.V.||
As I sped through the trees, the fear coursing through my veins intensified with every step I took. My mind was a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts and emotions— pure terror at the thought of something happening to my Elliana, anger towards myself for leaving her vulnerable, and a fierce determination to get to her as quickly as possible.
With a deep growl, I pushed my limits, my feet tearing up the earth beneath me as I raced towards her. Emmett and Rosalie were trailing after me, but I had left them in the dust miles ago.
Every second felt like an eternity as I fought against the clock, the stakes higher than ever before. I had never felt panic quite like this— the sheer intensity of it was enough to steal my breath. Animalistic growls tore through my chest as I felt the invisible thread that connected me and my mate shortening in distance. The closer I got to her, the angrier I became.
My focus was razor-sharp, focusing only on one goal. When the intoxicating scent of her blood hit me like a ton of bricks, I nearly doubled over. A primal possessiveness took over, my every instinct screaming to find her. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on my shoulders. At the very least, she was injured. The realization that someone had dared to harm her sent a surge of fury through my veins, a snarl escaping my throat as I somehow managed to pick up my speed.
Her sweet scent was so strong that it took me a moment to pick up on the fact that someone else's blood was mingling with hers, further spurring me on. I feared the worst, but I couldn't allow my thoughts to go down that dark, heart-wrenching path. I couldn't bear it. If something happened to her, I firmly believed that I would somehow cease to exist, despite my immortality.
When I picked up on the faint sound of her heart beating in the far distance, the relief that washed over me was enough to steal my breath. I would know that melodic tempo anywhere. But to my dismay, I picked up on the sound of two other beating hearts as well, causing another wave of anxiety to engulf me.
I was visibly shaking when I finally stumbled into the clearing. My lungs were on fire due to tasting her blood in the air. Every nerve in my body was on high alert, my muscles tense as I stepped through the trees, immediately cutting off my breathing.
What I saw was something straight out of a nightmare. My Elliana, lying face-down on the ground, her bare back bleeding from various cuts and scrapes. Her blouse was lying beside her, discarded and forgotten. My heart dropped to my stomach at the sight, a dangerous growl rumbling deep in my chest as I rushed to her side.
The fact that she was shirtless wasn't lost to me, but I refused to allow myself to catch a glimpse as I kneeled beside her. With bated breath, I shrugged out of my jacket and draped it over her still form before further inspecting her for injuries. Her pulse was strong, her breathing even and shallow. She was unconscious.
The sheer terror that gripped me when I came to that realization was indescribable. Immediately, I carefully ran my fingers over her scalp, assessing for a possible concussion. A sigh of relief escaped me when I didn't find any visible head injuries, but I was still in a state of panic.
