Alle Kapitel von Alpha Orion: Kapitel 61 – Kapitel 70

Rey's hands trembled as she watched her father disappear into the adjoining room, still reeling from her father's words. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving only the faint hum of machinery and the muffled sound of Orion's laboured breathing.She felt like a fool for trusting him, but she had no time to think, if she wanted to save him, she needed to act.She swallowed the bile of regret and went back through the vent that connected the adjoining room.With one last breath, she braced her feet against the vent's edge and shoved hard. The iron cover crashed to the floor with a deafening clang. She dropped through the gap, landing in a crouch, her knees aching from the impact.Her heart thundered in her ears. Every second felt borrowed.Rey darted to the drawers by the wall, yanking them open one after another, searching for anything that resembled keys. There was nothing but scattered notes, syringes, and glass vials filled with pale blue liquid that made her stomach twist.She sl

Two hours into their journey, she was a trembling, chattering mess. The wind was unforgiving, howling through the skeletal trees and slicing through the thin fabric of her long-sleeved shirt like knives of ice. Her fingers had long since gone numb, her jaw aching from the constant shivering as every breath she drew burnt in her lungs.But infuriatingly, a pace in front of her, Orion was shirtless, just like he'd been since they escaped the facility, only clad in his dark pants riding low on his waist and his boots that left deep footprints in the snow. The cold didn't seem to touch him. If anything, he looked like he belonged in it.She scowled at his broad back, wondering how he had not turned into a popsicle yet; meanwhile, here she was fighting back hypothermia.And almost like he could sense her searing gaze digging into the back of his skull, he slowed to a stop and turned to face her.His gaze flicked down to her trembling lips as she hugged herself in a futile attempt to trap t

They'd been walking through the woods for hours, and not a word had passed between them.Rey was grateful for the sunlight filtering through the trees, even though it was faint. It took the edge off the biting cold, and the thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders offered little warmth. Still, somewhere deep down, she knew there was something else more capable of keeping her warm—or rather, someone.She shook her head, sighing softly, willing the thought away.The steady crunch of snow and dried leaves beneath their boots was the only sound that accompanied them until a faint rush of water reached her ears. Her head lifted, hope stirring as she quickened her pace.When they reached the stream, the sight of clear water glinting in the light felt almost like salvation. She quickly rushed to the banks, falling on her knees to take a drink.Orion was a few feet away from her, crouched low, scooping water into his palm. Rey's gaze lingered before she could stop it; on the way, his forearm

Rey's scream tore through the stillness of the woods. Orion froze mid-stride, the rabbit he'd just caught tumbling from his grasp as dread surged through him like lightning. The sound of her raw, terrified scream struck the same nerve that had ripped him apart the day Lyra went missing. He didn't think, he just ran. Trees blurred past in streaks of brown and green as he sprinted toward her scent, his pulse a wild drumbeat in his ears. He couldn't lose her, not after everything. The only reason she was even on this dangerous journey was because she'd risked everything to save him. He was certain he wouldn't forgive himself if harm came to her. When he broke through the trees, he found her backed against a trunk, clutching a branch like a weapon with a strange man in front of her. Orion didn't hesitate. He grabbed the man by the back of his shirt and flung him to the ground with a thunderous growl. The stranger hit the dirt hard, the sound echoing through the trees as Orion bared h

The first thing Rey became aware of was warmth. Not the feverish heat that had scorched her skin through the night, but something gentler, steady, alive and comforting.Soft birdsong drifted through the canopy above, mingling with the whisper of morning wind rustling the trees. A golden ray of sunlight filtered through the gaps, painting the ground in a warm, amber glow.Her lashes fluttered open slowly. For a moment, she lay still, breathing in the quiet peace of dawn until she realised the pillow beneath her cheek wasn't fabric.It was skin.Her eyes widened slightly as her vision cleared and she stilled. Her face was pressed against the taut planes of Orion's chest, her arm slung across his waist, her leg almost draped over his. She was practically lying on top of him.A startled breath caught in her throat. Slowly, as if afraid of confronting the truth, she tilted her head up ever so slightly, and there he was.The sight of him stole her breath all over again.He was asleep, his f