All Chapters of Rejected by my mate: Bounded by the Ruthless Lycan : Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

No one spoke as they approached the bridge.The underground river flowed silently beneath them, black as ink and smooth enough to reflect the faint glow of the crystals overhead. Zara glanced down only once before looking away, there was something unsettling about the water. It wasn't just dark, it felt bottomless.Kael stepped onto the bridge first, the old stone didn't creak beneath his weight instead, it held his weight on it. One by one, the others followed behind himRynese looked over the edge and frowned. "I can't even see the bottom.""I don't think we're supposed to," Valkyrie replied."That's good.""There's nothing good about this."Despite himself, Rynese chuckled softly.The sound eased some of the tension that had settled over them since leaving Wisteria's hidden room. When they reached the other side, everyone stopped. Up close, the doors looked even larger.They stretched nearly twenty feet high, carved from a single slab of gray stone. Of the details on it has faded o

The climb ended on a narrow ledge carved into the cliffside.One by one, they dropped onto solid ground, boots scraping against damp stone. The roar of the underground river filled the cavern, loud enough that they had to stand close to hear one another.Zara wiped the moisture from her face and looked up, the doors were even larger from this angle.They had been cut directly into the rock, their surface worn smooth by centuries of dripping water. Moss clung to the edges, and pale roots snaked across the stone like veins, no symbols covered these doors or grand carvings.Only a single crescent moon sat in the center, it was so weathered that it was almost invisible.For the first time since entering the tunnels, Kael looked uncertain."I've never seen anything this old," he admitted.Valkyrie stepped forward, running her fingers along the stone. "It predates the northern kingdoms.""How can you tell?""The tool marks." She pointed to the edges, "They're different."Rynese leaned close

Nobody moved after that, the pages continued turning on their own.The sound of the pages was almost gentle, yet it filled the entire sanctuary. Every soft rustle echoed through the chamber until it was impossible to tell whether it came from the Codex or from the darkness itself.Rynese was the first to take a step back. "I don't like this."No one laughed, not even Valkyrie.Kael stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the open book. The silver in his irises had become strangely bright, reflecting the pale glow that now seeped from the pages.Zara looked at him before she looked at the Codex, he wasn't blinking."Kael."There was no response. She reached for his hand, the moment their fingers touched, he flinched as though waking from a dream."What happened?" he asked."You were staring into space.""At what?""The Codex."He frowned. "I don't remember staring into it."A knot formed in Zara's stomach because he genuinely didn't remember.* * * * * *The glow faded eoon after it

The tunnel was barely wide enough to breathe.Cold river water rushed around Zara's knees as she crawled after Kael, one hand pressed against the damp stone to keep herself steady. The ceiling hung so low that she had to duck her head, and every now and then loose gravel rained down from above."This is officially the worst idea we've had," Rynese muttered somewhere behind her."You've said that about almost everything we've done," Valkyrie replied."And I've been right every time." Despite everything, Zara smiled but It lasted only a second.The current grew stronger. Kael stopped so suddenly that she almost ran into him."What is it?" she whispered.He didn't answer. Instead, he raised one hand, signaling everyone to stay quiet. The only sounds were the river... And something else.A metallic clink, it was soft and Rhythmic as though a chain had been dragged across stone.Zara felt every muscle in her body tense."Did you hear that?" she breathed.Kael nodded."It came from ahead."

For a second, Wisteria froze. Then she hugged her back."I thought..." Zara whispered."I know.""I thought I'd lost you." "Yah, but you didn't."There was no teasing in Wisteria's voice, just pure honesty. She knew she would have lost Westeria.When they finally pulled apart, Zara noticed the bruises circling Wisteria's wrists.Anger tightened her chest. "Eveline?"Wisteria nodded once. "She underestimated me.""And you escaped.""I barely escaped."Kael stepped closer, his relief hidden behind his usual calm expression. "You've been leaving the clues.""I had to.""And you knew we'd follow them." Kael sighed in relief."I was counting on it."Rynese folded his arms. "You know, next time you disappear, maybe leave one big note instead of fifteen tiny ones."For the first time since they had entered the tunnels, Wisteria laughed. Her laughter was soft and only for a brief moment."I'll keep that in mind."The moment didn't last, her expression turned serious as she looked toward the