Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha novel Chapter 99

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Chapter 99: Blind Running

The rock slips from my bloody fingers after one last desperate strike. Nothing. Not even a crack. My legs give out and I slide down the wall, pulling Princess Paws close as another coughing fit wracks my body.

Fine. If brute force won’t work, maybe...

I close my eyes and reach out with that odd awareness I’ve been developing. The purple lines under my skin pulse, and suddenly the darkness behind my eyes lights up with dozens of flickering lights. People. So many people, all moving with purpose. Toward us.

My heart pounds against my ribs as one particular presence blazes brighter than the rest. The energy signature feels familiar—but I don’t know who it is. Maybe it’s Eliana.

It’s impossible to tell. Not using my magic often definitely has its limitations.

I press back against the wall, as if I could somehow hide from that approaching power. But there’s more. Other sparks of life trapped in the rubble with me. Most are dim, probably unconscious. But one...

Another powerful presence pulses through the debris. Different from Eliana’s, but just as strong. Xavier. Of course a mere building collapse wouldn’t take out a dragon. The thought sends a chill down my spine despite the stuffy air.

The cotton-wool feeling in my ears starts to fade, replaced by the groan of settling concrete and distant shouts. Princess Paws’ claws dig into my chest as she burrows closer.

A sudden thud makes me jump. The window at my back vibrates and—

The safety glass explodes inward. I curl around Princess Paws, turning my back to shield her as countless razor-sharp fragments pepper my skin. The cat yowls in protest, squirming against my grip as tiny shards rain down around us like deadly crystal snow.

But my shock is short-lived.

The most pressing thing now is my desire to survive, and now that the glass is gone—I can.

Glass crunches under my feet as I hoist myself through the shattered window. Princess Paws trembles against my chest, her claws pricking through my shirt. The dust cloud engulfs us, thick and choking, but anything beats being trapped inside.

My legs shake with each step. The purple lines under my skin pulse brighter, making me a human lighthouse in this haze. Perfect. Just perfect. Hopefully no one notices.

Through my magical awareness, I sense the group of people moving closer. Their energy signatures flare like beacons in my mind—some bright, some dim, all heading in my direction. I veer left, away from the strongest presence.

"Over there!" A voice cuts through the settling debris.

I freeze. My heart pounds against my ribs as I force myself to keep moving. Running would make too much noise, draw too much attention. But this slow pace is torture, each step careful and measured while my instincts scream at me to bolt.

The dust starts to thin, just enough for me to make out my feet against dark asphalt. Road, not sidewalk. Good. At least I won’t walk face-first into a lamppost or tree. Small victories.

Princess Paws lets out a tiny sneeze, and I tuck her deeper into my jacket. "Shh," I whisper, though I doubt anyone could hear over the chaos behind us. Sirens wail in the distance. More voices join the first, shouting coordinates and commands.