Chasing the storm

Chapter 34: The Storm Takes Everything

(Sienna's POV )

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The moment my feet hit the flooded road, I knew—

I wasn't going to make it.

The pain in my leg was unbearable.

Every step sent fire through my body, but I had to move. Had to keep up. Had to—

"Sienna!"

Someone grabbed my arm just as I stumbled.

Rowan.

His grip was tight, solid, keeping me upright even as the wind shoved against us like an invisible hand trying to rip us away.

I gasped, barely able to stand.

"I—I can't—"

I couldn't move.

The moment I stopped forcing myself forward, my leg gave out completely.

I collapsed.

The freezing water splashed up around me, soaking my jeans, chilling me to the bone.

The others didn't even notice at first. They were too focused on surviving.

Ava and Oliver were clinging to each other.

Caleb and Mia are barely standing.

No one had time to stop.

But Rowan?

He didn't let go of me.

Not even for a second.

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I Can't Walk. And We Have to Run.

Rowan crouched beside me, his hands gripping my shoulders.

"Sienna," he said, his voice tense. "Come on, Sunshine. Get up."

I tried.

I really did.

But the pain was too much.

Tears burned my eyes as I sucked in a breath. "I—Rowan, I can't—"

The storm roared louder, as if it had heard me.

As if it knew I wasn't going anywhere.

Rowan cursed under his breath, glancing around at the others.

Caleb saw what was happening first.

"Sienna?" His voice was sharp with concern, but he didn't stop moving—he couldn't.

I met his gaze, feeling sick. "Go. Just go."

Caleb's expression darkened. "Not happening."

Rowan made a low, frustrated sound.

"Neither of you are leaving her behind," Oliver snapped.

Rowan exhaled through his teeth. His hands tightened on my arms.

Then, suddenly—

He moved.

Before I could even react—he picked me up

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I let out a small, shocked breath as Rowan lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing.

One of his arms was beneath my knees, the other behind my back, pressing me against his chest.

His heartbeat was fast.

His jaw? Tight.

But his grip? Unshakable.

"Rowan," I gasped, my fingers gripping his shirt. "You can't—"

"Watch me," he muttered.

The wind lashed at him.

The rain tried to knock him down.

But he didn't waver.

"Hold on," he ordered, voice low, rough, and angry.

I swallowed hard, barely able to process what was happening.

"Rowan—"

"Shut up, Sunshine," he snapped, adjusting his grip. "I'm not leaving you. So deal with it."

I hated how much that made my heart clench.

Because I wanted to fight him.

I wanted to scream at him, tell him I could handle this myself.

But I couldn't.

Because right now?

I needed him.

And that scared me more than the storm.

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The wind screamed louder.

Debris flew past us—broken pieces of wood, scraps of metal, things the storm had already destroyed.

We had to move faster.

Caleb and Mia were ahead now.

Ava and Oliver close behind.

And Rowan?

He held onto me like I was the only thing keeping him grounded.

His arms never loosened.

His steps never faltered.

Even as the motel behind us—

Collapsed.

The sound was deafening.

Mia screamed. Ava gasped.

I twisted in Rowan's hold just enough to see it—

The motel was gone.

The place we had just been. The only shelter we had.

Wiped from existence.

The ground shook beneath us.

"We have to go!" Oliver shouted.

Rowan cursed. "No shit."

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Rowan carried me through the storm.

Through the wreckage.

Through the unknown.

And my heart wouldn't stop racing.

Because I wasn't scared of the storm anymore.

I was scared of him.

Of the way he never let go.

Of the way he refused to let me go.

And of the fact that deep, deep down—

I didn't want him to.

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