Chapter 223 Stepping In

    Chapter 223 Stepping In

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    46

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    Sloane stared ahead, alert and tense, when suddenly, a massive brown bear burst from the dense forest, its eyes locked on her like a predator sizing up its prey. The bear towered at over seven feet tall, its thick fur concealing immense power beneath. Its eyes glinted with menace; it had clearly marked Sloane as its target.

    Her heart dropped. She yanked the reins hard, pulling Nightshade to a halt. The horse sensed the danger, stomping uneasily beneath her.

    Sloane quickly pressed the mechanism on her ring. A burst of silver needles shot out, glinting in the light as they flew toward the bear. She was aiming to sedate it.

    But the bear’s hide was too thick, the needles couldn’t pierce its skin, and the tranquilizer had no effect.

    Enraged, the bear let out a deafening roar and lunged at her.

    Sloane immediately spurred Nightshade aside. The horse dodged with agility, but the bear was fast, far faster than she’d expected–and quickly closed the gap again.

    iI /iican’t /iitake /iit ihead/ii–/iion/i. Her eyes darted across thendscape. Not far ahead stood a thick, sturdy

    tree.

    Without hesitation, she rode toward it, the bear charging behind. Just as it was about to strike, Sloane jerked the reins hard, Nightshade swerved sharply, and the bear missed, mming full- force into the tree.

    The impact stunned it for a moment, but the beast quickly recovered, shaking its head before roaring and lunging again.

    Sloane leapt off Nightshade’s back, using the trees and terrain to maneuver around the bear.

    She was quick, dodging blow after blow by a hair’s breadth. But the difference in stamina between a human and a wild animal was vast, soon, she began to tire, her movements slowing.

    She stumbled and fell to the ground. The bear lunged.

    In that critical instant, Larry suddenly came diving in from the side–shielding her with his body.

    The bear’s ws tore across his back, shing through flesh. Blood soaked through his shirt in

    an instant.

    Chapter 223 Stepping In

    “Larry!” Sloane cried out, her voice trembling with shock and guilt.

    Grimacing through the pain, Larry clenched his jaw. “Sloane, go!”

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    Just then, Lucas arrived with his staff. They swiftly subdued the bear and drove it back into the forest’s depths.

    Lucas‘ expression turnedplicated the moment he saw Larry’s injuries.

    He rushed over to Sloane’s side, eyes scanning her anxiously. “Are you hurt?”

    Sloane shook her head, but her gaze stayed fixed on Larry. “I’m fine–but we have to treat Larry’s wound now.”

    Lucas helped lower Larry to the ground. Sloane quickly pulled out her needle kit and began working to stop the bleeding.

    Her hands moved with practiced precision; the silver needles seemed toe alive between her fingers as she sealed several key pressure points, halting the blood flow.

    Lucas stood off to the side, watching Sloane as she treated Larry. His emotions tangled within him.

    He knew she was only doing what was right, but watching her reveal her identity as “The Miracle Doctor” just to save Larry still left a sour taste in his mouth.

    The gashes on Larry’s back throbbed with searing pain. Every breath tugged at his nerves, threatening to pull him into unconsciousness.

    And yet, his mind stayed unusually clear, because Sloane was there, tending to him.

    He managed a faint, strained smile–part agony, part joy.

    As long as he could stay close ito /iSloane… even this kind of pain felt worth it.

    Though the bleeding had stopped for now, the wounds were severe–Larry needed hospital care, and fast.

    On the way down the mountain, Lucas told Sloane they’d found Jill. She was safe, currently with Cameron and the others.

    Larry was loaded into the ambnce. Sloane decided to go with him. She turned to Lucas. “I’ll ride along and keep an eye on him. It’s a mess back there–you stay and wrap things up.”

    Lucas met her gaze and immediately understood. “Okay. Go, I’ve got this.”

    Chapter 223 Stepping In

    The bear’s sudden appearance wasn’t normal.