The CEO Who Promised Me the World And Then Asked Me to Pay With My Soul by Caden Blake 466
Alpha Henry receives a desperate message from Aubrey, who is trapped underground beneath a mudslide amid relentless rain. Despite mentally preparing himself, Henry is overwhelmed by dread and fear, knowing that time is running out and the earth could claim her at any moment. The rain and mud make rescue efforts extremely difficult, and Henry feels powerless as he contemplates the challenge ahead.
Determined to save Aubrey, Henry quickly takes charge, ordering immediate manual digging and calling for reinforcements, including heavy machinery and a team of strong beta werewolves. He understands that blocking the mudslide at its source is crucial to stopping further collapse and enabling a successful rescue. The arrival of the rescue team with tools renews Henry’s hope and energy as they begin digging through the thick mud.
Although Henry is eager to join the physical effort, Perry reminds him that Aubrey needs his encouragement and voice more than anything else right now. Henry insists that Aubrey is his future mate and only he will save her, showing his deep emotional commitment. Despite the rain and exhaustion, Henry stands ankle-deep in mud, leading the rescue with unwavering determination.
The rescue is a race against time, with modern equipment unable to arrive quickly enough, forcing reliance on slower manual digging. The ten meters between Henry and Aubrey feel like an eternity, symbolizing the immense struggle and urgency of the situation. Henry’s resolve remains strong as he and the team fight to reach her before it’s too late.
466 The Longest Ten Meters
Third-Person POV
When Alpha Henry received Aubrey’s message, despite having steeled himself mentally, a sudden chill ran through his hands and feet. The coldness wasn’t just physical—it was the icy grip of dread that made him hesitate, unwilling to confront the grim reality.
She was trapped underground, with relentless rain still pouring down. The mud and sand around her would only thicken, shrinking her space to breathe, to move, to survive. His heart pounded with fear—he was certain that less than an hour remained before the earth might claim her completely.
How could he possibly dig through layers of wet, heavy soil and rescue her in such a short time? The rain showed no sign of stopping, and the threat of another mudslide loomed ominously. Time was slipping away faster than he could act.
Usually calm and unshakable, Alpha Henry now felt truly powerless. His fingers brushed the muddy ground lightly, as if trying to connect with Aubrey through the earth itself. His face, usually composed and commanding, betrayed a rare helplessness.
He wished desperately for the rain to cease, for the mudslide to halt its deadly advance, for the rescue team to arrive sooner, for Aubrey to somehow gain more time. He needed a plan—a way to save her, and fast.
“Alpha…” Perry’s voice broke through the silence, low and filled with concern. He had never witnessed the Alpha in such a vulnerable state.
The sound seemed to snap Henry back to reality. His eyes sharpened, his expression cleared, and he swiftly took charge.
“Notify everyone immediately. Within ten minutes, I want manual digging machines here, along with a team of at least a dozen strong beta werewolves,” he ordered firmly.
“Understood, Alpha.” Perry nodded, casting a quick glance at Henry before rallying the team to call for reinforcements and equipment.
Henry moved toward the edge of the mudslide, scanning the chaotic scene. Aubrey had said the entrance was blocked by the mudslide, meaning the flow of mud and water needed to be stopped at its source to prevent further collapse.
Once the source was blocked, the rescue could begin in earnest. Heavy machinery would speed up the digging, but transporting those machines through the muddy, rain-soaked terrain would take precious time.
Manual digging was slower, but it was the fastest way to start immediately.
So, the plan was clear: begin with manual labor while calling in heavy equipment to assist as soon as possible. This was their only chance to reach Aubrey before time ran out.
He had to succeed. There was no room for failure.
But first, he needed to locate the exact entrance to the tunnel where she was trapped.
Fortunately, just as he rounded the area near the entrance, the main rescue team arrived, bringing with them a variety of manual tools. Seeing the reinforcements gave Henry a surge of hope and renewed energy.
Everyone sprang into action, working as one to begin the rescue. Fifteen or twenty minutes had already slipped away since Aubrey had been buried, and the urgency was palpable.
The team dug with all their strength, the hum of electric tools cutting through the rain-soaked air offering a strange sense of reassurance. Others wielded shovels, clearing away the thick mud. Henry grabbed a shovel himself, ready to join in, but Perry stopped him gently.
“Alpha, Ms. Mary is terrified right now. What she needs most is your encouragement—your voice telling her to hold on. That’s more important than anything else.”
Rainwater dripped steadily from Henry’s chin as he fought the urge to rush in and dig himself. He had organized everything, but standing by helplessly was unbearable.
“The person you’re trying to save now is my future mate,” he said quietly but firmly, emphasizing the word ‘my.’
“My mate. Only I will save her.”
With that declaration, Perry knew he couldn’t hold Henry back any longer.
Under Henry’s command, supplies and personnel moved in a steady stream, the area coming alive with activity despite the relentless rain.
Though many modern tools existed that could dig faster, none could be found or brought here within the critical hour. Even if they were, would Aubrey survive the wait?
So, after a brief but intense moment of thought, Henry decided to begin with manual digging and wait for the heavy machinery to arrive. This was the fastest, most practical strategy.
The rain, however, complicated everything. Henry rolled up his suit trousers and, like the others, stood ankle-deep in cold, sticky mud. Gripping his shovel tightly, he cleared away debris loosened by the electric tools.
He had never looked so disheveled, nor had he ever worked so hard. But if it meant saving Aubrey, every bit of effort was worth it.
Ten meters. How far was that, really?
About twenty steps. Roughly half a minute’s walk. The height of two or three floors in a building.
Yet in this moment, those ten meters felt like an eternity stretched out before him. No matter how fiercely they dug, the end seemed nowhere in sight.
The weight of urgency pressed heavily on Henry’s shoulders, yet within that crushing pressure blossomed a fierce determination. Every shovelful of mud removed was a testament to his unwavering commitment to Aubrey, his future mate, whose life hung delicately in the balance. The relentless rain mirrored the storm of emotions within him—fear, hope, desperation—all churning together as time slipped away, but Henry’s resolve remained unshaken. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, his love and promise to protect her illuminated the darkness like a beacon.
This chapter captures the raw vulnerability and strength that coexist in moments of crisis, weaving a poignant tale of devotion against overwhelming odds. The physical distance of ten meters becomes a metaphor for the emotional journey Henry endures, reminding us that sometimes the most profound battles are fought not just with tools and hands, but with heart and soul. As the rescue unfolds, the reader is left holding their breath, witnessing a love that refuses to yield, no matter the obstacles ahead.
The next chapter promises to plunge deeper into the tense and desperate rescue effort, where every second counts and hope hangs by a fragile thread. As Henry and his team battle the relentless rain and suffocating mud, readers will feel the crushing weight of urgency and the raw vulnerability of a man who is usually in control but now faces the terrifying possibility of loss. The emotional stakes will rise, revealing more about Henry’s fierce determination and the depth of his bond with Aubrey, as well as the strain this crisis places on everyone involved.
Amidst the physical challenges, the upcoming chapter may also explore the internal struggles of the characters—how fear, hope, and love intertwine in moments of crisis. Will the rescue team reach Aubrey in time, or will nature’s unforgiving grip prove too strong? The tension between human will and the unstoppable forces of nature will keep readers on edge, eager to discover if Henry’s promise to save his future mate will be fulfilled or shattered. This chapter will deepen the emotional resonance, leaving readers breathless and yearning for the outcome.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.