Max’s POV
They regrouped with ragged breath and prides bruised but not broken. Dust clung to their skin, streaked with sweat and the sting of failure. I watched them closely—not just their stances, but the flickers of expression, the subtle shifts in posture. They weren’t speaking aloud anymore which means they opened the mindlink. Good.
I couldn’t hear their thoughts, not directly. But I didn’t need to. Intent bled through their movements. Ezra’s eyes narrowed, scanning the others with quiet authority. Leo’s fingers twitched, restless. Richard rolled his shoulders, eager to strike. Leonardo’s gaze flicked toward the shadows, calculating. I could feel the pulse of their coordination, the silent rhythm of shared strategy.
Ezra stepped forward first.
He didn’t speak, but his body did. He
