Nellie’s POV
We ran through the trees, chasing the scent of sweat, fear, and iron. The trackers moved fast—but not fast enough. The ground betrayed them: roots caught their paws, low branches snatched at their fur. Every rustle of leaves was a scream against the stillness of the forest. Ethan was ahead of me, his dark shape sliding between the trunks like a shadow that breathed fury.
I followed close behind, my pulse steady, my heartbeat matching his.
There was no need for words; the bond between us was enough.
We caught up to them less than a mile from the clearing, just as one stopped to catch his breath. Ethan struck first. The dull impact of bodies colliding echoed like a gunshot through the trees. The other three scattered, panicked, but one tripped over a root and fell. I caught
