Juliette’s POV
The forest stretched before us like a living maze, shadows weaving between gnarled trees and twisted roots. Moonlight barely pierced the canopy, casting ghostly patterns across the damp ground. Every step I took felt amplified, each crackle of leaves beneath my boots echoing in my ears. I could feel the intruder’s presence all around, a predatory pulse hidden in the darkness, taunting us, daring us to come closer.
Dorian moved beside me, his eyes scanning the shadows, every muscle coiled with readiness. Bryan was just behind, silent, his usual impatience tempered by caution. The tension between them was palpable, but right now, it was our survival that mattered. My pulse hammered as I tried to focus, trying to tune out the uneasy friction between my two protectors.
I inha
