Juliette’s POV
The night had swallowed the city whole, leaving only the hum of distant traffic and the occasional siren to break the silence. I crept along the alley behind the arena, the damp brick walls closing in like a cage. My chest ached, every nerve on edge. Whoever had followed me tonight wasn’t subtle—and I knew I wasn’t imagining it.
I stopped, pressing my back against the wall, listening. The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, uneven, deliberate. My phone vibrated, and I jumped, fumbling it out of my pocket.
Unknown: “You shouldn’t have come alone.”
The words sent a chill down my spine. Someone had been watching me all day, maybe all week, and now the hunter had revealed themselves. I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering against my ribs. The adrenaline surged, sharp an
