Chapter Nine
I ran before the gong sounded, not in panic but in calculation. The moment the glass wall parted and the cold night air brushed my skin, I stepped into the forest without hesitation, letting the others scatter in shrieks and white fabric behind me. I did not look back. The earth beneath my feet was damp and soft with pine needles, muffling my steps just enough to keep me from announcing my path, and I deliberately chose the darker, more tangled route, where brambles scraped at my legs and low-hanging branches threatened to slow any reckless pursuer. Alphas preferred speed; I preferred obstacles. Three minutes. That was my estimate before they were unleashed. Inside me, Trissi paced restlessly, a silent predator itching for release. Shift, she demanded silently, but I could
