The forest road twisted endlessly, wet and treacherous, and Lena’s hands ached from gripping the wheel so tightly. Her pulse thundered in her chest, a constant reminder of how close they were to disaster. Every movement, every reaction, felt both instinctive and foreign, guided by Adrian’s ever-present whisper in her mind. Threat level critical. Anticipate all variables.
She swallowed hard. She hated how much she relied on him, hated the way her own reflexes no longer felt like her own. But the truth was undeniable — without him, they would not have survived this far.
Alex’s eyes were fixed on the fog-shrouded road ahead. “They’re adapting,” he said quietly. “Hale and her people—they’re learning our patterns. We can’t just outrun them anymore. We need to outthink them.”
Lena exhaled slo
