NOAH
I slipped back onto the training grounds, doing my best to blend in with the crowd of cadets still milling around after the commotion. The fire hadn’t been massive—just enough smoke and noise to grab attention and pull focus, exactly as I’d planned to cover Zaden’s escape. Now, I moved through the clusters of cadets, looking for Alpha team. But no sooner did I join them than Ben spotted me, throwing me a smirk.
“Well, look who’s back,” he drawled, nudging Jack. “Couldn’t handle a win, could you, Lewis? Had to run and cool off somewhere?”
Jack chuckled, crossing his arms. “Yeah, you disappear right after we nail the challenge and then come strutting back like nothing happened. Couldn’t take the pressure of victory, huh?”
I gave a forced laugh, hoping they’d drop it quickly. “Yo
