Ethan straightened, jaw tight, weighing the decision with visible urgency. "Marcus, take half the trackers north. I'll take the rest east with Lily and Richard. Whoever finds them first, signal immediately. Don't engage alone if you can avoid it."
"Understood," Marcus said, already moving to organize the northern team, and within moments the group had split, half the pack members vanishing into the denser woodland while Ethan led the remainder toward the old service road.
The forest along the eastern path grew increasingly overgrown, clearly unused for years, brambles and low branches catching at Lily's clothes as they pushed forward. Ethan moved with singular focus, tracking a scent trail Lily couldn't perceive at all, his expression hardening with every passing minute that brought no s
