MIA’S POV
The night air was thick with tension, the sounds of the forest blending into the rapid beating of my heart. I crouched lower behind the large stone, my breaths coming out in slow, measured puffs. Someone was nearby. I could hear the faint rustling of leaves, the crunch of boots against the earth.
They were looking for me.
I knew it wasn’t an ordinary patrol. No, this was something else. Someone had followed me, their presence sharp, relentless.
I pressed my back against the stone, closing my eyes for a brief second. If they caught me, if they saw even the faintest glow of my shifting eyes, it would all be over. My secret—my curse—would be exposed.
A snap of a branch.
I opened my eyes, preparing to bolt.
But before I could move, a strong hand clamped over my mouth, pulling
