She jumped.
Not just any jump. A f*****g leap—up, over a fallen tree trunk, twisting midair like she knew I was right behind her.
I skidded, barely dodging the damn thing, snapping my teeth as I missed her by a breath.
She hit the ground running.
Darius was still on our heels, a growl splitting through the night, deep and thunderous, rattling in my chest. His stride was closing in.
Elise was running out of time.
I didn’t think.
I reacted.
I veered, cutting right, taking the risk.
It was all about speed. About angles. I knew how to move, how to shift my weight just right to steal back a fraction of a second.
And right now, a fraction of a second was all I needed.
I caught up.
I lunged—
And this time, I didn’t miss.
My teeth latched onto the scruff of her neck, not hard enough
