AUTHOR's POV
Their eyes met across the clearing. Cole hissed and tore his gaze off Carl's. He turned back to the creature and kept fighting. “Get up, softie,” he taunted through the mind link dismissively.
Carl slowly got to his feet, shaking debris from his thick coat. He frowned at him as he wondered what brought about the gesture.
But then he just dipped his head slightly, acknowledging his help as he turned to scan the area for more threats.
Velicia was still leaning against the rough tree bark, trying to catch her breath. Every part of her body ached with a fierce pain that went through her whole body. She could barely stand after running so hard through the woods.
Resting against the sturdy trunk for support, Velicia closed her eyes for a moment to calm down.
She could st
