JAYDEN

I sprinted through the trees, my legs slicing through the underbrush like they belonged to the forest itself.

Jerome flanked me on the left. Mark on the right. None of us spoke.

We didn’t need to.

The scent trail was fresh—too fresh. Faint, like someone wanted to be noticed, but only just enough.

“Anything?” I called out without slowing.

Mark grunted. “Nothing solid yet. But they were here.”

Jerome pointed ahead, eyes narrowed. “This way. The prints curve north—away from the border.”

Smart. Whoever it was didn’t want confrontation.

Not yet.

But they wanted us aware.

That’s what pissed me off most.

They weren’t attacking. They were testing.

I...