Ace
That branch snap?
Not the wind.
“Contact,” I whisper.
Everyone locks in.
Weapons up. Breathing slows. Focus sharpens.
“There,” Beast murmurs.
Movement—right side treeline.
Fast.
Too fast.
“Don’t lose him,” I snap.
And then we’re moving.
I take off, pushing through the trees, branches snapping underfoot.
Tessa is behind me—I can hear her—but I don’t look back.
I trust she’s there.
I trust my team more.
The guy runs like he knows the terrain.
Cuts left. Then right. Never slowing.
“Splitting left!” Trigger calls.
“Cut him off!” I shout.
We fan out.
Box him in.
He veers—
Straight toward the river.
Bad move.
The trees break.
Water roars ahead. Dark. Fast. No clean crossing.
He skids to a stop.
Turns.
Weapon up.
