Chapter 28

The forest was eerily silent. The usual cacophony of rustling leaves and distant animal calls had been replaced by an oppressive stillness that pressed against Edgar like a vice. The damp earth beneath his boots squelched softly as he trudged forward, his senses on high alert. He could still smell the faint traces of his team—a mix of sweat, blood, and faint adrenaline—but the scent trails had grown fainter the deeper he moved into the woods.

They had been ambushed. A coordinated attack that scattered the group in different directions. Edgar had tried to stay close to the others, but Shapeshifter had targeted him deliberately, her presence like a shadow stalking his every move. Now he was alone, and he knew that was exactly what she wanted.