Chapter 144

• I saved Hadrian’s number without thinking, my fingers moving automatically. But the moment his name appeared on my screen, I hesitated. Should I reach out first? The question tormented me, unraveling any hope of sleep. I wasn’t sure if I could forgive him for what he had done, yet my pulse quickened at the thought that he hadn’t given up on us. Still, there was Kenzo—subtle but relentless, weaving himself into my thoughts with every small, deliberate action. He was drawing me in, his pull almost impossible to resist.
• I got up long before my alarm could go off.
• Adrenaline coursed through me, my body fueled by it more than any rest could provide. I dressed quickly, stepping out of my tent to stretch. The forest was still wrapped in darkness, its silence broken only by the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees. Wearing combat boots, fitted black pants, and a short-sleeved top, I stood in the clearing when I saw them—red eyes cutting through the shadows.