Chapter 170

Zoe's POV

Something shifted in the air. A sound. Faint, but growing louder. Fast. Surrounding us.

My body went rigid. "You’re right. We need to go. NOW."

I bolted for the car. Xavier didn’t need to be told twice. I got into the driver’s seat before he could and started the engine just as he slid into the passenger seat.

I slammed my foot on the gas. Our heads snapped back against the headrests. The sudden acceleration was reckless, but hesitation would kill us.

The howls came before Xavier could even ask what was happening. He had warned me that this area was dangerous, especially at night. Now, I understood why. We should have taken the longer route, crossed the border checkpoints, and dealt with the scrutiny. But that would have meant exposing an Alpha outside his territory without official business—a red flag we weren’t willing to raise. Instead, we had chosen this unclaimed land, littered with rogues. And now, they had marked us.

I gritted my teeth and pressed harder on the pedal.