Chapter 78

Chapter Title: Trust and Daggers

LAURA's POV

I stood there, eyeing the rogues, my patience running out like sand in an hourglass. The moonlight filtering through the trees cast an eerie glow over everything, making the situation feel even more tense. The rogue leader’s eyes bore into mine, but there was no fear in them—only defiance.“I’m giving you one last chance,” I said, my voice steady, though the threat in it was clear. “Tell me where Ryker is.”The leader smirked, an arrogant curl at the corner of his lips. “You can threaten us all you want, but we’re not talking. Ryker’s our leader. We don’t betray our own.”Silence followed, thick and heavy, as if the whole forest was holding its breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Augustus watching, arms crossed, a slight nod signaling to me that he was ready if things went south. And we both knew it was going to.I gave the signal.Everything happened at once—the team lunged forward, and so did the rogues. The forest erupted into chaos,