Page 158 of Ranger's Wildflower

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“No,” Blaze cuts in.

That gets everyone’s attention.

“He’s not tracking us,” Blaze says.

A beat.

Then—

“He’s already here.”

Silence.

Cold.

Heavy.

And every instinct I have—

Screams.

36

Ace

“He’s already here.”

Blaze’s words hit like a trigger pull.

Everything in me locks in.

“Lights off,” I order.

Beast kills the exterior floodlights instantly.

Darkness swallows the yard.

Not silence.

Never silence.

The night is alive—wind shifting through trees, gravel crunching somewhere it shouldn’t, breath held too tight.

“He’s close,” Blaze murmurs, eyes glued to the tablet. “Signal’s bouncing. He’s moving.”

Of course he is.

“Positions,” I say.

Trigger veers right, disappearing into shadow.

Beast takes the left flank.

I pull Tessa back against me, one arm firm around her waist, my body angled to shield hers.

“Stay with me,” I whisper against her ear.

“I am,” she breathes.

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