Jasmin's POV
My breath seized in my throat as I stared at the crumpled note, the harsh words swimming before my eyes as my fingers shook uncontrollably.
"Clyde..." Terror wrapped around my chest like a crushing band. Images of last night flashed through my mind, Clyde bloodied and hurt from the previous attack.
I whirled around, desperately searching the sea of faces around me.
Where had Hardy and Matthew disappeared to?
Those two shadows had been haunting my every step since the trials began.
Always lurking. Always scheming. Always present.
Yet now?
They had vanished completely.
The timing felt wrong. Too convenient to be anything but deliberate.
My frantic spinning sent me careening straight into what felt like a brick wall of solid muscle.
I staggered backward, powerful hands gripping my shoulders to prevent my fall.
"Whoa there, easy does it."
Looking up, I found Alpha Elliott towering over me.
