Page 81 of Bitten, Marked, Obsessed

It’s her.

Because Adora’s done pretending. And whatever she decides to be now?

The world won’t survive it unscathed.

33

KENDALL

Ihaven't slept. Not really.

Just closed my eyes and let the storm inside me slow enough to fake stillness. My muscles ache from clenching, my throat’s raw from holding back panic, and I’ve already worn a path into the hardwood pacing.

Adora’s gone. Again. And I know it’s because of me and poking my nose into her business. Because she heard what she wasn’t supposed to. Or maybe because our mother never had the guts to tell her herself. Either way, she vanished after hearing that name. Hell, I wanted to vanish after hearing it.

Wulfson.

She’s fucking Callum’s sister. The one who’s been training me. The one who apparently I am fated to be with. He’s my sister’s half brother. What the fuck.

And now, it’s been twenty-four hours. Then the market explosion hit the news.

Gideon’s Torch.

I watched the footage three times. Smoke. Blood. Screaming.

A public fucking massacre and no real suspects named. But everyone knows. Everyonealwaysknows when it’s Gideon’s Torch. They leave a calling card without ever writing one.

PEACE issued a statement on TV, but they’re scrambling. They're underfunded, overworked, and terrified of their own shadows.

And Adora? She hasn’t called. Texted. Nothing.

My phone buzzes in my hand making me jump as I try to keep my eyes down and search the streets at the same time.I see the name and answer before the first ring finishes.

“Adora?!”

Her voice is sharp. Grounded. Too calm. “Meet me.”

“Where?”

“You know the place.”

“Adora—”

“Bring your gear.”

She hangs up.

My heart kicks into overdrive as I head to the training area in the woods. The place where Dad took me to shift. The place I told Adora about before she met Callum. That has to be the place she meant.

The clearing feels different today.

The air hums. Buzzes. Like the dirt itself is holding its breath.

Adora steps out from the trees. And with her, Callum.

I breathe a sigh of relief, realizing she’s been safe the whole time, but then I really look at Adora.

She doesn’t hesitate. Doesn’t offer a hello. Just drops her bag beside a rock and starts stretching like she’s gearing up for war.

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