**ASHER POV**
The moment I heard a chilling scream from the shadowy forest, adrenaline shot through me. I jumped from bed, heart racing, and rushed to the window, recognizing Ivy's desperate voice. I threw on a shirt and bolted from my room.
In the dim hallway, I saw Cole and my parents emerging, confusion on their faces. Panic surged, and I shouted for them to retreat back, desperate to protect them—especially Cole, who didn’t need more reasons to use anything against Ivy.
I dashed into the cool night, the trees closing in around me. But as I crossed the treeline, Ivy was nowhere in sight. A mind link from Noah revealed she had reached the border—alone. Worry swelled in me; if she was screaming in agony, how could she have traveled so far so quickly?As I finally broke through the under
