CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The scent of the Hills Pack lingers in the air, a tangy reminder of our purpose. I keep pace with Ryan, his stride confident and unyielding. The desert underfoot resists each step, yet we push forward, driven by the urgency to find Jake.
"Close now," Ryan grunts, eyes scanning the dark desert.
"Too quiet," I reply, my senses stretched thin, searching for any sign of them.
We crest over a sandy ridge. Below, the remnants of a temporary camp come into view. Abandoned. The unease coils tighter in my gut.
"Damn it!" Ryan's curse slices through the silence, echoing my own frustration.
"Spread out," I command, addressing the pack. "Look for tracks."
I move closer to Ryan, our shoulders nearly touching. "Why would they leave?"
"Jake's smart," he says, staring at the empty
