  Celena&#39;s Perspective
  The pickup truck ate up the highway, its engine growling, the scenery outside blurring into streaks of color. Wind whipped through the half-open window, tangling my hair and carrying Jacob&#39;s familiar scent—pine, sweat, and that uniquely warm, wild essence that was his alone.
  I drew a deep breath, filling my lungs with it. Suddenly, a feeling I hadn&#39;t experienced in a very long time rose within me, like a dormant spring beginning to flow once more.
  Back then—when I was observed like a lab rat in Karl&#39;s basement—Brett had been like a brother, my first taste of familial warmth. But Jacob, after my escape… he had replaced Brett, becoming something even more essential. Jacob was the one who could read my silences, who offered his jacket when I shivered, who sat with me through the night, listening to my incoherent ramblings after a nightmare until 

  Jacob&#39;s Perspective
  My girl was back.
  The words echoed in my mind like a tremor of pure sweetness, making my hands tremble slightly on the wheel. It wasn&#39;t fear. It was a dizzying, weightless joy, the kind that made me feel like if this rustbucket of a pickup decided to take flight, I&#39;d just ride it out with a grin plastered on my face.
  Celena had forgiven me.
  She&#39;d actually said it. She&#39;d looked right at me with those eyes, stripped of all their defensive edges, and said those words in a voice soft enough to break my heart. It wasn&#39;t a dream. The celebratory honks and whistles from Lily&#39;s SUV behind us were proof enough. Dave and that lunatic twin Jim were probably still hollering.
  And that kiss. God above, that kiss.
  I could still taste the salt—hers or mine?—and feel the profound shift as she finally, completely relaxed into my embrace. The tr

  Celena&#39;s Perspective
  The dull impact seemed to have echoed from the depths of the left passage. Jacob and I locked eyes. No time for debate. We dove into the darker tunnel.
  Our flashlight beam carved a shaky path through the oppressive gloom, illuminating rough concrete walls and occasional damp patches on the floor. The air, perpetually cold and tinged with chemicals, now carried a fresh thread of blood and… the sharp tang of cordite. Faint, but undeniable.
  &quot;God, it&#39;s black as pitch,&quot; Jacob growled low. His wolf eyes should have an edge in the dark, but here there was zero light—a pure underground labyrinth. &quot;Hold on.&quot; He felt along the wall until his fingers found a recessed switch and clicked it.
  Overhead, a few widely spaced fluorescent tubes flickered and buzzed to life, casting a ghastly white pallor that pushed back some shadows but made the c

Celena&#39;s Perspective
  The pickup truck ate up the highway, its engine growling, the scenery outside blurring into streaks of color. Wind whipped through the half-open window, tangling my hair and carrying Jacob&#39;s familiar scent—pine, sweat, and that uniquely warm, wild essence that was his alone.
  I drew a deep breath, filling my lungs with it. Suddenly, a feeling I hadn&#39;t experienced in a very long time rose within me, like a dormant spring beginning to flow once more.
  Back then—when I was observed like a lab rat in Karl&#39;s basement—Brett had been like a brother, my first taste of familial warmth. But Jacob, after my escape… he had replaced Brett, becoming something even more essential. Jacob was the one who could read my silences, who offered his jacket when I shivered, who sat with me through the night, listening to my incoherent ramblings after a nightmare until dawn broke.
  He understood me better, cared for me more deeply than even Max, my blood brother. H

Chapter 234