Impossible.
He’d been careful. Downwind. Silent.
The man smirked, tossing a bone into the fire. “You’ve been sitting there for ten minutes like a damn deer in rut. The stomach growl gave you away.”
Jonas stood slowly, pushing through the branches. No use pretending anymore.
He walked into the clearing, shoulders stiff, chin lifted just enough to avoid looking weak. He kept one hand close to the knife, the only weapon he was able to bring with him, but not obvious. Let them think he wasn’t afraid.
Even though his heart was thudding like a war drum.
“Didn’t mean to intrude,” he said evenly.
The tall one snorted. “Sure you did.”
Jonas kept his expression neutral. "I was just passing through. Smelled food. Thought it was worth checking out."
The other rogues had gone silent now, their
