Serena’s POV
The cold air of the forest clung to me, and though I held my head high, my insides churned with a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite pin down. Ethan’s words echoed in my mind, his twisted smile a reminder of the chaos brewing just beneath the surface.
I was used to being alone, to relying on myself. But now, walking beside Kael with his steady presence brushing against mine, I felt something unfamiliar. Safety. It was infuriating.
“You’re quiet,” Kael said, breaking the silence as we approached the packhouse.
“What do you want me to say?” I shot back, a little sharper than I intended.
He stopped in his tracks, forcing me to turn and face him. His stormy gray eyes bore into mine, filled with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
“Maybe that you’re not planning to do
