DEMIEN'S POV:
I moved quietly, my elite guard flanking me as we hunted for any sign of movement. We had been on this mission for days, tracking an enemy that had remained hidden for far too long. The forest was a vast maze of trees and shadows, and I filled my senses with a grounding calm, pushing away the fatigue that gnawed at the edges of my mind. Yet, deep within me, unease began to stir.
My thoughts drifted to Lena and our child, the source of a warmth I had never known before. They were miles away, safe—or so I believed. The memory of them brought a smile to my face, but it also brought fear. Fatherhood had changed me, given me a reason to fight harder, live better. But out here, in the wild, I had to push those thoughts aside. I couldn’t afford distractions.
I pictured Lena's smi
