Amara's POV
As the morning settled into its usual rhythm, I tried to shake the memory of Ryder’s warmth and the quiet moments we had shared. But no matter how hard I tried, the way his voice softened when he spoke to me, the way his hand had lingered in mine—it all lingered in my mind like an echo.
I sighed and wandered into the hallway, hoping to distract myself. But as I turned the corner, I nearly ran straight into someone else.
“Amara,” Caden said, his deep voice pulling me from my thoughts.
I blinked up at him, startled. Caden stood tall, his features softer than Ryder’s but no less striking. His blue eyes shimmered like glaciers, cold yet brimming with hidden emotions. His dark hair was slightly messy, as though he had been running his hands through it all morning.
“Cade
