Carter's POV
The storm broke just before dawn.
The kind of storm that didn’t end with a bang, just… faded. Like it had spent everything it had and slipped away into the trees, embarrassed. The wind calmed. The sleet turned to slush. The world outside the cabin exhaled. Quiet returned.
Inside, though? The tension hadn't moved an inch.
Ruby hadn’t spoken to me since last night. Not really. Just a few clipped answers, a few nods when I handed her water or adjusted the fire. Nothing beyond that. Her wall was back up,taller than ever,and I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve it. Or maybe I did.
She was still curled on the couch, buried under that blanket like it was armor. Her legs tucked up. One hand resting across her stomach like a shield. I’d seen her adjust it like that a dozen time
