PAULINE POV
The door creaked open slowly, like it knew it was unveiling something sacred.
And holy hell.
I didn’t breathe at first.
Then I did—and it hit me. That mix of pine and fresh linens, the faint smell of lemonwood and… was that sage? I stepped inside, barely aware of my feet moving.
The entryway opened into a wide, sun-drenched living space that honestly felt more like the inside of a forest cabin than a pack apartment. A small wood-burning stove sat nestled in the corner, a fire already crackling quietly behind glass. The walls were paneled with rich cedar, warm and golden in the afternoon light, while beams above gave the ceiling an almost cathedral feel—cozy, not grand. Lived-in.
The kitchen sat to the right, separated by a low counter made of dark stone and smooth timber.
