The wind was sharper the second time Edwin arrived at the edge of the Scarlet Pack's territory, but it did not stop him from riding straight to the old and quiet cottage nestled between the trees.
The scent of sage, vegetation, and cedar still lingered in the air, calm and haunting, just like the woman who lived within its walls.
He dismounted from his horse, and his heart started to beat with quiet urgency. This time, he did not wait for a summons, he knocked on the door once, and then stepped inside.
Tiara was seated cross-legged before a low table on which she gently grinded dried herbs into a bowl. Her expression was unreadable, but her hands paused the moment she felt his presence.
“I came back,” he quietly said, uncertainty registered in his voice.
“Hmm, I noticed,” she repl
