Kirk's POV
The air up here was different. Clean, sharp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. No city fumes, no distant hum of traffic. Just the whisper of wind through ancient trees and the steady, rhythmic rush of a river nearby. This remote cabin, nestled deep in the northern wilderness, was a stark contrast to Norman’s opulent mansion, a gilded cage built of marble and glass. And thank the stars for that. This was the right place. The land itself felt alive here, humming with a quiet, powerful energy that I knew would aid Riley.
Norman had finally left a few hours ago, looking like a man torn between two worlds. He'd gone to his "important business meetings," his words still laced with that familiar self-importance. I’d assured him, as calmly as I could, that Riley would be jus
