Alina’s POV
The compound felt different after that morning.
It was subtle—the kind of shift you couldn’t point to directly but felt in your bones. It was like the air had shifted, or the temperature had dropped just a little, even though no thermometer could pick it up. Everyone was trying to act normal, going through their routines with practiced ease, but there was a tension beneath the surface. It felt like something important had cracked, and we were all just waiting to see if it would hold or shatter completely.
Jaxon was trying the hardest.
He stayed close throughout the morning—not exactly hovering, but there in a way he hadn’t been in a while. When I went to the library to find something to read, he showed up ten minutes later with coffee and a book he thought I’d enjoy. Later,
