The next day, Selene found herself wandering back to the forest, her mind caught in an emotional whirlwind. Training with Caleb had become her escape, her way of finding strength in a world where everything felt like it was crumbling around her. Yet, she couldn’t shake the way he looked at her during their sessions—the quiet intensity in his mismatched eyes, as if he saw more of her than she was ready to show. The memory of the kiss lingered, uninvited but persistent. Her heart ached when she thought of the way he held her gaze afterward, as though he had just crossed a line she wasn’t sure she was ready to cross.
By the time she reached their usual clearing, Caleb was already there, waiting. He leaned casually against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, his dark hair tousled by the bree
