Author's Note: This chapter follows Chapter 31 by mistake. You'll find Chapter 33 after Chapter 35 (I know, I messed up, I'm really sorry!). If you're following the story in order, please ensure you've read Chapter 31, 32 and 33 first to avoid any confusion. Apologies for the publishing hiccup!
The forest was still. The silence of the night, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves underfoot, was almost suffocating. But to me, it was familiar, comforting. The shadows had always been my ally, the darkness my cover. Moving through the trees, I could feel the others close by, their presence a steady reassurance that I was not alone.
They thought we were enemies—dangerous, unpredictable. They were right, but not for the reasons they believed. We weren’t here for blood. Not yet, at least.
