Chapter 35 –
Whispers Beneath the Storm
The storm descended upon Moonshadow Ridge like an old beast reclaiming its territory. The wind howled through the pine trees, rattling their branches so fiercely that needles fell like rain. Shadows leapt and twisted as flashes of lightning split the sky, throwing the mountain into sharp relief. The ridge itself seemed alive—groaning, whispering, warning.
Lila stood at the precipice, her cloak plastered to her skin, her hair whipping wildly in the gale. She should have sought shelter, but something inside her resisted. The storm mirrored the chaos in her chest, and she wanted to face it, to let it tear at her until nothing was left but truth.
Behind her, Damian’s steady footsteps approached, crunching on gravel slick with rain. His presence was
