Chapter 34 – Whispers Beneath the Pines
The morning sun broke through the veil of mist that clung to the valley, scattering golden shards of light across the rugged expanse of Moonshadow Ridge. The pine trees stood tall and silent, their branches heavy with dew, as though nature itself was holding its breath for what was about to come.
For Elena, sleep had been fleeting. Dreams tugged at her like restless ghosts—images of Damian’s eyes, fierce and wounded; the soft press of his hand against hers; and the unspoken promise that lingered every time they stood too close. She rose with an ache in her chest, an ache that wasn’t entirely born of exhaustion.
The cabin was quiet. Too quiet. Lila’s laughter no longer filled the air the way it once had, and the weight of last night’s argument stil
