Elara’s POV
I walked swiftly through the trees, my heart still pounding from my encounter with Luca. His words echoed in my mind, wrapping around me like an unshakable force.
"Tell me you don’t feel it."
I clenched my fists, my breath coming out unevenly.
How could he do this to me? How could he make me question everything I had carefully built within myself?
Maybe I was being too hard.
The river had always been my sanctuary, a place where I could think without disturbance. But today, it was anything but peaceful. Luca had found me, and now, I felt more lost than ever.
I sighed, forcing myself to focus on the path ahead. The camp was just beyond the trees. I needed to clear my mind before I faced anyone else—
“Elara?”
I halted abruptly, almost colliding with my mother. She stood
