Frederik paced the corridor outside Melody’s bedroom, his footsteps a restless rhythm against the polished wooden floor. Every few seconds, his eyes darted to the closed door, the barrier between him and the woman who had come to mean so much to him. Frederik’s fingers drummed against his leg, his breaths coming in shallow, rapid bursts. He rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the storm of thoughts that refused to calm.
The hallway was dimly lit, the soft glow of wall sconces casting long shadows that flickered and danced. Each creak of the floorboards seemed louder than the last, echoing in the stillness like a drumbeat. The soft murmur of the Pack House settling for the night only heightened the oppressive quiet that pressed down on Frederik. Frederik’s heart beat a frantic tempo, each
