Kaelen
After the jog, Lucas and I made our way back to the packhouse, the air between us lighter but still carrying the undercurrent of tension. Dinner was waiting when we got inside, and though we ate together in silence, my mind was elsewhere. The conversation with Lucas earlier kept playing on a loop in my head. His apology, his insistence on getting involved in my marriage… it didn’t sit right with me. But for now, I pushed it aside. I was too exhausted to deal with any more drama tonight.
When I finished my meal, I excused myself and headed up to my room. The door creaked softly as I pushed it open, revealing Alara lying on the bed. Her back was to me, but I could tell from her breathing that she wasn’t asleep. It was the same every night—her pretending, me pretending not to notice.
