Lena's POV
When I woke, the cabin was quiet. The fire had burned low, leaving just a warm glow along the wooden walls. My body ached from the cold and from running, but I was alive. And that small fact made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t fully understand.
Jax was sitting on the floor across from me, knees pulled to his chest. His eyes were golden again, but calmer now, softer somehow. He didn’t move when I opened my eyes, just watched me, waiting.
“Morning,” I whispered. My voice was hoarse, raw from shouting and fear.
He tilted his head slightly. “You slept. That’s good.”
I rubbed my face with my hands. “I feel… exhausted. And scared.”
“You’re not alone,” he said simply. “Not tonight, not ever.”
I swallowed hard, unsure if I could trust the words or the calm in his tone. He ha
