The group continued down the winding path, the air thick with tension. Hak's silence weighed heavily on Juliana, her mind racing to piece together what he had seen. The brief flicker of vulnerability in his eyes haunted her, a glimpse of a burden he refused to share.
Selene walked ahead, her sharp gaze scanning the forest. Jaxon followed close behind, his usual humor replaced by a quiet vigilance. Juliana stayed beside Hak, her presence a silent offer of comfort.
"Whatever you saw," she said softly, breaking the silence, "you don't have to carry it alone."
Hak glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Some truths are better left unspoken."
Juliana opened her mouth to protest but stopped herself. The resolve in his voice told her it wasn't a matter of trust but of protection.
A New E
