Chapter 22
Dean stood at the edge of the Atler front porch, his chest rising and falling with shallow, uneven breaths. He hadn’t stopped running since Ally’s words hit him like a freight train, each step pounding with regret and something else—something deeper. The late afternoon sun dipped low behind the trees, casting long shadows over the small cottage, the scent of pine and warm air heavy in his lungs.
He raised a hand and knocked.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, the sound of soft footsteps echoed inside. The door creaked open, and there she was—Lena.
Her expression was unreadable. Her eyes were swollen, like she hadn’t slept, and her body still looked tense, wrapped in quiet exhaustion. She held the door only partially open, her other hand gripping the edge as if she w
