Chapter Twenty-Six – The Long Road Home
Carter’s P.O.V.
Morning settled gently over the forest.
Sunlight filtered through the towering pines, scattering ribbons of gold across the forest floor as Charlie and I followed an old hunters’ trail that had long since been reclaimed by nature.
Leaves crunched beneath our boots.
Birds called somewhere high above us.
For the first time in months…
My body didn’t hurt.
I rolled one shoulder, listening to the familiar pop of muscle and bone settling back into place.
No stiffness.
No weakness.
No silver burns.
No lingering ache from Navarro’s endless experiments.
I was whole again.
Charlie noticed.
“You’ve been trying to find something to complain about all morning.”
I glanced at her.
“I wasn’t complaining.”
“You’ve cracked every joint
