OMEGA

I was running away. Not in the metaphorical sense—the literal one. My old Honda Civic sped down the highway, its engine groaning like it shared my exhaustion. Each mile put more distance between me and the life I’d left behind. The city that once felt like a bustling maze of possibilities had become a gilded cage. My ex-husband, Daniel, held the keys, and every turn was a dead end. Now, with nothing but the clothes in my suitcase and a half-tank of gas, I was finally breaking free.It wasn’t just Daniel I was escaping. It was the crushing indifference of my family, the pitying stares of so-called friends who thought I should be grateful. “He has money,” they’d say. “Why can’t you just be happy?” Happy. Like I could be happy with the bruises that lingered long after his apologies, or the cutting words that made me shrink until I barely recognized myself.The low-fuel warning chimed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the dashboard clock: 10:17 PM. The highway stretched endles

The morning air was crisp as I stepped out of the motel, taking in the peaceful charm of Willowridge. The town was already awake, the scent of fresh bread wafting from the bakery, mixing with the rich aroma of coffee drifting from the diner. The streets weren’t crowded, but people moved about, greeting each other with warm smiles and easy conversation. It was a stark contrast to the life I had left behind.I walked leisurely down the main street, peering into the quaint little shops. A bookstore with a weathered wooden sign caught my attention, and I made a mental note to stop by later. A few doors down, a flower shop displayed vibrant bouquets in the window, adding splashes of color to the street. Everything about this town felt welcoming, almost as if it had been waiting for me to arrive.Then, my phone buzzed.I ignored it at first, unwilling to let anything disrupt the small moment of peace I had found. But then it buzzed again. And again. Reluctantly, I pulled it from my pocket a

The drive out to the cabin was peaceful, the kind that made me feel like I was leaving the rest of the world behind. Tall trees lined the road, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns across the gravel path. My fingers twisted in my lap, a mix of anticipation and nerves bubbling in my stomach. I hadn’t expected to find something I felt so drawn to so quickly.The real estate agent, Melissa, gave me a reassuring smile as she pulled the car into a small clearing. "Here we are," she said. "It’s even better in person, I promise."She wasn’t wrong. The pictures hadn’t done the cabin justice. It was nestled perfectly among the trees, the wooden exterior rich and warm in the afternoon sun. A stone chimney jutted up from the roof, and the front porch had a wooden swing that swayed gently in the breeze. It looked… perfect. Like home.My breath caught as I stepped out of the car, taking in the scent of pine and earth. This was it. This was where I wanted

The following morning, sunlight filtered through the cabin’s large windows, casting golden streaks across the wooden floor. I stretched in bed, the warmth of the morning light wrapping around me like a soft blanket. For the first time in what felt like forever, I woke up without a sense of dread curling in my chest. The stillness of the forest outside wasn’t suffocating—it was freeing.But even in this peace, the memory of last night’s visit lingered.Jace and Nolan.Their presence had unsettled me, but not in the way I’d expected. It wasn’t fear, exactly, but a kind of restless curiosity. There was something about them—the intensity in their eyes, the way they seemed to see right through me. And Nolan’s piercing blue eyes, in particular, haunted my thoughts. I could still see the way they had flickered gold, even though I kept telling myself it was just a trick of the light.Shaking off the thoughts, I decided I needed to get out. To breathe in the fresh air and remind myself that th

The knock at the door echoed through the cabin, startling me more than I cared to admit. My heart still pounded from the memories that had clawed their way into my mind, but I pushed them aside as I made my way to the door.I opened it to find Jace standing there, hands in his jacket pockets, a half-smile on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes.“Morning, traveler,” he said softly. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”I shook my head, offering a faint smile. “No, just… thinking.”His gaze flickered with something—concern, maybe—but he didn’t press. “Nolan and I thought we’d take you up on that walk we talked about. Unless you need more time?”A part of me wanted to retreat, to sink back into the safety of the cabin and hide from the world. But another part, the part that craved connection, that longed for something more than my past, made me nod. “No, I’m ready. Let me grab my jacket.”As I stepped back inside, I heard Jace chuckle softly. “You might want boots too. Nolan’s idea of a ‘wal