Chapter Twenty-One

The quiet of the cabin stretched on as I lay curled up on the couch, my phone resting on the armrest beside me. Jace’s last message lingered in my mind, the words repeating like a quiet echo.I know you can. But that doesn’t mean you have to.I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I had spent so much of my life being told that I had to be strong, that I had to endure, that I had to do things on my own. The idea of leaning on someone, of letting someone be there for me, felt foreign. Uncomfortable.And yet… a part of me wanted to believe it. Wanted to believe that for once, I didn’t have to fight every battle alone.A knock on the door shattered the silence, making me jolt upright. My heart hammered against my ribs as I turned toward the door, my fingers tightening around the blanket draped over my shoulders.Another knock, this one firmer.I hesitated before pushing to my feet, my steps slow and cautious. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Jace had texted, but he hadn’t said he was coming. And

Last Updated : 2025-02-25

Chapter Twenty-Two

The warmth of the fire flickered against the walls of the cabin, casting shifting shadows that danced across the wooden beams. I sat curled up on the couch, my knees tucked under me, watching the flames as they crackled softly. Nolan sat in the armchair across from me, his posture relaxed, but his gaze sharp, watchful. He hadn’t said much since deciding to stay, but his presence alone carried a weight I couldn’t ignore.I should have felt awkward. I should have told him to leave. But instead, there was an odd comfort in knowing I wasn’t alone.Nolan stretched out his legs, resting an arm over the back of the chair. “You look like you have something on your mind.”I exhaled slowly, rubbing my hands over my arms. “I have a million things on my mind.”He nodded, like he had expected that answer. “You want to talk about any of them?”I hesitated, glancing over at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was patience there, an openness that made me feel like he wasn’t asking just to b

Last Updated : 2025-02-26

Chapter Twenty-Three

The cabin was quiet, save for the crackling of the fire. The warmth spread through the small space, but it did little to ease the storm of thoughts whirling in my mind. The flames flickered, their glow casting long shadows on the walls, dancing in rhythm with the occasional gust of wind that rattled the windows. The scent of burning wood mixed with the faint lingering traces of coffee from earlier, grounding me in the present despite my spiraling thoughts.Nolan had settled into the armchair across from me, his posture relaxed, yet his watchful gaze never wavered. He was here, steady and unwavering, like an anchor keeping me from completely drifting away into my uncertainty. Despite the exhaustion weighing me down, sleep refused to come. My body felt tense, my mind restless. Every answer Nolan had given me only led to more questions, more uncertainty. It was like standing on the edge of a vast ocean, staring into the waves but too afraid to step forward, not knowing how deep the wate

Last Updated : 2025-02-27

Chapter Twenty-Four

Morning came slowly, creeping in through the curtains in muted shades of gray. The fire had long since died out, leaving behind only a faint scent of smoke and the lingering warmth that barely touched the chill in the air. I shifted beneath the blanket, my body stiff from sleeping curled up on the couch. Every joint in my body protested as I moved, the discomfort a reminder of just how exhausted I had been the night before.For a moment, I had forgotten where I was. The weight of exhaustion made my mind hazy, and for a fleeting second, I could have believed I was somewhere else—somewhere safer, somewhere simpler. But the quiet presence in the room reminded me that reality was much different now.I turned my head slightly, catching sight of Nolan. He was still here, exactly where I had last seen him, sitting in the armchair, his long legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest. His breathing was slow and even, but I could tell he wasn’t entirely asleep. His presence was reassuring,

Last Updated : 2025-02-28

Chapter Twenty-Five

The drive to the diner was a quiet one. The trees lining the road blurred past, their branches swaying under the weight of the wind. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white, as I tried to steady the storm of emotions brewing inside me.I kept replaying Nolan’s words from this morning in my mind—one step at a time. But each step felt heavier than the last, each moment spent in this town pulling me deeper into something I didn’t fully understand yet.When I arrived, the diner was just beginning to pick up with the usual morning crowd. Locals gathered in booths, drinking coffee, sharing idle chatter about the day ahead. The familiarity of it was almost comforting. Almost.Jace was already waiting for me in a corner booth, a cup of coffee in front of him, fingers idly tracing the rim of the mug. His gaze lifted as I approached, studying me carefully."You look like hell," he said by way of greeting.I huffed a small laugh as I slid into the booth. "Thanks. You always know

Last Updated : 2025-03-04

Chapter Twenty-Six

The drive back to my cabin felt longer than usual, my thoughts tangled with everything that had happened at the diner. My conversation with Jace had left me with more questions than answers, and no matter how many times I replayed his words in my head, I couldn’t quite make sense of it all.I pulled up in front of the small cabin, cutting the engine before stepping out into the crisp evening air. The sky was painted in hues of deep orange and fading blue, and the scent of pine and damp earth surrounded me. It was peaceful here—quieter than anywhere I had ever lived. But tonight, that quiet felt heavy.As I approached the door, I wasn’t surprised to find a familiar figure leaning against the porch railing. Nolan. He straightened at the sound of my footsteps, his sharp gaze scanning me as if checking for any visible signs of distress."Took you long enough," he muttered, arms crossing over his chest.I sighed, stepping past him to unlock the door. "I didn’t realize I had a curfew.""You

Last Updated : 2025-04-09