Lena's POV The night was heavy with rain, each drop tapping insistently against the roof, a rhythmic reminder of the storm outside. The kind of rain that made the world feel smaller, more intimate, and somehow heavier with secrets. I had been lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind a tangled mess of thoughts. Everything—the past weeks, Lucian, the baby, the distance from Xander, Jane’s healing, my own fears—was swirling in a storm of its own, almost louder than the rain outside. Mom had gone to the door earlier, her voice calm but firm, and let someone in. I hadn’t seen him enter, hadn’t even heard his footsteps at first, only the faint sound of dripping water and the rustle of his coat as he shook off the rain. Mom had offered him the spare room. A stranger. The thought made my stomach twist, but it was Mom. She never made rash decisions, and she’d clearly sized him up before letting him stay. It was late when I finally got up. The house was quiet, everyone asleep, and I wa
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