If I was being completely honest with myself, I kind of missed Devina.
She wasn't my closest friend—Viola held that title without question—but Devina was still amazing in her own way.
And it wasn't just her.
I missed all of them.
Charis, with her sharp wit and that mischievous glint in her eye.
Calista, who always knew the right thing to say, even when everything was falling apart.
Selena, soft-spoken but fierce when she needed to be.
And Tiffany, whose laugh could brighten even the darkest days.
I sighed.
I missed them.
I missed their voices, their jokes, the way we'd sit around talking about the most random things for hours.
I missed home.
And more than anything, I missed Cole.
God, I missed him like crazy.
He wasn't just my fiancé.
He was Cole.
The one person I loved more than anything. The one person who had always been there for me, no matter what.
And right now?
Right now, he was probably losing his mind trying to find me.
I could see it so clearly in my head—the way his jaw would be tight with worry, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes dark with fear.
He would've called a search party by now.
No, he definitely had.
Cole wasn't the type to sit around and wait. He would be out there, turning the entire city upside down if he had to, searching for me.
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening.
I wanted to call him.
I wanted to hear his voice, to tell him that I was okay.
To tell him that I hadn't disappeared off the face of the earth, that I was alive, that I was… safe.
But was I?
I didn't know anymore.
This place—this entire situation—was something I never could've imagined in a million years.
I had gotten lost.
I had met a werewolf.
I had slept with said werewolf.
And now?
Now I was trapped in a cabin, hiding from creatures that wanted to eat me.
I sighed again, pressing a hand to my forehead.
Everything was just… too much.
I needed air.
Limping toward the door, I pushed it open carefully, stepping outside into the cool morning air.
I didn't go far.
I couldn't go far.
My leg still ached, reminding me that I wasn't in any condition to be wandering off.
So I just stood there, leaning against the side of the cabin, staring up at the sky.
It was beautiful.
The sky was a soft shade of blue, tinged with hints of pink and gold from the rising sun. The air smelled fresh, crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth.
It was… peaceful.
For a moment, I let myself get lost in it.
Lost in the quiet.
Lost in the feeling of being alone with my thoughts.
I wanted to go home.
I wanted to see Cole again.
I wanted to pretend that none of this had ever happened.
But it had.
And now?
Now I had to figure out what the hell I was going to do next.
I didn't know how long I stood there, just staring at the sky, lost in my thoughts.
Long enough for the morning chill to settle into my skin.
Long enough to feel the ache in my leg creeping up again.
But not long enough to prepare myself for the sudden sound of footsteps behind me.
"I was looking for you everywhere."
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Spinning around—well, more like limping around—I found Dalton standing a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression a mix of annoyance and something else I couldn't quite place.
Was he… worried?
He looked worried.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice slightly softer this time. "Why'd you leave the cabin?"
I swallowed, suddenly feeling like a kid who got caught sneaking out past curfew.
"I just needed some fresh air," I muttered. "Nothing much."
His sharp eyes scanned my face, as if trying to determine whether I was telling the truth.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, he sighed.
His shoulders relaxed slightly, and I could tell he wasn't actually mad.
At least, not completely.
"Did you clean inside?" he asked, tilting his head toward the cabin.
I nodded. "Yeah. I mean, you've been doing everything for me, so I figured…" I trailed off, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
I wasn't useless, and I wanted to prove that somehow.
Dalton stared at me for a second before shaking his head, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
"Thanks," he said.
I waved him off. "No need. You've done way more."
His gaze lingered on me for a beat longer before he asked, "Have you eaten?"
I blinked. Eaten?
I hadn't even thought about food. My stomach hadn't complained once since I woke up. But now that he mentioned it…
"Nope," I admitted.
Dalton nodded. "Come inside."
I followed him back into the cabin, settling into my usual spot while he moved around, grabbing things from a small cupboard.
A few minutes later, he placed a plate in front of me.
Bread and egg.
My eyebrows shot up.
They have bread and egg here too?
Dalton caught the expression on my face and let out a short laugh.
I almost smiled. Almost.
But before I could say anything—before I could even take a bite—
The door creaked open.
And someone walked in.
Dalton immediately stiffened.
I turned my head, my stomach flipping as I took in the new arrival.
A girl.
Tall.
Red hair, piercing eyes.
She looked at me, then at Dalton, her lips pressing together in a thin line.
"Dalton…" she said, her voice slow, calculating.
Dalton clenched his jaw.
"Ravenna."
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze flickering back to me.
"Dalton, who's she?"