Aurora's POV
The forest seemed to close in around me as I ran, branches whipping at my face and arms. I didn't know how long I'd been running, only that I couldn't stop. Every shadow looked like Ethan or Mason, every rustle of leaves sounded like pursuit. My lungs burned, and my legs trembled with exhaustion, but still, I pushed on.
Finally, I burst through the treeline into a moonlit clearing, collapsing onto my knees in the dew-damp grass. As I gasped for air, trying to quiet the pounding of my heart, a voice broke through the night.
"Well, well. What have we here?"
I whirled around, scrambling to my feet despite my exhaustion. A woman stood at the edge of the clearing, her silhouette backlit by the moon. As she stepped forward, I could make out her features - sharp cheekbones, pierc
