The morning air was sharp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and dew through the forest surrounding the packhouse. I woke early, the events of the previous day still heavy in my chest. Downtown. Rafe. His calm, controlled menace had rattled me more than I’d realized, and even as the sun rose, I could feel the tension lingering in my muscles.
Asher was already up when I went downstairs, his energy steady but tight around him. “Morning.” He said quietly, reaching for my hand. “Sleep okay?”
I nodded, though I hadn’t really slept. The images of Rafe downtown, his smirk, the way he’d toyed with the young man… it kept replaying in my mind. “Not really.” I admitted, letting my fingers intertwine with his. “I keep thinking about him. About what he’s capable of.”
Asher squeezed my hand, energ
