Chapter 30: Beneath the Mask

The cabin was quiet again, the fire reduced to glowing embers that painted the walls in hues of gold and amber. Aurora sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the window at the starless sky. She could still feel the weight of Logan's kiss on her lips, his words echoing in her mind.

I'm not walking away.

She wanted to believe him, to cling to the fragile hope he offered, but hope had never been kind to her. Hope had a way of luring her in with sweet promises before ripping the ground out from under her feet.

But Logan wasn't like the others, a voice inside her whispered. He wasn't just a fleeting presence in her life. He stayed—despite her sharp edges, despite her attempts to push him away.

Aurora shook her head, standing abruptly. She couldn't let herself get attached. People always left, and she couldn't survive losing someone else.