Serena’s Pov

The dense forest was eerily silent as Baird and I made our way through the transition region. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and earth, and every snap of a twig beneath our feet sounded like a thunderclap in the stillness. We were both on edge, knowing full well the dangers that lurked not just in the shadows but in the open daylight as well.

I glanced at Baird, his jaw set in a determined line. His presence was a ...