I woke up tangled in Alexander’s arms. After the terror and the desperate comfort of the night, we hadn’t moved far from each other. His breath was warm on my shoulder, his large hand resting low on my waist, a heavy, reassuring weight that was both possessive and protective. It was the most peaceful I had felt since Julien’s first text.

The silence of the morning was thick with unspoken truths. I carefully shifted, easing myself out from under his arm. He stirred immediately, his eyes ...