Erick’s POV

The forest felt wrong; something wasn't right.

Erick walked through the trees, checking the edges of their protected area. But he kept thinking about the clearing, about Deborah sitting close to the altar. She was trying hard to convince herself that what they had shared meant nothing.

He had felt her fear when they touched. It was strong and real, the fear of someone who had built such high walls around herself that she'd forgotten what it felt like to let anyone in.

He ...