Linus stepped closer to Willow, his gaze steady and intense, his expression carrying a weight that made Willow’s heart race. The warmth of his hand reached out to her, wrapping gently around her wrist as though testing if this reality, this moment, was real. His voice, hoarse but filled with conviction, cut through the gentle hum of the forest.
“Yea, I don’t know about the future,” he repeated, his words slow, deliberate. “But I definitely have some ideas about now.”
Before Willow could respond, Linus bent down, his arms sliding effortlessly under her knees and around her back. With a fluid, practiced motion, he lifted her off the ground, cradling her against his chest. Willow let out a small gasp, her cheeks flushing as her arms instinctively circled his neck. She was light in his embra
