The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is the quiet. The silence is almost startling, like the world is holding its breath.
For the first time in three days, I can take a breath without feeling like my skin is too tight, without the ache deep in my bones and without the relentless, burning heat consuming every inch of me.
I feel… reborn. Exhausted but lighter, as though a storm has passed, and all that’s left is the calm aftermath.
The bed is empty beside me, and the space where Alec had been is cool to the touch. I shift slowly, my muscles aching with the remnants of the heat cycle. My legs feel like jelly, and when I try to stand, the room tilts slightly.
I grab one of Alec’s shirts from the floor, his scent enveloping me as I slip it over my head. It’s oversized, the hem brush
