Stella jolted awake, her body drenched in cold sweat. The room around her spun in a dizzying blur as she struggled to regain her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, the sound echoing in her ears like a relentless drumbeat. She could still feel the weight of the dagger in her hand, the sharp, metallic scent of blood filling her senses. The image of William's lifeless body on the ground flashed before her eyes.
But something was wrong.
She blinked, forcing herself to take in her surroundings. She wasn't in the cabin anymore. The suffocating scent of blood and betrayal had vanished, replaced by the soft hum of the world around her. She was in her bed, the early morning light filtering through the curtains, casting pale shadows across the room.
A dream?
