Fiona's POV
The minutes felt like hours as I waited in the quiet of our bedroom, my thoughts a chaotic whirl.
I'd spent the last hour pacing from one corner of the room to the other, straining to catch any sound from the forest, hoping to hear footsteps or even distant howls that would signal the return of Sebastian and his guards.
Stella stayed by my side, ever the patient friend, but I could tell she was as tense as I was.
Occasionally, she would look out the window, her eyes scanning the darkness as if she might spot them returning. Neither of us spoke much, the silence thick with worry.
Finally, a faint rustling reached my ears, followed by footsteps in the distance. My heart leapt as I rushed to the window, watching as figures emerged from the shadows of the forest. Relief
flooded my chest as I recognized the familiar, powerful stride of Sebastian.
