Chapter 63: Redemption's Path
Ethan sat at the edge of the camp, the glow of the distant firelight barely brushing against his weathered features. The night was eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackle of embers and the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. It was the kind of silence that pressed heavily on his chest, amplifying the tumult of his thoughts. His fingers gripped the hilt of his sword, the cool metal grounding him, though it could do nothing to still the ache in his heart.
He had walked away from Alex. No, not walked—he had torn himself from her, his words sharp enough to wound the both of them. Even now, he could still see the flicker of pain in her eyes, the way her shoulders had tensed as if bracing for a blow she knew she deserved but still feared.
