Chapter 23 : Oil and Water

Serena's POV

The dawn's first light filtered through the gaps in the wooden shutters, casting a soft glow in the room. As I was laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind was awash with thoughts of Baird. Sleep had been elusive, my dreams filled with his face, his voice, his touch. The night had done little to diminish the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.

I finally rose, pulling a shawl around my shoulders to ward off the morning chill. The small, rudimentary cottage was still and quiet, the only sound the gentle crackling of the dying embers in the hearth.

I moved to the window, pushing open the shutters to let in the fresh morning air. The sky was painted in hues of pink and gold, a beautiful reminder of the new day dawning, yet it did little to lift the heaviness in my heart.

My mind was a whirlpool of confusion and conflicting emotions. The primitive yet warm life in the Storm Pack had grown on me, and the people, despite their rough edges, had become a part