章 149: In the Shadow of Death, Love Blooms    

[BONUS Chapter for reaching 150 GT! Thank you all! 🤍]

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[EVE]

I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck. Every part of my body ached, weighed down as if I were made of lead.

My vision blurred, but I slowly realized I was inside a cave. A small bonfire crackled nearby, casting faint, dancing shadows on the walls.

Yet, the warmth I felt didn't come from the flames; it came from the body enveloping mine.

As I shifted slightly, a sharp pain shot through me. I glanced over and saw Cole—his face pale, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. He was panting heavily, eyes half-lidded and unfocused.

The memories came crashing back in an instant: the ambush, the gunfire, and how he had thrown himself to save me.