Chapter 74 The Breaking Point

• Alex’s POV
• The cave's silence was oppressive. Long since the sound of the fire's crackle disappeared from the background, Samantha's weak breathing's consistent rhythm dominated the room. I gazed into the dwindling embers, my mind running over the last few days like a broken record. The sense that we were headed toward the unavoidable—losing her—kept me from letting go.
• Lena sat nearby, her face tight with concern and her eyes flickering toward Samantha sometimes. She had not spoken much during the last hour, but I could sense her shame and frustration hovering over both of us. It reflected what I was experiencing.