~AXEL~
"It's not acting if it's real, Layla."
The slap hit me before I had a chance to prepare for it; it was sudden and painful as it echoed in the cabin.
My head turned instinctively, mostly from surprise rather than the impact. I froze for a moment, my hand moving slowly to my stinging cheek as I stared at her in disbelief.
Her chest rose and fell quickly in anger as she fought back tears. For a brief moment, we just stood there, frozen in place.
"You know what?" she said finally in a shaky voice. "Let's just get back to the hunt."
She grabbed the photo of us off the table and stormed out of the cabin, leaving me standing there like an idiot, my cheek throbbing where her palm had connected.
I deserved that. Hell, I probably deserved worse.
I followed her out, maintaining a careful distance as we made our way back through the forest. She walked quickly, her frustration clear in the way she held herself.
