★Nuel's POV★
I rushed back toward the hut, my heart pounding against my ribs so hard I thought it might give me away. The echo of footsteps still rang in my ears, along with the faint murmur of the voices I'd been eavesdropping on. I hadn't meant to stay that long, but what I'd heard—those words—had frozen me in place until the sudden creak of the door had jolted me back to my senses.
Now, panic burned in my chest as I stumbled over roots and dry leaves scattered around the small clearing. The noise I'd made was loud enough to draw suspicion. Too loud. They would know someone had been there.
I reached the door of the hut, breathless, my palms slick with sweat. I slipped inside, shutting it softly before darting to the bed. My body moved on instinct—I threw myself down, yanked the thin blanket over me, and forced my limbs to go limp. My breathing slowed, my eyelids fluttered halfway shut as I tried to mimic the stillness of someone barely conscious.
