Not in miles.
In intention.
I felt it settle into place in my mind, cold and certain.
He would start squeezing the town.
Testing the people.
The Rangers would take care of the town.
He would try using force. That was how men like him worked.
I turned back toward Rylie and the quiet cabin that smelled like cedar and fire and safety that could shatter in a heartbeat.
“Not tonight,” I murmured under my breath.
I took my seat again, weapon steady, eyes forward.
Because the shift had happened.
And now it was just a matter of time before the quiet broke.
13
Trigger
The generator coughed once.
Just once.
That was all it took.
The low hum outside stuttered, then cut out completely, plunging the cabin into sudden, absolute silence.
The lights blinked—gone.
The fire became the only source of light, casting long shadows across the walls and making the cabin feel older. Smaller. More exposed.
I was on my feet instantly.
Weapon up.
Eyes on the door.
Ears straining.
Nothing.
No movement. No sound except the pop of burning wood and the faint wind slipping through the trees.
Behind me, Rylie stirred.
“Trigger?” Her voice was thick with sleep, threaded with confusion.
“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “Stay where you are.”
I moved to the back window first, pulling the curtain aside just enough to scan the tree line. The moon was hidden behind clouds, the forest darker than it had been an hour ago.
