Chapter 1: The Man in the Snow
For a moment, the world held its breath.
The man didn’t answer immediately.
But something in Caleb’s voice—fragile, desperate, unwavering—cut through him deeper than anything he had felt in years.
Without another word, he slipped off his coat and wrapped it around both children, his movements quick but careful. The warmth from the heavy fabric swallowed them.
“She’s hypothermic,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the boy.
Caleb didn’t understand the word.
But he understood urgency.
“Stay with me,” the man said firmly. “Both of you.”
He stood, cradling Elle gently, then reached for Caleb with his free hand.
“Can you walk?”
Caleb nodded weakly.
He didn’t trust easily.
But he didn’t have a choice.
And somehow… this man didn’t feel like danger.
Snow crunched again beneath hurried steps.
May you like
But this time—
They weren’t alone anymore.
