Rayne POV
The forest was totally silent as Kael and Mateo's gazes clashed, tension crackling up in the air like lightning ready to strike already.
My heart pounded, each beat echoing louder in the deep silence as I stood between them, torn apart by conflicting emotions.
"Rayne," Kael said, voice low and raw, his eyes pleading, with him looking totally geuine.
"I know it looks bad. I never wanted you to be in danger. But you need to trust me. Please."
Mateo scoffed, stepping forward with a fierce determination that almost made me want to take a step back away from me.
"Trust you? After everything you caused her? You show up out of nowhere, claiming to protect her, and now rogues are hunting us because of you." He turned his gaze to me, softer yet filled with an urgency I hadn't seen before in his look.
"Rayne, please, see through his lies. I know you feel it too."