The Past Exposed

Zina's POV

The knock on the door was sharp and insistent, cutting through the quiet of the night. My chest tightened as I glanced at the clock. Midnight. No one came by this late, especially not unannounced. The heavy silence in the house suddenly felt suffocating.

Hesitant, I moved toward the door, each step weighed down by an inexplicable sense of dread. When I opened it, my breath caught. Xaden stood there, his tall frame illuminated by the dim porch light. His face was a storm of fury, his eyes blazing with anger.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, gripping the door tightly to steady myself.

"You didn't think I'd find you, did you?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said quickly, trying to shut the door, but he shoved it open and stepped inside.

"You don't get to shut me out, Zina," he growled, his voice rising. "Not this time."