Chapter 179. Morning Getaway

Aurora’s POV

The soft knock on the door pulled me from the fragile cocoon of sleep. I blinked, disoriented, my senses slowly catching up to the morning light filtering through the curtains. Riley and Caroline were still curled up beside me, their breathing slow and peaceful. A sight that should have comforted me, yet the moment of serenity was fleeting, replaced by a quiet unease that had settled in my chest long before I closed my eyes last night.

Carefully, I slipped out from under the covers, my movements slow so as not to wake them. My feet barely made a sound against the wooden floor as I reached for the door, exhaling softly before pulling it open.

Caleb stood there, his brows furrowed, his posture tense—until his gaze met mine. A flicker of relief crossed his face, his lips twitching into a small, warm smile. “You’re awake,” he murmured, eyes scanning my face as if searching for something. “I wasn’t sure if you got any sleep.”

I hesitated before