Chapter 3. Close Call

Aurora’s POV

My eyes closed on their own accord, and I braced myself for the impact, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat. The screech of tires filled my ears, swallowing every other sound. My body locked up, frozen in place, as I waited for the inevitable.

But… nothing happened.

No sharp pain. No crushing weight. Just the distant hum of an engine rumbling to a stop.

I couldn’t move. My muscles refused to cooperate as if my body was still convinced I was moments from being flattened. My breath came in shallow gasps, and my fingers curled into fists against the rough pavement beneath me. My brain screamed at me to open my eyes—to move—but I couldn’t.

A second later, rough fingers grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me to my feet like I weighed nothing. I gasped, eyes snapping open in shock, and found myself face-to-face with none other than Caleb Blackburn.

His blue eyes, cold and cutting, locked onto mine as if I’d personally