BETRAYAL – SHONA RIVER AND MATT BIRD

A storm rolls in as Shona River walks through the misty forest, her breath visible in the cold air. She was supposed to meet Matt Bird for a quiet evening by the cabins, but something feels off. The door to his room is slightly ajar, the dim glow of a lamp spilling onto the porch. Inside, she hesitates, then pushes it open further. Matt stands in the middle of the room, his back to her, his shirt discarded on the floor. A woman’s laughter lingers in the air, sharp and familiar. Shona’s pulse quickens as she steps closer, her fingers tightening around the handle of her bag. The betrayal stings before she even sees her—until the woman turns, her smile fading at the sight of Shona standing in the doorway.