Page 34 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

Ylara’s expression softened. “Go to her,” she said, taking charge of Malgor. “We’ll handle things here.”

Dravek needed no further encouragement. He raced back through the palace, his heart pounding with each step. When he reached the outside hiding place where he’d left Zora and Sprig, he found a team of rebel medics already tending to her.

“How is she?” he demanded, his voice rough with barely contained emotion.

One of the medics looked up, her expression grave but not hopeless. “The wound is severe, but we’ve stabilized her. We need to get her to a proper medical facility as soon as possible.”

Dravek nodded, relief warring with continued worry in his chest. Without a word, he scooped Zora into his arms, cradling her against his chest as if she were the most precious thing in the universe. To him, she was.

The next few hours passed in a blur. Dravek refused to leave Zora’s side as she was rushed to the palace’s advanced medical wing. He stood vigil outside the emergency healing room, his normally impassive face etched with lines of concern.

As he waited, staring blankly at the stark white walls, Ylara approached. She looked tired but triumphant, the glow of victory in her eyes.

“How is she?” Ylara asked softly, coming to stand beside him.

“Still inside,” Dravek replied, his voice hoarse. “They say... they say the next few hours will be critical.”

Ylara nodded, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “Zora is strong. She’ll pull through.”

Dravek said nothing, but the muscle in his jaw tightened. Ylara studied him for a moment, her gaze knowing.

“You love her, don’t you?” she asked gently.

Dravek’s first instinct was to deny it, to retreat behind the walls of duty and protocol he’d built around himself. But he was too tired, too raw to maintain the facade.

“Love wasn’t part of my training. It wasn’t part of the plan.”

Ylara’s laugh was soft and kind. “Oh, Dravek. Love is never part of the plan. It’s what happens when all our careful plans fall apart.”

She turned to face him fully, her expression serious. “Listen to me. What you and Zora have is rare. You’re life mates whether you want to admit it. The only way either of you will ever truly be happy is if you embrace that love.”

Dravek closed his eyes, feeling the truth of her words resonate within him. He thought of Zora’s smile, her fierce fortitude, the way she made him feel alive in a way nothing else ever had. The idea of a life without her by his side was... colorless. Empty.

“This is scary,” he admitted.

“Of course, it is,” Ylara said. “Love is terrifying. It’s also the most powerful force in the universe. Don’t run from it, Dravek. Run toward it.”

Before Dravek could respond, the door to the healing room opened. A medic emerged, looking tired but satisfied.

“She’s stable,” the doctor announced. “The surgery was successful. She’ll need time to recover, but barring any complications, she should make a full recovery.”

The relief that flooded through Dravek was so intense, it nearly brought him to his knees. “Can I see her?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

The doctor nodded, stepping aside to let him pass.

Dravek entered the room slowly, his eyes fixed on Zora’s still form. She looked small and fragile against the white sheets, but the steady rise and fall of her chest was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

He sank into the chair beside her bed, gently taking her hand in his. And there, in the quiet of the recovery room with only the soft beep of monitors as witness, Dravek finally allowed himself to accept the truth.

He loved Zora. Completely, irrevocably, and with every fiber of his being. The realization didn’t feel like a surrender or a weakness. It felt like coming home.

“I love you,” he whispered, bringing her hand to his lips. “And when you wake up, I promise I’ll tell you properly. We have so much to talk about, so much to look forward to. Just... come back to me, Zora. Please.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Several days had passed since the liberation of Xuevis. Dravek stood on the balcony of the Grand Hall, his eyes sweeping over the capital city. The early morning sun bathed the landscape in a soft, golden light, highlighting the signs of renewal that had sprouted across the metropolis.

Scaffolding embraced damaged buildings while freshly planted gardens dotted the spaces between structures—a testament to the resilience and hope of the Xuevisian people.

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