Page 52 of Bound By Valor

“No one’s hurt, baby. We’re all here,” I reassured her, pulling her into my arms. Her hands brushed against my face, her expression softening.

“Good. Because I’m about to finish Casteel off, and I’ll need some help from the squad,” she said, a steely determination in her smile.

“We’ve got your six,” I smiled back and kissed her.

Logan chuckled deeply. “Taught you well, didn’t I?”

Leora shot him a blank look, and he visibly winced. It was clear there was some tension between them.

We arrived at the safehouse soon after. I carried Leora inside, hoping she wouldn’t notice the still-uncleaned blood and vomit. I gently laid her on the bed, kissed her forehead, and began to check her injuries.

She watched me with a soft smile, “You look adorable when you’re worried.”

I froze for a moment, then let out a small chuckle. “No one’s ever called me adorable before,Mi Corazón,”I replied, rolling my eyes playfully. Her smile grew as she reached up to caress my face.

She grazed her fingers along my jaw and that’s when I realized how tightly wound I was. I loosenedmy clenching jaw and blinked at her. She was so beautiful, still. Cuts marring her face did nothing to dim the shine.

Her eyes gleamed with a slight sheen. Her cheek was swollen and I could see bruises forming beneath the soot. The soot.

Fuck.

She had survived a blast. All because she was mine.Mine. Leora Mateez was mine and I was falling fast and hard for her.

I gently held her face, being careful of her bruises, and kissed her softly. Her eyes lit up with desire, and she pulled me closer, kissing me back passionately. She wanted more, but I knew she was hurt and needed rest.

“Let’s take it easy,Mi Corazón,”I whispered, breaking the kiss gently. “We should check your injuries.”

Leora exhaled a soft, somewhat playful sigh and complied, stretching out on the bed, a restrained smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. I took my time, gently inspecting and bandaging each wound, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. After handing her a painkiller, I encouraged her to rest. Her eyes fluttered shut, fatigue overtaking her quickly as I started to tidy up the scattered supplies in the room.

Alone with my thoughts, the dread of nearly losing her gnawed at me. The fear that had clutched at my chest was a visceral reminder of our precarious reality. It was clear now; I had been avoiding the inevitable call to Alpha One. But it couldn’t wait any longer. She was determined to be part of this world, and frankly, the thought of her anywhere but by my side was unbearable now.

With the room tidied, I washed my hands and switched off the light, leaving only the dim moonlight spilling through the window to illuminate the space. Stripping off my t-shirt and cargo pants, I slid quietly into bed beside her. Careful not to disturb her, I rested a hand gently on her belly, feeling the rise and fall of her breath—a simple confirmation that she was still here, still with me.

TWENTY-FIVE

Leora

I woke up feeling sore and groggy, the aftermath of yesterday’s ordeal still heavy on my body. As I shifted slightly, I felt Zarek’s hand resting protectively over my belly. Turning towards him, I found him sleeping peacefully on his stomach, his face turned towards me. I couldn’t help but smile as I admired his relaxed features. Almost as if sensing my gaze, Zarek’s eyes fluttered open, meeting mine with a sleepy warmth.

“Good morning,” I whispered, leaning in to plant soft kisses along his shoulder.

“Morning,” he responded, his voice deep and husky.

My kisses wandered up to his neck, eliciting a low groan from him. Reacting swiftly, he propped himself up and caged me gently beneath him, his strong legsand arms framing my body.

“Don’t test me, baby. You’re hurt, and we’re not doing anything until you’ve healed,” he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to my lips before getting out of bed with a grin that left me staring after him in awe.

“You know, you can’t look this good and not expect me to want to jump your bones,” I called out playfully, propping myself up on my elbows.

He laughed, grabbing a towel and throwing it over his shoulder. “Shower time, baby. Get up.”

“Do I smell?” I joked.

“Like soot,” he replied, his smile faltering slightly as a shadow crossed his face. He quickly shook it off, scooped me up, and carried me to the bathroom.

After a lengthy shower, we dressed and joined the others for breakfast. Dylan, Kabir, and Amelia greeted us with warm smiles from the dining table, while Logan busied himself in the kitchen with a sizzling omelet.

“Hey, good morning, Leo,” Logan chirped, too brightly for my current mood. I was still irked by his earlier behavior, and his cheeriness now seemed forced.

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