Page 192 of BounBound By Scars

But he cut me off with a hug.

It was rough. Tight. Desperate.

I contained my pained groan and blinked over his shoulder, confused as hell. Logan stopped mid-step, smiling now, clearly letting the moment be his.

Zarek pulled back slightly, both hands still gripping my head.

And that’s when I saw it.

His eyes were bloodshot.

There were tears there.

Tears.

Zarek doesn’t cry.

“I’m fine, Ghost,” I said, attempting reassurance through the cracked edges of my voice.

Zarek flinched.

Just a flicker.

I didn’t understand why.

The next few minutes blurred with movement and warmth. Everyone took their turn. Kaylan wrapped me in a crushing hug and muttered something about putting a damn leash onme. Logan finally got his moment—just pulled me close and thumped my back gently.

“Missed you, Kabira,” he whispered, earning him an eye roll.

Leora kissed the top of my head and whispered, “Don’t disappear again. You’ve gotta compete for the favorite uncle position.”

My eyes widened as she nodded. I let out a disbelieving laugh.

She was pregnant?

“Congratulations,” I whispered, my grin wide.

Delara gave me a nod, then pulled me into a hug.

Seb tapped my arm and nodded before giving me a quick hug. “Welcome back, brother.”

Zane came last.

He didn’t hug me at first.

He just stared me down, rested a hand on my shoulder, and said, “You’re a pain in my ass.”

I grinned. “Missed you too.”

He shook his head and held me in a tight embrace.

“Don’t ever ask me to leave you bleeding again. I don’t think Amelia would let me livetwice,” he mumbled.

I was laughing when the medical team finally arrived, voices quick and firm as they checked me over and eased me into a wheelchair.

My head lolled slightly as the pain caught up to me, but the chaos in my chest was finally beginning to settle.

Lia hovered beside me, fingers brushing mine like she couldn’t stop checking that I was still here.

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