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She was still.

Wrapped in medical dressings.

Breathing slow. Even.

Beautiful even now, even broken.

Alive.

The word echoed through our bond like a prayer.

But just barely.

The connection felt stretched thin, fragile, frayed.

Like she was lightyears away, even though I could reach her.

I exhaled through my nose.

Trying to push strength through our connection.

Trying to will her back to me.

I should’ve gotten to her faster. Should’ve stopped this before it ever happened. Should’ve protected what was mine.

But I hadn’t.

So now all I could do was sit here.

Watch.

Wait.

Let her feel through our bond that I was with her.

Because the second she woke up, she needed to know—

She would never be alone again.

Not while I drew breath.

The door slid open behind me.

I didn’t turn.

Didn’t need to.

Boots echoed against the sterile floor. Two sets.

One military precision, one lighter step.

Family, in every way that mattered.

Then a voice. Gruff. Familiar. The voice of someone who’d fought beside me.

Who understood exactly what this meant. Raxor had found his own fated mate. HisKalara.

“I understand your mate will live.”