21. Chapter

Consciousness returned in hazy snatches - a blinding white light above me, searing pain, urgent voices. I drifted in and out, clinging to fragmented sensations. The pinch of a needle in my arm. The coppery scent of blood. Hands gripping mine, anchoring me to the world of the living.

Time lost all meaning in the gray space between awareness and oblivion. It could have been minutes or days, I had no way to know. But finally, eventually, I clawed my way back to the surface, my eyes fluttering open to a blurry, dimly lit room.

"Helana?" A familiar deep voice, hoarse with exhaustion and worry. A large, calloused hand squeezing mine. "Baby, can you hear me?"

I blinked, my surroundings gradually sharpening into focus - the cracked plaster ceiling of the ranch's infirmary, the worn quilt tucked around me. Alex's haggard face hovering over mine, his icy eyes burning with desperate hope.

"Alex..." I croaked, my throat raw and dry as sandpaper.

"What...happened?"

Alex's broad shoulders slumped in relief and he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a fervent kiss to my knuckles. "You scared the shit out of us," he rasped, his voice rough with emotion. "That bastard shot you. Jim had to operate to get the bullet out. We almost...we thought we'd lost you."

I swallowed hard, the memories rushing back in disjointed flashes - the standoff at the gate, the leader's mocking sneer, the crack of a gunshot. Anubis lunging to protect me. Then blinding pain and Alex's panicked face above me as the world went black.

"How long was I out?" I asked, wincing as I tried to shift on the narrow cot. My entire body felt like one giant bruise, my hip throbbing mercilessly beneath the bandages.

"Two days," a new voice chimed in. I looked over to see Dante slumped in a chair beside the bed, his normally immaculate hair disheveled and dark circles beneath his eyes. "You've had us taking shifts watching over you around the clock."

My heart clenched at the haggard weariness lining his handsome face, knowing it was reflected on Alex and no doubt Wyatt's as well. My men, my rocks, looking so wrung out and afraid... because of me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, tears burning the back of my throat. "I never meant to put you through this. I was reckless and stupid and-"

"Shh, none of that," Wyatt rumbled, appearing in the doorway with a mug of steaming liquid. He crossed to the bed in two long strides, setting the mug down so he could cup my face tenderly. "Don't you dare apologize for protecting what's yours."

I leaned into his touch, a tear escaping down my cheek. "But I almost left you. All of you. I promised I never would and-"

"But you didn't," Dante cut in fiercely, gripping my other hand. "You fought like hell and you came back to us, just like we knew you would. Because you're the toughest, most stubborn woman on this godforsaken planet."

A weak chuckle escaped me at that, even as more tears fell. Alex gently thumbed them away, his icy eyes melting with love and relief. "It'll take more than a measly bullet to take you away from us. We've still got a world to rebuild together, remember?"

I nodded, sniffling as I looked between my men, my heart feeling like it might burst. "I remember. No way am I checking out before I get to boss you around in the zombie-free utopia we're gonna build."

Wyatt chuckled, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Wouldn't have it any other way, darlin'. Now, drink this tea while it's hot. It'll help with the pain."

I made a face but let him help me sit up enough to sip at the fragrant brew. He was right, the warmth soothing my raw throat and easing some of the bone-deep ache in my body.

"What happened with the trappers?" I asked after a moment, dreading the answer but needing to know. "Did any of our people..."

"Not a scratch on any of ours," Alex assured me grimly. "Can't say the same for those bastards though. After their leader took that shot at you, all bets were off. We didn't leave a single one breathing."

I closed my eyes briefly, relief and vindication warring with exhaustion. It was over. The trappers were gone, wiped out down to the very last man. My family was safe.

"Good," I said simply, opening my eyes again. "And their leader? Please tell me he died choking on his own blood and piss."

Dante's smile was hard and vicious. "Even better. Anubis tore his fucking throat out after he shot you. I've never seen a dog move that fast. He saved your life."

I glanced around, suddenly realizing my furry protector was missing from the room. "Where is Anubis? Is he okay?"

"He's fine, just resting up. We had to practically drag him away from your side to clean up all the blood," Wyatt assured me. "I'll go get him in a minute. You know that mutt won't rest easy until he sees you awake with his own eyes."

Gratitude and affection welled up in my chest, for Anubis and for my men. They had defended our home, finished off the Trapper threat, and stood vigil over me as I fought my way back from the brink. I didn't deserve them, but I thanked whatever fucked-up higher power had seen fit to send them my way.

Alex smoothed my hair back from my clammy forehead, his touch infinitely gentle. "Let your body heal. We'll be right here when you wake up."

Part of me wanted to protest, to insist I was fine, but exhaustion was already pulling heavily at my eyelids. I knew I needed to sleep, to let my battered body recover. But first...

"Where's my daddy?" I asked, suddenly needing to see him with my own eyes.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Alex rose to answer it and my daddy stepped into the room, his weathered face lined with worry. Relief crashed through me at the sight of him, whole and unharmed.

"There's my girl," he said gruffly, crossing to the bed and taking my hand in his calloused one. "Gave us one helluva scare, Helana Lynne."

"I'm sorry, Daddy," I whispered, fresh tears welling. "I never meant to-"

"Hush now, none of that," he cut me off gently. "You did what you had to do to protect our people. I'm just damn grateful you pulled through."

He glanced at my men, something unspoken passing between them. A shared understanding of just how close they'd come to losing me. It made my heart ache, knowing the pain I'd put them through.

"You just focus on getting better now, you hear?" Daddy ordered. "No more of this self-sacrificing hero nonsense for a good long while. Let this old man's ticker recover."

A weak chuckle escaped me. "No promises, but I'll do my best."

He shook his head with exasperation before leaning down to press a whiskery kiss to my forehead. "My brave, stubborn girl. Thank God you've got these boys to watch your six."

"Always," Wyatt said, his eyes trained on my face.

Daddy nodded, clapping him on the shoulder before straightening. "I know you do, son. All of you. My Hellcat couldn't ask for better men at her side."

He gave my hand one last squeeze. "I'll let you get some rest now. Just wanted to lay eyes on you myself."

With that, Daddy slipped out, leaving me alone with my men once more. Wyatt helped me finish the mug of tea before easing me back against the pillows.

"Sleep now, darlin'," he rumbled, pulling the quilt up to my chin. "We'll be here when you wake up."

Alex and Dante each pressed a tender kiss to my lips before settling into the chairs flanking the bed. Their hands remained linked with mine, a silent promise that I was safe, watched over. Loved beyond measure.

I let my eyes flutter shut, the pain and exhaustion fading away under the weight of their devotion. As I drifted off, I sent up a silent prayer of gratitude for these men who anchored me, who would fight heaven and hell to bring me back from the edge.

The next few days passed in a haze of pain and healing sleep. My men rarely left my side, taking turns sitting vigil and tending to my every need. Anubis, once Wyatt brought him to see me, refused to leave the foot of my bed, his warm bulk a comforting presence.

Slowly, surely, I began to regain my strength. The wound in my hip healed day by day, the pain fading to a dull, persistent ache. Color returned to my cheeks, chasing away the grayish pallor of blood loss and trauma. And through it all, Alex, Wyatt, and Dante were there, their love and devotion a balm to my battered body and weary soul.

By week two, Jim and Daddy deemed me well enough to leave the infirmary and return to the main house. The guys and Ret practically fell over themselves to escort me, Wyatt scooping me up like I weighed nothing to carry me across the yard despite my protests that I could walk just fine. Stubborn, overprotective ass.

But secretly, I relished their coddling. After coming so close to leaving them forever, I drank in every touch, every murmured endearment, every lingering kiss. They were my world and I knew, with bone-deep certainty, that I would spend the rest of my life making sure they knew just how much I loved them.

Life on the ranch slowly returned to normal in the wake of the Trapper

attack. With the threat eliminated, we could finally breathe easy and focus on rebuilding, on planning for a future free of fear. There was still so much work to be done, but we faced it together, as a family.

As my body healed, I threw myself into helping however I could, even if it was just puttering around the kitchen or folding laundry. Anything to feel useful after being laid up for so long. My men fussed and clucked, insisting I not overdo it, but I just rolled my eyes and carried on. They should know by now that I wasn't made of glass.

In the evenings like tonight, we would all gather in the sun room off of the main house, sipping whiskey and watching the sunset paint the sky in vibrant streaks of orange and pink through the tall windows. Alex would pull me into his lap, nuzzling his face into my neck as Wyatt and Dante bickered good-naturedly over who had made the most impressive kill shot from the roof during the fight.

It was in those peaceful moments, surrounded by the men and the woman I loved, that I felt the last lingering tension drain away, replaced by a bone-deep contentment. We had faced the worst this world had to offer and come out the other side, scarred but unbroken.

"Penny for your thoughts," Alex murmured one night, his arms tightening around my waist.

I turned my head to meet his eyes, a soft smile playing on my lips. "Just thinking about how lucky I am," I murmured back. "To have this family. After everything we've been through, all the close calls... I'm just so damn grateful."

Alex's eyes softened, one hand coming up to cup my cheek. "When we thought we might lose you..." He swallowed hard, his gaze going distant for a moment before refocusing on me with searing intensity. "Well, let's just say it put things in perspective."

I leaned into his touch, turning my head to press a kiss to his palm. "I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, I'm afraid."

"How will we ever handle it?" Wyatt chimed in from across the room, his blue eyes crinkling with a smile. "None of us are letting you off the hook that easy. We've got big plans for you, darlin'."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell, Cowboy."

Dante chuckled, rising from his chair to saunter over and perch on the arm of the couch next to us. "Let's just say it involves us, you, some building materials we found last week, and a small plot of land on the edge of the wall."

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes, the sheer joy and love welling up inside me almost too much to bear. "You guys... I don't even know what to say."

"Say yes," Dante murmured, brushing a strand of hair back from my face with a tenderness that belied his badass exterior. "Say you'll build a home with us, spend the rest of your days as our woman, our badass, sexy as shit, tomb raiding queen."

I laughed, throwing back my head, warmth blooming in my chest and butterflies fluttering in my stomach. "Of course it's yes."

No more sneaking out to their trailer in the night, or sneaking them into my bedroom like we were teenagers. We could. live together under one roof, and call it our own. Something I never thought I have the luxury to claim.

"Only one problem left, boys," Ret said as she sipped from her bottle of beer. We glanced over as one with raised brows. A cheeky smile tugged on the corner of her mouth as she said, "It's a fabulous plan and all, but whose gonna break the news to the old man?"

We blinked at her, realization dawning, but just as I was about to volunteer, a familiar gruff laugh filled the room as my daddy stepped into the room, a bottle of beer in his own calloused hand.

He raised a thick brow, his mustache twitching as he leveled us all with narrowed eyes, but I couldn't help but notice the quirk of his lips as he fought back a smile.

"I may be old, kids, but I ain't blind. Build the darn house if it'll finally get the ruckus out of mine."

The End