Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

L ark—two weeks later

The smell of smoked barbecue and pine needles mingles in the cool mountain air as I cradle Slate and Emma's newborn son against my chest. The warmth of his small body seeps through my sweater, and his soft coos are like a balm to my anxious heart. I glance around at the Warner family potluck—laughter ringing out, kids chasing each other, and the brothers' booming voices rising above the cheerful chaos. It's everything I never thought I'd have: family, laughter, love.

I run my fingers gently over the baby's tiny hand, feeling an unexpected sting of tears. I blink rapidly, overwhelmed by a mix of joy and disbelief. How did I end up here? I've spent most of my life on the outside looking in, but now I'm here, surrounded by warmth and acceptance. It's hard to believe it's real.

"Lark, honey!" Margie's warm voice pulls me from my thoughts. Hunter's mother walks up, beaming with her usual kindness.

"You're a natural with babies," she adds with a smile, eyeing me tenderly.

"Thank you," I murmur, trying to keep my voice steady. "He's so sweet."

"He really is," Margie agrees, her eyes soft as she watches her grandson. Then she turns back to me, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "And thank you for all the help this morning. That casserole was a big hit—same with the soup and meatballs. I wouldn't have pulled it off without you."

Her words bring a blush to my cheeks. "I'm happy to help. I love being part of this."

Margie nods, her gaze sharpening with a mix of wisdom and warmth. "Well, we love having you here, Lark. And who knows?" She nudges my side playfully. "Maybe we'll have another wedding in the mountains soon."

I open my mouth to respond, but the words get stuck. I manage a nervous laugh, my heart pounding at the idea. Margie just winks and walks away, leaving me both flustered and hopeful.

Across the field, Hunter and his brothers are in the middle of a rowdy game of flag football. Colt taunts Slate with a grin, Zane charges toward the makeshift end zone, and Hunter—my rugged, wild Hunter—is right in the middle of it all, his deep laugh carrying over to me. I catch his gaze for a moment, and his smile softens as he notices me holding the baby. My heart swells, the gratitude nearly overwhelming.

Emma approaches then, her dark hair tied up in a messy bun and a tired but content smile on her face.

"Time for this little guy to eat," she says, reaching for the baby.

I hand him over carefully, my arms already missing his warmth. "He's perfect, Emma."

Emma smiles, adjusting the baby against her shoulder. "Thank you. It's nice to finally have some female energy around here. These Warner boys are a handful, I swear."

I laugh softly. "I can only imagine."

Emma's gaze shifts toward Hunter, who's wrestling Colt to the ground with a playful growl. "It's going to be interesting when my sister gets here," Emma adds, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Winter's a children's rights lawyer from Denver—she's intense, driven, and probably won't fit in here at all. But she's exhausted and needs a break. I'm excited for her to meet the baby, though. She's supposed to arrive this afternoon."

"Sounds like you two are close," I say.

"We are," Emma nods, a smile tugging at her lips. "I just hope she can relax here. Devil's Peak has a way of doing that to people, though."

"Yeah," I agree quietly, glancing at the mountains that have somehow become home. "It really does."

Emma gives me a knowing look before taking the baby back to the picnic table. I turn and walk toward the edge of the river, needing a moment to gather my thoughts. The rushing water is loud but comforting, like nature's own embrace. I close my eyes, inhaling the crisp air.

How did I get so lucky? I never imagined a life like this—a life where I'm not just surviving but living. Hunter's given me more than safety. He's given me a future. The thought brings fresh tears, and this time, I let them fall. They're not tears of sadness but of gratitude so deep it feels like it's carved into my bones.

I'm so thankful for Hunter, for the life we've built here, for the love that's grown between us. He's the mountain man who stole my heart—and now, I never want him to give it back.

I feel safe at Devil's Peak with Hunter, but knowing that Cyrus is just a few hours drive through the woods terrifies me. Can I really feel safe and settled here knowing he could come back at any moment?

I hear footsteps behind me, heavy and purposeful. I know it's him before he even speaks. There's a shift in the air, a familiar heat that tugs at something deep inside me.

"Lark—"

"What if I ruin everything?" I interrupt him. "Ya'll are so nice—I'm not used to being around such…loving people. I'm afraid I'll mess it up and you'll wake up one morning and just decide you don't want me here anymore." I know my anxiety is running away with me, I know my thoughts are cycling over and over but I can't help it. A few weeks ago I was a slave to an old man, and now I'm here, with the most beautiful and kind man I've ever known and it's like my brain can't catch up with my new reality.

"Then we'll ruin it together," he replies without hesitation. He's so patient with me, my mind a rush of anxiety and emotion as I adapt to life as a free woman. "I'll never not want you, Lark. Devil's Peak is your home now just as much as it's mine. We are your family, don't ever doubt that."

"But you could have anyone…why would you choose someone broken like me?" I whisper my doubts into the air.

Hunter's eyes soften, and he releases a shaky breath. "Because you're not just someone I saved, Lark," he says quietly. "You're the woman who saved me ."

I blink, confusion mingling with the rush of emotion. "What are you talking about?"

He swallows hard, his jaw tight. "You made me feel something I didn't think I could feel again," he admits. "I was lost before I met you—just going through the motions, doing what I thought I had to after I got out of the military. But you changed that. You made me want more."

The vulnerability in his voice makes my heart ache. I search his eyes, looking for the truth, and all I see is sincerity. "Hunter…"

He doesn't let me finish. "And there's something else you need to know," he says, his voice low but steady. "About Cyrus."

A cold shiver runs through me at the mention of his name. "What about him?"

"I didn't just hurt him, Lark," Hunter confesses, his voice rough. "I went back to his cabin last night and I beat him him within an inch of his life. I stopped just short of fucking killing him. I paralyzed him. He's in the hospital, he'll probably be in a wheelchair for life. I also called law enforcement. He won't be able to hurt you—or anyone else—ever again."

The weight of his words hits me like a punch. "You… what?"

"I did what I had to," he says simply. "I know it's not what you wanted, but I couldn't risk him coming after you again."

Shock, fear, and a strange sense of relief war inside me. "You did that for me?"

"I'd do it again," he says, his voice fierce. "I'd do anything to keep you safe."

Tears blur my vision, and I feel a mix of gratitude and guilt.

"You could've gone to prison," I whisper, the realization hitting me hard.

He reaches for my hand, his grip strong and steady. "I would've risked it," he says, his voice unwavering. "Because you're worth it. I like being the one who fights for you."

I bury my face in his chest, the warmth of his embrace melting away the last of my resistance.

His mouth captures mine in a kiss that's both tender and demanding, filled with all the unspoken promises and unfulfilled desires. It's not rushed—it's a slow, sensual claiming, as if he's savoring every moment, every breath. I respond with equal intensity, my body pressed against his, my fingers tangling in his hair.

"Lark," he murmurs against my lips, his voice a mix of relief and hunger. "You're mine."

The possessiveness in his words should scare me, but instead, it sends a thrill through my veins. This strong, protective man wants me. Wants to keep me safe in a way I've never felt before.

"I'm yours," I whisper back, the words filled with acceptance.

He pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against mine, his breath hot against my skin.

"Being with you makes me so nervous. I've never felt like this before, happy and…terrified," I admit.

He laughs, his arms tightening around me. "Well, it could be worse, I guess."

And as the river rushes beside us, I know that this is where I belong—right here, in his arms, ready to face whatever comes next.

"You like me being nervous around you?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He grins, slow and wicked. "I like anything to do with you, Little Bird. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

He holds me tighter, the heat of his body seeping into mine. His thumb drops to the dip of my neck, tracing it slowly. His touch is deliberate, each stroke lingering a beat longer than necessary. This man commands me without even trying—one look and I'm putty, one touch and I'm fire.

His lips trailing soft kisses down my neck, each one making me melt a little more. His dark eyes crinkle at the corners, full of a confidence that's both reassuring and maddening.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he says, his thumb tracing the arch of my eyebrow before tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. "If that's alright with you."

I bite down on my bottom lip and nod, words failing me as my heart thunders in my chest. In the next moment, his lips claim mine, and I'm lost. I'm falling, my body's reaction to him a certainty, my resistance crumbling like sand. As long as his lips are on mine, I'm his.

His hands slide between my thighs then, his fingertips finding my soaked core. He slides beneath my panties and growls against my lips as his fingers trace my clit and work in soft, reverent strokes. My limbs begin to tremble but he holds me tighter, the smile playing on his face and the way his warm eyes hold mine is enough to send me over the edge. I gasp as he works his hand in feverish circles, edging me closer and closer to my orgasm right here by the river. From afar it probably only looks like we're hugging, but up close this man is lighting my world on fire, and the last of my fears right along with it. I love him, I love him so much it feels like a slow ache in my chest.

His lips latch onto my neck then, his teeth nipping as my release hums beneath his strong hands. I gasp, arching into him as my legs feel like they might give out beneath me. He must sense that he's making me weak in the knees because he loops one arm around my waist and holds me tighter to him as his fingertips work magic on my pussy. I'm soaked and tingling and in the next moment fireworks light through my system and I sway into his broad chest, quivering and shaking and sighing with sweet pleasure. He catches my breathless pants with his kiss, murmuring words against my lips like love and forever and I realize then that all I've been through has gotten me here, in his arms, right where I belong.