Chapter Thirty-Eight
Silas
The storm is relentless, but I barely notice it. My paws pound against the soaked earth, splashing through puddles as I charge forward. Every nerve in my body is alive, thrumming with a single purpose: to find her. The crash site looms ahead, shrouded in smoke and rain, and I feel my heart squeeze painfully in my chest.
The scent of her pheromones is faint but unmistakable, guiding us like a lifeline. Joseph and Adriel are right behind me, their breathing heavy, their expressions as grim as my own.
Her image burns in my mind, vivid and unrelenting, with every pounding thud of my paws against the earth.
That smile of hers—soft and graceful. Her voice, low and steady, carries a quiet confidence that always draws me in. And that stoic expression she has on her face sometimes, just like in the headshot from the file where I laid my eyes on her for the very first time.
If I’ve seen her for the last time, felt the warmth of her touch, heard the way her laughter softens the edges of everything around her—if all of that is gone, ripped away from me—I don’t know what I’d do. The thought claws at me, sharp and cruel, making my chest tighten with every stride.
The fear is suffocating, but it drives me forward, faster, harder.
Then I see her.
She’s crumpled on the ground, soaked through and barely moving. I howl immediately, alerting Adriel and Joseph. My legs move, and I’m at her side in seconds. Her skin is pale, her face smeared with blood and dirt, but she’s breathing. Barely.
I shift to my human form instantly. Adriel and Joseph follow suit. Her name echoes from my lips as I rush forward.
“Danae,” I call out, my voice breaking as I cradle her in my arms. Her head lolls against my chest, her body limp. “No, no, no…please, wake up. Please.”
Joseph and Adriel kneel beside me, their faces etched with worry. The world seems to go still, the sound of the storm fading as I stare down at her.
She’s alive. She’s hurt, but she’s alive.
Relief crashes over me like a tidal wave, and a laugh bursts from my chest, shaky and raw. Joseph looks at me, startled for a moment, and then he laughs too. Adriel’s laugh follows, quiet but filled with the same overwhelming relief.
“She’s alive,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. I stroke her hair, my thumb brushing against her cheek. “She’s alive.”
Joseph reaches over, checking the pulse of the pilot lying nearby. “He’s alive too,” he says, his voice tinged with amazement.
Adriel looks between them and shakes his head, a flicker of pride in his eyes. “Not only did she survive, but it looks like she saved his life too.”
My chest tightens with something warm and fierce. Pride.
Of course, she did. That’s Danae.
“We need to get them to a hospital,” I say, my voice steady now. “Adriel, grab the pilot. Joseph, help me with Danae.”
We move quickly, carrying them down the mountain. The rain slows as we descend, the storm losing its ferocity. There’s a quietness now, a calmness that settles over us like a blanket. I hold Danae close, her weight in my arms both grounding and terrifying. She feels so fragile, so breakable, and yet, she survived something that would’ve killed anyone else.
We throw on our clothes, they are soggy but none of us cares as we get into the car. Adriel drives, his hands steady on the wheel, while Joseph keeps a watchful eye on the pilot in the backseat. I sit with Danae, her head resting against my shoulder. My fingers brush against her hair, and I feel a lump rise in my throat.
She’s here. She’s alive. And I’m never letting her go again.
We reach the hospital, and the urgency picks up again. Adriel calls out for help the instant the car comes to a stop, and in a moment, medics rush out with stretchers, taking Danae and the pilot inside. I don’t want to let her go, but I force myself to step back, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.
Adriel protests as they wheel her away. “We have to be with her!”
“She’s going to be okay,” I say, my voice steady but thick with emotion. I place a hand on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. He looks at me, the tension in his face softening as he nods.
The hours stretch on as we wait. None of us speak much. Then, finally, the doctor appears.
“She’s fine,” he says, a note of disbelief in his voice. “It’s incredible, but she has no major injuries.”
The words hit me like a flood. I can do nothing to prevent the gasp that escapes my lips, the relief is so overwhelming it almost knocks me off my feet. Adriel pats me on the shoulder, his charmed smile finally returning to his features. Joseph sighs, leaning back in his chair with a soft, “Thank goodness.”
But then the doctor speaks again. “We’ll suggest she stays here for a few days at least. She needs all the bed rest she can get. She’s pregnant.”
The words hang in the air, sinking in slowly. It’s not surprising, the maid letting us know that Danae had asked for test kits made me fairly certain. But hearing it now, confirmed by the doctor…It feels more tangible, more real.
“Can we see her?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
The doctor nods, gesturing toward her room.
When we walk in, Danae turns to us. She looks so small, so vulnerable, and my heart aches at the sight.
“I’m sorry,” she begins, her voice trembling. “I…”
I’m at her side in an instant, taking her hand in mine. “It’s okay,” I say, keeping my voice soft but firm. “It’s okay.”
She swallows hard, her fingers tightening around mine. “I just thought you didn’t want me. I heard your meeting with your family. The things they said…I thought you agreed with them.”
Her words slam into me. That’s what pushed her away. The memory surfaces …the hateful things my uncle said about her, the rage that consumed me. How could she think I agreed with them?
Before I can speak, Adriel steps forward. “We didn’t agree with any of those things, Danae. You should’ve seen what Silas did to our uncle. He might still have chunks of his flesh in his teeth as we speak.”
Danae blinks, her eyes wide with confusion. “What?”
Adriel winks at her, and a soft laugh escapes her lips. The sound is like a balm to my soul, easing all the fear and anxiety that’s lingered within me for the last several hours.
The sound of her laugh. The sight of her green eyes lighting up as she smiles. I can’t believe I was so close to never seeing this again.
And it stirs me, prompting me to speak, to bear my heart out.
“Danae,” I begin, my voice thick with emotion. “When I heard that you left…I can’t describe the feeling. It was like someone reached inside me and ripped out a part of me I didn’t even know was there. And when I heard that your plane crashed…” My voice falters, the memory too raw. “If something had happened to you, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I don’t know how I would’ve gone on.”
Her eyes are locked on mine. There’s something in her gaze, something I can’t quite put into words, but it grips me. It’s not just attention; it’s deeper than that. She’s listening. Really listening.
That look—it pulls something out of me, something I didn’t even know was there. Like she’s a mirror, reflecting back all the feelings I’ve tried to bury. Vulnerability. Hope. Fear. And before I can stop myself, I find my words tumbling out, raw and unfiltered, because I know she’s not just hearing me. She’s feeling me.
“When my family said those things about you, I’ve never felt anger like that before. And that’s when it hit me. How much you mean to me. How much I love you. I love you, Danae. I love you more than I could have possibly imagined loving anyone.”
Her lips part, but before she can respond, Adriel steps in.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” he says, his voice uncharacteristically soft. There’s no attempt at humor or playful charm. His words come out raw. “The thought of losing you…it petrified me. But it also made me realize I’m in love with you. I truly am.”
Joseph speaks next, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “If something had happened to you, I’d never have forgiven myself. I kept thinking…what if I stopped you? What if I didn’t let you go? I love you, Danae. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
For a moment, the room falls completely quiet.
I speak again, my voice firm. “The baby, whoever the father is, we’ll be with you. We’ll stand with you forever.”
Joseph and Adriel nod, their expressions filled with the same unwavering resolve.
Danae’s gaze moves between each of us, her eyes shimmering like she’s fighting back tears. She swallows hard, her lips trembling before she speaks.
“I thought I’d never be enough for you three.” Her voice cracks on the words, low and unsteady, but the impact hits me. “When I heard what that man said about me, and I thought you agreed…” Her voice falters, and she shakes her head, her breath hitching as though saying it out loud is physically painful. “It crushed me. Maybe because, deep down, a part of me believed him.”
Her words cut through me. Guilt churns in my gut as I take a step closer, unable to stay still. Without thinking, I reach out and take her hand, wrapping mine around hers firmly. Her skin feels cold against mine, and I want her to feel the warmth, the strength, the absolute certainty in my grip. I hold on like I’m afraid she’ll slip away if I let go.
“But you three came,” she continues, her voice trembling but carrying a quiet strength now. She looks at me, and there’s something in her eyes—a mixture of gratitude, relief, and something deeper, something more profound. “You rescued me. And the moment I saw you, as I lay down there in that rubble, it’s a feeling I’ve never felt before.”
Her words linger in the air, and I can’t look away from her. Behind me, Adriel and Joseph step closer. They each reach for her, their hands finding her arm, their touches light yet steady, like they’re trying to remind her she’s safe now.
Adriel is the first to speak. “We’ll do anything to protect you, Danae. Anything.” His words land with a weight that makes my chest tighten, and I glance at him, seeing the fierce determination etched into his face.
Joseph, standing just to her right, exhales deeply, his shoulders rising and falling like he’s been holding something back for too long. “That day…” His voice is quieter than usual, almost hesitant, and he pauses like he’s searching for the right words. “The day I asked you how you felt about the wedding…I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said.” He glances at her. “You used words like duty, Danae. But I hope…” He trails off, takes a deep breath, and steadies himself. “I hope this isn’t just about duty for you. I hope you’re happy. Truly happy—with us.”
Danae’s hand slips out of mine, and for a moment, I feel the loss of her touch like a sting. But then she reaches for Joseph, taking his hands in hers. Her fingers curl around his, squeezing tightly, and the way she looks at him…it’s like she’s trying to pour every ounce of emotion she can’t say out loud into that one look.
“I am madly in love with you,” she says, her voice trembling but sure. She glances at each of us, her eyes shining with an intensity that pins me in place. “All of you. It’s such a strong feeling. It almost hurts. I love you.” She pauses, taking a shaky breath, and her voice softens, her words filled with so much honesty it makes my throat tighten. “Around you three, I’ve felt the safest I ever have. But it’s more than that. I want to be good for you. For all of you. I want to be a better person because of you.” Her voice catches, but she keeps going, her gaze unwavering. “It isn’t just about duty for me. No one makes me happier than you guys.”
Her words send a warmth through my chest, unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
This is the woman I love. This is my family unit. And it’s perfect.