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He reaches up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "No, you don't. The hunters are gone, Grace. They've been gone for a long time. And even if new threats come—and they will—we'll face them together. All of us."

I nod, blinking back tears. "I know that now. It just took me a while to believe it."

"You got there," he says. "That's what matters."

We stand there in the fading light, in the bedroom of the home we'll share, and I marvel at how far we've come. From the terrified woman who arrived with nothing but a backpack and a fierce need to protect her sister, to this—to belonging, to community, to love.

"I love you," I tell him, the words still new on my tongue but growing more natural each time. "I didn't think I could ever trust anyone enough to say that again, but I do. I love you, Eli."

His eyes soften, and he pulls me closer. "I love you too, Grace. More than I thought possible."

When his lips meet mine, it feels like coming home all over again. His kiss is tender yet certain, a promise of all the days to come. I lean into him, into the safety of his arms, into the future we're building together.

Outside, I can hear the distant sounds of the celebration continuing. Soon, we'll go back, join our friends, watch Willow play with the other children. Tomorrow, we'll continue working on the Sanctuary, expanding it, strengthening it, making it a true haven for all who need it.

But for now, in this moment, it's just us. Eli and Grace, no longer alone, no longer running.

Finally home.

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