Page 24

Lark

Somewhere in Oklahoma

E verything hurt.

My skull pulsed like it had a heartbeat of its own. My lips were dry. My hands were cold. And someone was whispering my name from very, very far away.

“Lark? Stay with me, sweetie.”

That voice… soft, steady. Female. Familiar but not quite.

My eyelids fluttered. The world was a blur of fluorescent lights and white noise. Beeping monitors. The sterile sting of antiseptic.

Where was I?

And then it hit me—the storm. The wind. The screaming metal. The sudden, sickening crack. Then nothing.

I shifted, pain slicing through the side of my head. I let out a low groan, and instantly, a gentle hand pressed to my arm.

“Don’t move. You’ve got a pretty nasty concussion and a few stitches,” the voice said. “You’re safe now.”

I blinked again. Her face swam into focus.

Brown eyes. Soft blonde hair pulled into a loose braid. A kind smile wrapped in quiet steel.

“Tessa?” I croaked, my throat raw.

She nodded. “Hey, firecracker. Looks like chasing storms still bites back.”

I let out a weak, raspy laugh.

She brushed hair from my face with gentle fingers. “I was already nearby visiting Max’s cousin. When they brought you in, they said your name and I about lost it. You’ve got angels looking out for you, Lark. But one in particular? He’s on his way.”

My heart stuttered. “Axel?”

She nodded again. “He’ll be here any minute. Max tracked him down the second they cleared his mission.”

Tears burned behind my eyes, but I didn’t care.

I was alive.

I was stupid, reckless, and broken… but alive.

And Axel was coming.

“Do I look awful?” I whispered.

Tessa smiled. “You look like hell. He’ll love you anyway.”

A moment passed.

And then I heard the door.

Heavy boots. A sharp intake of breath. The sound of someone fighting like hell not to fall apart.

“Lark.”

I turned my head, wincing. “Hey, mountain man…”

Axel crossed the room in three strides. He didn’t speak. He just dropped to his knees beside the bed and wrapped a trembling hand around mine.

“I told you I’d be back before you,” I whispered, trying to smile. “I guess I was wrong.”

He swallowed hard, eyes locked on mine. “Don’t do that again. Don’t ever disappear on me like that.”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“I don’t care.” His voice cracked. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Tessa quietly stood and gave us space, slipping out the door.

I tightened my grip on his hand.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I just… I needed to feel alive again.”

His jaw worked, and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead gently to mine. “Next time, let’s stick to hiking. Maybe paddleboarding. Hell, I’ll buy you a kite if you want to chase the wind.”

I laughed—and winced. “I’m a storm chaser. You knew that the moment you hauled my ass off of the top of the trailer. But I promise not to get so close.”

He kissed my forehead, then leaned back just enough to look me in the eyes.

“You’re not going anywhere alone,” he said. “You’re mine. if you want to chase storms I’ll go with you. If I’m not there, then one of the guys.”