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 thankyoufor 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 savedme.”
I blink, confusion mingling with the rush of emotion. “What are you talking about?”
