The tallest man, with broad shoulders, dark hair, and eyes sharp enough to cut, stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, but there was a weight to him, like gravity bent around where he stood.
“Good thing you got to her in time,” he said, his voice low and commanding. Then his gaze shifted to me. “I’m Jacob.”
The name hit like a punch of recognition. Even I’d heard whispers about Jacob Cardosa. His reputation wasn’t the kind of thing you didn’t know, even if you never spoke of it out loud.
“I… I’m Sara,” I managed, my voice raw from cold and fear.
His stern expression softened by the smallest fraction. He gave a single nod.
A stunning dark-haired woman stepped forward next, her smile warm and disarming. “I’m Lily. Come sit by the fire and warm up. We’ll get you something hot to drink. Carter?” She glanced at another man who was as equally as intimidating as the first.
He nodded. “I’m on it.” He left the room without any further instructions.
Lucas lowered me carefully to my feet, his hands steadying me when my knees wobbled. I clung to his arm, embarrassed by how weak I felt but unable to let go just yet.
Another man stepped closer, he was older than the others but his posture was just as protective and coiled. He had a brunette tucked against his side, small but fierce, judging by the steel in her eyes.
“I’m Jax,” he said, giving me a curt nod. “This is Briar.”
“Hi,” Briar added gently, her tone a stark contrast to his gruffness.
The woman who had stood next to Carter raised her hand as if to say hi. “I’m Callie.”
I waved back. Kind of… a very awkward wave, but she smiled, and I felt a bit more relaxed.
The last couple approached more slowly. The man had a quiet, commanding strength, his presence less sharp than Jacob’s but no less formidable. The woman with him had kind, watchful eyes that softened some of the tension in my chest.
“I’m Bear,” he said simply. “This is Hailey.”
The names blurred together in my mind, my head spinning with exhaustion and the sheer size of these people’s lives.
I felt small. Like I didn’t belong in this room full of warriors and survivors. Like a cracked piece of glass dropped among polished stone.
The first man, the one who had opened the door came over next. He had a striking blonde woman who came with him. “I’m Diesel, and this is Sam. So tell us, how in the hell did you end up on our mountain? You’re damn lucky Dice found you.”
“Dice?” I looked up at Lucas confused.
“It’s a name the guys gave me when I first got here. It just kind of stuck.”
My brow furrowed. “Why Dice?”
The door burst open, bringing in a gust of snow and icy wind. A younger man, probably around the same age as me and Dice, came in, shaking his coat and body as he secured the door. “Damn it’s colder than a…. Who’s this?” His eyes landed on me with both a curiosity and almost playful expression.
“Tactful as always, Fox.” Jax laughed and ushered Briar to the chair close to the couch where everyone seemed to be congregating.
“Wait. Do I know you?” Fox leaned in closer, his eyes slits as he examined me. “I think I know you.”
My heart raced. I didn’t really want anyone knowing me right then. Lucas was enough. And honestly, he had a warmth to him that felt, dare I say, safe?
Lucas’s arm tightened around me as he guided me down onto the couch beside him. “Back off, Fox. She’s been through enough tonight without you in her face.”
Fox snapped his fingers like something clicked. “You graduated the same year as me! Twenty-twenty. Crazy year, huh?. Not really a graduation, but still…” He grinned. “I remember you. Well, from before everything shut down. Don’t remember much from earlier years. I was… preoccupied.” He winked.
“Um, yeah.” It was all I could manage to say.
“You were with that Chad guy, right?” Fox asked casually, like we were just two old friends catching up.
I winced. Visibly.
