"No. I just... you move and talk like military. The things you say, and you have that look... The one that says you've seen things you can't unsee."
"Yeah. Two tours. Learned real quick that the world is a lot more complicated than they tell you in training."
"Fine. I'll let Luna check me over," I finally say. "But I want you here too."
"Why?"
Because you're the only one who hasn't tried to fix me or push me to feel things I'm not ready to feel. Because somehow your brutal honesty is more comforting than everyone else's gentle lies. Because I don't trust anyone in this place except maybe you, and I don't even know why.
"Because I said so," I answer instead. "Take it or leave it."
I can see him weighing options, calculating risks. Then he nods once.
"Okay."
He steps out into the hallway and calls for Luna, who appears almost immediately. She takes in the scene—me withtear-stained cheeks, Shadow looking paler than before, and understanding crosses her face.
"Thank you," she says to him. Then to me: "I'll be gentle. I promise. And if you need me to stop at any point, just say the word."
I nod, not trusting my voice.
Luna comes in with her medical bag, and Shadow positions himself near the door. Not leaving but not crowding me either. Just... present. A solid, steady presence that somehow makes this bearable.
"Can you tell me where it hurts?" Luna asks, her voice calm and professional.
"Everywhere," I admit. "But mostly my ribs and my arms. One of them grabbed me yesterday, and I think he might have cracked something."
She asks permission before touching me, explains what she's checking for, and works without unnecessary contact. It should feel clinical. Impersonal. Instead, it feels like the first act of kindness I've experienced in months.
And when I look over at Shadow, standing guard by the door with his injured shoulder and his watchful gray eyes, I realize that maybe, just maybe, I'm not as alone as I thought I was.
Even if trusting that thought terrifies me more than anything the Iron Eagles did.
Chapter 5 - Shadow
I watch Luna finish her examination, cataloging every wince Rachel tries to hide, every bruise that colors her skin in shades of purple and yellow. My jaw aches from clenching it so hard, and there's a dark part of me that's glad most of the Iron Eagles are already dead.
Because if they weren't, I'd want to kill them all over again. Slowly this time.
"Nothing broken," Luna announces, sitting back with visible relief. "You've got some deep bruising on your ribs and arms, probably from being manhandled. There's also some minor bruising around your wrists that suggests restraints."
Rachel's face remains expressionless, but I see her hands curl into fists.
"The ribs will hurt for a while, but they'll heal on their own," Luna continues. "I'm going to give you some pain medication and an antibiotic ointment for the abrasions. You should also—"
"I know," Rachel cuts her off. "Rest, stay hydrated, take it easy. I'm not an idiot."
Luna doesn't take offense. She just nods and starts packing up her supplies. "I'll leave the medications on the dresser. If you need anything, anything at all, just ask one of the guys, or you can find me in the main clubhouse."
"Sure."
It's clear Rachel has no intention of asking for anything. She's already rebuilding her walls, brick by brick, shutting out the vulnerability she showed during the examination.
I recognize the defense mechanism because I use it myself.
Luna stands and touches my good shoulder briefly as she passes.
"Make sure she actually takes the medication," she murmurs. "And Shadow? Get some rest yourself. You look like death."
