Heart of a Hunter

12: Finding Something Real

                                           Blair's POV:

The rain had slowed to a soft patter against the window, a quiet rhythm that matched the steady rise and fall of Sam's chest beneath me. The room was dark except for the faint glow from the parking lot lights outside, casting long shadows on the walls. But for once, the darkness didn't feel oppressive. It didn't swallow me whole like it usually did.

Because Sam was here. His warmth wrapped around me, his arms steady and protective, like nothing could hurt me as long as he was close. I'd been lying here for what felt like hours, listening to his heartbeat, steady and sure, as I tried to make sense of everything that had happened between us.

The night had been a blur of emotions, of touches that felt like they'd been waiting forever to happen. It wasn't just about the physical connection—though I couldn't deny how safe I'd felt in his arms, like he knew exactly how to take care of me. It was more than that. Being with Sam had felt like finding something real for the first time since the world had turned upside down.

For a while, I'd been convinced I'd never feel like this again—that I'd be lost in my grief forever, stuck in that moment when my family was torn away from me. But lying here, tangled in the sheets with Sam, I didn't feel broken anymore. Maybe not fixed, but not shattered either. I felt... whole.

I didn't know how to explain it, not even to myself. But there was something about Sam that made it easy to let my guard down, easy to believe that maybe I didn't have to face everything alone. And for once, I didn't feel guilty for leaning on someone else.

I shifted slightly, pressing my cheek against his chest as I stared at the shadows dancing on the ceiling. His arms tightened around me instinctively, even though he was still asleep. I couldn't help but smile, the gesture so simple, so natural. It was like we fit together, like this was always meant to happen.

The quiet stretched between us, and I let myself sink into it, into the warmth of his body and the steady comfort of his presence. But the peace was fragile, and as much as I wanted to stay here forever, the thoughts that had been creeping at the edges of my mind finally pushed their way in.

What happens next?

It wasn't that I regretted anything—not even close. Being with Sam had felt right in a way I hadn't expected, and the kiss we'd shared had sparked something inside me that I hadn't felt in so long. But I couldn't ignore the reality of everything that had happened, the weight of the grief I was still carrying. I couldn't pretend like it was all magically fixed, that I wasn't still haunted by what I'd lost.

And what about Sam? Where did we go from here? Was this just a moment between us, a brief escape from everything we were dealing with? Or was it something more? I didn't know how to ask him, how to put into words the uncertainty swirling inside me. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to ask him, because what if the answer wasn't what I hoped it would be?

I took a slow breath, trying to calm the thoughts racing through my head. This wasn't the time to overthink. Right now, Sam was here. He cared about me, and I cared about him. That was enough, wasn't it?

But even as I tried to convince myself, a knot of anxiety tightened in my chest.

Sam stirred beneath me, his arms loosening slightly as he shifted. I froze for a second, hoping I hadn't woken him up, but when I glanced up at his face, his eyes were already open, watching me with that quiet intensity that always made my heart skip a beat.

"Hey," he whispered, his voice still rough from sleep. "You okay?"

I swallowed hard, my hand resting on his chest as I nodded. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

He frowned, his brow furrowing in that way it always did when he was worried. "About what?"

I hesitated, not sure how much I wanted to say. But I knew I couldn't lie to him, not after everything. "About what happens next," I admitted softly.

Sam shifted, pulling himself up slightly so we were more eye-level. His hand moved to brush a strand of hair out of my face, his touch so gentle it made my chest ache. "We'll figure it out," he said, his voice steady but soft. "You don't have to have all the answers right now."

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the wave of uncertainty that was still tugging at me. "But what if... what if this was just..."

I trailed off, not sure how to finish the sentence. I didn't want to say it. Didn't want to ask if this was just a fleeting moment for him, something that wouldn't last.

But Sam seemed to know what I was getting at. His expression softened, and he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Blair," he murmured against my skin, his voice so tender it made my heart clench. "This wasn't just a moment for me."

I closed my eyes, feeling the tension in my chest start to ease, just a little. "It wasn't?"

"No," he said firmly, his hand coming up to cup my face. "I care about you. I've cared about you since the moment we found you. This—" He paused, searching for the right words. "It's more than just tonight. I want you to know that."

The relief that washed over me was almost overwhelming, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze, and the sincerity in his expression made the last of my doubts fade away.

"I care about you too," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. "More than I realized."

Sam smiled, that soft, almost shy smile that always made my heart flutter. "Good," he said quietly, pulling me closer. "Then we're on the same page."

I let out a small laugh, leaning into him as the last of my anxiety melted away. The future was still uncertain—there were still so many things we hadn't figured out, so much that could go wrong—but for now, this was enough. Sam was here, with me, and that was all I needed.

We lay there for a while longer, the steady sound of the rain a soft backdrop to the quiet between us. I could feel Sam's heartbeat against my cheek, steady and strong, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel like I was holding everything together on my own.

I didn't have all the answers. I didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that. But for the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid of the unknown.

Because I wasn't facing it alone.