Heart of a Hunter

21: The Road to Nebraska

Blair's POV:

The morning light filtered in through the thin motel curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. I blinked, my eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness, feeling Sam's warmth beside me. For a moment, everything felt peaceful—almost normal. His arm was draped over me, holding me close, his slow, steady breathing like a lullaby that made me wish we could stay like this forever.

But the reality of what we were facing crept back in before I could get too comfortable. The Arcani. Nebraska. A hunter named Lucas who might hold the key to unraveling whatever twisted fate had dragged me into this mess.

My family's death wasn't just a tragedy—it had been orchestrated, a deliberate move in some dark game I didn't even know I was playing. And now, Sam and Dean were pulling me deeper into their world of monsters, demons, and things far worse than I ever imagined.

But I wasn't backing down. I couldn't. Not now.

Sam stirred beside me, his hand gently tightening around my waist as he woke up. He shifted slightly, his sleepy eyes blinking open, meeting mine with that familiar warmth. "Morning," he said softly, his voice rough from sleep.

"Morning," I whispered back, forcing a small smile. I wanted to hold on to this—this quiet moment before everything got complicated again. But the weight of the day ahead pressed down on me, making it hard to fully enjoy the softness of the morning.

Sam's eyes searched mine, and I could tell he knew what I was thinking. He always knew. "We'll figure this out," he said quietly, his thumb brushing against my arm. "No matter what happens in Nebraska."

I nodded, though a part of me still wasn't sure how much I believed that. I wasn't scared of what we'd find out there—I was scared of what we'd uncover about me. What if I wasn't just a victim in all of this? What if I was somehow responsible for the chain of events that had led to my family's death?

Sam sat up, his arm still around me as he watched me carefully. "Blair, whatever we find... it doesn't change anything between us."

His words sent a wave of warmth through me, and I leaned into him, resting my head against his chest. His heartbeat was steady, grounding, and I needed that right now more than I'd ever admit.

"I just... I don't know what to expect," I whispered. "I don't know who I am anymore."

Sam's hand gently tilted my chin up so I could meet his gaze. "You're Blair," he said firmly, his voice filled with that quiet confidence that always seemed to settle my nerves. "You're still you. And no matter what we find out, I love you. That's not going to change."

I smiled, my heart swelling at his words. He always knew what to say, how to make me feel like maybe, just maybe, everything wasn't falling apart. I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, needing that reassurance, that connection.

When we pulled apart, the weight on my chest didn't feel as suffocating as it had before. Sam was right—we'd figure this out. Together.

A knock on the door interrupted the moment, and Sam sighed, his forehead resting against mine for a second before he stood up. "That's probably Dean," he said, giving me a soft smile. "You ready for the road trip?"

"Not really," I admitted, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. "But I don't think we have much of a choice."

Sam chuckled softly, grabbing his shirt from the chair and pulling it over his head. "That's the spirit."

I watched him for a moment, appreciating the way he moved, the strength in his shoulders, the way he carried the weight of everything without ever letting it break him. He'd been through so much—more than I could imagine—but somehow, he still found room to care for me. To love me. And I wasn't sure how I'd gotten so lucky.

Another knock sounded at the door, and Sam rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Coming!" he called, pulling open the door to reveal Dean, leaning against the frame with a smug grin on his face.

"Took you long enough," Dean said, pushing past Sam and into the room. "I was starting to think you two lovebirds had decided to skip town and head off into the sunset."

I laughed, though it was more out of nervousness than actual humor. "Not quite," I said, standing up and grabbing my jacket from the back of the chair. "We're still here."

Dean shot me a knowing look, then turned to Sam. "You ready? We've got a long drive ahead, and Nebraska isn't exactly around the corner."

Sam nodded, his eyes flicking back to me for a moment before he grabbed his bag. "Yeah, let's hit the road."

As we headed outside to the Impala, the air was cool and crisp, the sky still tinged with the early morning light. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The road ahead felt uncertain, and I didn't know what we'd find when we got to Nebraska, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going to face it alone.

Sam opened the passenger door for me, and I slid into the seat, my nerves fluttering in my stomach. I glanced at the backseat, where Dean was already settled, his feet propped up on the seat in front of him, his usual smirk in place.

"So," Dean said, his voice casual but laced with curiosity, "any last thoughts before we dive headfirst into whatever the hell this is?"

I bit my lip, my eyes flicking to Sam for reassurance before I answered. "Just that I hope we're ready."

Dean's grin widened. "Oh, sweetheart, we're always ready."

I couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking my head at his confidence. Dean had this way of making everything feel less heavy, like no matter how dangerous the situation, we could handle it. Maybe that's why Sam and Dean were so good at what they did—they didn't let the weight of the world crush them. They kept moving, kept fighting, no matter what.

And now I was part of that fight.

As Sam slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, I glanced over at him, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. I didn't know where this road was going to take us, but I knew that as long as I had him by my side, I could face whatever was waiting for us.

We pulled out of the motel parking lot, the road stretching out before us, endless and uncertain. But in that moment, I wasn't afraid.

Because I had Sam. And we were in this together.