Between Love and Darkness- Book 2

2. Written in the Stars

Dean's POV:

The Impala's engine rumbled beneath me, a low, steady hum that usually soothed my nerves, especially after a hunt. But not today. I tightened my grip on the wheel, my knuckles turning white as we cruised down the back roads, heading back to Bobby's after the hunt. My mind was still buzzing from what had just gone down.

Stella.

She had handled herself like a pro. Not that I expected any less after months of training, but seeing her in action—really in the thick of it—was something else. There were moments I almost jumped in to help, but she didn't need me. Hell, she was the one who saved Sam's ass back there.

But that didn't stop the knot of worry in my chest from tightening every time I thought about how close she'd come to getting hurt.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. Stella was in the backseat, staring out the window, lost in thought. She looked okay, maybe a little shaken, but who wouldn't be? It was her first hunt. Hell, my first hunt had me puking my guts out when it was over. I was proud of her—damn proud—but the whole thing still left me on edge.

"Dean, you good?" Sam's voice broke through my thoughts from the passenger seat. His eyes shone with a look of understanding and worry.

I shot him a quick look and grunted. "Yeah, fine."

Sam wasn't buying it. He rarely did. "She's fine, you know," he said, keeping his voice low so Stella wouldn't hear. "Stella did great today."

"I know that," I snapped, a little too sharply. I immediately regretted it, sighing as I tried to rein in my frustration. "I know, man. It's just... I don't know."

Sam's eyebrows lifted. "You don't know? Since when do you 'not know'?"

I rolled my eyes at him. Leave it to Sam to call me out. "It's just different with her, okay? I mean, watching her out there, seeing her take on a freaking vampire... I know she took on the Angra and that was more than terrifying, but putting her in on the hunt today..."

Sam gave me a knowing look, one I hated because it meant he saw right through me. "You're scared."

I clenched my jaw. "Yeah, maybe. Maybe I am." I glanced in the mirror again, catching another glimpse of Stella, her red hair catching the light from the window. "She's tough, Sam. Tougher than most. But I just—"

"Don't want anything to happen to her," Sam finished for me, leaning back in his seat.

"Exactly," I muttered, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. "It's not that I don't trust her or think she can't handle herself. She's proven she can. I just don't want her getting hurt because of us—or worse."

Sam was quiet for a moment, probably thinking up one of his usual "big brother" speeches. I wasn't in the mood for it, but I could feel it coming.

"Dean," he started, his tone soft. "Stella's in this because she wants to be. She knew what she was signing up for when she decided to become a hunter. We all did. She made it abundantly clear that this was what she wanted to do, something that would help her feel safe in case something came again like the Angra. You can't protect her from everything."

I clenched my jaw, staring out at the road ahead. Sam was right, of course. He always was when it came to stuff like this. I couldn't shield Stella from the life we led. But damn it, that didn't stop me from wanting to try.

We pulled into Bobby's salvage yard just as the sun was dipping below the horizon. I killed the engine, the silence settling over us like a blanket. For a second, no one moved. Stella, Sam, and I just sat there, each of us caught up in our own thoughts.

Finally, I turned in my seat and looked back at her. "You okay, Stel?"

She blinked, snapping out of her daze, and gave me a small smile. "Yeah. Just... processing."

I nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. The first hunt always left a mark. "You did good today," I said quietly, meaning every word.

Her smile widened a little, and she nodded. "Thanks, Dean."

Sam hopped out of the car, stretching his long legs and heading for the house. "I'm gonna grab a beer. You guys want anything?"

"Yeah, grab me one," I called after him, then looked at Stella again. "You?"

She shook her head. "I'm good."

Once Sam disappeared into the house, I slid out of the car and opened her door for her. "C'mon. Let's get inside. Bobby will probably have something to say about your performance today."

She groaned but climbed out of the car anyway, her fingers brushing mine briefly as she stepped out. The contact was enough to send a small spark through me, reminding me just how much this woman meant to me. I caught her gaze and leaned in, pressing my lips ever so gently on hers before we headed in.

Inside, Bobby was already at the kitchen table, nursing his own beer and flipping through an old hunter's journal. When he saw us walk in, he raised his bottle in greeting. "Well, if it ain't the Winchester clan plus one."

"Hey, Bobby," Stella said, sliding into a chair.

Bobby gave her a once-over, then shot me a look. I knew that look—it was the "I told you she'd be fine" look. He took a swig of his beer and leaned back in his chair. "So? How'd it go?"

I grabbed the beer Sam handed me and took a long drink before answering. "She kicked ass," I said with a grin, glancing at Stella. "Saved Sammy's life, too."

Bobby raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That so?"

Sam jumped in, eager to share. "Yeah, one of the vamps had me pinned, and Stella took it down like a pro."

Stella blushed, her green eyes darting between us. "It wasn't that big of a deal."

Bobby let out a gruff laugh. "Kid, saving one of these idjits is always a big deal. They've been getting into trouble since they were knee-high."

I chuckled, though I knew he wasn't wrong.

As the conversation shifted to other topics—future hunts, rumors about some demonic activity a few states over—I found myself watching Stella again. She was smiling, laughing at one of Sam's dumb jokes, but there was something behind her eyes. She was still thinking about the hunt, about what it all meant.

I knew that look. I'd seen it in Sam's eyes after his first hunt. Hell, I'd seen it in my own reflection after mine. Hunting wasn't just about the fight—it was about what came after. The weight of what we did, of the lives we took—even if they weren't exactly human—left its mark.

I stood up, stretching, and caught her eye. "Hey, Stel. Let's take a walk."

She looked surprised but nodded, standing up and following me out into the cool night air. The sky was clear, stars blinking down at us as we stepped into the yard. The faint smell of grease and motor oil hung in the air, mixed with the crisp scent of the trees surrounding Bobby's property.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, the gravel crunching under our boots. Finally, I stopped and turned to her. "What's on your mind?"

She hesitated, then sighed. "It's just... today was intense. I've trained for this, but I wasn't sure what it would feel like—actually taking a life."

I nodded, understanding completely. "It doesn't get easier, but it's something you learn to live with. And you've got us—you've got me."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. "I know. I'm just... trying to find my place in all of this."

I reached out and tucked a stray strand of her red hair behind her ear. "You've already found it, Stel. You belong here—with us. With me."

Her lips curved into a soft smile, and she leaned into my touch. "Thanks, Dean."

I pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Anytime, sweetheart."

As we stood there, wrapped in the quiet of the night, I realized something. I wasn't just scared of losing her—I was scared of what this life would do to her. Scared that the bright light that shone in her eyes would dim. But right now, in this moment, with her in my arms, I knew we'd figure it out. Together.