Chapter 102

REESE

It happened so fast; one moment she was trying to heal the kids, and the next...

The moment Valeria collapsed, I lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground. Her body, usually so full of energy and determination, now felt fragile and limp in my arms. Panic fluttered in my chest, but I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford to lose control now. Not after everything.

I gently lowered her to the ground, cradling her head and brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen across her face.

"Valeria?" I whispered, desperate and fearful. Why had she fainted so suddenly?

I shook her gently, but there was no response. Her breathing was shallow but steady, and I clung to that small reassurance.

Behind me, the air was heavy with the lingering tension of the battle, the scent of blood and sweat still sharp. But that was over now, wasn’t it? Chase and Cynthia were finally gone, and with their capture, the threats they posed to my family had been neutralized. For the first time in wh