Page 147 of The Hyena’s Guardian

“Always,” he said.

And for the first time in years, he meant it.

Chapter 20 - Matt

Matt woke three hours later to someone pounding on the door like they were executing a search warrant.

He groaned into the pillow. Every muscle in his body protested the movement, and the bruises from the collapse beneath the mountain had stiffened overnight into one solid wall of pain.

Beside him, Theron opened one eye.

Matt froze for exactly half a second because the sight still hit him like a truck.

Theron lay curled partly against him beneath the tangled sheets, dark hair falling across his forehead and one hand still resting loosely against Matt’s ribs, as if some part of him needed physical confirmation that Matt remained there.

The bond carried the immediate warmth of Theron’s awareness.

Then another knock rattled the door.

“Matthew,” Vale’s voice called from outside. “If you are dead, I am going to be extremely irritated.”

Matt buried his face deeper into the pillow. “Go away.”

“No.”

Theron’s mouth twitched beside him. “I begin to understand why you find her exhausting.”

Matt looked over at him. “You say that now. Give it a week and you’ll realize she’s basically an extremely violent school principal.”

“I do not understand what a principal is.”

“You’re honestly better off.”

Another knock. “Debrief,” Vale called. “Now.”

Matt groaned again before forcing himself upright. The movement reminded him he had, in fact, been crushed by approximately half a mountain less than twelve hours ago.

Theron sat up more carefully beside him, though Matt could still feel the lingering soreness pulling through the bond between them. Sunlight filtered weakly through the windows now, turning the room pale gold around them.

For a moment neither of them moved. The quiet felt different this morning, no longer fragile but finally real.

Matt looked over just in time to catch Theron studying the room again with the same cautious curiosity he’d shown the night before.

Theron noticed. “You are staring again.”

Matt snorted softly. “Can you blame me?”

A faint flush touched the older wolf’s throat before he looked away toward the window instead.

Matt smiled despite himself. Theron embarrassed was apparently a thing now.

The bond carried Theron’s suspicion a second later. “Do not start.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely starting.”

Theron narrowed his eyes. “You are insufferable.”

“And yet,” Matt said while pushing himself painfully out of bed, “you seem weirdly into me anyway.”