Page 79 of The Hyena’s Guardian

Theron went still.

“I mean it,” Matt said, voice rougher now. “You think I don’t see what this place is doing to you? I do. But I also see every damn thing you keep trying to protect. You’ve spent this entire journey making sure everyone else survives while you let this mountain tear chunks out of you.”

Theron’s breathing had gone shallow. Matt’s grip loosened. “And maybe you’ve done terrible things,” he continued. “Congratulations. So has every person who’s ever survived a war.”

The words hung between them.

For a long moment, Theron said nothing at all. Then, with visible hesitation, he lifted one hand and rested it carefully against Matt’s wrist like he was uncertain he deserved to touch him.

That tiny gesture hit harder than any confession could have.

Matt swallowed thickly. “You know what the worst part is?” he whispered.

Theron’s thumb shifted faintly against his skin. “What?”

“You keep looking at me like eventually I’m going to see the real you and walk away.”

Theron looked stricken because it was true. Matt felt his chest ache at the sight of it.

He slid his hand from Theron’s jacket to the side of his neck. Theron closed his eyes for one brief second the moment Matt touched him there, and the reaction carried so much exhaustion and restraint that it nearly undid him. “There is still blood on my hands,” Theron said.

Matt stepped even closer until their foreheads almost touched. “Then you won’t carry it alone anymore.”

Theron inhaled sharply.

The control Theron wore so perfectly began to crack. Matt watched it happen in real time as armor that had endured for centuries finally gave way.

When Theron finally leaned forward, it was not possessive or desperate. It felt like surrender.

Matt kissed him softly.

Neither of them moved away. Every ounce of tension Theron carried seemed to pour into the contact. His hand tightened against Matt’s wrist while the other settled carefully against Matt’s side as though grounding himself there.

Matt deepened the kiss, enough to feel Theron finally respond instead of merely endure it.

The sound Theron made against his mouth carried so much restraint finally breaking that it nearly shattered Matt where he stood. When they finally pulled apart, Theron rested his forehead against Matt’s and closed his eyes.

For several seconds neither of them spoke.

Then Theron whispered, with a vulnerability so raw it barely sounded like him at all: “You make me remember there are still parts of me worth saving.”

Chapter 12 - Theron

Someone began calling the teams together.

“No,” Theron said quickly.

Every eye turned toward him.

“We do not move yet.”

Vale frowned. “Explain.”

Theron listened to the mountain for several moments before answering.

“It surges in cycles. The last one has passed.”

“Meaning?” Matt asked.