Page 107 of Claimed By the Damned

The jet touches down smoothly on a private runway, and within minutes, we’re escorted to a sleek black helicopter waiting on the tarmac. My pulse spikes.

"Wait, there’s more?" I say, my voice hitching.

Bastian tugs me close, his lips brushing my ear. "Much more, Little One."

The helicopter blades whirl as we board. As we lift off, I press against the window, watching as the Maldives shrink beneath us, turning from vast ocean to scattered emerald islands. The water is impossibly clear, revealing coral reefs and shifting sandbars beneath the surface.

Then, it appears in the distance, a single island, unlike the others. Not a resort, not a collection of villas, just one breathtaking expanse of paradise.

"That’s ours?" I whisper, barely able to process it.

"For the week," Bastian confirms.

"Holy shit."

A lump forms in my throat as I take it all in. Months ago, I was trapped, suffocating under someone else’s control. Now, I’m here with them, with my found family, and I’ve never felt safer.

The island is a masterpiece of nature, lush tropical greenery wraps around powder-white beaches, while a single massive villa that perches on the edge of the water, its thatched roof blending seamlessly into the surroundings. A long wooden dock extends into the turquoise sea, where a yacht bobs gently.

The helicopter lands in a clearing framed by towering palm trees. As I step onto the soft, sun-warmed sand, the salty breeze kisses my skin, and a warm sense of belonging settles over me. This isn’t just a vacation. It’s something more.

Ryker loops an arm around my waist. "Like it?"

"I—I don’t even have words." I turn in a slow circle, trying to take it all in, the shimmering water, the impossibly soft sand between my toes, the breathtaking villa waiting ahead. My chest tightens with emotion.

"Speechless, Baby Girl? That’s a first." He grins, but there’s warmth in his voice.

Bastian steps closer, his warm hand covering mine, his gaze steady on my overwhelmed expression. “Come on, Little One. Let's get you settled.”

The days on the island melted into a haze of sun-drenched peace I never thought possible. Swimming in the turquoise water, lazy lunches on the veranda, quiet nights watching the stars appear, it felt like we were the only people in the world. But woven through the blissful calm was a subtle thrum of anticipation.

Shared glances ignite between the guys when they think I'm not looking; hushed conversations stop abruptly when I enter a room. There's an almost nervous energy buzzing beneathRyker's usual teasing. Something is coming; I feel it low in my gut, but I don't know what.

After a few blissful days of settling into our island paradise, I can tell the atmosphere is different the moment I step onto the sand that evening. The guys lead me toward the beach, their hands warm around mine, guiding me gently but deliberately. The sun begins its descent, casting golden light across the waves, turning the sky into a painting of pinks, purples, and deep oranges. My heart stutters as I take in the scene before me.

A stretch of beach is transformed into something ethereal. A white gazebo, draped in flowing silk and twinkling with fairy lights, stands just beyond the shoreline. Hundreds of candles flicker along the sand, their flames dancing in the warm evening breeze. Rose petals, so many rose petals, are scattered everywhere, a deep crimson contrast against the pale sand. The scent of salt, flowers, and something deeply familiar fills the air.

I stop in my tracks. My heart hammers, my pulse thundering in my ears. "What is this?" My voice is barely more than a whisper.

Ethan squeezes my hand, his thumb stroking over my skin. "You’ll see, Angel."

Bastian stands tall beside me, his usual composure cracking slightly at the edges as emotion tightens his jaw. Ryker—who turns everything into a joke—looks almost nervous. Almost.

A lump forms in my throat as I step closer. They guide me beneath the gazebo, where a small table holds a velvet box, its significance sending a shockwave through me. My stomach flips.

I turn to face them, my lips parting, but before I can speak, Bastian steps forward. His hazel eyes hold mine, steady and unshakable.

"Lila," he says, his voice rough with emotion, his usual control momentarily fractured. "You came to us broken, hunted, looking like you'd barely survived a war. But even then, what we all saw, what hit us hardest, was that fierce, unbreakable spiritburning underneath it all. That spirit—you—changed everything for us from day one. We brought you here, to this place so far removed from the darkness, because we wanted to build a new memory, a foundation for the future we see with you. You are strength, resilience, and a light none of us expected, and I can’t imagine a single day without you. Withoutus, and what we've built together." His words are measured, heartfelt, carrying the weight of his quiet, unwavering commitment.

My breath hitches, tears already welling in my eyes. Before I can react, Ethan takes my other hand, his eyes bright and full of warmth.

"Angel," he begins, his voice cracking slightly, that golden retriever warmth shining through even his nerves. "You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You make me laugh every single day, you make me want to be a better man, and you make every single moment we share matter more than anything. I never knew I could love like this, not until you crashed into our lives. You showed me what it means to build a family, not just protect one. I want to spend forever building that future, our future, safe, happy, and whole, with you, with these guys, and with our baby."

Ryker smirks, but there’s something vulnerable in his gaze as he steps closer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Baby Girl," he says, his usual teasing drawl softened, raw with an intensity that’s pure Ryker. "You’re my favorite kind of chaos. The only one I never want to figure out. You see me—the real, fucked-up me, all the sharp edges and broken pieces—and you never flinch. Didn’t think I could be whole again, not really, not after everything. Then you crash-landed into my life, a goddamn hurricane in a tiny package." He clears his throat, his voice dropping, rough with emotion. "After everything, after almost losing you... locking this down, making you ours permanently, isn't just something I want, it's something I fuckingneed."

A strangled sound, half sob, half laugh, escapes me. My chest feels like it’s about to burst, my heart too full, too overwhelmed to contain all the love crashing into me.

Bastian picks up the velvet box, flipping it open to reveal three rings—one for each of them. Each ring is different, unique, yet they fit together seamlessly. Bastian's ring is a sleek platinum band, strong and unbending, reflecting the steady, unwavering foundation he provides.

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