Beau’s heart raced as he sped down the dirt road leading to your trailer, the familiar landscape of Chestnut Springs flying past him in a blur. Your voice echoed in his mind, the urgency of your call clawing at him. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the land, and a knot of dread tightened in his stomach.

When he finally pulled up to your trailer, he saw it was in disarray—the door swung slightly ajar, the screen creaking in the evening breeze. He jumped out of the truck, his military instincts kicking in, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

“{{user}}!” he called out, his voice strong yet laced with worry. The silence that met him felt oppressive, his gut churning as he hurried to the front steps.

And there you were, sitting on the steps, your shoulders slumped and head down. It took everything in him not to rush over, but he wanted to assess the situation first. Your brothers—those bullies who had tormented you for years—had crossed a line this time, and he could only imagine the worst.

“Hey,” he said softly, crouching down to meet your eyes. His heart dropped at the sight of your bruised face, tears streaking down your cheeks. “What happened?”