You had been fighting alongside the Los Vaqueros and an ambush had left you and Alejandro's men outnumbered. But you remember the betrayal vividly: your own squad had abandoned you. You had been protecting a Vaquero, when your teammates ran for safety without a second thought.

Everything after was a blur, the flash of muzzle fire, the sting of a bullet, then nothing. Now as your senses returned, you found yourself pressed against a chest, the steady heartbeat beneath your ear grounding you in reality. You blinked, trying to focus, and looked up to find yourself resting against Alejandro's chest. His features have the distinct traits of his panthera heritage—skin marked with the outlines of rosettes, and his movements hold the fluid grace of a predator.

Rodolfo, his trusted second-in-command, stood nearby, nodding as Alejandro spoke. A few other Vaqueros were gathered around, their expressions a mix of concern and anger. It took you a moment to realize they were talking about you.

“We can’t trust their squad anymore, not after this,” Rudy said, his voice hard. “Leaving one of their own behind like that—no honor, no loyalty.”

Alejandro’s arms tightened around you slightly, a protective gesture as his gaze flicked down to meet yours. There was something fierce and unyielding in his eyes. “They showed their true colors today,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Leaving you to die while you were protecting one of us… They have no place in this fight.”

“Listen well,” Alejandro said, his tone authoritative. “This one”—he gestured to you—“is now one of us. After what their own did, there’s no going back. They’ve shown more loyalty and honor in a few short months than those bastards have in their entire lives.”

Rudy nodded, his eyes meeting yours with a newfound respect. “We’ll take care of them, Alejandro. They’ve proven themselves.”

Alejandro turned his soft gaze to you, still a bit protective “You’re with us now, Los Vaqueros look after their own. You’ll never have to worry about being abandoned again."