Chasing the storm

Chapter 35: I'm Not Letting Go

(Rowan's POV )

---

I didn't think.

I didn't hesitate.

I just held onto her and kept moving.

Sienna was too quiet in my arms, but I could feel the way she gripped my shirt—like she wanted to fight me, like she wanted to argue, like she wanted to do anything except let me carry her.

Too bad.

She wasn't getting a choice.

Not this time.

Not when her leg was completely useless.

Not when the motel had collapsed behind us like it had never been there at all.

Not when the storm was still ripping apart everything we tried to hold onto.

I tightened my grip on her, pushing forward through the wind, through the wreckage, through the cold, choking rain.

Because I didn't care if this storm tried to take everything—

It wasn't taking her.

---

The others were ahead, barely visible through the rain and debris.

Mia and Caleb were struggling. Oliver and Ava were barely staying upright.

And me?

I had Sienna.

That was all that mattered.

"We need to find shelter!" Oliver shouted over the howling wind.

Caleb turned, his eyes locking onto me carrying Sienna.

And just like that, his expression darkened.

But now?

Now wasn't the time for his jealous bullshit.

I ignored him and kept moving.

Sienna's breath hitched against my chest, her fingers curling in the fabric of my jacket.

But she didn't tell me to put her down.

She couldn't.

She knew she couldn't.

And deep down?

She didn't want me to.

---

We finally made it past the worst of the flooded roads, pushing through an old alley that wasn't completely destroyed yet.

I could barely hear over the storm, but I knew Caleb was talking.

Knew he was pissed.

"You could've let me help her," he snapped.

I didn't stop walking.

"She's fine," I muttered.

Caleb's jaw tightened. "That's not the point."

I exhaled sharply. "Then what the hell is the point?"

He scoffed. "The point is—"

Sienna shifted in my arms, her hand barely touching my chest.

I looked down.

She was watching me.

Not Caleb.

Me.

And that?

That was enough.

I smirked. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

Caleb clenched his jaw, but before he could snap back—

Oliver called out.

"I see something! There's a building!"

---

We rushed forward.

A small, rundown storage facility loomed ahead, barely standing, but still intact enough to keep us alive.

For now.

Oliver shoved at the rusted door, cursing as the wind fought against him.

Ava and Mia pushed inside first, then Caleb.

I shifted my grip on Sienna and stepped in after them—

Only for her to flinch.

I looked down again.

She wasn't looking at me anymore.

She was looking at her leg.

At the blood.

At the mess.

At herself.

Her breathing hitched.

I didn't like it.

Didn't like the way she was retreating into her own head.

So I did the only thing I could.

I forced her to look at me instead.

"Hey," I muttered.

She swallowed hard. "Rowan, I—"

"You're fine."

She exhaled shakily. "I don't feel fine."

I smirked. "Well, you look fine."

Her eyes snapped up to mine.

Annoyed. Exasperated. A little embarrassed.

And just like that—

She was back.

Her fire. Her fight.

Everything that made her Sienna.

I set her down carefully, letting her lean against the nearest crate.

She let out a small breath, still watching me like she didn't know what to do with me.

Which was fine.

Because I had no idea what the hell to do with her, either.

---

Oliver, Ava, and Caleb were searching the shelter, trying to figure out what supplies we could use.

Mia was exhausted, sitting on the floor and rubbing her injured arm.

And me?

I was still too focused on Sienna.

But at least I wasn't the only one dealing with something.

Because across the room?

Oliver and Ava were arguing.

Not like how Sienna and I fought.

Not with the same kind of heat.

This was… different.

"Why didn't you just listen to me back there?" Oliver demanded, his voice lower than usual.

Ava huffed. "Because you weren't thinking straight, and I knew it."

"I was fine."

"No, you weren't!"

Oliver's eyes flashed. "You don't get to decide that."

Ava scoffed. "Someone had to."

I raised an eyebrow.

Huh.

Interesting.

Sienna caught my expression.

"Don't," she muttered.

I smirked. "Don't what?"

She sighed. "Don't start something when we have bigger things to deal with."

I leaned in slightly. "Admit it. You're curious, too."

She rolled her eyes.

But she didn't deny it.

---

I'm Not Done With Her Yet

She shifted, trying to adjust her leg.

I caught the small wince before she could hide it.

And just like that, my smirk faded.

"Do you need me to look at it?" I asked.

She hesitated.

That hesitation?

Yeah, I hated it.

Because she didn't want to say yes.

Didn't want to need me.

But she did.

I didn't give her the chance to refuse.

I grabbed the first-aid kit from the supplies and crouched in front of her.

She exhaled sharply. "Rowan—"

"Shut up, Sunshine."

She scowled.

But she let me help her.

And for now?

That was enough.