Clean Up - Elara

Clean Up - Elara
Austin’s blade hit the earth with a final, decisive sound, and the clearing went still. I felt the ripple through our bond before I saw him straighten—calm, relief, pride…and something else that made my cheeks warm.
He turned immediately to the warriors. “Secure the captives and get the field cleared. Marcus, take a team west and check for stragglers. Leo, handle transport.”
“Yes, Alpha,” they echoed, already moving.
I didn’t need to stay and watch. Austin had it handled, and our pack needed me.
So I sprinted for the pack house.
The second I threw open the front doors I went straight to the first of the hidden rooms. The scent of fear, sweat, and too many bodies in cramped together hit me. But as soon as I stepped inside, voices rose.
“Is it over?”
“Elara, can we come out now?”
“Yes,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “It’s safe. Come on out.”
The door swinging open. Faces peeked out. And then everyone spilled into the hallway—children clinging to parents, elders stretching stiff joints, nurses lugging medical supplies.
The medical unit’s captain, Rhea, strode toward me with a sharp nod. “We’ll get the infirmary set back up immediately.”
“I’ll clear the hallways for you,” I said.
“Thank you. We’ve got at least a dozen wounded coming in.”
Within minutes, stretchers and carts were rolling out, and the once-empty corridors buzzed with controlled chaos.
Then Helen rounded the corner with her apron already tied, her gray braid swinging behind her. “Elara! Tell me the kitchen still stands.”
“It does,” I said with a tired laugh. “And I think it’s going to need you more than ever.”
She blew out a relieved breath. “Good. I’ll get the teens chopping and mixing. Idle hands cause trouble.”
“Yes, they do,” I teased, following her into the kitchen.
In seconds she had fifteen teenagers around her like ducklings.
“You—peel potatoes. You—wash greens. You two—no, don’t even think about sneaking off—set up the serving tables. And kids,” Helen added, turning to the younger ones gathered by the doorway, “I need cartoons.”
“Cartoons?” one little boy asked, head tilting.
“Yes,” she said firmly, handing them markers and stacks of paper cups. “Draw something funny on every cup. Wolves in sunglasses. Bunnies with swords. I don’t care. Make the warriors smile.”
The children cheered and immediately got to work, tongues sticking out in concentration as they scribbled little doodles.
It warmed my heart more than I expected.
“Thank you, Helen,” I said softly. “You’re keeping the whole pack grounded right now.”
She swatted the air. “Go on, girl. Check on your mate. I can feel his energy from here.”
My face heated. Our bond pulsed warm and insistent in the back of my mind—Austin was coming.
I headed for the doors again. And right as I stepped outside, I saw them.
Austin. Leo. Marcus. And behind them, dozens of warriors returning from the battlefield.
They were tired. Bloodied. But alive.
A smile slowly stretched over my face.
Then the pull hit me fully—a wave of pride so strong it made my knees soft, followed by an unmistakable spike of desire that made my breath hitch.
I muttered, “Austin… seriously?”
But before I could brace myself, he lifted me straight off the ground, spinning me in a tight circle.
“Elara,” he breathed, crashing his lips against mine.
I laughed into the kiss, my hands gripping his shoulders. “You’re filthy.”
“You love me filthy.”
He wasn’t wrong… but I playfully smacked his chest. “Put me down. We have people watching.”
“We just survived a battle,” he said, kissing my cheek. “They can handle a little PDA.”
But he did set me down—eventually.
I turned toward the pack. “Everyone, clean up first. Then head to the hall. There’ll be hot food waiting.”
Cheers erupted, and people peeled away toward the showers.
Austin didn’t let go of my hand. “Come upstairs with me.”
“That wasn’t a request, was it?” I teased.
“Nope.”
He scooped me up, throwing me over his shoulder—because apparently carrying me was his weakness—and headed up the stairs two at a time.
“Austin!” I laughed. “At least warn me—”
He pushed open our bathroom door, set me on the counter, and peeled off his shirt in one fluid motion.
“Thought you’d want the full retelling while I shower,” he said, already undoing his belt. “Unless you’d rather I wait?”
My mouth opened…but no sound came out.
He grinned. “Thought so.”
He stripped down completely—like it was nothing—and stepped into the shower. Steam filled the room almost instantly.
“So,” he said over the spray, “you should’ve seen their faces when that trap field went off. Your traps. Perfect placement. Perfect timing. I knew exactly where to go because of your vision.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest, pride mixing with relief.
“I’m glad it helped,” I said softly. “I didn’t know if we’d have enough time to set everything—”
“Elara,” he cut in, pushing his hair back under the water. “You saved lives today. Dozens.”
I swallowed. “I just did what needed to be done.”
“That’s why you’re perfect,” he said.
My face flushed, and I looked anywhere but directly at him. Unfortunately… “anywhere” meant accidentally watching water slide down his chest and over every defined line of muscle.
Oh. Oh no.
He noticed. Of course he noticed.
His voice dropped, low and teasing. “You okay over there?”
I snapped my gaze up. “I’m listening!”
“Mm-hmm,” he smirked. “Your eyes say otherwise.”
I crossed my arms, but that only made him laugh.
And Goddess help me, the laugh made everything worse.
He stepped forward, bracing his hands on the edge of the glass door. Water dripped off his jawline. “Come here.”
“Austin—”
“Elara, don't make me come out there for you” he said, voice husky,
My breath caught, but the teasing he did earlier was now getting to me.
Biting my bottom lip I slid off the counter nicely and started pulling the dress over my head.
Standing before him in my underwear and bra, his smile grew until, I sprinted out of the bathroom with a giggle, you are going to have to get me first!