Page 165 of Heart of Frost and Scars

Kody and I don’t want to go back, either. But our relationship with the hills is different. It’s the only home we’ve ever known, and right now, it may be the key to finding Wolf’s body.

“When do we leave?” I ask Sirena.

“I’m watching the weather reports. Looks like we’ll be clear to fly by the end of the week.” She winks.

I glance at Kody, and his black eyes meet mine, a silent understanding passing between us.

We’re both worried about what we’ll find. Is Wolf dead, alive, or did he somehow escape the Arctic and is now stalking Frankie? The last time I saw him, he tried to shoot her.

His intentions are as murky as the Alaskan waters, creating relentless, nibbling doubt.

That night, tense silence cloaks the estate. Frankie’s distance has become a chasm that none of us know how to bridge.

I find myself sitting alone beside the pool, my feet dangling in the cool water. The stars offer little comfort as my thoughts churn with frustration and sadness.

The memories of Wolf, the haunting photo, and the uncertainty of his fate keep me from sleep.

The search for him feels like chasing shadows, and the hope of finding him alive only deepens my worry. If he is alive, where has he been for the past six months? Worse is the thought of him out there, possibly stalking Frankie.

Wolf wasn’t stable on a good day. Even if his body survived, what has become of his mind?

The light tread of footsteps interrupts my solitude. I look up to see Monty approaching, his default stern expression softened by concern.

He rolls up his sweatpants and sits beside me, lowering his feet into the water.

Silence weaves between us before he finally speaks. “I have a proposal for you.”

I raise an eyebrow. Monty is a man of many surprises, and his timing is never accidental.

“There’s a seaplane base in Sitka I’m looking to buy.” He tilts his head back, gazing up at the stars. “You could run seaplane tours out of it for tourists, use it as an instructor school, or maybe even a plane mechanic shop. Whatever you want. I’ll give you the same offer I gave Kody. As a silent partner, I would take a small percentage of the profits. All negotiable, of course.”

That’s fair. And tempting. A shimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. But the timing…

“Why now?” I shake my head. “With a stalker on the loose and the search for Wolf’s body about to consume all my attention…”

“Because you need something to hold on to. Something to look forward to. We all do.”

His words hit home. I want the dream he’s dangling before me. Do I trust him? Not completely. But with every passing day, I find fewer and fewer reasons to hate him.

If I’m being honest, I’m rather fond of the arrogant asshole. Especially when he’s the brother version of himself. I can’t remember the last time I saw the husband come out.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Do that.” He unfolds his muscled physique off the ground and stands over me. “Opportunities like this don’t come often. And sometimes, they come when you least expect them.”

As he leaves, the silence returns, but the weight on my shoulders feels lighter.

The offer is a distraction but also a promise of a future that doesn’t revolve around the hills of shivers and shadows.

36

Leonid

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Days pass, and Frankie remains distant, holding our relationship hostage.

Kody and I have given her space, and we’ve all had a lot on our minds. But we’re leaving tomorrow, and we’ll be gone for a week. With so much up in the air, I won’t let this wait until we return.

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