Page 54 of Line of Resistance

Nate shook his head, cradling her cheek in his hand as he tucked her head under his chin. “No bears. I’ve been here for a while now and haven’t seen a single bear.”

“You live in a gated compound. Of course you haven’t seen any bears.” Eloise cuddled closer, one hand snaking out to wrap around his waist and holding on tight. “And you should be glad because they’re scary as heck.”

Nate closed his eyes, relaxing into a surprisingly comfortable moment. “How many bears have you seen?”

“One.” Eloise wedged a leg between his, tangling herself around him. “And it was one too many.”

Nate smoothed his hand over the strands of her hair, following the curve of her skull with each pass. “I think bears are the least of our worries.”

Eloise tipped her head back, expression incredulous as she looked up at him. “Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

“It didn’t?” Nate tipped her head back into place, holding her close. “I thought you liked being prepared.”

Eloise groaned, the sound long and surprisingly dramatic. “Whatever.” She gave his side a little pinch. “You can go back to ignoring me if this is how you’re going to be.”

“I wasn’t ignoring you. I was pretending I could ignore you.” He pressed his nose into her hair, breathing deep. “And it was fucking impossible.”

* * *

HE WAS DEAD asleep when the sound of a twig snapping opened his eyes.

He stopped breathing, listening for any sign of what might be moving through the woods, but the quiet rustle of the wind moving through the trees was all that carried into the little lean-to keeping the worst of the weather at bay.

It would be easy to think he dreamt it. That the sound never existed and everything was as peaceful and empty as it seemed. But there was always a calm before the storm.

He carefully unwound Eloise’s limbs from around him, working as quickly as he dared to keep as much warmth within their little cocoon as possible. By the time he had his boots on and laced, Eloise’s eyes were open. She gripped the blankets around her tightly, keeping her nose and mouth covered. Nate reached out, curving one gloved hand around her face, hoping to soothe the fear in her eyes.

But the confirmation he’d been waiting for came a second later when the unmistakable sound of footsteps shattered any hope this day would remain uneventful.

He started to move away, but Eloise’s hand grabbed his wrist, holding tight. She shook her head, eyes pleading.

He didn’t want to leave her, but sitting here and waiting to see what was coming their way would be stupid and dangerous.

He leaned forward, brushing his lips across hers before whispering into her ear, “I’ll be right back.”

Her grip stayed tight, holding a few seconds longer before she finally let go, agreeing with a small nod.

He’d waited years for a moment like this. To have someone who wanted him around. Someone trying to tug him back into bed for just a little more time together. In his mind it had been a sleepy morning in the safety of their home. And while this setting was about as far from that as it could get, the moment was no less perfect.

And it made him even more determined to do whatever it took to ensure mornings like this continued happening. Just hopefully not in the middle of the Alaskan backcountry.

Nate silently stepped out from their shelter, nose tucked into his coat to disguise his breath as he scanned the space around him. His white clothing provided great cover in the snow, but here in the trees it offered less concealment. Luckily, the shelter they found was probably built by hunters, so was in a well wooded area, surrounded by the limbs of fir trees that provided adequate physical camouflage. He carefully worked his way between them, sticking to the denser areas as he followed the soft sound of footsteps.

He was just starting to feel like he was closing in when they seemed to stop.

Nate crouched down, straining for any hint of where they might be coming from. When they picked back up, his stomach dropped.

They were headed in the direction of their lean-to.

Nate turned back, moving faster this time, less concerned about concealing his own steps as he rushed to Eloise. He was supposed to be showing her he could keep her safe. That he could protect her. That he really was all she’d initially hoped he could be.

And so far he’d failed every step of the way. Not just by leading her on, but by failing to protect her from this whole situation. By bringing whatever was hunting him right to her. As much as he didn’t want to consider it, Eloise was right. This was all his fault.

No one went after an elementary school principal. Whoever this was, they were absolutely coming after him. She would be nothing more than collateral damage.

Nate moved faster, desperate to get his eyes on her. To see that she was safe.

When the shelter they’d slept in the night before finally came into view, his heart stopped. A huge wolf was sniffing through the space, pawing at the ground he’d been sleeping on less than fifteen minutes before.

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