Page 66 of Wreckage

Iwoke slowly, my mind drifting between dreams and reality. The warmth of the plane’s cabin wrapped around me in a way that felt different, comforting, and safe.

The ceiling above me blurred as last night played through my mind.

Elena.

Her lips, her touch, the way she melted perfectly between us.

We hadn’t rushed her and hadn’t taken things too far.

And I didn’t care.

I didn’t need more.

Not yet.

I glanced down, my chest tightening at the sight of her curled up against me, her breathing soft and even.

Her body was so small against mine, fragile yet strong, the same quiet resilience I had always admired in her.

Troy was behind her, on his back, one arm resting lazily over the blanket, his face completely at peace in sleep.

I smiled, shaking my head at the sheer impossibility of all this. I had spent years ignoring her. Pushing her away. And now, I couldn’t imagine a world where she wasn’t mine orours. Troy and I had never shared a girl. I’d never done that with anyone, but I didn’t hate this. Noteven close. It made me feel like I’d finally found something I’d been missing. It made me feel whole.

A part of me still felt like I was dreaming. That this would all shatter the second the real world found us again and tugged us back to reality. For now, for this moment, she was here, so I tried to stay focused on that.

And that was enough for the time being, at least.

I exhaled softly, brushing a piece of hair from her face before carefully slipping from beneath her.

She stirred slightly but didn’t wake.

I adjusted her gently, tucking the pillow beneath her head before reaching for my boots and coat.

The cabin was still dim, the fire burning low, so I grabbed a few sticks of wood and tossed them into the flames before heading outside.

The cold hit me instantly, the crisp morning air biting at my face as I exhaled a misty breath and moved toward the traps.

The first one was empty. So was the second. The third was knocked over, probably from the wind.

I clenched my jaw, my stomach sinking with disappointment.

But when I reached the fourth trap, I froze.

Two rabbits.

Caught, struggling, but trapped.

A slow, triumphant grin spread across my face.

“Holy shit.” I pulled my knife free, my heart pounding with adrenaline as I ended them quickly, murmuring a quiet apology beneath my breath before heading back toward the plane.

This was it.

This was hope.

The smellof cooked meat filled the cabin, rich, mouthwatering and real. It had felt like forever since we’d had a decent meal. I knew Troy noticed our weight loss, too. Especially Elena. She was small, to beginwith, but the bones in her face were becoming more dominant. I didn’t like that and wanted to ensure she had more to eat than I did. Troy and I were pure muscle. It wouldn’t be a huge issue if we dropped a few pounds. But her? So delicate and small? It mattered.

For the first time since the crash, we were eating something other than crackers or rationed scraps, though. It was the first stroke of luck we’d had since discovering we’d survived.

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