Page 29 of Nate Hayes

Axel met us halfway, gun raised, eyes scanning the trees. When he saw the girl, he nodded. “Told you. Predator mode.”

“Let’s get her inside.”

Back at the lodge, Siena ran to her sister and broke down. The reunion gutted me in the best way. It reminded me why we do this—why we fight.

And why Ihaveto get back home.

Because one day, I want someone to run tomelike that.

13

Willa

Istared at the soap mold in my hands like it had personally betrayed me.

I’d remelted the same damn batch of lavender-goat-milk bars three times already today, and each time I poured it wrong. The scent was too strong, the swirl was off, and honestly—I didn’t care.

Because Nate was still gone.

And I missed him like hell.

It had only been a few days. I kept telling myself that. A few days wasn’t long. But itfeltlong. Too long.

The last time I saw him, I’d been half-naked, high on adrenaline, and thoroughly wrecked against my bedroom wall, for a quickie that nearly destroyed me. Now I was wearing the same T-shirt for the third day in a row, and I accidentally dropped a measuring cup into the goat bucket this morning.

Pancake kicked it down the hill. I didn’t even go after it.

I wiped my hands on my jeans and stepped outside onto the porch, hoping the fresh air would clear my head.

It didn’t.

It simply reminded me that Nate’s truck wasn’t parked out front. That the night was quiet,tooquiet. And that the damnstars didn’t shine nearly as bright when he wasn’t under them with me.

I sat on the porch swing and hugged a cup of tea to my chest, staring at the moon.

“I hope you’re safe,” I whispered.

As if he’d hear me from across the world.

Just then, Pancake came trotting up from the barn like he had something important to say. He headbutted the side of the swing, then plopped down at my feet with a loud sigh.

“You miss him too, huh?”

He blinked at me like,Duh.

“I know. I scratched behind his ears. “I didn’t think I’d fall for a Navy SEAL but here we are.”

My phone buzzed on the armrest beside me. I grabbed it fast, my heart leaping.

Unknown Number.

I tapped it open.

A photo appeared.

Nate. Covered in dirt, smiling like he just survived a warzone—which he probably did. And behind him? A group of kids. Chloe. Ethan. Siena. And one girl hugging Nate like her life depended on it.

And the caption:

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