Page 46 of Nate Hayes

I looked at Nate. He looked at me. We both grinned.

Some things never change. And thank God for that.

Later that night, after everyone had left and the house was quiet, I curled into Nate’s arms on the porch swing.

The stars stretched endlessly above us. Fireflies blinked through the grass. Pancake snored softly in her usual spot near the steps.

“I never thought I’d get all this,” I whispered.

Nate kissed the top of my head. “I never thought I’d deserve it.”

“You always did,” I said. “You just had to find your way home.”

He placed a hand over my belly, feeling our daughter shift beneath his palm. “Youarehome.”

And just like that—under the stars, wrapped in love, laughter, and the scent of cinnamon rolls and goat fur—I knew we were ready.

For anything.

Forever had officially begun.

THE REAL END… for now

Keep reading for more of the SEALS on Fraiser Mountain (Axel Martin)

26

Axel

Frasier Mountain was used to wild things. But not like her.

I was halfway through my protein bar, sweat dripping down my spine, when my radio crackled.

“Axel, you copy? We’ve got a situation out past the south ridge—someone parked an Airstream in the open field. Looks like they’re filming. Ignored two warnings. Weather’s rolling in fast.”

Great.

I tossed the weights I had, climbed into my truck, and floored it down the service road. The sky above was already turning gunmetal. Thunder grumbled over the ridge.

Fifteen minutes later, I crested the hill—and slammed the brakes.

Silver trailer. Middle of the damn field. And standing on top of it? A woman.

Barefoot. Arms stretched to the sky. Wind was whipping her hair around like she was trying to summon the lightning.

What in the hell—

I jumped out and cupped my hands. “Hey! Get down from there!”

She turned, hair in her face, wearing a mic and a GoPro strapped to her chest. “You’re ruining my shot!”

“You’re gonna get fried!”

She didn’t move. I didn’t think. I climbed the ladder up the back of the trailer, just as a crack of lightning split the sky.

I lunged, wrapped my arms around her, and tackled her to the roof. A second later, a tree branch came sailing past where she’d been standing.

She blinked up at me. “Well. That was dramatic.”

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