Chapter 5

Lucia froze. "How did he get trapped in the mountain?"

Through her sobs, Alice spilled it.

They'd spotted a white fox. Jared ignored the rain, chased it alone, and the mountain gave out. He got buried in a landslide.

"This is insane." Lucia's eyes narrowed. "This mountain's notorious for landslides. Wolves come out at night too. Is he trying to get himself killed?"

One of Jared's friends snapped, "Why are you yelling? Got a better plan? We already talked to staff—the fastest rescue team's at least six hours out... Lucia, what are you—!"

Gasps rippled through the group.

Lucia had already swung onto a horse like she was born in the saddle.

"I'm going to get him," she said, voice like ice.

Then she was gone—riding off without a glance back.

"Lucia can RIDE... like that?" someone whispered.

Alice went pale, her fists clenched tight.

***

Lucia knew the terrain like the back of her hand. She found a safe trail and pushed into the mountains without hesitation.

She wasn't doing this just for show.

First—this land was under her name. If someone died out here, she'd be the one held liable. Walking away clean from Khelmark? Not gonna happen.

Second—she owed Jared her life.

Back when she'd just returned to the Lynch family, she and Alice were kidnapped. The kidnappers made the family choose.

Michael and Joanne chose Alice.

The daughter they weren't related to.

Lucia had been left to die.

Jared was the one who'd come for her—alone. Took three stab wounds and nearly bled out that night.

That debt... she'd never forgotten.

And today, she was here to settle it.

Lucia rode through the storm for five brutal hours before she found him.

He was out cold in a cave, clutching the white fox like it was treasure. Whispering under his breath—

"Alice... for you... this is for you..."

Her face darkened.

So he nearly died—for a fox? A gift for Alice?

She gave a bitter smile and reached for him.

Then her eyes caught something—dozens of glowing green dots in the dark.

Wolves.

She hadn't planned for this, but she didn't hesitate. Raised her rifle and stood her ground.

An hour later, the cave was silent. Every wolf—dead.

She'd been bitten three times.

'Three... same as the number of wounds Jared took for me back then.'

Bleeding and shaking, she dragged him onto the horse and took off.

When they reached the lodge, everyone went pale.

Lucia—soaked in blood—barely held herself up. She slid off the horse and shoved Jared into Alice's arms.

"Tell Jared Dawson—he's repaid," she muttered.

Then everything went dark.

***

Lucia woke up in a hospital bed, her wounds bandaged.

She turned to the nurse. "Where's the man who came in with me?"

After getting Jared's room number, she headed down the hall.

Just as her hand touched the door, she froze.

From inside, she heard one of Jared's buddies say,

"Jared, it was ALICE who braved the storm to save you. She really does love you!"