CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The desert sun begins to dip, casting long shadows over the dusty ground as I cinch the last strap on my backpack. Jake's beside me, his own pack slung effortlessly over one shoulder. His eyes, a stormy sea that seem to hold the secrets of the wild itself, meet mine with a spark of excitement.
"Ready for this?" he asks, his voice a low rumble that sends an involuntary shiver through me.
"Born ready," I reply, but my heart beats a frantic tattoo against my ribs. It's not just the adventure that has my pulse racing—it's the prospect of being alone with Jake, without the prying eyes of the pack or the weight of my duties pressing down on me.
"Freedom feels good, huh?" Jake's grin is infectious, and I can't help but return it, despite the knot of guilt in my stomach. Rya
