WINSLET
Winslet’s legs trembled slightly beneath her, the aftershock of meeting Korrak still coursing through her system like electricity seeking ground. The research outpost’s main room felt both sanctuary and trap, its reinforced walls shuddering against the Arctic wind that howled outside like a living thing demanding entry. She pressed her palms against her thighs, willing steadiness into limbs that refused to cooperate.
What the hell was that?
Their handshake had lasted far too long—she knew it, he knew it, probably even Gerri knew it. But those ice-blue eyes had held her captive, studying her face with an intensity that made her feel simultaneously exposed and... appreciated?
The door opened with a gust of frigid air, and Gerri stepped back inside, snowflakes melting on her designer coat like tiny diamonds. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the cold, but her eyes sparkled with that unsettling gold gleam that seemed to surface whenever she was particularly pleased with herself.
“Well,” Gerri announced, unwinding her scarf with theatrical flair, “Korrak has agreed to keep a close eye on you, dear. You’re in excellent hands here with Ellie and our territorial guardian.”
The words should have been comforting. Instead, they sent another jolt of awareness through Winslet’s already overstimulated nervous system.Keep a close eye on me.Why did that sound less like protection and more like... something else entirely?
“Gerri, you don’t have to—“ Winslet began, but the older woman was already crossing the room with purposeful strides.
“Nonsense.” Gerri pulled her into an embrace that smelled of vanilla and spice. “This is what I do, sweetheart. I help those who deserve it most.”
The hug lasted just long enough for Gerri to whisper near her ear, “Trust your instincts here. They’ll serve you better than your fears.”
Before Winslet could ask what that cryptic advice meant, Gerri was pulling away, her expression shifting to calculated efficiency.
“I really must beat this storm,” she said, glancing toward the windows where snow was already falling more heavily. “Weather this far north doesn’t negotiate, and neither do the pilots who brave it.”
“Thank you,” Winslet managed, the words feeling inadequate for everything this strange, powerful woman had done for her. “For everything. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay?—“
“No need for all that.” Gerri waved a dismissive hand, her eyes flashing that tell-tale gold. “Payment is for transactions, dear. This is something else entirely.”
She winked and headed for the door with the confidence of someone who’d never doubted herself. “I’ll be in touch if needed. But something tells me you’ll be just fine from here on out.”
The door closed behind her with finality, leaving Winslet alone with Ellie and the sudden, overwhelming awareness of just how isolated they were. Thousands of miles from Seattle, from civilization, from anything that resembled the life she’d builtand lost. The silence felt vast and pressing, broken only by the generator’s steady hum and the wind’s relentless assault on the walls.
This is it,she thought, panic and determination warring in her chest.This is my refuge now. My last chance at survival.
The scent of pine and cedar lingered in the air—Korrak’s scent, she realized with a start. Masculine and wild. It seemed to cling to everything, marking the space as his territory.
“Come on, Winslet.” Ellie’s voice cut through her thoughts, warm and practical and blessedly normal. “Let me show you around your new home.”
She gestured toward the back of the outpost, where Winslet presumed the sleeping quarters lay hidden behind utilitarian doors. “You’ll want to settle in before your dinner with Korrak.”
Dinner. With Korrak. Alone.
Her heart kicked against her ribs. The thought of being in close quarters with that intense man when she already felt raw from her narrow escape in Seattle made her stomach clench with something that wasn’t entirely fear.
“Right,” she managed, hefting her suitcases with hands that trembled slightly. “Dinner. That sounds... educational.”
Ellie shot her a curious look but didn’t comment, leading her through a narrow hallway lined with practical storage and emergency equipment. Everything here was built for survival, not comfort—a philosophy that Winslet suspected extended to the people who called this place home.
The bedroom Ellie showed her was exactly what she’d expected. Functional, sparse, and unforgiving. A single twin bed dominated the small space, flanked by a simple desk and a storage closet that looked like it had seen better decades. One window offered a view of the icy wasteland beyond, where snow was already beginning to accumulate in earnest.
“You’ll be spending half your time out there,” Ellie said, following her gaze to the window. “The research requires constant environmental monitoring, and the station needs daily maintenance.”
Winslet set her suitcases on the narrow bed and tried not to shiver at the thought of venturing into that frozen tundra. Seattle’s relentless rain had nothing on this—this was cold that could kill, wind that could blind, and isolation that could drive a person mad.
But Bracken will never think to look for me here,she reminded herself.This place is so far beyond his world that it might as well be another planet.
“Take a few minutes to unpack,” Ellie said, her tone gentle but practical. “Find me in the main room when you’re ready for the full tour. And Winslet?” She paused in the doorway, her expression serious. “You’re safe now. Korrak doesn’t let anything happen to people under his protection.”
Her words should have been reassuring. Instead, they sent another flutter of awareness through her chest, and Winslet found herself wondering exactly what being under Korrak’s protection might entail.
