Page 76 of Easy, Tiger

His controlled features fracture, raw vulnerability flickering across his face. "Even knowing the danger it put you in?"

"Especially knowing that. Because it also put me exactly where I belonged. With you and the enclave. Part of something real instead of hiding from everything that went wrong before."

He reaches up to tuck a curl behind my ear, his thumb brushing across my cheek. "Those first few weeks, I told myself getting to know you slowly, coffee and hikes and evenings in the workshop, was me protecting you by keeping the truth at arm's length."

"Scared I'd run screaming?"

"Scared you'd stay for the wrong reasons. The bond is powerful, Halsey. I've seen it override someone's better judgment before. Make them think they want something they'd never choose freely."

Nestling into his palm, I press a kiss to his wrist. "Is that why you waited so long to tell me how you felt?"

"Part of it." His other arm tightens around me, gathering me closer. "The other part was pure selfishness. Wanting you to love the man before you knew about the tiger."

"Well, you succeeded." Sinking back against his chest, I listen to the ceaseless rhythm of his heartbeat. "Though I have to admit, the tiger's pretty spectacular too."

His laugh vibrates through his ribs. "Only pretty spectacular?"

"Fishing for compliments, Maren?"

"Always."

I grin against his skin, then grow serious again. "Promise me something."

"Anything."

"No more carrying every burden alone. No more deciding what's best for everyone without asking what they want. We're partners now. In everything. That means you get to rely on me when things get heavy."

Something tight in his appearance finally relaxes, like he's stifled a breath for months and can finally exhale. "Old habits."

"I know. Your father trained you to be the shield between the enclave and every threat. But you don't have to be the only shield anymore." I caress the line of his jaw with gentle fingers. "Let me help carry the weight."

He catches my hand, bringing it to his lips. "I promise. No more lone wolf—" He pauses, mouth quirking. "Wrong animal."

"No more lone tiger operations."

"Deal." His arms tighten around me as another gust of wind rattles the cabin walls. "Though I reserve the right to be ridiculously overprotective sometimes."

"I'll allow some ridiculousness." Snuggling closer, I savor the warmth of his skin against mine. "As long as you remember, I'm not made of glass."

"Noted." His voice grows drowsy, the adrenaline of the rescue finally fading. "Get some sleep. Owen will radio when it's safe to move."

Letting my eyelids drop, I listen to the storm and the crackle of dying embers, feeling safer than ever despite everything waiting for us in the morning.

28

NOLAN

The radio's electronic distortion jerks me awake after barely a few hours of sleep before Owen's voice cuts through the white noise. "Nolan, you copy?"

I'm instantly alert, Halsey stirring against my chest as I reach for the handset. Dawn light filters gray through the cabin's single window; the storm is finally spent after the long, frantic night. "Here."

"Got eyes on our friend. He's established a sniper nest overlooking Devil's Gap. Elevated position with clear sight lines down the pass."

Halsey props up on her elbow, hair tousled from sleep, listening intently as Owen continues his report.

"Looks like he's been there most of the night. Thermal scope, suppressed rifle, the works. He's dug in deep, expecting company."

Catching Halsey's eye, I see the flash of satisfaction there. Her deliberately altered migration maps worked exactly as we'd hoped, exactly how I had broken down to Owen last night while she finally slept, exhausted from everything the mountain had put her through.