Page 9 of Castaway Heat

Once in the water, it wasn’t much better. The storm rocked the boat wildly. Shiloh’s stomach pitched almost as violently as the boat. Ronin held on to him, gripping him tight.

“We’re going to be okay, baby,” Ronin murmured against his ear. “We made it to the lifeboat. We’ll get to dry land and safety. Don’t worry.”

He pressed his face against Ronin’s chest and that’s when he noticed his alpha’s lifejacket didn’t fit properly. It wasn’t clasped. He tugged on the closure, and it wouldn’t budge. “Fix that.”

“I’m too broad,” Ronin muttered. “It’s the best it can do.”

Shiloh looked around. “There are other alphas wearing them. Maybe they have another.”

“This is the largest size,” Ronin said, capturing Shiloh’s gaze. “I’ve got it tied as tight as I can. Don’t worry.”

But Shiloh could do nothing but worry. Worry about he and Ronin.

Sage and Eirin. All the injured they’d passed, helping as many as they could along the way.

He’d tied three different makeshift splints on arms, cleaned two bloodied faces, and assisted Ronin in resetting someone’s dislocated shoulder.

There was no first aid station as they fled for their lives.

Many of the other passengers walked past the wounded and disabled, ignoring them and only considering themselves.

He wasn’t sure they’d done much better with the meager help they’d given, but if it gave the wounded a better chance, it was worth it.

Lightning lit up the sky and thunder clapped outside.

As the waves threw the lifeboat around in the ocean.

He held on to Ronin, sending out a prayer to the universe to protect them.

Panic made it harder to breathe, but he kept telling himself fate wouldn’t bring them together only to tear them apart. It would be too cruel.

A massive pitch sent them sideways once more only it didn’t stop at sideways. The boat flipped over, and water rushed in. Screams filled the underside of the boat. They were in complete darkness, the water raging around them. Ronin snatched Shiloh and dragged him close.

“We need to get out from under here. Maybe we can flip the boat back,” Ronin said. “Hold your breath.”

He sucked in a lungful before Ronin pulled him under the water and out through the opening.

Shiloh fought to find which way was up. The water churned around him, making it harder.

They seemed to be plummeting, but he couldn’t reorient himself to be sure.

Shiloh could see lightning flashing above their heads and knew they were near the surface, but they were moving away.

Ronin was dragging him down. Another bolt of lightning allowed him to see both of Ronin’s eyes were closed…

and a ribbon of red flowed from the top of his alpha’s head.

Lungs burning, he swam down and wrapped an arm under one of Ronin’s.

The lifejacket was gone. All they had was the one Shiloh wore.

He kicked with everything in him, hoping his vest and his legs could help them rise.

It felt like hours, but they finally broke the surface.

He gasped for air, struggling to get it as the water raged around them.

Ronin jolted, his eyes widening as he inhaled a deep breath.

Shiloh shuddered with relief, although that relief was temporary as he noticed they were drifting farther and farther from the capsized hull.

After the climb and swimming with every ounce of strength to get them above the surface, he wasn’t sure he had it in him to swim back against the currents.

A life jacket floated past. Shiloh snatched it and handed it to Ronin. He threaded an arm through, never letting go of Shiloh. There were others floating and flailing in the distance, most of them screaming for help, but he and Ronin were barely staying afloat themselves.

A lifeless body floated past and terror struck his heart.

“We need to swim closer to the boat,” Ronin screamed over the storm.

“I can’t!” Shiloh yelled.

Ronin shoved through the water, one hand clinging to Shiloh’s lifejacket. He was a strong swimmer, but the more he moved, the farther away the capsized boat seemed to get. Finally, he stopped, and they bobbed in the water, holding on to one another for dear life.

“We’re going to make it,” Ronin said against his ear. “Just don’t let go of me. Do you hear me? Don’t let go!”

Shiloh closed his eyes from the stinging water and clung to Ronin. If that was their last day on Earth, at least they were together. He’d tasted a bit of happiness, and it would have to be enough. Pressing his face against Ronin’s neck, he prayed they could float long enough to find salvation.

Shiloh gasped, opening his eyes and coughing.

It was bright. Too bright. His eyes stung and his vision was blurry.

Water poured from his mouth onto the white sand under him.

The rough surf rushed over him and back out into the ocean, neither dragging him back into it.

He dug his hands into the sand, clinging to the beach.

Once he breathed a little easier, he pushed to his knees and crawled through the waves to dry land.

He collapsed on the beach, utterly exhausted. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep, but he couldn’t. He was alone, and that wasn’t a good thing. The last thing he remembered was clinging to his alpha in the middle of the ocean, but the memory after that seemed blurry.

Shiloh had to find Ronin. He had to be alive.

Forcing himself to sit, Shiloh scanned the beach on either side of him.

There was debris spotted here and there obstructing his view and making it difficult to tell if anyone had washed up with him.

He struggled to rise on his feet. Every step was excruciating.

After hours of kicking to stay above water, they were nothing but wet noodles.

He passed numerous several broken suitcases and strewn personal items. When he saw a lump that looked like a man, he staggered forward, his heart clenching.

The lump wasn’t moving. He rushed closer and realized it was Ronin.

Dropping to his knees beside his alpha, he checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one.

He felt breath against his fingers, but it was faint.

“Ronin?” he called loudly, shaking the man. “Ronin, wake up. Please wake up.”

After a few seconds, Ronin’s eyes fluttered open. He stared up at Shiloh, blinking a few times before rolling to his side and dragging himself upright. Ronin embraced Shiloh, holding him tight. Shiloh wrapped his arms around his alpha’s neck, elated they were both still alive.

Ronin pulled away and cupped Shiloh’s cheeks. He planted kisses all over. “Thank the gods you’re alright.” He smiled. “We made it.”

Shiloh clasped Ronin’s wrists, running small circles on the underside with this thumbs. Tears filled his eyes. “We made it.”

After another long hug, Ronin pulled back. He looked up and down the beach. “Have you seen any other survivors or signs that the island’s inhabited?”

“No signs of either. Just flotsam washed up on the beach or floating nearby.” He grinned. “And you.” He fought a sob. “I was so scared when I woke up alone.”

Ronin hugged him again. “You’re not alone anymore. I’ve got you.”

“I’m so tired, Ronin,” Shiloh murmured.

“I know. I am, too… but we have to find help. If not that, water and shelter of some kind.”

“Where do you think we might be?”

“Haven’t the foggiest,” Ronin said. “Somewhere near Fiji is as close as I can guess.” He forced himself onto his feet before offering Shiloh a hand. “We should investigate the island. See if we can find help.”

Shiloh agreed. They walked hand-in-hand down the beach.

At least the view was spectacular. The sand was the whitest Shiloh had ever seen.

The glare off it was near blinding, though.

The water was crystal clear and intensely blue.

Palm trees swayed all around and the rich, verdant green on the opposite side of the sand was lush with trees—though there were black rock outcroppings poking out here and there.

Almost an hour later, they’d seen no signs of other survivors—but they did stumble upon the remnants of an old, weathered, broken pier.

“This means the island might be inhabited. Or was at one point.” Ronin looked toward the center of the island. “I don’t know if we should head into the rainforest and see what we might find or continue ahead on the beach.”

“I vote the beach. All I can imagine is snakes hanging in those trees,” Shiloh said.

“I’ve been to Fiji many times and I don’t recall ever seeing a snake.”

Shiloh shivered. “But we don’t know where we are. This place could be infested with them.”

“The beach it is,” Ronin murmured.

Another hour later, they returned to the same spot where he’d found Ronin unconscious.

“Great. A big circle of nothing.” Ronin glanced up at the sky. “We don’t have much daylight left. We need to find shelter of some kind for the night. If there was a pier, maybe there’s a structure we can use. I suggest we return to the pier and go inward.”

“Or we could root through the luggage washed on the shore and make ourselves a tent,” Shiloh suggested. “If we move into the trees, rescue planes overhead might not see us down here.”

Ronin searched his face a moment. “You’re that scared of snakes?”

“Terrified,” Shiloh whispered.

Ronin mulled a moment. “How about we return to the dock? Along the way, we can collect anything from the luggage that might be useful. You stay on the beach and tie together clothing and I’ll go into the forest and find us some wood to hold up our makeshift tent.”

“About as good a plan as any,” Shiloh said, relaxing.

By the time they returned to the pier, the sun was getting lower in the sky.

Shiloh sat on the beach with their collected items and got to work tying loose bits together to fashion a tent of sorts.

As he watched Ronin nearing the edges of the jungle, fear swept over him.

All they had was one another and he didn’t want something to happen to his alpha inside that forest. There could be dangers at every turn.

“He’s a big boy and can take care of himself,” Shiloh told himself, focusing on the damp fabric in his hands, realizing it wasn’t going to do much of anything to protect them from the elements.

Luckily the skies were clear. If they stayed that way, at least there would be a little shade, if nothing else.

“Stop worrying. We made it this far. We’re going to be okay. ”

As the minutes stretched into what felt like an hour with no signs of Ronin, Shiloh reminded himself that his alpha was big and strong over and over again. Just before the sun dropped below the horizon, Ronin appeared, a smile on his face.

But his hands were empty.

“Where’s the wood?”

“I found something better,” Ronin murmured. As he neared, he lifted a plastic bottle of water toward Shiloh.

Shiloh snatched it, undid the cap, and guzzled half of it down before handing it to Ronin to share.

“Drink the rest. I had one on the way back to get you.”

“You found help?” Shiloh asked, excitedly scrambling to his feet.

“Not that good, but almost as good,” Ronin replied. “We need to hurry before it gets much darker.”

Shiloh cringed. “We’re going into the forest where the snakes are?”

“I didn’t see a single snake in there. I know that doesn’t mean there aren’t any, but it’s definitely not infested,” Ronin said.

Shiloh hedged.

“You do realize that snakes could be on the beach, too, right?”

Shiloh looked around him, panicked. “Don’t say that!”

Ronin swept him off his feet. Shiloh knew he should tell his alpha to put him down, but his irrational fear was just that bad.

“I only meant that the forest isn’t any more dangerous than the beach. There’s no point to avoid it.” He marched inland. “But I’ll carry you, so you don’t have to worry about one slithering over a foot.”

“You’re going to give me a panic attack.”

Ronin chuckled under his breath. “I’ll protect you, pet.”

Shiloh sighed, realizing how silly they looked. Plus, his alpha was just as exhausted as he was, if not more. “Put me down.”

Ronin shook his head. “Nope. I’ve got to protect my omega.”

Shiloh was too tired to argue. He rested his head against his alpha’s shoulders, knowing Ronin would do as promised. Protect him. Exhaustion took hold and he’d give anything for a bed to slip into. Too bad they wouldn’t get one of those that night.

Ronin marched through the trees. A few feet in, Shiloh noticed a noticeable path peeking out from under the overgrowth here and there when he looked behind them. He turned to face Ronin. “Where are we going?”

“I found us somewhere safe to sleep tonight.”

After a few minutes, the trees gave way to a small clearing.

In the middle of it was a house, the facade slightly overgrown with vines.

More poked out of a corner of the roof, but the rest of the house looked relatively intact from the outside.

All of the windows were dark. Ronin lowered him just outside the screened porch.

“Have you been inside?”

“I have. It appears abandoned but hasn’t been long since someone’s lived here. There’s plenty of water and a ton of canned food, most of it appears expired but not all that long out of date.”

“Canned is probably fine if it’s a bit expired,” Shiloh said. “As long as it’s not ancient and the can’s not swollen.”

Ronin nodded. “Exactly. So, we can eat tonight.”

Shiloh sighed with relief. His stomach was knotted with hunger.

“There are also solar panels out back. The battery cells weren’t on, though, so they haven’t been charging in some time.

I flipped them on before I came to get you but there wasn’t much daylight for them to collect.

There might be a tiny bit of power left.

Maybe enough to give us a single, small light for the night.

If not, we’ll eat under the moonlight, sleep on the porch, and investigate more in the morning. ”

“I hope there’s a bed in there,” Shiloh said, leaning against Ronin. “I feel like I could sleep for three days straight.”

“I didn’t get that far. Once I found the food and water, I came to get you. I figured we could check out the rest when we got back.” He pressed as kiss to Shiloh’s head. “Let’s go see what we’re having for dinner.”

Shiloh smiled, allowing Ronin to lead him into the house.