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Unless… It might just be possible that though the enemies of Zeke’s unit knew they were on the island, they might not realize that the island was otherwise populated by shifter soldiers.

It seemed ridiculous that they hadn’t put that together, but their enemy wasn’t known for sharing data among their various groups.

From the briefings Zeke had received and what he’d noted of their actions in the field, the enemy tended to operate as separate cells that didn’t really communicate with each other.

Perhaps the good guys could use that to their advantage.

Of course, Hal and Kinkaid were probably well aware of all this already.

They were both strategic thinkers, and Zeke trusted that they’d come up with a workable plan between them to keep both the unit and the shifters safe.

Which Zeke really hoped meant some real-world action soon.

He wanted to go after the mage and her cronies himself.

He was heartily sick of sitting on the sidelines while others got to fight.

The one bright spot in his day was the plans he and Celine had made before she snuck out of his room this morning.

After dinner, he was going to meet her at the secluded tidal pool farther down the beach where she promised him they could swim together safely.

Or maybe more, if they had the place to themselves. He couldn’t wait.

After dinner, Zeke waited until the appointed time before heading down the beach.

Celine was off duty and had promised to meet him.

He’d been dying to spend time with her all day.

She was fast becoming a need he could never fulfill.

He wanted to be around her all the time, but both of them had jobs to do and people counting on them.

He dreamed of a day when they could just be together.

Out in the open. Away from this island and the need to hide.

But he had to get the price off his head first, as well as stopping the people who were hunting her and her family.

He vowed to do just that. He wasn’t sure how, yet, but he knew his unit and the shifters on this island were dedicated to both causes. They’d get the job done somehow, and he’d touch every damned object he had to in order to find a way to make that happen.

Jogging down the beach, Zeke spotted her silhouette against the moonlit waves, perched on a rock with her arms wrapped around her knees. Quietly, he approached, his boots swishing softly through the sand. She didn’t turn, but her voice carried on the breeze.

“It’s about time.” She turned to look at him, a smile lighting her face.

“It took me a bit longer to get away than I expected.” Zeke gave a wry smile.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here now,” she said, jumping down from her perch.

He liked her words and the way she smiled at him.

He stepped right up to her, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. Celine leaned her head against his shoulder, and Zeke soaked in the contact like a man starved.

He wanted to pull her close and never let go, but instead, he just held her quietly, letting the moment settle.

The surf rolled in gentle pulses, the tide pulling water into the natural pool nestled between rocks nearby. Moonlight danced on its surface like scattered diamonds.

“I thought about you all day,” he said, his voice low.

She turned her face slightly toward his, the smile still lingering. “Same.”

Zeke reached for her hand, and she gave it willingly. Her fingers were warm, soft but strong. The same hands that had held him last night, that had touched him like he mattered. More than mattered.

“I know we’re still new,” he said, brushing his thumb along the back of her hand. “But I want you to know I’m not taking this lightly. Any of it. You mean something to me, Celine.”

She was quiet for a moment, her gaze drifting toward the stars above the water. Then she looked back at him, her expression open and unguarded.

“You mean something to me too, Zeke. I don’t know where this is going, but…I know it’s real. And I want more of it. Of us.”

That was all he needed to hear. He pulled her closer, shifting them both so they sat on the rock, her legs tucked over his. She didn’t resist—in fact, she leaned into him as if she belonged there.

And she did.

His mouth found hers slowly, deliberately. There was no urgency, no desperation. Just deep affection and connection, a kiss full of all the things he hadn’t had time to say.

She melted against him, her arms slipping around his neck. Her lips were warm and familiar, and her body fit against his like it had always been meant to be there. Last night had been electric—intense and physical—but this moment was just as powerful in its quiet way.

She pulled back just a little, brushing her nose against his. “If we’re not careful, I might get used to this.”

Zeke smiled. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Not if you keep kissing me like that.”

He laughed softly, lowering his forehead to hers. “Challenge accepted.”

They stayed like that, wrapped around each other as the ocean whispered nearby and the stars looked on.

He held her close, one hand tracing slow, reassuring circles against her back.

Her breath was steady now, her body relaxed, and for a few precious minutes, it felt like the rest of the world didn’t exist.

“I wish I could take us away from all the stuff going on in our lives,” he murmured. “Just be somewhere else for a little while. Somewhere safe. Somewhere quiet. Just us.”

She nodded, her voice a whisper. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

And with her pressed close, the moon overhead, and her heartbeat echoing softly against his chest, Zeke made himself another vow.

Their time would come. She’d be safe, and he’d be free from pursuit. He’d move heaven and earth to make it happen.