Page 31

Elena

T he warmth surrounding me was comforting, a cocoon against the relentless cold that tried to seep into every crevice of our wreckage. Something stirred in me, pulling me from sleep. My mind was groggy but alert as if it knew something had changed.

When I blinked my eyes open, the fire's dim light cast flickering shadows against the cabin walls. And there, watching me, was Troy.

I inhaled softly, my chest tightening with something I couldn’t name.

He was lying beside me, his arm tucked under his head, green eyes locked onto mine, silent, intense, unreadable.

A slow, tired smile curled my lips. “How long have you been back?”

Troy’s expression softened as he reached out, trailing his knuckles lightly along my cheek.

“A few hours,” he murmured.

I frowned. “You didn’t wake me?”

He smirked, the firelight catching in his eyes, making them glint with something warm, something familiar, which tugged at my heart.

“You needed rest.”

I shifted slightly, feeling the steady rise and fall of Adrian’s breathing beside me. His warmth pressed into my back, grounding me between them and keeping me safe.

I sighed, my mind slowly waking up as I reached for Troy’s hand.

“Did you have any luck?” I asked softly.

Troy’s smile faltered, his jaw clenching as he shook his head.

“No,” he admitted. “But I have faith.”

His lips found mine, pressing a soft, lingering kiss, and for a moment, I let myself sink into it, let it chase away the disappointment.

Troy pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against mine, his fingers threading through my hair.

I exhaled shakily.

“I’m so hungry,” I whispered.

His grip tightened, a flicker of something pained and frustrated flashing across his face.

“I don’t want to burden you with it,” I added quickly.

His brows pulled together, his fingers cupping my jaw, tilting my face to meet his gaze.

“Elena,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, full of conviction. “You will never be a burden.”

My breath hitched, my fingers tightening around his shirt. Before I could speak, before I could think, his lips were on mine again.

This time, the kiss wasn’t just soft and reassuring.

It was hungry, demanding, consuming.

A spark lit inside me, one I didn’t fight.

I needed this. I needed him.

I didn’t want to think about the hunger, the cold, the looming fear of never making it out of here.

I just wanted this moment.

Him.

“Did Adrian fuck you?” he whispered against my lips as his hand moved down to my hip, where he grasped me tightly.

“Yes.” I kissed him.

“Fuck, baby. Did you come for him?” He ground against me, his cock rock hard.

I whimpered and nodded, earning a soft growl of approval .

“I thought about you two fucking while I was gone. I hoped you’d still be doing it so I could join in.”

“You liked fucking me with him?” I asked, my words far more crass than my personality was, but something dirty and feral came out of me when I was with the guys.

“I fucking loved it.” He grasped my breast, massaging it before putting me on my back and lavishing the soft mounds with his tongue. When he sucked a nipple into his mouth, I cried out softly. He ran his fingers along my pussy before he dipped one inside, slowly working me over.

My breathing grew heavy at the intensity of the feelings he was raining down on me.

“I like the idea that I’m fingering my brother’s girl while he sleeps next to us,” Troy said against my lips.

“Am I his girl?”

“Fuck, little dancer, you belong to both of us.”

I moaned against his lips as he kissed me, his finger buried to the knuckle inside me.

“When we get out of here, and your ankle is better, I’m going to watch you get on your knees and suck Adrian’s dick.”

“You want to watch me do that?”

“Fuck yeah, I do.”

I wanted him to watch, too. I reached out bravely and pushed his boxers down, and stroked his massive cock. He groaned softly, his precum dampening my hand.

“You see what you do to me, baby? See how hard you make me? God, I want to bury myself inside you and never fucking leave. You’re fucking perfect. My Elena. ”

His words sent a flurry of excitement through my body. I urged him to move on top of me. He took the hint and grasped his cock, running it up and down my pussy as he balanced on one arm over me.

He stared at me, his trademark panty-soaker smile on his lips, before he pushed forward, breaching me in a burning ache that was all too reminiscent of being with Adrian earlier.

I moaned softly as he slowly pushed deep into my body. When he finally bottomed out, he kissed me again .

Then he moved and didn’t stop until I was flooding him with my release, my body trembling from him putting me through my paces. He came with a soft groan, his cock twitching deep inside me. He finally came to rest, lazily kissing me.

Then he nuzzled into my neck, and I held onto him, comforting him. A soft sigh left his mouth. I wondered if anyone had ever comforted him before like this. It didn’t seem like anyone had, so I held on tighter, vowing never to let go.

Troy eventually moved off me, and we lay tangled together, our breathing still unsteady, our bodies warm and satisfied despite the winter pressing around us, threatening us with the possibility of never escaping.

Troy held me tightly, his fingers tracing slow, lazy patterns along my skin, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear.

The silence stretched between us for a long time, the crackling of the fire the only sound until it was shattered.

A long, low howl pierced the night.

I tensed immediately, my fingers clutching at Troy’s chest, my heart pounding.

“What was that?” I whispered.

Troy’s body stiffened, his arms tightening around me protectively.

“Wolves,” he murmured.

My stomach twisted.

I pulled back slightly, staring up at him. “You’re not leaving again,” I said firmly. “Not if there are wolves out there.”

Troy held my gaze, his jaw set grimly, and then he nodded.

“I won’t,” he promised.

I let out a slow breath, relief flooding through me, but the anxiety still clawed at my chest.

“Troy,” I whispered.

He hummed softly, his fingers running gently through my hair. “Yeah?”

“I’m scared.”

His hold on me tightened, his voice soft but strong.

“If I have to, I’ll start hiking. I’ll find a way out.”

Panic rose in me instantly, my head snapping up .

“No,” I whispered harshly. “I don’t want you to put yourself in danger.”

Troy stared at me, his gaze heavy, unwavering.

“Elena,” he murmured. “I can’t sit here and let us waste away.”

My throat tightened, tears burning behind my eyes, but I swallowed them.

“Let’s just—let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I whispered.

Troy exhaled, pressing a slow, deep kiss to my lips like he was sealing a vow he wasn’t sure he could keep.

“Sleep, little dancer,” he murmured.

I wanted to, but I knew I wouldn’t.

Because as much as I wanted to believe we’d be okay, the fear never really left.

That night, my dreams were filled with shadows, howling in the dark, and the feeling that time was slipping away with only one outcome.