Chapter 14
5:30 AM.
This hour should be illegal. Seriously, six o’clock? He definitely did
this on purpose. I dragged myself out of bed purely on spite.
Declan’s pickup arrived downstairs right on time. We ignored the
hell out of each other.Not a single word the entire ride.
At the airstrip, I stood there vibrating with cold, watching him prep the plane. He moved with annoying efficiency. Stripping canvas, checking wings. He didn’t even shiver. Me? I was shaking like a leaf.
Apparently, being an asshole keeps you warm.
He finished up and jerked his chin at the cabin, signaling for me to
get in.
I scrambled onto the float, desperate. Three more seconds out here.
and I’d be a block of ice. Just as I gripped the door handle, my gaze swept the edge of the pitch–black woods.
Right at the edge, eyes glowed in the dark. Several pairs. Staring
dead at me.
My stomach dropped. I froze, the door hanging half–open. As my eyes adjusted, I saw them. Wolves. Massive, ghostly shapes
crouching in the snow.
“Declan!” My voice came out strangled.
He appeared at the pilot’s side, yanking his door open and letting in
a blast of ice. His face was covered, except for his eyes.
Chapter 14
“Wolves!” I hissed, pointing out the window.
Declan glanced where I pointed.
No surprise. No alarm. He didn’t even twitch a brow. He looked at them like they were neighbors just passing by.
Then he looked away, climbed in like nothing happened, and buckled up.
“Sit tight p>
That was it?
The engine roared. We accelerated. I didn’t have time to think. It wasn’t until the plane lifted off into the black sky that my heart finally unclenched.
The plane leveled out. That’s when it hit me.
This cockpit was a tin can. And Declan was way too big for it.His shoulder was practically glued to mine. Even through the thick parka, I could feel the heat radiating off him.
It was a scent that was purely male–a mix of pine, fuel, and raw hormones. In this enclosed space, the smell was everywhere, invading my nose with zero permission.
Damn it. It smelled infuriatingly good.
I leaned toward the window, desperate for a distraction.
Below, the forest looked like frozen waves. The river twisted like a white python. The view was basically cheating.
Out of the corner of my eye, I felt Declan turn. He watched me for a split second, then snapped his focus back front. Back to being the
Chapter 14
mute captain.
The flight to Anchorage was long. Silent.
We landed at the city edge. Finally, Declan spoke–to the radio.
“Tower, N4582, requesting taxi p>
The sound actually made me jump. First syllable in an hour. His
voice was deep, magnetic… even gentle with the tower.
I wanted to roll my eyes.
Prove again: The guy was polite to everyone. He just hated talking to
We taxied into the hangar. An old Ford F–150 was waiting. “Where
to?” Declan broke the silence.
I blinked, surprised he was even addressing me. His tone was flat, dripping with annoyance. “Tell you what.” I unbuckled my harness, refusing to look at him. “You do your thing, I’ll do mine. Meet back
here p>
“Only one truck p>
“I have Uber.” I whipped out my phone, thumb hovering over the app. “I won’t bother y p>
A massive hand cut across my vision. Bam. It slammed down right
on my screen.
His palm swallowed mine whole–rough, hard, and smelling of
engine oil.
I jerked back, but he pinned me there. Skin on skin.
Chapter 14
The heat was scorching. It seared through the freezing air like a live wire, jolting straight up my arm.
My grip failed.
The phone slipped and hit the ice with a sharp crack.
I snapped my head up, glaring at him. It was twenty below zero, but his gaze was burning.
Declan swooped down, grabbed the phone, and tossed it into my lap.
“Get in p>
He stared at me. No room for argument in those eyes.
“Give me the address. Don’t make me ask twice p>
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Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.