“So you’d have to share a tent with me.” She arches an eyebrow. “Get all cozied up in a sleeping bag under the stars and take advantage of a lone omega in the wilderness.”
My mind conjures images of us, wrapped up naked in a sleeping bag with a fire burning outside the tent. “I-I?—”
Her mouth breaks into a grin. “I’d be happy for you to take advantage of me, Luca.” Then she winks. “Anytime.”
With the blood now rushing to my groin, I promptly cover my lap with my pack, so she doesn’t think I’m a total horn dog. She notices the trail map poking out of the side, so she starts leafing through, noticing that I’ve scribbled down notes.
“You’ve walked all of this?” she asks while chomping on more trail mix.
“Uh-huh.” I point at an area of the mountains. “But I’ve still got all these trails to explore too.”
“Looks like plenty to keep us busy.”
After doing more exercises and demolishing the trail mix, my shoulder is feeling much better. Seeing how interested she was looking through my maps has only given me more motivation to keep going. I never thought I’d find someone who shared my love of the outdoors, but it seems I’ve found a travel companion. As much as I adore finding new places, it’ll be even better to have her to share those experiences with.
Sabs stands to dust herself off and offers me a hand. “Are you ready?”
I accept her hand, and we head off again after Sabs insists that she carry my canteen as well as her own. I note that she slows her pace a little, pausing to ask if I’m okay every so often.
After walking in silence for a while, I point at a gap in the trees up ahead. “We’re close now.”
Sabs seems unable to hide her eager curiosity. She jogs up to the opening, her copper ponytail swinging and gleaming in the sunlight. She stands at the top like a mountaineer reaching the summit as I scramble up the rocky path after her.
“This is...” Her mouth forms an O as she gazes around in wonder. “Wow.”
Ahead of us is a crystal-blue lake surrounded by trees. It’s not huge, but it’s spectacular. A real hidden gem, the peaks of the mountains in the distance making it look even more like a storybook image. With no one else around, it feels like we are the only people on earth.
“Are you hungry?” I ask as we settle in a shady patch of grass under a tree. I definitely am, after hiking for a few hours and only stopping once.
“I could always eat.” Her sweet grin is the perfect balm to my aching muscles.
I get out a picnic blanket. I made sure to bring one that was extra soft and lightly cushioned.
“Is this…?” She inhales deeply as she takes two corners to help me. “Scented?”
“I asked the guys to mark it before we left,” I reply. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Knowing that this is the farthest she’s been from Adler without being around his scent, I intentionally packed a few items with his and the other guys’ scents on them, just in case she needed it.
“Mind?” She shakes her head, breathing the blanket in before we lay it flat on the grass. “This is perfect.”
“I didn’t have enough space to bring a lot of food,” I say by way of apology as I take out a small cooler bag. I bought focacciasandwiches from Toasted this morning, a fruit salad, and a few random healthy energy bars.
While I begin to unpack everything, Sabs dives straight in.
“This looks amazing!” She grabs one of the overstuffed sandwiches, groaning as she sinks her teeth into it. “And it tastes even better than it looks.”
I frown as my phone beeps, surprised to see that we have cell service, and go to switch it to silent. I don’t want anything to interrupt our precious time together, but I can’t help snickering when I spot a message in our pack group chat. “Looks like the guys aren’t having as much luck with their food.”
She giggles when I show her a photo from Adler with a sad-looking raw burger sitting on the grill.
ADLER
Nash is trying to fix the BBQ. Starving.
“Del says that Nash can fix anything, so I’m sure he’ll have it working soon,” she says. “But at least you’re not missing out.”
“I’m pretty sure they all wish they were here right now,” I reply, stashing my phone in my backpack before pulling out a sandwich. As I unwrap it, I take in the gorgeous omega with me. Although the lake surface ripples from the light breeze, pretty patterns dancing across its surface, I’m far more interested in looking at Sabs.
