Rain, rock, mud, and fog—those were the only things Alyssa could recall before losing consciousness.She had used the last ounce of strength in her lithe body to push the hiker up toward the patrol team. All she hoped was that the hiker would be safe and sound.Alyssa couldn't call herself a competent park ranger and wear her badges if she hadn't prepared herself for the risk of death. She wasn't afraid of it as long as it was a meaningful death.Frankly, she didn't used to be so brave. In fact, she used to whine and cry whenever her father and stepmothers tried to bring her to the doctor for a shot.She was 11 when she met him. That was when everything changed.His bravado and determination were like the lighthouse she needed to guide her out from dark waters. How he had intercepted danger to rescue her had permanently shifted her outlook on life.It was the first time she had witnessed how selfless one could be for another.Even if he had hurt her countless times after they ma
Alyssa had been raised by her three stepmothers from a young age due to her birth mother's early passing. Naturally, their habits, such as Colene's horse-riding, archery, and rock-climbing hobbies, assimilated into her own.Fortunately, those hobbies were a lifesaver, as she couldn't imagine how she would survive in her current situation without them.As Alyssa was about to reach the mountain trail above, there suddenly came rumbling by her feet. Rock and sand snaked past her hands. Another landslide was coming fast!"Damn it! Is this what I get for doing charity for all these years?" Alyssa yelled indignantly.The rock beneath her feet suddenly shifted and tumbled from its ledge at that precise moment, leaving her body dangling precariously. "Help!" Despair and fear washed over her.An immeasurably long fall awaited her below. She was going to die falling, and no one would ever find her.A tear escaped her eye as she shut them tight, awaiting her fate."Alyssa!"Suddenly,
It was as though Jasper was adrift in a pool of pure astonishment, and the fact that the ledge beneath them was falling apart only enhanced this surreal feeling. "Hurry, Alice!" he cried, resurrecting a name that had been dormant in his mind for years.Alyssa jolted in shock. The call of that name seemed to give her a boost of adrenaline. She was able to push herself up on the ledge at the last second, right into Jasper's arms.He held her close in his arms, keeping her safe.A thunderous boom echoed through the air.Just as the rocky ledge disintegrated and tumbled down the mountainside, Jasper deftly rolled aside, narrowly escaping the peril."Fuck!" he hissed in pain when his back collided with a boulder. The intensity of the pain led to an immediate outbreak of sweat on his skin."Are you hurt?" Alyssa asked worriedly, noticing how pale he was.Jasper shook his head, his voice steady as he reassured, "I'm okay."Alyssa heaved a sigh of relief, falling back against his che
All Alyssa could feel in the endless cold was how warm her hands were.Jasper held onto her hands, making sure her fingers were kept safe from the harsh weather. It felt like the only thing keeping her near-dead nerves alive.She leaned on his back, knowing he would keep her safe. Her fingers twitched just the slightest in Jasper's grasp.Jasper swallowed nervously. Fearing she might pull away, he tightened his grip. "Stay still. Good girl."His back was hurting like mad where the boulder had hit his spine. Still, he was doing a good job of hiding his pain. He didn't want her to worry.Just this once, Jasper wanted her to know she could rely on and be safe with him."Ugh … It's cold. Hurry up then …" Alyssa grumbled."Hold on a bit longer. We should be able to find shelter soon." Every breath Jasper took evaporated into mist."What if we don't?"Before Jasper could stop himself, he responded, "Then you can take shelter in my arms.""No!" Alyssa whined. "Don't you dare try and
"No, I don't trust Jasper Beckett! Mr. Jonah needs to hear about this!" Sean hurriedly pulled out his phone to give Jonah a call.When the line connected, Jonah instantly asked, "Did something happen to Alyssa?"Maybe it was because of their sibling bond, but he had felt off all day. Now that Sean had called him, he was sure something terrible had happened to his sister."Sir!" Sean cried, "Ms. Alyssa is … You need to send someone to Crater Mountain Park to save her now!"…Jonah had been over 300 miles outside Solana City when he received the call from Sean. He was currently in Leichtown's military department.Since he'd stopped by, he naturally had to pay his brother Liam a visit. His mother had birthed the four of them, including Alyssa, so his love for all his three brothers and his sister went unrivaled.However, Liam had to live apart from their family, given that he had become a colonel at the age of 28. He had to be stationed in Leichtown, where he headed the local milit
Jasper hurriedly felt the temperature of her forehead. Feeling panicked, he took off his coat and shirt and wrapped them around Alyssa, giving her warmth.Alyssa weakly opened her eyes and saw that he only had a black singlet inside. The tan lines of his muscle were right in her face, making him look extra rugged out here in the wild."Is it still cold?" Jasper asked hoarsely, noticing her reddened face."Yes … It's fr-freezing …" Alyssa said, her teeth chattering.Jasper took a deep breath and slowly held her in his arms, pressing her against his chest, as if hoping she could soak up all the warmth he wanted to give."Still cold?" he asked softly.Alyssa leaned against his body, nuzzling into his chest.Jasper sighed, one hand gently combing through her hair as if he was trying to console her. Alyssa slowly relaxed in his arms, exhaustion making her body go limp.Jasper allowed her, silently bringing her hands up so he could check for injuries. Bruises and cuts lined her fin
No love lingering on.Alyssa couldn't lie. Pain swept through her chest when she said those words out loud.This pain had become a familiar companion. It was a constant presence in her three years of marriage to Jasper, and she often worried it might trigger a heart attack. It struck her more often than the occasions when Jasper spent time with her."What's the point of asking all this now, Jasper? Do you still expect me to feel the same way for you and not move on?" Alyssa asked weakly. She rarely appeared so fragile in front of others. She continued, "I've loved you for 13 years. Tell me, how many more years could I possibly sacrifice? I can't bring myself to love you anymore. I'm afraid to."She was scared of loving anyone else at this point.It felt like someone was squeezing Jasper's heart. Painful emotion rose like a wave in his throat, cutting his breath off.He suddenly realized just how vile he had been. Not only had he dragged her down in this meaningless marriage, bu
Jasper shook his head gently. Alyssa wasn't even forgiving him in her dreams. It seemed he would need to dedicate his entire life to making things right with her.While he considered committing his entire life, he abruptly halted his thoughts and questioned why he had such notions. It made him wonder if he had started to have feelings for her.Jasper's heart thumped wildly as he pondered on that for a bit. He leaned down and gathered Alyssa into his arms before gently kissing her."Mm …" she moaned softly.Jasper deepened the kiss. All he wanted was to hold her and kiss her longer. Just then, a flurry of wind swept up from outside the cave. It was a helicopter."Someone's here to save us, Alyssa! We're being rescued!" Jasper cried excitedly.The helicopter landed in front of the cave under the battering of the rain. Jasper squinted as he looked at its decal.It was not one of his copters.Then, who had come to their rescue?No matter. All that mattered now was that Alyssa