Page 39 of Wild Tangled Hearts

Kurt flashes an arrogant grin that's become increasingly annoying. “There's a certain spark in your eyes that's hard to resist, Bella."

I glance ahead to see Alex walking stoically, his eyes fixed on the trail. “Listen, Kurt. You seem nice—”

He keeps talking, seemingly unaware of my multiple attempts to brush him off.

And I can't help but wish for solitude to collect my thoughts. Kurt's relentless flirting is increasingly grating, and my mind keeps drifting back to Alex, who remains moody and withdrawn. It's a challenging hike in more ways than one.

My patience with Kurt's advances wears thin, distracting me from the treacherous path. It's a precarious balance between managing my irritation and keeping myself from stumbling.

“Look,” I start, ready to lay into the guy. “I hate being rude, but—” Suddenly, my foot snags on a protruding root, and I lose my balance.

Panic surges as I begin a chaotic descent down the steep hillside. Each roll and bump is a tumultuous journey, the unforgiving terrain of twigs, brush, and rocks amplifying the terror of my fall.

The world becomes a dizzying blur, my heart racing with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. My attempts to grab onto anything are futile as I tumble downward. Time seems to stretch as I helplessly roll, the sensation of weightlessness mingling with the jolts of pain.

Finally, with a jarring thud, I suddenly halt against a massive tree trunk. The impact knocks the wind out of me, and I lay there gasping for air, my vision blurred and my head spinning. My chest aches from the shock of the collision, and I clutch it, attempting to steady my breathing.

As I lay there, gasping for air, I hear the frantic sound of footsteps approaching. Through the haze of pain and dizziness, I see Alex rushing down the hill toward me. His features are etched with panic, and the fear in his eyes is unmistakable.

He reaches me in seconds, dropping to his knees beside me. His touch is gentle as he assesses my condition, his hands moving carefully to check for any signs of injury. "Bella," he says, his voice remaining steady despite the worry in his eyes. "Don’t move."

"I'm...fine," I reply, my voice shaky. But when I try to sit up, every muscle in my body hurts, and I wince.

Alex's fingers tenderly brush against my cheek, offering comfort despite the pain. "Let me check," he says, his tone reassuring.

He carefully examines me, his hands moving methodically to assess potential injuries. After what feels like an eternity, he looks up at me with relief. "Nothing's broken, and I don’t think you have a concussion. But I’ll call for an airlift—”

“No way.” I wince again, managing to sit up fully. “I’m fine. I can walk.”

He grips my elbow as I try to stand. “I don’t want to risk anything.”

Our gazes lock, and for a brief moment, I’m embraced in the warmth of our undeniable connection. It's as if his defenses have crumbled, revealing the vulnerability, fear, doubt, and worry lurking in his eyes. For a fleeting instant, it feels like everything between us might be okay, that the connection we shared before still exists.

But the illusion shatters when one of the hikers calls down to us, forcefully yanking me back to reality.

The deep frown returns and Alex’s jaw clenches. “You think you can make it back to headquarters? We still have a good hour's walk.”

I take a few tentative steps and nod.

A fierce internal battle plays out in his eyes before he concedes with a sigh. "Just stay with me from here on out."

It's exactly where I wanted to be all along.

Without another word, Alex helps me up the cliff, bearing the weight of my backpack as if it were nothing.

“I can carry it,” I tell him when we’re back on the path.

He grunts in response, seemingly ignoring me as he shifts his focus to the rest of the group. With authority in his voice, he addresses the gathered hikers.

"Listen up, everyone," Alex begins, his tone firm and commanding. "Since some of you didn’t listen, I’ll reiterate that these narrow paths can be treacherous, as Bella's fall demonstrated."

My cheeks heat up with embarrassment, but it’s not me who his pointed gaze lands on, and I see Kurt squirm under Alex’s glare.

"As I said from the start, we walk single file on these trails," Alex continues, gesturing to emphasize his point. "Watch your step, and keep a safe distance from the trail's edge."

As we resume our hike, my emotions swirl in a chaotic whirlwind—gratitude for his support, the haunting sense of our lingering closeness, and the ever-present, suffocating uncertainty that lingers like a relentless shadow over whatever exists between us.

Relief washes over me as the parking lot comes into view, and my boots kick up stones and pebbles. Every step of the past hour had felt like an uphill physical and emotional battle.

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