Page 18 of Castaway Heat
Shiloh nodded, understanding then—and was relieved his alphawasn’ta horrid human being. He leaned into the couple and told them the plan, both of them looking terrified, but they agreed to the help. All the crew had was a lone, rough rope to climb up. Ronin hoisted him higher, saving Shiloh’s arms a good foot of climbing. Using all the upper body strength he had, he finally made it.
He climbed into the boat, as it lay on its side against the ship. Another passenger handed him a lifejacket. He tugged it on before he peeked out the small opening. Ronin climbed the rope, the woman wrapping her arms around his neck and riding on his back. Once close enough, Shiloh helped the crewman lift the woman inside and then Ronin returned for her husband.
After they were both inside, Shiloh carefully guided them to a seat, ensuring their lifejackets were on before he checked for Ronin. He still hadn’t boarded, though. Another peek found him helping others inside, his extra height and strength aiding those who couldn’t make the climb themselves. When the boat was fully loaded, Ronin finally appeared and grabbed a lifejacket for himself. He and Shiloh collapsed in their seats near the back, huddled close.
The boat was lowered but not easily given the ship was slanted so far out of the water. It had to be lowered over the underside of the ship. There wasn’t enough rope to get it all the way to the ocean, so it was dropped ten feet to the surface. Half of the already anxious passengers screamed, some flung to the floor if they’d not locked themselves in. Many appeared numb from the shock of it all and didn’t respond to their graceless plummet at all.
Once in the water, it wasn’t much better. The storm rocked the boat wildly. Shiloh’s stomach pitched almost as violently as the boat. Ronin held on to him, gripping him tight.
“We’re going to be okay, baby,” Ronin murmured against his ear. “We made it to the lifeboat. We’ll get to dry land and safety. Don’t worry.”
He pressed his face against Ronin’s chest and that’s when he noticed his alpha’s lifejacket didn’t fit properly. It wasn’t clasped. He tugged on the closure, and it wouldn’t budge. “Fix that.”
“I’m too broad,” Ronin muttered. “It’s the best it can do.”
Shiloh looked around. “There are other alphas wearing them. Maybe they have another.”
“This is the largest size,” Ronin said, capturing Shiloh’s gaze. “I’ve got it tied as tight as I can. Don’t worry.”
But Shiloh could do nothingbutworry. Worry about he and Ronin. Sage and Eirin. All the injured they’d passed, helping as many as they could along the way. He’d tied three different makeshift splints on arms, cleaned two bloodied faces, and assisted Ronin in resetting someone’s dislocated shoulder. There was no first aid station as they fled for their lives. Many of the other passengers walked past the wounded and disabled, ignoring them and only considering themselves.
He wasn’t sure they’d done much better with the meager help they’d given, but if it gave the wounded a better chance, it was worth it.
Lightning lit up the sky and thunder clapped outside. As the waves threw the lifeboat around in the ocean. He held on to Ronin, sending out a prayer to the universe to protect them. Panic made it harder to breathe, but he kept telling himself fate wouldn’t bring them together only to tear them apart. It would be too cruel.
A massive pitch sent them sideways once more only it didn’t stop at sideways. The boat flipped over, and water rushed in. Screams filled the underside of the boat. They were in complete darkness, the water raging around them. Ronin snatched Shiloh and dragged him close.
“We need to get out from under here. Maybe we can flip the boat back,” Ronin said. “Hold your breath.”
He sucked in a lungful before Ronin pulled him under the water and out through the opening. Shiloh fought to find which way was up. The water churned around him, making it harder. They seemed to be plummeting, but he couldn’t reorient himself to be sure. Shiloh could see lightning flashing above their heads and knew they were near the surface, but they were moving away. Ronin was dragging him down. Another bolt of lightning allowed him to see both of Ronin’s eyes were closed… and a ribbon of red flowed from the top of his alpha’s head.
Lungs burning, he swam down and wrapped an arm under one of Ronin’s. The lifejacket was gone. All they had was the one Shiloh wore. He kicked with everything in him, hoping his vest and his legs could help them rise. It felt like hours, but they finally broke the surface. He gasped for air, struggling to get it as the water raged around them.
Ronin jolted, his eyes widening as he inhaled a deep breath. Shiloh shuddered with relief, although that relief was temporary as he noticed they were drifting farther and farther from the capsized hull. After the climb and swimming with every ounce of strength to get them above the surface, he wasn’t sure he had it in him to swim back against the currents.
A life jacket floated past. Shiloh snatched it and handed it to Ronin. He threaded an arm through, never letting go of Shiloh. There were others floating and flailing in the distance, most of them screaming for help, but he and Ronin were barely staying afloat themselves.
A lifeless body floated past and terror struck his heart.
“We need to swim closer to the boat,” Ronin screamed over the storm.
“I can’t!” Shiloh yelled.
Ronin shoved through the water, one hand clinging to Shiloh’s lifejacket. He was a strong swimmer, but the more he moved, the farther away the capsized boat seemed to get. Finally, he stopped, and they bobbed in the water, holding on to one another for dear life.
“We’re going to make it,” Ronin said against his ear. “Just don’t let go of me. Do you hear me?Don’t let go!”
Shiloh closed his eyes from the stinging water and clung to Ronin. If that was their last day on Earth, at least they were together. He’d tasted a bit of happiness, and it would have to be enough. Pressing his face against Ronin’s neck, he prayed they could float long enough to find salvation.
Shiloh gasped,opening his eyes and coughing. It was bright. Too bright. His eyes stung and his vision was blurry. Water poured from his mouth onto the white sand under him. The rough surf rushed over him and back out into the ocean, neither dragging him back into it. He dug his hands into the sand, clinging to the beach. Once he breathed a little easier, he pushed to his knees and crawled through the waves to dry land.
He collapsed on the beach, utterly exhausted. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep, but he couldn’t. He was alone, and that wasn’t a good thing. The last thing he remembered was clinging to his alpha in the middle of the ocean, but the memory after that seemed blurry.
Shiloh had to find Ronin. He had to be alive. Forcing himself to sit, Shiloh scanned the beach on either side of him. There was debris spotted here and there obstructing his view and making it difficult to tell if anyone had washed up with him. He struggled to rise on his feet. Every step was excruciating. After hours of kicking to stay above water, they were nothing but wet noodles.
He passed numerous several broken suitcases and strewn personal items. When he saw a lump that looked like a man, he staggered forward, his heart clenching. The lump wasn’t moving. He rushed closer and realized it was Ronin. Dropping to his knees beside his alpha, he checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one. He felt breath against his fingers, but it was faint.
“Ronin?” he called loudly, shaking the man. “Ronin, wake up.Pleasewake up.”
