AN: Had issues uploading some chapters recently, so I'm giving 3 chapters to make up for it.
The Alaskan wilderness stretched endlessly around Wolfe and Bunny, vast and untouched, the landscape an unbroken expanse of towering pines, glistening streams, and snow-dusted peaks. Each step on the winding trail took them deeper into the wild heart of nature, where the crisp air filled their lungs and the quiet weight of the landscape pressed down like a heavy blanket. Out here, they were small figures in a giant world, and Bunny couldn't help but feel a thrill at the rawness of it all.
"This," Bunny said, inhaling deeply as her breath puffed out in the cold, "is the perfect adventure. No schedules, no people, just us and the wilderness."
Wolfe glanced down at her, a faint smile gracing his otherwise serious face. "Just us," he repeated, though his gaze lingered on the shadows between the trees, scanning with an alertness she'd learned to recognise. She sensed something subtle beneath his calm, an unspoken preoccupation that tugged at his otherwise steady demeanour.
"Wolfe, you're not nervous about being out here, are you?" she teased, her eyes sparkling.
"Hardly," he replied, but his eyes flicked over her shoulder again, subtly scanning the tree line. "Let's just say I like to stay aware of my surroundings."
Bunny rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully. "We're in the middle of nowhere, Mr Prepared-for-Anything. What could possibly happen out here?"
He chuckled softly, slipping into the quiet confidence she admired, though the flicker of tension remained. She couldn't help but wonder what was on his mind, but she decided to let it slide for now, preferring to savour the peace around them. Out here, Wolfe was as much a mystery as the landscape itself—calm and steady on the surface, with hidden depths she was only beginning to glimpse.
They continued along the narrow path, their footsteps crunching over fallen leaves and snow-dusted gravel. Bunny found herself stopping every so often to inspect animal tracks in the mud or to point out a gnarled tree she thought looked like something out of a fairy tale. Wolfe would pause with her, indulging her whims, but his focus seemed elsewhere, his mind ticking over with thoughts she couldn't read.
After an hour's steady climb, they reached a ridge overlooking the valley, the view stretching out beneath them like a painting. Sunlight slanted through the trees, casting long shadows and turning the snowy peaks golden.
Bunny let out a delighted gasp, her cheeks flushed as she took in the panorama. "Wolfe, this is… incredible. I feel like we're the only people for miles."
He nodded, setting down his pack with a calm satisfaction. "It's a good spot," he said, his eyes scanning the landscape as though committing it to memory. "We should take a break here."
Bunny dropped her own pack with relief, pulling out a thermos of tea she'd packed. She handed it to Wolfe with a grin. "Here. You look like you need it."
Wolfe accepted the thermos, his smile warming briefly as he took a sip. The heat seeped into him, soothing his ever-vigilant mind, but as Bunny turned away to snap pictures, his focus slipped back to the purpose of the hike. He needed to stash the flash drive he'd been carrying, somewhere hidden yet accessible, a place where he could retrieve it without arousing suspicion if anyone came looking.
He glanced towards a fallen tree a few metres away, half-buried under rocks and snow, its thick roots creating a natural alcove. It was as good a spot as any. He moved towards it, bending down as though adjusting his pack, and in one smooth movement, he slipped the flash drive from his pocket and tucked it into a crevice beneath the largest rock, covering it with dirt and loose stones. Satisfied, he stood, glancing over his shoulder just as Bunny turned back around.
"Find something interesting?" she asked, her brow raised in curiosity.
"Just enjoying the scenery," he replied, trying to keep his tone light. He knew she'd catch on if he seemed overly evasive. But as he looked into her inquisitive eyes, he felt the weight of the secret between them, the distance it created, however small.
Bunny tilted her head, her eyes narrowing playfully. "You've been a bit… preoccupied since we got here. I thought the great outdoors would be your thing."
He met her gaze, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "Perhaps I'm just trying to keep up with your enthusiasm. It's contagious."
She laughed, brushing off his subtle dodge, but he could see the spark of curiosity in her eyes. She knew something was amiss; she was too perceptive not to. But for now, she let it go, dropping into a comfortable silence as they drank their tea, gazing out over the valley.
As they sat there, Bunny leaned against his shoulder, her eyes scanning the wilderness. "You know, this is one of those moments you wish you could bottle up," she murmured, her voice soft. "I feel like nothing else matters out here. Just us and the mountains."
Wolfe wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as they gazed into the wild expanse. For a moment, he let himself forget about the flash drive, the hidden agendas, the unspoken tension that shadowed their journey. In this quiet, fleeting peace, he felt something close to contentment.
But as they packed up and began their descent, his mind drifted back to the carefully hidden drive. He knew the risks of carrying it, of involving Bunny, however inadvertently, in a world he'd sworn to keep her out of. Each secret, each hidden agenda was like a stone building between them, and he wondered how long he could maintain the delicate balance.
They continued down the trail in companionable silence, the air growing colder as evening approached. Bunny hummed a tune softly, breaking the silence, her steps light as she danced over rocks and roots. She seemed to absorb the energy of the place, her spirit as boundless as the landscape itself.
"Do you think we'll see any wildlife on the way back?" she asked, glancing over at him with an excited grin. "I'd love to spot a bear… from a safe distance, of course."
"Let's hope they're not that close," Wolfe replied, humour in his tone. "But there's always a chance. Alaska doesn't hold back."
They reached a fork in the trail, and Wolfe hesitated, eyeing the map he'd mentally memorised. The left path would lead them back faster, but the longer route to the right offered a more secluded way down—one that would keep them away from the occasional hiker or curious traveller.
"Let's take the scenic route," he suggested, nodding towards the right trail.
Bunny raised an eyebrow, surprised by his suggestion. "A scenic detour? From you? I must be rubbing off on you, Mr Efficiency."
He chuckled, giving her a gentle nudge. "Maybe I'm just learning to appreciate the journey."
As they walked, Bunny's curiosity bubbled over again. "You know, you've been acting a bit mysterious lately. I mean, I love it, don't get me wrong, but… you're not usually this hard to read."
Wolfe kept his gaze forward, letting her words settle between them. "Am I?"
"Yes," she said firmly, a hint of a smile in her voice. "You're like one of those spy novels with hidden messages on every page."
He chuckled, though her comparison struck closer to the truth than she realised. "Maybe I just enjoy keeping you on your toes."
"Oh, I'm onto you, Wolfe," she said, mock seriousness in her tone. "You can keep your secrets, but I'll figure them out. Mark my words."
He felt a pang of something—something close to regret, perhaps, knowing she was already too close to the truth. But he simply smiled, hoping to keep her curiosity at bay, at least for a while longer.
As dusk settled over the trail, they finally reached the base, where their car waited, dusted with a fine layer of frost. Bunny looped her arm through his, leaning against him as they walked the last stretch.
"Thanks for this," she murmured, her voice warm with genuine gratitude. "I know I can drag you into some odd places, but this… this was everything I needed."
He tightened his hold on her, allowing himself a rare moment of vulnerability. "Anything for you, Bunny. Even the great outdoors."
They loaded their packs into the car and settled in, the heater humming to life as Wolfe turned the key. He cast one last glance up at the ridge, where the flash drive lay hidden beneath rocks and snow, a part of a life he was increasingly wary of involving Bunny in.
As they drove back to the lodge, Wolfe's thoughts lingered on the flash drive, on the shadows that seemed to creep closer with every trip. Bunny was a light in his world, a constant that he valued above all else. But he wondered, not for the first time, how long he could keep her shielded from the secrets he carried—and what would happen when the walls finally came down.