Gale moved through the woods, his boots crunching softly against the underbrush as the cool night air wrapped around him. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor, but his mind wasn’t on the serenity of the moment. His thoughts kept drifting back to the tent, to Kayla and the kiss they’d shared.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the intensity of the emotions still swirling inside him. It had been too long since he’d let anyone get close, let alone let his guard down like that. The moment had felt real—something rare in his world—but it was dangerous.

Gale wasn't someone who could afford distractions. His focus needed to be on his next move, his next strategy, but part of him couldn’t stop thinking about her. The way she’d looked at him, the way her lips had felt against his... It was as if, for a brief second, the world had paused, and it was just the two of them.

Shaking his head, he pushed deeper into the woods, his instincts pulling him forward. Focus, he reminded himself again. But deep down, he knew he’d be back. And next time, it wouldn’t be a simple kiss. There was unfinished business between them, and he wasn’t the type to walk away without seeing it through.