Chapter 267 Firewood and confession

Chapter 267: Chapter 267 Firewood and confession

Piper’s POV

The cold was getting worse.

I sat against the cave wall, with my knees pulled up to my chest. My fingers were numb, and I could not stop shivering. The fire had died hours ago, and none of us had the energy to rebuild it, plus we had run out of firewood.

Talia sat beside me, and I could see her shivering too. Her face was pale, and her lips had a blue tinge.

"I cannot feel my fingers, Talia," I said, my voice shaking.

Talia looked at me, and I saw the worry in her eyes. "I know, Piper. I am cold too."

Kaelen stood near the cave entrance, with his back to us. He had been standing there for hours, watching the gray landscape. His shoulders were tense, and I could see the exhaustion in his posture.

Jax sat across from me, rubbing his hands together. His breath came out in visible puffs. "We need firewood, Alpha. We are going to freeze to death in here."

Kaelen turned, with his gray eyes that were always steady. "I know, Jax."

Silas spoke from the shadows. "There are dead trees outside. We can gather enough wood to last us through the night."

Cain nodded from the entrance. "I will go, Alpha."

Kaelen shook his head. "No, Cain. You need to stay and watch the perimeter. You are our best scout."

Jax stood, stretching his arms. "I will go get some, Alpha."

I stood too, even with my legs shaking from the cold. "I will go with you, Jax."

Jax looked at me, and I saw the surprise in his eyes. "You want to come with me, Piper?"

I shrugged, trying to seem casual. "Someone has to make sure you do not get lost."

Jax placed his hand over his heart. "I am hurt, Piper. I never get lost."

I snorted. "You got lost in the stronghold last week, Jax. Or were you pretending?"

Jax waved his hand dismissively. "That was different. That was the stronghold, plus I never pretend. And this is... outside."

"There is no difference," I said.

"There is a difference," Jax insisted.

Talia looked at us, and I saw a small smile cross her face. "Be careful, you two."

Jax grinned. "We will be fine, Luna. It is just firewood."

Kaelen looked at Jax, and his voice was serious. "Do not wander too far. Stay within sight of the cave."

Jax nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

Silas spoke. "Take a weapon, Jax."

Jax grabbed a small blade from his pack. "I am always prepared, Silas."

I grabbed my own knife and tucked it into my belt. "Let us go, Jax. Before we freeze to death."

Jax grinned. "Lead the way, Piper."

I walked toward the entrance, and I felt his eyes on me. I did not look back, but I could feel the warmth of his gaze.

The cold air hit me the moment I stepped out of the cave.

I pulled my cloak tighter, but it did not help. The Ashen Lands had a way of seeping into your bones, and making you feel like you would never be warm again.

Jax walked beside me, with his voice light. "You know, Piper, I never thought I would say this, but I am actually enjoying this."

I looked at him. "Enjoying what, Jax?"

He shrugged. "This. Walking with you. It is not so bad."

I felt my cheeks warm, and I immediately looked away. "You are being weird again, Jax."

Jax grinned, with his eyes bright despite the gray landscape. "I am not being weird, Piper. I am being honest."

I shook my head, but I could not stop the smile. "You are impossible, Jax."

"So I have been told," he said.

We walked in silence for a while, gathering dead branches and fallen wood. The gray landscape stretched out around us, empty and silent. The only sounds were our footsteps on the ash-covered ground and the occasional creak of a dead tree swaying in the cold wind.

I bent down to pick up a branch, and I felt Jax’s eyes on me.

"What?" I asked, looking up at him.

He shrugged. "Nothing, Piper."

"You were staring," I said.

"I was admiring," he corrected.

I rolled my eyes, but my heart was pounding. "You are impossible."

"You said that already," he said.

"Because it is true," I replied.

He laughed, and the sound carried through the gray silence. It was a warm sound, and it made me feel less cold.

We gathered more wood, and I found myself stealing glances at him. He was always making jokes, and always lightening the mood. But underneath all that, I could see something else. Something real.

Jax spoke again, and his voice was quieter than usual. "Piper, can I ask you something?"

I looked at him. "What is it, Jax?"

He stopped walking, and I stopped too. He turned to face me, and I saw something different in his eyes. Something serious.

"Piper," he said. "Do you ever think about what happens after this? After we find Talia’s mother and go home?"

I looked at him, and I felt my heart beat faster. "I do, Jax."

He stepped closer to me. "And what do you think about?"

I swallowed hard. "I think about... being home, being warm, and being safe again."

He shook his head. "That is not what I meant, Piper."

I felt my cheeks burn. "What did you mean, Jax?"

He reached for my hand, and his fingers wrapped around mine. "I meant... do you ever think about us?"