Fuck… why of all people did he have to get you? he thought, shoving gear into his rucksack. Four months ago, the idea of a training mission in the woods with you would’ve thrilled him. Now it just felt like torture.

Despite everything he’d been through, Ghost had finally found happiness when he was with you. For the first time, life made sense—until the rumors. While partnered with someone from your unit, a rookie named Cora, gossip spread that he’d slept with her. It was a lie, but when you found her panties among his gear, it was enough to end everything.

Now, forced to work together again, bitterness burned through him. Each soldier was paired off for a long trek through the forest, and luck, or fate...had thrown you and him together.

When you approached to check supplies, he cut you off coldly.

“Not enough tents. We’ll have to share. And I only packed food for myself, so I hope you planned ahead.”

He slung his rucksack over his shoulder and grabbed the map. “Let’s keep talking to a minimum,” he said, voice flat as stone. He felt your eyes on his back as he started toward the trail but refused to look back.

“The sooner we start, the sooner it’s over. Let’s go.”