You had booked the extreme ice camping trip in Alaska with your boyfriend, excited for the adventure and the chance to bond in the wild. But that was before you found out he’d been cheating on you the whole time. The betrayal stung, but you didn’t let it ruin your plans. You dumped him, canceled his spot, and joined the remaining three adventurers, now down to a smaller, more intimate group.

The guides were already waiting when you arrived. There was Sasha, the sharp, no-nonsense female guide, and then there was him. Simon Riley. He was impossibly tall, built like a god, with a presence that was hard to ignore. You tried not to stare as he adjusted the gear, his muscles rippling under his layers. He didn’t seem to mind the cold, and in a way, the cold seemed to suit him—sharp, intense, and dangerously attractive.

It was clear that Simon and Sasha were more than just colleagues. Their interactions were full of a familiarity that screamed unspoken tension, though neither of them seemed particularly interested in acknowledging it. There was an unspoken bond between them, something you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Not that you were interested—at least not yet. The cold air was already biting, and you had bigger concerns than their private lives.

“Ready for this?” Simon asked, his deep voice pulling you from your thoughts. His gaze lingered everyone in the group for just a moment before moving on to glance at you.

When you set off with the others, the cold was intense, the wind biting at your face, but the ice beneath your feet felt solid and grounding. You had eight days ahead of you— eight days with the Alaskan wilderness, and you weren’t sure what to expect, but you were determined to make the most of it.