Chapter 2

2

The other colleagues, fueled by the "team honor" Lukas and CeCe kept preaching, nodded in agreement.

I looked at Lukas's cold face. I felt dead inside, but I couldn't help bringing up the past.

"Lukas, including that time three years ago, this is the fourth time I've saved your life in the wild."

"Remember the first time we met? It was in the backwoods of Montana. You fell down a slope trying to take a shortcut. I pulled you back from a mudslide."

"I treated your wounds. I stayed with you until help arrived. You held my hand and cried like a baby."

"You called me your savior. You swore you'd be good to me forever and never betray me. Where is that man now?"

A flash of guilt crossed Lukas's face. He seemed to waver for a moment. But CeCe immediately pinched his arm.

"Lukas, don't be soft. If she stays here and something happens, we'll all be in trouble!"

"Your promotion could be gone in an instant because of one word from her."

The last bit of hesitation in Lukas's eyes vanished. He looked at me with total indifference.

"Stop using the past to guilt-trip me. People have to move on. You're the one who knows this descent route best."

"If you don't lead the way, how are we supposed to find the path in this blizzard?"

"Exactly!" CeCe chimed in. "Sienna has to lead. Don't let her play dead to get out of it!"

Looking at their ugly, coordinated faces, I knew emotions wouldn't work. I played my final card.

"Don't push me. The leader of the Frost Wolf Rescue Team, Sullivan, is my biological brother. If you hurt me, he will destroy you!"

"Hahaha!" CeCe burst into an exaggerated laugh.

"That's hilarious, Sienna. I didn't know you were such a good liar. You're so desperate to be lazy that you're claiming a hero as your brother?"

The others joined in the mockery. "Seriously? Captain Sullivan of the Frost Wolves? There's no way a pampered girl like you is his sister."

Lukas stepped forward and slapped me across the face. The sound was sharp.

"Sienna, I'm embarrassed that I was ever engaged to a liar like you!"

"If you say one more word of that crap, I'll toss you straight into the snow myself!"

He grabbed my arm and made a move to drag me out of the tent. I knew they were dead set on forcing me to lead. I stopped explaining and made one last demand.

"Fine, I'll go. But CeCe has to give me my sleeping bag back. I'm injured and I can barely move―"

"Shut up!" Lukas interrupted me brutally.

"You're already frostbitten. That means your stamina is gone anyway. Why waste a top-tier sleeping bag on you?"

"I'll say it again: CeCe has never been on a mountain like this. She needs the best gear to stay safe!"

Hearing him say that so matter-of-factly made my heart turn to ash. I never thought my fiancé would trade my life for another woman's comfort.

Ever since CeCe joined his department, Lukas had changed. He spent all day worrying about her.

I thought he was just being a supportive boss to a newcomer. We were engaged, after all. We had been through so much.

I was so incredibly naive. Lukas grabbed me and yanked me off the ground.

"Don't think I won't get physical with you. Get up and lead the way!"