"Horses," I said with wide eyes as those huge creatures came closer.

"Sorry, Sis, no car. Horses are easier to use."

My cheeks flushed as one neared us, and Luca patted him.

"Hello, boy. Sis, this is my noble steed, Atlas."

I gulped. "Y-You named him?"

Luca shot me a look. "Why wouldn’t I? Atlas has been part of the family for as long as I can remember. They all have."

"I-I see..." I said, studying the reddish-brown coat with black mane, tail, and legs.

They look scarier in person!

"Come touch him."

"I’m sorry, what?"

"Trust me, they are just like Boba and Coco but a bigger version."

"They are not the same," I said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, they are," he defended.

I think he lost a piece of his brain because there’s no way—!

I was pushed from behind, sending me plunging forward toward Atlas. The moment I made contact with him, I yelped and pulled away.

"Are you scared?" Luca asked with wide eyes.

"I’m not scared! I was just caught off guard!"

"You look like you are."

I heard a laugh, and I glared at Dante. He was the one who fucking pushed me!

"What’s the matter with you?" I glared daggers at him.

A flash went off in my face, forcing my eyes shut. When I opened them again, Dante was lowering a camera with a grin.

"Isn’t this interesting, Luca? Ana is scared of horses."

"Are you? You said you aren’t." Luca blinked before he snorted, and I knew he was doing his hardest to stifle a laugh.

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are," Dante amused.

"Unlike you, Sunshine, who’s scared of some likes!"

Dante’s grin dropped, and he shot a look at Luca, who gave him an innocent face.

Luca cleared his throat. "And here is your flag."

"What’s this for?"

"We can’t carry them back ourselves, so this flag helps to show your win. It’s blue too, your color."

I took the small flags and shoved them in my leather bag.

"Those are wasted on her," Dante remarked.

I gave him a middle finger, and he was about to come at me, but Luca stopped him.

I had just taken four steps before I bumped into a wall.

I almost lost balance if my waist wasn’t held. I lifted my gaze and froze at the sight of Zade.

Realizing the proximity, I quickly jumped away as though the mere contact had shocked me.

I swallowed hard, my gaze traveling over him from head to toe. He looked so different. Very different.

He was wearing a tailored sand-colored field jacket that struck the perfect balance between his raw dominance and massive frame.

Beneath it was a light button-down shirt left causally open at the collar, revealing a darker crewneck layer under that. He matched it with tailored trousers and tall brown leather riding boots.

What held my heart in my throat was how he held the rifle with one hand and rested it on his shoulder as if holding something that didn’t cause harm to living things.

I didn’t realize I was gaping like a fool until I heard Elliot’s voice behind me.

"You two should stop teasing, Ana."

"I wasn’t teasing her," Luca said. "It was Dante!"

"A little wouldn’t kill her. After all, no one talked about the humiliating photo she put online. I’m a fucking laughingstock."

"Tell that to the million likes and beautiful comments."

I tried to look everywhere, but Zade, on the other hand, made me his center point just like he did at the shooting range. As if observing me or waiting for me to say something.

So I moved, heading in the wrong direction before realizing my mistake and turning back toward the boys. The last place I wanna be, but I was willing to take my chances with them.

"I’ll take a car."

They looked to me like I had grown two heads.

"You wanna use a fucking car? Seriously, guys, we’re already set out to fail because of her," Dante said irritably.

"Horses are what we use, Ana," Elliot said. "Some of the paths are blocked by fallen trees."

"Fine!" I growled, already feeling frustrated.

I can’t ride a horse; they scare me! What am I gonna do? Dante and Luca already figured out I’m scared of them. What happens when they realize I can’t ride one, too?

And that fucking camera!

Dante saw my glare and smirked as if he knew.

He probably brought that camera along to immortalize my embarrassment!

"You’ll ride with me."

I stiffened when I heard a masculine voice behind me.

I turned slowly to Zade. When did he get so close?

"I can ride myself," I replied with a scowl.

"No, you can’t."

Wait... does he know I can’t ride horses?

"Then I’ll ride with—"

Zade grabbed my arm and yanked me to his body, the action summoning all the times he had done it, a rush shooting through me as my cheeks flushed.

"L-Let me go."

The depraved asshole smirked and then picked me by the waist like I weighed nothing but air.

"Hey—!"

The moment he settled me on the horse, the blood drained from my face. I clutched the saddle with both hands, glancing down and instantly regretting it.

Everything looked farther away from up here, making my head spin.

"Z-Zade put me down," I muttered more to myself than him.

Blood rushed back to my head when Zade settled after me. The warmth of his body and the idea that I wasn’t mounting this beast alone reduced my stress levels, but it doesn’t change the fact that this whole thing has taken an extreme turn from what I intended.

I’m caged... with him.

He took the reins. "We’ll be going ahead," he said to the others before nudging the horse in motion.

I stretched my neck, looking to the others, hoping they would get a move on already, but all hopes for that died when Zade and I were isolated, the distance extending further and further.

I set my gaze ahead, trying my hardest to breathe lightly, but I can’t. My pulse was racing for no reason at all. I’m just repulsed by the idea of being alone with him. It couldn’t be anything more than that.

This mode of transportation wasn’t helping either. I’m shameless to admit that if Zade weren’t here to control this horse, I would have passed out from the stress.

"I forgot my rifle." I broke the silence that had lingered for the last few minutes. "We should head back."

"It’s in the scabbard."

Fuck!