He knew little about pregnancy, but his sister-in-law had said it was draining, especially in the first trimester as the body adjusted to the work of growing another human. Add to that the terrifying day and near hypothermia she’d faced multiple times, and he’d had a small internal panic that the combination could trigger a miscarriage. But she was fine now, sleeping softly in his arms, warm and perfect.

It didn’t seem possible to feel this deep and intense need to get her out of here. He’d never guessed his feelings could be so…boundless. It was like trying to grasp the expanding universe. Just when he thought he’d reached the end of his ability to feel, his mind—or heart—expanded.

Was this love?

It certainly was nothing like what he’d thought he felt for Lynn. But then, she’d made it clear when she dumped him at his darkest hour that it had only been attraction and affection on her part, nothing so powerful as love.

If this was love, was it love for the child that would one day be his? Or the woman who carried it?

Both, probably.

And he didn’t think his feelings for Audrey were only because she was pregnant. No. He’d been feeling feral about her safety from the moment she’d been attacked on the ledge.

It was his fault she was in danger.

His fault they were being hunted and she’d been forced to burn energy until she had to inhale crackers and cheese.

He wouldn’t fail her again. Not in these woods and not when they were back in the real world with a child to raise.

But first, he had to protect her and get her to safety.

Or die trying.

Chapter Eighteen

Undine pressed the doorbell button for the second time. Maybe Audrey didn’t hear the first one. After another long interval, she pulled out her phone to check the time and see if Audrey had messaged her with a change in plans.

No message. They’d agreed Undine would pick her up at eight a.m. sharp. She should be here.

Maybe she forgot?

But that wasn’t likely. Audrey had texted yesterday to ask if they could meet for breakfast instead of lunch because her work had been interrupted yesterday and she had to return to Forks today to finish. Undine suspected Audrey would work well into the night if needed. After nearly losing her job a month ago, she was putting in long hours to prove to park management her dedication to the park.

Every time Undine thought about what Chief Warrant Officer Xavier Rivera had done to Audrey, she wanted to hurt the man.

Audrey wouldn’t talk about him, and it was obvious she was devastated—not just by the fallout from work, but because she’d really liked the guy. She’d confessed as much in early November.