~HAZEL~

It's day seven since Ashton and I have been stranded in these untamed woods. We've only had water—a few rivers and streams we managed to find—since we were thrown into this relentless wilderness. Our search for food has been futile; every attempt to find something to eat has ended in disappointment, leaving us desperate and weak. I was beginning to hallucinate, seeing visions in the darkness that weren't really there.

I've never gone this long without any food. Even if I shift into my wolf form now, it would be useless for a hunt because my senses are dulled, and I'm too exhausted to track or chase.

Ashton kept leaving me behind, often claiming that I would only slow him down if I tried to follow him into the forest during the hunt. Each time, I was left with nothing to do but keep a constant watch for dark, creepy creatures lurking in the forest, searching for their next meal under the dim moonlight. Even though he used my inability to fight back as an excuse for his actions, I sensed there was a deeper reason behind his constant distance. A part of me already recognized what that reason was, but I chose not to think too much about it.

I watch quietly as he returns from the hunt with only small, rough pieces of wood for a fire, and I know that we need to have a serious discussion about this. A kiss might be the only option available to us in order to get some food. It was clearly evident that the soul keepers were not playing fair; they seemed to deliberately manipulate the situation, pressuring us to have no other choice but to become intimate with each other in order to survive.

It was all about entertainment for them and their audience. If they failed to deliver what their viewers wanted—such as hot intimate scenes and passionate sex—the ratings for their show would start to decline. Maintaining high viewer ratings was crucial for their success and reputation, so they closely monitored audience preferences and continuously modified their content to keep the ratings high. This was probably why they were playing the game so harshly this rounds. They knew that Ashton and I were not an easy target and that they would need to force us to do what their viewers wanted to see.

As Ashton lights the fire, the flickering flames cast a warm glow on his face, and I catch the reflection of the flames dancing in his eyes as he gazes down at me seated near the fire. I don't know why, but with his torn shirt clinging to his muscular torso, the veins in his bulging arms prominent, and wet hair falling over his forehead in messy strands most likely from a recent bath in the river, I suddenly realize how attracted I am to him.

I inwardly gasp at that reckless thought.

Attracted? To my step-brother? The same step-brother who had already found his mate? I must be losing my damn mind.

I shake my head slightly and quickly avert my gaze, feeling the gnawing hunger and overwhelming starvation cloud my thoughts. The intense craving makes me wary of my impulses; I must eat soon before my desperation causes me to see my step-brother as something more than family. That would be disastrous for both of us, risking unintended consequences or much worse.

"Ashton—," I whisper softly, yet the moment the words leave my lips, I see his jaw tighten and muscles tense in response. It's a familiar reaction—he knows exactly where this conversation is headed, and the weight of unspoken tension hangs heavily in the air. It's just like the last time I brought it up to him. I truly don't want to have to do this but I do not have a choice in this matter. It is important that I get this out in the open.

"We need to discuss the next steps," I continue nervously, my voice trembling as a cold sweat beads on my forehead. "I am beginning to hallucinate, seeing things that aren't there."

I swallow hard before I add, "Feeling things that I shouldn't. We need the food to survive, but they are not going to give it to us unless—" I cut off abruptly, my breath hitching.

I stop talking when his heated gaze meets mine, intense and dangerous, like a wildfire. "We cannot let them win, Hazel. If we give in now, we are doing exactly what they want us to do—giving up our free will and dignity, surrendering to their manipulation."

I knew he was right but what other options did we have?

The other selected couples were fortunate enough to be offered food, while in our case, they seemed to deprive us of it, escalating the situation to a whole new level. Perhaps I was right about their goal being to boost their ratings on the show or maybe just as I thought earlier, they realized that we were more stubborn and unyielding than the others. I wasn't entirely sure of their true intentions, but it was clear that they were doing things differently this time, employing tactics that were more aggressive and manipulative than before.

"If we die out of hunger, then they are still winning," I point out in frustration, my voice trembling slightly as I clutch my aching stomach, trying to stay calm despite the painful emptiness. "Think about it."

I couldn't believe we were truly having this discussion right now. It felt surreal, like we were trapped in a nightmare from which I desperately wanted to wake. Each moment seemed frozen in time, the hunger playing dangerous games with my mind and body, deepening my sense of helplessness and despair.

Ashton slams his fist into the blazing fire, causing sparks to fly and sparks to crackle loudly. I gasp in shock, taken aback by his sudden and violent action. Without hesitation, I quickly move forward, grasping his wrist firmly and pulling his hand away from the flames. I then immediately submerge his burning hand into the small wooden bowl of cool, clear water we had managed to bring back from the nearby stream, watching as the red-hot skin sizzles slightly upon contact.

"What is wrong with you?" I demand fiercely, my eyes narrowing as I examine his hand for any blistered or burnt marks or injuries.

When I look up, I am surprised to find him gazing at me with an unreadable expression—his eyes contain a mixture of pain, frustration, and something else I can't quite decipher. I feel a surge of anger and concern, annoyed that he would intentionally harm himself in such a dangerous way.

"Why did you do that?" I ask, my voice trembling with both fear and frustration. "We are already in such a tense situation. You need to stop intentionally hurting yourself, Ashton!"

"I can take care of it on my own," he tells me but doesn't try to take his hand away.

Suddenly, I'm hit with a wave of dizziness, before I know it, my body is swaying towards the ground. I feel Ashton's strong arms around me, pulling me close.

"Hazel?" I hear his anxious call as I try to fight the dizziness.