Chapter 1078
She didn’t ask about the others. Not about Rose, or Layla, or Zoey. She simply reached up and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear, her fingers lingering there a moment longer than needed.
"I missed you last night," she said, quietly, her voice like the hush of wind through leaves.
"I didn’t sleep much," he admitted. "Too much to think about."
She nodded, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she leaned in, kissed him slowly, a kiss that felt like breathing, necessary, anchoring, and real. For a long moment, they stayed there, their foreheads pressed together.
Footsteps on damp wood pulled them apart. Stella stepped out of the hut, blinking into the morning light. "Are we going out today?"
Jude nodded. "The cliffs again. We need to check if the water path’s changed."
Susan stood and stretched, her shirt riding up just enough to tease Jude’s gaze. She smiled knowingly and whispered, "Come back to me."
He didn’t say it, but the words pulsed in his chest. Always.
By mid-morning, they were on the move. Jude, Stella, Emma, and Sophie made one team, heading toward the cliffs. Rose, Layla, Zoey, and Grace had already taken off before dawn, not waiting for instructions. Jude hadn’t seen them leave, but the strange feeling that followed them lingered in the camp like the scent of fire long after the flames had gone.
Sophie walked beside him, unusually quiet. Emma and Stella kept ahead, arguing over whether they’d reach the waterfall before the sun hit its peak. Jude noticed Sophie glancing toward the trees more than usual.
"You think they’ll find anything?" Jude asked finally.