Selene pov
I never thought I had slept this long. The soft chirping of birds woke me up, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the dense canopy above. The air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of damp earth and leaves.
Blinking away the last traces of sleep, I shifted slightly and looked down. Axel was still asleep, his head resting on my lap just as I had left him last night. His breathing was slow and steady, his usually sharp features relaxed in sleep.
For a moment, I hesitated. Seeing him like this—peaceful, vulnerable—was something I had never expected. The arrogant, sharp-tongued billionaire looked almost... normal.
I sighed and gently nudged his shoulder. "Axel, wake up. It's morning."
He groaned, shifting slightly but refusing to open his eyes. "Five more minutes," he muttered, voice thick with sleep.
I rolled my eyes. "We're not in a five-star hotel, Monroe. Get up before we become breakfast for some wild animal."
That got his attention. His eyes cracked open, and he stretched lazily before finally sitting up. He ran a hand through his messy hair and smirked. "You know, Selene, for a bodyguard, your lap makes a surprisingly comfortable pillow."
I scowled, swatting his arm. "Get serious. We need to find a way out of here."
He chuckled, standing up. "Fine, fine. Lead the way, boss."
Shaking my head, I climbed down the tree, already bracing myself for whatever nonsense he was going to throw my way next.
We walked for what felt like hours, the dense forest stretching endlessly around us. The midday sun burned overhead, and the weight of exhaustion pressed down on me. Every step felt heavier, thirst clawing at my throat. Axel, for once, was silent, his usual cocky remarks replaced by focused determination.
Then, through the thick foliage, the sound of rushing water reached my ears. My head snapped up, and I quickened my pace. Pushing past a few branches, my breath hitched.
A waterfall.
Crystal-clear water cascaded down a rocky cliff into a shimmering pool below. The sight alone was refreshing, but the relief of knowing we had finally found water was even better.
"Finally," Axel exhaled, already pulling off his jacket. "I thought we were going to die of dehydration before any wild animal got to us."
I ignored him and hurried toward the water, dropping to my knees at the edge. Scooping handfuls of the cool liquid, I drank deeply, letting it soothe my parched throat. Axel joined me, drinking before splashing some water over his face and hair.
"You know," he smirked, shaking out his wet hair, "if this were a movie, this would be the perfect setup for a romantic moment."
I shot him a glare. "Drink your water and shut up, Monroe."
He chuckled but did as I said.
The hunger in my stomach was harder to ignore. We needed food soon. I scanned the area, my survival instincts kicking in. "We should look for something edible. Fruits, maybe."
Axel groaned, stretching. "Great. From billionaire to jungle explorer. What's next, hunting with a spear?"
I raised a brow. "Unless you want to starve?"
He sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I die out here, I'm haunting you."
I shook my head and stood up. "Come on. Let's find something before night falls again."
We found some wild fruits hanging from low branches—small, but enough to keep us going. I inspected them carefully before handing a few to Axel.
"Eat slowly," I warned. "We don't know how long we'll be out here."
Axel, of course, ignored me, stuffing the fruit into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in days.
As we walked further, the sound of rotor blades suddenly cut through the sky. My heart leaped. A helicopter.
Axel's eyes snapped upward, and in an instant, he bolted toward an open clearing, waving his arms frantically. "Hey! Down here!"
The aircraft hovered above us, but it didn't slow. My stomach twisted as I realized they hadn't spotted us. The dense canopy of trees made it nearly impossible.
"Come on! We're right here!" Axel shouted, his voice raw. He grabbed a fallen branch and waved it, but the helicopter remained on its path, slowly disappearing into the distance.
Axel stood frozen, his hands tightening into fists. "Damn it!"
I exhaled sharply, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find another way, Axel. This isn't over yet."
His jaw clenched, frustration evident in his stormy gaze. But after a beat, he nodded. "Yeah... we will."