Chapter 1

Everlee

"Are you sure this is smart, Ever? I mean, you aren't exactly the outdoorsy type."

I peek my head around my closet door frame and look at Lyrika, my best friend since middle school. With bright-red, waist-length hair, exotic aqua-colored eyes surrounded by thick eyelashes, and a killer body with curves in all the right places, I've always felt lacking when standing next to her. Not that I'm not pretty, but my shit-brown hair, with my shittier brown eyes, and the extra twenty pounds I can't seem to diet or exercise off can't compare to her perfectly gorgeous model features. But hey, bright side, at least the extra weight is evenly distributed and not all in one place.

She's sitting with her legs crossed in the middle of my bed, eyeing the small pile of clothes I've tossed on the end like they've personally offended her.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I love nature and being outdoors." Grabbing a flannel shirt that I haven't worn in years, I throw it at her. "You remember all those camping trips my dad and brothers took me on in middle and high school? You even went once."

She pinches the shoulders of the shirt, her eyes meeting mine over the printed material as she expertly folds it. "I remember you hating it."

I scoff and roll my eyes, even though I've already moved back into the closet and she can't see it. She knows me well enough to hear the action in my voice. "I did not. You were the one who hated it." Bending, I pick up a pair of old hiking boots and toss them between my legs through the doorway and into the room. They clunk against the footboard. "Which is why Dad made Ethan take you home early and wouldn't let me invite you again."

"Girls were not designed to squat in the woods, Ever."

"They are if they do it right."

"And do you have any idea how itchy poison ivy is when it gets in your butt crack?" she continues, ignoring my statement. I can practically see the shuddered look on her face in my mind.

It wasn't funny at the time—or rather, it kind of was, but to keep my friend from slaughtering me, I kept my mirth to myself—but thinking back, I can't help the laugh that slips out.

"That shit was not funny," Rika grumbles, her bitterness from that experience still alive and kicking. "I must have looked like a whore with herpes, with all my squirming and scratching at my crotch." Another spurt of laughter comes out before I can stop it. "I blame that one experience on why Mad and I never married and had two-point-five kids."

Rika has had a lady boner for my oldest brother for years. Despite the eight-year age difference, she used to swear she was going to marry Maddox one day and they'd live happily ever after with the perfect life. Much to her displeasure, he's never shown any interest in her, and over the years, that crush has faded.

"Do David and the guys know what you're doing?" she asks, folding another shirt I tossed on the bed.

"Not yet," I admit reluctantly. "I'm calling Dad on the way out. He'll pass along the information to my brothers."

I avoid Rika's eyes when I leave the closet and move to my dresser. I know what she's thinking. And she knows that I know.

"You've had this planned for weeks, so there's only one reason why you're waiting until now to tell them." She pauses, and I can feel her eyes on the back of my head as I dig through my panties drawer, searching for the most utilitarian undies I have. Silk, lace, and satin would be wasted where I'm going. "You know they would stop you from going if they knew ahead of time."

I snort, even though she's right. Dad is going to go ballistic when he finds out what I plan to do. And my brothers, they'd tie me to the metal pipes in the basement to keep me from going. I love my dad and brothers, but they can be hella overprotective.

"You're delusional. I didn't tell them because I've been busy and it slipped my mind," I reply, playing dumb.

"Oh, get real, Ever. We both know that's bull. What you're doing is dangerous and, quite frankly, stupid. There's no way the Horde would let you step a foot out of the house if they had any clue what you were up to."

The Horde.

That's what Rika calls my dad and brothers.

I flippantly lift a shoulder. "Maybe, maybe not. Either way, they won't have the chance."

I carry a stack of plain cotton panties and a couple of sports bras to the duffle bag on the bed, carelessly stuffing them inside. I go back to the dresser for some socks, feeling Rika's concerned gaze on the side of my face the whole time.

"You have no idea how dangerous this man could be, if he even exists," she continues in her pursuit to try to talk me out of going. Nothing short of an apocalypse could stop me. "He could be a psycho killer who waits for hikers to wander his way. You remember that guy who disappeared last year, right?"

"Yes. He was found weeks later." I stop and face Rika. "He died from a broken neck after he fell from that cliff."

"That's what the papers say," she says, one of her brows lifting in question. "They claim he fell, but he could have been pushed."

I let out an exaggerated puff of air. "You watch too many true crime shows." I leave her and go to the bathroom for some toiletries.

"That may be so, but it's still very plausible that man could have been pushed. There's no way to know for sure."

I raise my voice so she can hear me. "I like to believe people are innocent until proven guilty. There's no evidence that comes even close to linking that hiker's death with Wild Man."

"Okay, so let's forget about that for a moment," she hollers back. "What about other dangers? Wild animals, for instance."

I toss in some shampoo and conditioner into a small travel bag, along with bodywash, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a few other things. No make-up is needed where I'm headed. "I'll have my taser and gun."

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?" she asks, her tone full of sarcasm.

"Yep," I chirp, leaving the bathroom.

After dropping the bag on the bed, I sit on the side and face my friend. I reach out and grab her hand.

"You need to stop worrying. I'll be fine. I'll only be gone for a couple of weeks at the most. And I'll have my sat phone with me. If it makes you feel better, I'll call you every day."

Her eyes narrow and she gives me a look I imagine moms giving their children. I can only imagine it because I've never had one. Or rather, I did, but she died when I was two from breast cancer.

"You better. If I don't get a call at least once every twenty-four hours, I'll send the Horde after you."

I laugh, dropping her hand and getting up from the bed. "You won't have to." I pick up the thick notebook that's full of notes from my nightstand. "They'll already be pissed that I only told Dad, and didn't give them a chance to stop me. I'll be lucky to spend two days out there."

"I still don't like this." She slides her ass across the bed to get up from the mattress. "I have a very bad feeling. Are you sure there's nothing I can say to get you to nix this crazy idea?"

"No." I shove the rest of the clothes on my bed inside the duffle bag, putting the notepad on top before zipping it. "You know how much this means to me. I've been researching Wild Man for years. I've finally found what I believe is his location. I can't pass up this opportunity."

She sighs, her shoulders drooping in acceptance. "Yeah, I know. Can't blame me for trying."

I walk around the bed and pull my friend into a hug. Her embrace is tight.

"Just promise you'll be careful and smart," she says, her voice muffled by my hair. "You don't know what this guy is capable of."

"I'll be fine. Everything will be okay. I'll be back before you know it." I give her cheek a loud, smacking kiss. "Now walk me to the door."

I grab my duffle by the handles, and she picks up my bathroom bag. We leave the room and go out to the living room. At the front door, I drop the bag and scoop up Mr. Bones. I snuggle the thick-haired ginger cat against my chest. His soothing purr vibrates in my ear.

"You be good for Auntie Rika." I kiss the top of his head. "I'll be back soon."

I set him on the floor and he scurries off, having had enough cuddles for the moment.

"Thank you for staying here and watching Mr. Bones for me," I tell Rika.

"You're doing me a favor by letting me stay. The damn neighbors were at it again last night. It'll be nice to sleep in peace for a change."

After getting one more hug from her and reiterating my promise to call her every day, I finally make it out of my house and shove my stuff in the trunk of my car.

One obstacle down, one to go.

* * *

"The fuck you're going, Everlee!"Dad's harsh voice booms in my ear. "Have you lost your goddamn mind?"

I wince and pull the phone away from my ear. It's not often Dad loses his temper and yells, which says a lot about his patience after raising four sons and a rambunctious daughter on his own. When he does, though, anyone who knows him knows to stay the hell back.

I wait until I'm not in danger of having my eardrums blown before I bring the phone back to my ear.

"Are you done?" I ask, keeping my tone calm, even though I want to yell right back at him. I learned as a child, you have to give as good as you get with the Adair men.

"Ever, so help me God?—"

I cut him off before he can start again. "I'm going, Dad, and you're just going to have to find a way to deal with it. And to keep the guys away. I won't have them or you mess this up. Dillon and Linzi are depending on this story. And besides, you know how important this is to me. I've been researching Wild Man for years."

His deep, rumbly growl comes across the line. Dad's a control freak. He hates not getting his way, especially with me. There are some things I'll relent on because it's not worth the trouble of fighting him or my brothers, but there are some times, now, for instance, I put my foot down. No one is taking this opportunity away from me.

"At least let me send one of your brothers with you," he suggests, his tone more calm, but I still hear the anger and worry behind his words.

"No," I reply stubbornly. "I want to do this on my own."

"Jesus Christ, Ever," he mutters in exasperation. "You'll put me in an early grave one of these days."

"Oh stop being dramatic, Dad. You'll be fine."

"The hell I will. You'll be out in the middle of fucking nowhere. There's a number of different predators in that area of the wilderness. Not just the four-legged kind. I'm more worried about this man you're so dead-set on finding. Do you have any fucking clue how dangerous this can be?"

"Yes, I understand. I'm not an idiot. You raised me to be a smart, independent, and strong woman. I'm taking precautions. I'll have my sat phone, taser, and my gun." I give the same reassurances I gave Rika not even an hour ago.

"None of that will do you any good if this guy sneaks up on you."

"That may be so, but I've also got all the physical training you and the guys taught me."

For countless hours, Dad and my brothers forced me down in the basement of my childhood home to the training room to learn self-defense maneuvers. It may have been annoying back then, but I appreciate it now. Especially considering the couple of times I've had to use some of those moves on men with grabby hands who didn't want to take no for an answer.

"I still don't like this," Dad grumbles. "Why does this mean so much to you?"

I don't have an answer for him. I'm just as stumped as he is. I've been obsessed with the story of Wild Man for the last five years. Ever since I overheard Mrs. Crocker talking about him in the grocery store.

"It doesn't matter why. It just is."

His breath crackles across the line. "I expect daily reports. If I don't hear from you?—"

I finish the sentence for him. "You and the boys will storm the area until you find me. Got it."

"I'm serious, Ever," he warns relentlessly.

"I know." My lips tip up into a smile, relieved he's finally conceding. Surprisingly, talking him into backing off was easier than I thought it would be.

"Keep the sat on you at all times. And keep the gun loaded."

"Already planned on it."

"Daily reports, Everlee," he repeats like I didn't hear him the first time.

"Yes, Dad."

"Love you."

"Love you too. And send my love to the guys."

I press the End Call button on the screen just as I reach the Black Ridge National Forest sign. Adrenaline and excitement course through my veins.

After years of curiosity and tons of research, I'll finally be able to uncover the story of the mysterious Wild Man.