Free Fight the Tide by Keira Andrews

at Craig. “Sorry, sweetheart.”
    Lilly’s voice was muffled by her life jacket where she slouched against her father. “S’okay. I think Jacob’s dad’s a jerkface too.”
    As Craig chuckled and pressed a kiss to his daughter’s head, Parker wondered where Lilly’s mother was. He resisted the urge to ask, just barely. “You guys definitely don’t want to try to go cross-country. We made it, but it sure wasn’t easy.”
    “I bet.” Abby smiled ruefully. “I just wish we knew where we could go. Seems like we can’t go back, but the road forward’s not looking so hot either.”
    In the silence, they all stared at each other, Lilly’s dark eyes examining Parker over the edge of the life jacket. He wondered what Jacob and Adam were talking about on the deck.
    He cleared his throat. “Well, we can drop you off on land if your boat’s not there after the storm. I’m sure you can find a car.”
    “Thank you.” Craig’s smile was strained. “We’d appreciate that.”
    They all jumped when the radio burst to life with a hiss of static. Parker realized he’d turned up the volume earlier.
    “This is Salvation Island. We have medicine and food. It is safe here.”
    As the woman gave her spiel, Parker fidgeted under Lilly’s steady gaze. In the silence that followed, he muttered, “Maybe we can help you find a car. But then we have to be on our way.”
    “Of course,” Abby said. “We’re grateful for anything you can do to help. You already saved our lives, and we don’t expect anything else.”
    Parker shoved another cookie in his mouth, trying to savor the creamy peanut butter and ignore the spiral of guilt in his gut and cold steel pressing into his back.

Chapter Five
    “Y ou’re supposed to be sleeping.” Adam didn’t need to turn from his spot on the bow to see Parker walking up behind him. He could smell him, yes, but it was like he could sense him approaching with his whole body, the hair on his arms rising in greeting, his skin singing and a primal awareness filling him. The closest thing he’d experienced to it had been the family bond he’d shared with his parents and sisters, but this was different.
    With his hands in the big pocket of his sweatshirt, Parker shrugged, standing beside Adam. “They’re crashed out in our bed. Wanted to stay close together, so I said we’d take the other cabin. In the morning, we can go back to their boat. Hopefully it’s still there.” He tipped his head back. “Can see the stars. Looks like this system has passed by.”
    It’d stopped raining some hours before, although the air remained damp, the deck still slick under Adam’s boots. “Aren’t your feet cold?”
    Parker traced a wooden seam with his big toe. “Not really.”
    Adam was struck by a memory of ice, of an endless Minnesota winter and a cabin for the weekend. His parents had transformed into full wolf form and bounded through the snow across the frozen lake while he and his sisters had chased behind, the girls demanding to know when they’d be taught the secrets of changing. Adam wanted to know too, but was mostly just happy to be together and free, miles from anyone and able to be themselves.
    In the cabin after, his parents had sat by the fire with their toes peeking out of a tangle of blankets, Adam and his sisters curled up close by, all heartbeats and warmth.
    Now, he could hear the breathing of the family down below, could sense their heartbeats and heat huddled together, their thin whispers of hope piercing the fear and worry growing stronger with each moment that passed in safety. Each moment that passed together.
    He scanned the dark hulk of the island. He could see clearly through the trees, and there were no creepers or other people. It was peaceful, the boat rocking gently every so often, the wind calm. The soft, steady breathing downstairs echoing beneath his feet, strengthening his own.
    “It’s nice, isn’t it?” Adam asked. “Having them here.”
    Parker’s