CH 101
As we step onto Big Island, Hawaii, I’m struck by the beauty of the place—the vibrant greens, the endless blue of the ocean, the warm sun and the salt-sweet breeze carrying just a hint of flowers.
But the reality of how vast this island really is hits me hard. Now that we’re here, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I sigh, glancing down at the crumpled note in my hand. “This is going to take longer than I thought.”
Wake, standing beside me, looks as unfazed as ever. “Did Hiro mention where we should start?”
I unfold the note and scan it again. “All he could find was a PO Box linked to Nereid Limited.” I squint at the tiny print, frowning. “It’s in some small town I don’t recognize.”
Wake takes the note from my hands without hesitation, squinting at it as if he can will it to tell us more. Before I can stop him, he strides over to the nearest passerby, a middle-aged woman carrying a few shopping bags, and hails her down with an impressive show of authority.
“You there! Does this look familiar to you?”
The woman’s eyes widen in surprise. She stammers something in a language that sounds like Polish, her hands raised slightly, her expression bordering on terrified.
I rush over, cheeks burning with embarrassment. “So sorry!” I blurt, gently pulling Wake away. “So sorry—he’s not from around…anywhere.” The woman gives a bewildered nod and scurries off, glancing over her shoulder as if we might be dangerous.
Wake looks genuinely puzzled. “She didn’t answer my question.”
“She probably didn’t understand your question!” I whisper, exasperated. “Hawaii’s one of the world’s biggest tourist destinations. We’re going to run into people from everywhere. Which means we need to work smarter, not harder.”
He grunts in agreement but doesn’t look convinced. It’s only when I steer him toward the visitor’s help desk that he finally gives in, letting me do the talking. The attendant—a cheerful local in a Hawaiian shirt and lei—smiles brightly as I hand over the note.
“Any idea where we can find this PO Box?” I ask, hoping for something easy.
He looks over the address, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “Oh, yeah. That’s not in town. You’re looking at a good drive—it’s on the other side of the island.”
I feel my heart sink. “So, not within walking distance then?”
The attendant chuckles good-naturedly. “Well, depends on the legs doing the walking, but if yours prefer a little more luxury, I can set you up with a rental.”
He points to a line of shiny rental cars parked just beyond the lot. Wake’s face instantly twists into a scowl, like he’d rather wrestle a tiger shark than get back into another vehicle. “I’d rather take the hike.”
The attendant looks a little confused, and I feel my head start to pound. “Sorry,” I say with a strained smile, “he’s just, uh…not a fan of small spaces. We’re still recovering from the plane ride.”
The attendant just grins, apparently used to dealing with odd tourists. “No problem! Here on Big Island, we have more than one way to get around.” He gestures to a row of open-top dune buggies sitting off to the side. The buggies look fun and, more importantly, they look like they might get Wake’s approval.
“Perfect,” I say, brightening as I elbow him gently. “Look—open-air. No walls, no roof. Can’t get more spacious than that.”
Wake eyes them critically, his arms crossed over his chest. “I will drive,” he says firmly.
I snort, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, will you now?” I ask, half amused, half skeptical.
He meets my eyes, his face completely serious. “Yes.”
The attendant snickers, clearly entertained by our exchange. “Seems like a fair trade-off if you ask me,” he says, winking. “One of you gets to drive, one of you gets to relax. Win-win.”
Wake doesn’t take his gaze off me, waiting for my answer, the challenge clear in his eyes. I consider for a moment, then sigh in surrender. “Fine,” I say, feigning exasperation. “But if you crash us into a lava rock, I get full bragging rights for the rest of our unnatural lives.”
Wake’s lip twitches into the faintest hint of a smile. “Deal.”
With our rental secured, the attendant hands us the keys, laughing as Wake takes them with surprising eagerness. He’s at the buggy in seconds, examining the vehicle as if it’s a strange new species, his warrior’s gaze flicking over the gears, the tires, the open metal framework. I can practically feel his excitement radiating off him.
I climb into the passenger seat, buckling up as Wake slides into the driver’s seat. For a moment, he studies the pedals and wheel, his brow furrowed, muttering to himself. He glances over, sees me watching him, and snaps, “I know how to drive.”
“Do you?” I ask, biting back a grin. “Because last I checked, ‘driving’ for you involved gills.”
He ignores me and turns the key in the ignition. The engine roars to life, and he grips the wheel with an intensity that would be almost comical if it weren’t so earnest. I settle back into my seat as he pulls us out of the lot, his jaw set and focused.
Once we’re on the open road, the landscape opens up around us, a stunning blend of lush jungle greenery and rocky, volcanic terrain. Wake handles the buggy like it’s an extension of himself, each turn taken with surprising skill, his eyes sharp and vigilant. His fingers tap against the wheel as he navigates, his lips pressed into a faintly determined line.
“I have to admit I’m impressed!” I yell over the wind. “Where and when did you have the time to learn how to drive?”
“I learned from Hiro,” he replies.
I blink once, then twice. “As in…”
Wake rolls his eyes, but keeps laser focus on the road. “He drove. I watched.”
I shake my head in amazement, and can’t help but feel a rush of affection for him as he drives. He’s like a kid with a new toy, his excitement palpable despite his efforts to stay stoic. The warm, Hawaiian air whips through my hair, and I find myself laughing, letting the tension from the last few days melt away, even if just for a moment.
After a while, I point to a small sign indicating a scenic overlook up ahead. “Pull over here for a second?”
He complies, bringing us to a stop at the edge of a cliff that overlooks a breathtaking view of the ocean. The water stretches out in a glistening expanse of deep blues and greens, the waves crashing rhythmically against the rocks below.
I turn to him, my heart pounding with an emotion I can’t quite name. “Thank you for encouraging me to do this,” I say quietly.
He looks back at me, his expression softer now. “We are a team,” he says, then glowers at me. “But I will not be referred to as your companion again.”
My eyebrows raise. “When did I call you…you mean when I was talking to the rental guy?”
Wake wraps an iron-hard arm around my waist and pulls me until our bodies are flush. “I am your mate.”
A pleased smile tugs at my lips. “I don’t think humans will know what that means.”
“Then that sounds like a problem for you to figure out,” he growls, then kisses me, hot and hard.
When we part, we stand there together in silence for a few moments, watching the waves, trying not to feel intimidated by the road ahead.
But here, with him, it doesn’t feel quite so daunting.
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