Chapter 1

My adoptive mother had gone missing in the woods.

My husband, a forest ranger, barely hesitated before rushing off in the wrong direction.

I realized he was heading the wrong way, so I stumbled frantically to the front of the group, trying to lead them back on track.

But he just shoved me aside.

"Who's the ranger here, you or me? Trust me, I know what I'm doing!" he snapped.

It wasn't until he came back from the other direction, carrying a woman on his back, and the woman he'd always adored threw herself into his arms, that I finally understood.

He'd gone the wrong way on purpose, just to save his dream girl's mom.

My adoptive mother was found a day later, not far from the right path, her leg crushed by a trap, and she'd bled out before anyone could reach her.

When I saw my adoptive mother lying cold and lifeless on the hospital bed, my eyes filled with tears. I completely lost it, yelling at my husband, demanding to know why he hadn't gone to save her.

But his dream girl couldn't stand seeing him take the heat, so she grabbed a knife from nearby and slashed my throat, cutting straight through my carotid artery.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment when Camren Poole intentionally headed down the wrong path to rescue someone.

"The tracks stop here! This is the way! Everyone, come with me!" he said.

Those familiar words echoed in my mind, snapping me back to reality.

As I blinked awake, I saw Camren gesturing for everyone to follow him, about to lead them down the wrong path.

Just like in my last life, Camren was dead set on searching for my adoptive mother in the wrong direction.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, desperate, "No, it's not this way! You're going the wrong way!"

I stumbled to the front of the group, frantically trying to redirect them, pleading with Camren to double-check, hoping he'd actually listen this time.

But Camren just shoved me aside, leaving me feeling helpless and humiliated.

"Who's the ranger here, you or me? No one knows these trails better than I do. Trust me, I never get it wrong out here!" Camren snapped.

"Mom's missing right now, so quit making things worse! If you mess up the critical rescue window, you can't shoulder that responsibility!" he shouted.

"Come on, I'm her kid too. You really think I wouldn't try to save her?" he added.

Of course he would! He was an expert at turning his back on her.

I put all my faith in his judgment, let him lead us down the wrong trail, and in the end, he did save someone, but it wasn't my mom.

No, he came back with Rayne Pruitt's mother slung over his shoulder, the woman he'd always put first.

And my adoptive mother? She was so close to the main path, her legs mangled by a steel trap, lying there all alone, desperately hoping someone would find her.

It wasn't until the next day that a villager stumbled upon her, but by then, she'd lost too much blood. She died before anyone could help.

Now that I'd got a second chance, there was no way I was letting my adoptive mom die again.

Instead of begging Camren for help, I turned and ran straight to the head ranger at the rescue site.

"The other trail at the fork. That's the last route my adoptive mom took before she vanished!" I shouted, desperate for someone to listen.

Camren saw me talking to the chief ranger and stormed over, yanking me back.

"Sorry, sir, my wife isn't familiar with this stuff," he said, his words polite but his tone condescending.

"I've already checked the other trail. There were tons of footprints. It's a safe route. There's no way anyone would get lost there," he insisted.

As he spoke, Camren dragged me off to the side, his grip firm and controlling.

"Quit causing trouble! Leave this to the pros and just stay here and wait," Camren snapped, his tone sharp and dismissive.

I didn't pay him any mind, yanking my arm free and stubbornly insisting on talking to the chief ranger.

Camren completely lost his cool and slapped me hard across the face. I was totally blindsided and hit the ground.

"Amari! Enough already! Quit it!" he yelled.

"How could anyone possibly get lost on a trail that people use all the time?" Camren shot back, disbelief in his voice.

My ears were still ringing from the slap, but I didn't care. I threw myself at the chief ranger's feet, crawling over in a panic.

"Please, save my mother!" I pleaded, my voice shaking with desperation.

Camren tried to drag me away again, but the chief ranger stepped in and stopped him.

"Hold on. Are you saying you just ruled out the other trail as a possible location for the missing person?" the chief ranger asked, his tone sharp.

Camren froze for a second, looking a little embarrassed.

Even if rangers knew these woods inside out, there was no way anyone could be absolutely sure where someone might go missing.

No matter what, whenever there was a fork in the trail, they always sent people to search both ways.

But Camren insisted everyone follow him down just one trail, totally ignoring the rules.

He scrambled to defend himself.

"No, that's not it. The other trail leads out to where hardly anyone goes. She'd be way less likely to get found there..." Camren protested.

The more he tried to explain, the more uncertain he seemed.

The chief ranger shot Camren a frosty glare, then ordered, "Split up and find her. Move fast!"

The chief ranger had specifically assigned Camren to search for my adoptive mother, but he ignored the order and broke away from the group, heading straight for the other side.

As I watched his impatient figure disappear, my disappointment in him had never been greater.

About ten minutes later, the chief ranger's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie.

"We found her! But her leg's been crushed by a trap. Is the ambulance here yet?" he called out, urgency in his voice.

"Not yet!" someone replied.