Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
#AlaskaLife #GhostHunting #AuroraWatch #WildernessLife
“ J ust a little further,” Wyatt called over his shoulder as Sophie followed him up the narrow trail. After their bear encounter that morning and a largely unsuccessful investigation at the mining site, she’d been ready to call it a day. But over dinner, Wyatt had somehow talked her into this hike—something about the perfect view, a hidden spot only locals knew about, and maybe, just maybe, a hint of a challenge in his smirk. And despite her exhaustion, something in his voice—an unusual note of enthusiasm—had convinced her to give in and follow him for one more expedition.
“You said that ten minutes ago,” she pointed out, carefully stepping over a fallen log. “And ten minutes before that.”
“Worth it though.” He reached back to offer his hand over a particularly steep section. “Trust me.”
She took his hand, trying to ignore the way her pulse jumped at the contact. His palm was warm and callused, steady as he helped her up. “Is this payback for something?”
“If I wanted payback, I’d just let you try to read your own maps.”
She huffed out a laugh.
They emerged onto a small clearing, and Sophie’s breath caught. The valley stretched out below them, Kirkham Lodge a warm beacon of light in the growing darkness. But it was the sky that made her stop in her tracks.
Stars. More stars than she’d ever seen, scattered across the vast darkness like diamond dust. The Milky Way stretched overhead in a brilliant band, and the mountains formed perfect black silhouettes against the cosmic display.
“Oh,” she breathed.
Wyatt’s quiet chuckle held a note of satisfaction. “Thought you might like this spot. I’ve been checking the aurora forecast—conditions look good for later tonight.”
“Like doesn’t begin to cover it.” She turned in a slow circle, trying to take it all in. “This is...I’ve never seen anything like this.”
He spread out a blanket he’d carried up in his backpack, settling down to look up at the sky. After a moment’s hesitation, Sophie joined him, setting her equipment carefully beside her. Her EMF meter remained quiet—no unusual readings yet. But the night was still young.
“Thane and I used to come up here with our dad. He taught us all the constellations, showed us how to navigate by them if we ever got lost.”
Sophie turned to study his profile, surprised by this voluntary sharing of personal information. “Did you ever need to? Get lost, I mean?”
“Once.” His mouth quirked up at the corner. “I was sixteen, thought I knew everything. Ended up spending a very cold night remembering everything Dad taught me about the stars.”
“Bet that was fun explaining to your family.”
“Dad just looked at me and said, ‘Learn anything?’ Then made me teach Kelsey everything I’d figured out that night.”
Sophie smiled, imagining a teenage Wyatt trying to act cool while secretly terrified. “Sounds like a smart man.”
“He is.”
“Is that why you became a ranger?”
“Partly. But mostly...” He gestured at the view before them. “How could I do anything else? This is home. These mountains, these stars. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
The conviction in his voice stirred something in Sophie’s chest. She understood passion—had built her whole career around chasing stories and connecting with her followers. But this was different. This was belonging.
“Must be nice,” she said softly. “Being so certain about where you belong.”
Wyatt turned to look at her, his expression thoughtful in the starlight. “You don’t have that? With your ghost hunting?”
“I love what I do. Love sharing stories, investigating the unexplained. But sometimes...” She trailed off, surprised by her own honesty. “Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to find that one place that calls to you. Not just passing through, collecting stories.”
The silence stretched between them, comfortable rather than awkward. Her EMF meter let out a soft beep—just a tiny spike—but for once, she didn’t reach for it.
“Cold?” Wyatt asked, noticing her slight shiver.
“A little.” She hadn’t wanted to admit it, worried he’d suggest heading back.
Instead, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a thermos. “Here.” He poured something steaming into the cap and handed it to her. “Nukak’s hot chocolate. He made a fresh batch before dinner.”
Sophie took a sip and warmth spread through her chest. “This is incredible.”
A wolf howled in the distance, and Sophie instinctively moved closer to Wyatt. After their bear encounter that morning, the reminder of Alaska’s wildlife felt more real than ever. “Please tell me wolves don’t like to investigate EMF readings.”
“Nah.” His shoulder was warm against hers. “They prefer ghost stories.”
She laughed softly, surprised by his attempt at humor. “Was that an actual joke, Wyatt Boone? Should I check for paranormal possession?”
“Maybe I’m just waiting for the right proof.”
Something in his tone made her pulse quicken. She looked up to find him watching her, his expression unreadable in the starlight. For a moment, she thought he might say something more, might lean closer...
Her EMF meter beeped again, more insistently this time. The first hints of green began to dance at the edges of the sky.
Sophie caught her breath. “Wyatt, look...”
The aurora was beginning, and for once, she didn’t reach for her camera. Some moments were meant to be experienced, not documented.
Some moments were meant to be felt.