The Secret of Heart Mountain (Heart Mountain #3)

Prologue

Living next door to your childhood nemesis can have its perks. Not only are they easily accessible for your tormenting pleasure, but you also have the advantage of watching their every move, sometimes catching glimpses of those rare, vulnerable moments, giving you the perfect opportunity to strike.

The rivalry never fades; it only grows stronger with age.

Unfortunately, it can also have its drawbacks. Especially when that nemesis is infuriatingly beautiful, with an attitude that sets your blood on fire, and a smile that makes you forget why you’re supposed to hate her in the first place.

That’s Harlow Hayes, the raven-haired beauty who has been wreaking havoc on every one of my emotions since childhood.

It would seem tonight is no different, because as I step outside to take out the trash, I’m handed a front-row seat to another one of those vulnerable moments…the sound of angry voices spilling from the house next door.

“How could you do this to me?” Harlow cries, her voice sharp with fury. “Especially when I’m about to start my last year of high school.”

Well…this sounds juicy.

Smirking, I linger by the trash bin and take in the drama unfolding.

“I’m sorry, but this is best for the family.” Her father’s voice doesn’t sound the least bit remorseful.

“You mean it’s what’s best for Hattie,” Harlow retorts, bitterness lacing every word at the mention of her older sister.

He doesn’t deny the accusation. “That’s right. This is important for her future, and it’s a good opportunity for mine.”

“What about my future?” she fires back. “You have two daughters, remember?”

My smugness slips at the crack in her voice.

“Oh, for God’s sake, Harlow, stop being so dramatic,” her mother cuts in, entering the conversation. “Don’t you think you’re being just a little selfish right now?”

My expression hardens at the response, but I’m not surprised. Her parents have always come across as cold and aloof, especially toward my family. Then again, dumping frogs into the pond to scare their daughter probably didn’t help matters.

“I’m being selfish?” she all but chokes out. “Are you kidding me right now?”

Her outburst fades when my front door swings open to reveal my brother, Cash.

“Yo, what the hell’s taking so long?” he asks, reminding me about the video game battle I’m supposed to be having with my brothers.

I lift a finger to my lips, silencing him.

Confusion flickers across his expression just before another shout cuts through the night, Harlow’s voice even sharper this time.

“I don’t care what either of you say. I’m not going, and you can’t make me!”

A second later, she bursts from the house, bolting into the night.

“Get back here, young lady!” her father bellows, his voice trailing after her.

She doesn’t look back. Just disappears down the dark street, neither of them realizing the audience they have.

“Damn it.” He slams the door, the sound echoing off the surrounding mountains.

Cash’s gaze meets mine, a flicker of amusement there. “Looks like the Ice Queen’s in trouble.” He chuckles.

I bite my tongue, hating the nickname, even if it is how she’s always acted toward us.

I shouldn’t care. She sure as hell wouldn’t want me to, but for some reason, I do.

I always fucking do.

“Come on, let’s go,” he urges, nudging toward the door. “Time’s wasting.”

Every instinct tells me to follow him, to forget about her, but I can’t shake the image of her out there, alone and vulnerable.

We might have a complicated history. Hell, it’s downright turbulent, but that doesn’t mean I want anything bad to happen to her.

“Go ahead and start without me,” I say, already stepping off the curb. “I’ll jump in when I get back.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” he calls. “Linc, where the hell are you going?”

I feel bad ignoring him, but I keep my focus locked on the direction Harlow went, having a pretty good idea where she’s headed.

Heart Mountain.

Passion Falls’ most historic landmark, and the place where our rivalry has always burned brightest. Where I’ve ambushed her more times than I can count, hell-bent on getting revenge for whatever stunt she’s pulled on me.

It’s ironic, considering the legend tied to it. A ridiculous myth that claims if you share a kiss on the mountain’s ledge at midnight, under a full moon, you’ll be bound to your one true love forever.

Total bullshit.

At least when it comes to Harlow and me. If anything, it’s only ever added fuel to the fire.

I don’t remember how this feud between us even started, but I remember the rush I felt—the hit of adrenaline—and I’ve been chasing it ever since.

The mountain looms ahead, a dark silhouette against the wide, open night sky.

As suspected, I catch sight of Harlow, her shadowy figure slipping onto the trail.

I quicken my pace and eventually find her at the base of the mountain, curled in on herself beneath a cluster of towering spruce trees. Her knees are drawn tight, head buried in her arms, and shoulders shaking with quiet, broken sobs.

It’s a crushing sight. She’s always been all fire and bite, and seeing her like this makes everything between us feel small.

Insignificant.

I take a step forward, her pain drawing me in like a magnet.

A twig snaps under my foot, cutting through the ragged sounds of her heartbreak.

Her head jerks up on a gasp, eyes flaring with alarm.

I pull up short, hands lifting. “Just me.”

Surprise skates across her face, chasing away the fear before irritation takes over completely.

“God, of course it is,” she chokes out, a bitter laugh escaping her. “Go away, Linc. I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight.”

It’s pretty much the welcome I expected.

“Relax, I’m not here to cause you any grief.”

She scoffs, clearly not buying it—not that I blame her.

“Look, I heard your fight with your parents and just wanted to check on you. You shouldn’t be here alone, especially during peak season.”

Most of the time, the wildlife is harmless, as long as you don’t do anything stupid. But mating season is different. Even the unprovoked can turn dangerous.

She stares back at me, skepticism etched into every sad line of her face. “Since when do you care what happens to me?”

If only she knew how much I care, and how much I wish I didn’t. But I keep that truth buried.

“Despite what you think of me, I’m not enough of an asshole to let you get mauled by a bear.”

It must be the right thing to say, because her posture eases, if only slightly.

“Yeah, well…I’d rather live with the bears than my family right now,” she mutters, gaze dropping.

“Don’t hold your breath.” I smirk, leaning against the nearest tree. “From what I hear, they don’t care for mouthy girls. And let’s be honest…you’re no Goldilocks.”

That’s a major fucking understatement.

With dark hair, warm eyes, and sun-kissed skin, she’s nothing like the soft, innocent girl from that story.

She flicks me another look, this one all side-eye and sarcasm. “You’re so lame, you know that?”

I chuckle, not the least bit offended. It’s familiar territory, easing some of the awkward tension between us. Enough that I risk taking a seat next to her.

She doesn’t acknowledge the move, but she doesn’t push me away either, so I take it as a win.

“Wanna talk about it?” I ask, careful not to push too hard.

“With you?” She snorts. “Not on your life.”

Figured as much.

I shrug, settling back against the tree. “Fine. We can just sit here in silence and wait for the bears to invite you over for some porridge.”

I’m hoping for another smile, but it doesn’t come. Her gaze stays locked on the dark stretch of night in front of us, miles away from here.

A slight breeze kicks up, sending a shiver through her. That’s when I notice she’s only wearing a thin tank top and cut-off jean shorts.

Without thinking, I tug my hoodie over my head and hold it out to her. “Here. Put this on.”

Her gaze flicks to the black fabric, lingering on the small Passion Falls Fire crest stitched on the left side of the chest before sliding away. “I’m good.”

My jaw tightens at her stubbornness. “Take it, Harlow.”

Her eyes narrow at the order. “I said I’m fine, Linc.”

Our glares lock in a silent battle of wills, one I refuse to lose.

She realizes it and finally caves.

With a huff, she snatches the hoodie from my hand and yanks it on. The thick black fabric engulfs her small frame, the hood shadowing her face.

“Happy?” she snaps.

Not even close. Seeing her in my clothes stirs something in me, something I don’t dare name.

Of course, I don’t admit that. Instead, I flash her a grin and lie through my goddamn teeth. “Happy as a pig in shit.”

She turns away, muttering something under her breath. I don’t catch every word, but I’m pretty sure “stubborn” and “bastard” are in there somewhere.

Silence settles again, heavy and unrelenting, pressing in like a third presence.

I let it linger, figuring she’ll talk when she’s ready.

Minutes drag by before she finally does, and the bomb she drops is one I never see coming. “We’re moving.”

The words land like stone in my chest, snapping my gaze to hers.

“Moving?” I repeat, hoping I heard her wrong.

She nods, her expression shadowed with sadness.

“Where?” The question comes out raw, like it had to scrape its way up my throat.

“Vancouver.”

A whole other fucking province?

That tightness in my chest turns mean, crawling higher until it sits like a fist at my throat.

I don’t know why, this should be good news, but for some reason it isn’t. It leaves me feeling off-balance, like I just got the ground ripped out from under me. Like a chance I didn’t even know I had has been stolen from me.

“My sister got accepted into medical school,” she continues, her voice breaking through the spiral of my thoughts.

“And of course, my parents can’t let their most prized possession be so far away from them.

” Bitterness cuts through every word. “So, my dad put in for a transfer and got it. We leave in just a few days.”