Aly sprints through a midsummer forest, being hunted by Josh as part of a consensual hunter-prey roleplay. They've made a wager: if Josh catches her within twenty minutes, she must appear in one of his thirst traps. Aly relies on her sprinting background and a head start, while Josh draws on tracking skills learned from his stepfather Rob. The rules forbid cheating, dirty play, and only penetration counts as a catch.

Aly navigates ravines, streams, and game trails, eventually reaching a high pine forest where she slows to use stealth. Josh sneaks up on her silently and intentionally snaps a stick to give her a sporting chance. The chase resumes, with Josh tackling her, kissing her against a tree, and ultimately wrestling her into a cold stream. After a muddy struggle, Josh pins her at the stream's edge and thrusts inside her just as their alarms go off, signaling his win with seconds to spare.

They have rough, primal sex by the brook, exchanging declarations of love. In the post-orgasmic haze, Aly impulsively says "Marry me." After a brief panic, she turns to find Josh kneeling with a ruby ring, proposing. She accepts joyfully.

Walking back, Aly reflects on her freedom: Brad sightings ended near Quebec, and the Bluhms are now reviled by the public, presumed to have helped their son flee. She's no longer ruled by fear of being caught for what they did. Back at their Airbnb, they discover their two kittens, Fred and Maud, have destroyed the cabin with toilet paper and pulled down curtain rods. Josh jokes about wanting many children, eventually negotiating Aly toward agreeing to have his babies. The chapter ends in chaotic, joyful domesticity.