you want to be helpful, I’m thirsty.”
“There’s a bottle of water in my backpack. Pass her to me and go get it,” Pam demanded, giving him
the evil eye.
Bossy chick.
Erik smiled. It was good to know his mate had a friend who wanted to protect her,
although he would provide all the protection needed from here on out. Conveniently, the teens traveling
with him had gathered close, curious to see what was happening.
“Cody, grab some water for our friends,” he ordered. The boy nodded and raced for their cooler on the
deck.
Maggie wiggled again and Erik savoured the weight of her on his lap. The brush of her skin against
his increased his pleasure. The sweet smell of her natural perfume filled him with the dire need to taste her
skin.
Cody handed over a bottle of water and she guzzled most of it down.
Pam watched him like an overeager chaperone, her gaze dancing around the pool area. She seemed
concerned there were now four strange males crowding her and Maggie, and Erik motioned for the boys to
step away.
“Did I pass out?” Maggie spoke soft and slow, her words barely audible.
“You weren’t out cold, but neither were you were coherent. Do you need your pills?” Pam asked.
Maggie leaned back on his chest, her head turned slightly so the warmth of her breath brushed him.
“No pills. This is heavenly. I haven’t been this relaxed for months.”
Erik smiled. She knew him too. Her body already sensed they were meant to be together.
The friend glared harder, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as if Erik were somehow making Maggie
respond like a puppet. “Umm, Mags? If you’re feeling up to it, you want to come sit over here with me?”
“Nope. Comfy here.” Her words slurred.
He peered over the top of her head to see her eyes were closed. Long dark lashes rested on milky
white skin. He admired the contrast against his darker colouring where her arm rested on his biceps. She
9
Vivian Arend
draped herself over him without shame, accidentally grinding her hips against his groin and his cock woke.
Oh yeah.
Getting to the intimate part of their relationship would be fine as well.
She moved lazily, lifting her arms to stretch. Her fingers missed brushing his cheek by inches and he
refrained from leaning closer to let her stroke him. Her wonderful scent lingered in the air and he inhaled
deeply in appreciation.
Hmm
. All those days of watching his Alpha pair care for each other brought his
anticipation for this moment to a fine peak. So this is what it felt like to find the missing part of your soul.
Maggie smacked her lips. “Is there a snack bar here?”
“Are you hungry?” Pam hovered closer.
“No. Just trying to figure out what that fabulous smell is. Why were you shouting?”
Pam pointed over Maggie’s shoulder and sniffed. “He is being stubborn and I really wish you’d stop
sitting on him.”
The steady beat of his mate’s heart sped up. She reached under the water and her fingers slipped over
the bare skin of his thigh, sending another thrill along his nerves. Oh hell yeah, the connection rocked
between them.
“Pam? Where am I?” Maggie twisted in slow motion to stare up at him, the deep blue of her eyes
flashing with recognition for an instant before she opened her mouth.
And screamed.
10
Maggie scrambled off his lap so fast she slipped, her feet skidding on the soft rocks at the bottom of
the outdoor pool. The towering mass of man in front of her caught her easily before her head went under.
“Take it easy, Maggie. You’re safe.” He settled her on her feet and stepped back. The bright smile in
his eyes and on his face made something inside her twist and leap for joy at the same time. Her wolf fought
to be free and her stomach clenched in reaction.
He was a werewolf. She recognized him from pictures Missy had sent online over the past couple of
years. He was the damn Beta for her sister’s pack and he was here in Liard Hot Springs pool and her wolf
lusted for him.
Great
.
Let’s just jump in with two feet, shall we?
After avoiding everything to do with
wolves for years, the first one she met had to turn her crank. Movement to his side caught her attention as a
group of young men approached.
“Erik? Is that Maggie?”
“Of course she is. She looks like her sister. Hi, Maggie, welcome to the North.”
The three youths continued to advance, all talking at once. Maggie backed up rapidly, slamming into
Pam’s side. Oh God, there were four wolves in front of her. Panic rose and she pushed it down. She had to
get over her fears.
“Do you know these people?” Pam wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
Erik nodded. “We’re friends of her sister. We were supposed to meet you in Whitehorse.”
Pam looked around pointedly.
One of the boys spoke up. “We begged Erik to bring us to the hot springs. It’s been a while and with
the Games starting soon and us not being able to participate yet he—”
“Games?”
Erik broke in, his gaze locked on Maggie. She kept eye contact only through sheer will power. “We
were supposed to meet tomorrow. It’s just a lucky break we’re here at the same time. Are you okay now,
Maggie? Do you need me for anything?” The heat in his eyes let her know his offer was wide open to
interpretation.
Strip and let me ride you
. Maggie felt her skin flush, and it wasn’t from the heat of the water around
them. Was this really happening to her? She shook her head and finally noticed she still wore her shorts and
T-shirt over her swimsuit. “Let me get changed and then we can talk.”
Vivian Arend
Pam held her elbow and together the two of them slogged their way out of the pool to the change
house, a trail of water following them. Maggie snickered as she glanced at her friend.
“Sorry for making you take a swim with all your clothes on.”
Pam waved a hand. “Forget it. You feeling better?”
“Yeah. I think I’ll be okay now.”
“Good.” Pam pulled off her shirt and wrung it out. She peeked out the door of the change shelter and
snuck back to whisper. “Are these guys safe? Do you really know them?”
Maggie sat on the bench to wrestle her wet runners off her feet. “I know
of
them. I’ve never met them
but my sister did say someone would come escort me from Whitehorse to Haines. She didn’t want me
driving by myself after I drop you off at the airport.”
“She couldn’t come? At least so you’d know they were who they say they are?”
Maggie snorted. “From the sounds of it, Missy doesn’t fit in a car very well right now. The soon-to-arrive twins are making her life difficult and I certainly don’t expect a pregnant woman to sit for a four-hour trip just to make me feel better. Don’t worry, I recognize Erik. He works with my brother-in-law’s
family. He’s a wilderness guide.”
“He’s a tank.”
A burst of laughter escaped her. “He is rather large, isn’t he? Rather…yummy, too.”
Pam raised her eyebrows. “Really? Crap, Mags, I haven’t seen you express interest in anything male
for…” She stopped and frowned. “Have I ever seen you express interest in a guy?”
Maggie hit her. “Stop it.”
“If he’s someone you trust, fine. I just think it’s weird that of all places to meet, it’s out here in the
wilderness. I thought the North was this vast wild land, with wild creatures running free everywhere. Not a
social club.”
They stepped out of the change shelter and Maggie took a deep breath as the three young men did
cannonballs into the lower pool, chasing each other like puppies. “Oh, I think there’s plenty of wild animals
around, if you know where to look.”
Erik watched contently as the youths finally lured Pam to another section of the pool to play a game,
leaving him alone with Maggie for the first time. She sat on the narrow edge of grass at the side of the pool,
dangling her feet in the water. The thick underbrush of the wilderness behind her framed her sweet body.
She clutched the mossy surface with her fingers, head averted, but he knew she was looking him over.
He stood from where he’d sat, neck deep in the hottest part of the pool. Slow, even steps brought him
closer until he leaned his elbows on the grass at her side. He breathed in deeply and noticed she did the
same, a fluttering pulse leaping to life at the junction of her neck and shoulder. Turning his head he
admired her openly, unable to tear his gaze away. She wore a bikini of brilliant blue that matched her eyes,
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Wolf Games
like a little bit of the summer sky had fallen to earth. Her curves and dips and rounded places all called to
him and he swallowed hard.
Her head lifted and their gazes met. A trace of fear shone in the depths and his wolf poked him in the
nuts, insistent he take care of her.
“Do I frighten you?”
She licked her lips, leaving them wet and soft. He wanted to lean over to taste her so badly.
“I’m very drawn to you, and that scares me.”
The air around them filled with the faint noises of the spring and the laughter of the others in the
distance. The sunlight shone full on them and she turned her face to its warmth. He waited patiently.
Patience was something he had more than enough of. It took a few minutes before she sat straighter,
squaring her shoulders. The boldness with which she turned to face him made him proud. His mate was no
wimp. He’d expect her to be as strong as him.
“I don’t know how much my sister told you. I’ve been avoiding wolves for a long time. I know I need
to change my reaction, but it’s become a habit to stay away from any involvement with pack. I have to fight
my first instinct. It’s going to take time to retrain myself not to panic when I see a werewolf. I’m sorry I
screamed when I saw you. You didn’t deserve that.”
She was not only strong, she was empathetic and caring. Erik let the pleasure of her presence roll over
him. “Trust me, you’re not the first person to scream at the sight of me. I’m a little larger than most people.
That can be intimidating. I don’t take it personally.”
Maggie smiled. “Good for you.”
They stared at each other.
“Would you be comfortable if I touched you?” she whispered, looking him straight in the eyes.
Comfortable
? He was dying for her touch. “I’d love it.”
She lowered her gaze again. “I haven’t been around many wolves recently. I’m frightened by what
I’m feeling. I think I know what this is, but I’m scared…”
Oh mercy.
“I’ll take care of you.”
He took a step to the side, still standing waist deep in the water. With one hand on the grass on either
side of her hips he caged her between his arms. They both glanced toward the others to make sure they
weren’t being watched. Then like conspirators, they leaned together and their lips connected.
Sweet summertime air. The feel of the wind through his fur on a moonlight run. All the most
treasured moments of his life faded in comparison as he tasted her. This, this was the moment he’d waited
for all his life. She met him with her mouth slightly open, her breath mingling with his before their tongues
even touched. He forced himself to keep his hands in place but she had no such compunction. As they
kissed, slow and easy, learning each other’s flavour, she caressed his shoulders, rubbing her palms over his
13
Vivian Arend
brush cut. Smoothing her long fingers down his chest. His skin shivered in anticipation of where she would
touch next. Light, fleeting touches that brought his blood to a boil.
He concentrated on enjoying her scent, drawing it into his very being. Nibbles on her bottom lip, light
kisses across her cheek. He licked softly at the pounding pulse at her throat. His gums itched with the desire
to bite, to mark her permanently as his. But not yet. Not now that she’d confessed her fears. Still, his wolf
demanded he take some action. The beast within grew as wild as he’d ever felt it, driving Erik to claim his
mate. Instead of biting he suckled, drawing the soft skin of her neck into his mouth until he’d brought the
blood to stain the creamy surface. The moan of desire escaping her lips nearly made him change his mind
and take her right there on the embankment.
Oh hell, he wanted her. All his. Now.
It took concentration to pull away, to watch her panting breaths slowly calm, his body aching for
more. His gaze fell on the rosy circle marring her throat and his wolf grumbled with delight.
His
mate
. He
paused.
“Your friend is full human, isn’t she?”
Maggie ran her hands over his shoulders again and again, her fingers clinging to him. She peeked at
where Pam still played with the boys. “There’s no way I can explain to her why I’d let a total stranger give
me a hickey. She’s going to think I’ve gone insane.” She snorted. “Maybe I have. Oh Lord, I never
expected this to happen.”
Erik lifted her off the edge and lowered her into the water. He longed to pull her back onto his lap,
and touch her more and more intimately. If this had been any normal situation, they would already be
making love. It was the way with mates. Sometimes it took a lifetime to find the one special person who
would complete you on every level—physical, mental and emotional. Once you found each other there was