Erik caught sight of the women as they strolled down the boardwalk, one of them swaying from side to side. He laughed quietly. He’d have a set of slightly tipsy females to keep an eye on while they soaked.
The youth from his pack traveling with him played off to the left in the cold pool section of the natural hot springs. Splashing and hooting and the sounds of carrying-on filled the air.
Wolves—they were such children.
He waded through the water toward the deck. The woman on the right looked familiar. Petite, blonde, youthful features. If she’d been hugely pregnant he would have sworn it was Missy, the Omega for his pack, although she wasn’t the kind to get falling-down drunk. It appeared he was about to meet his reason for driving south sooner than expected. It had to be Maggie weaving toward him.
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7
Vivian Arend
He watched with growing concern as the women’s forward motion slowed. It wasn’t just a tipsy ramble anymore, something seemed wrong. Erik grabbed the edge of the railing, wondering if he should offer assistance.
“Oh shit, help, someone. Damn it. Help.” The brunette waved her arms, the frantic motions drawing his attention to the other woman as she wavered on unsteady limbs. He leapt out of the water, droplets spraying from his body to soak the worn boards underfoot. Long strides carried him down the boardwalk just in time to be able to catch the blonde before she collapsed.
His world shifted three feet to the left.
Shocks—like small electrical connections—registered where their bodies touched. Trickles shot through his limbs and up his spine. Tingling. Snapping. Oh hello, it felt completely and wonderfully right.
“Thanks—she’s been getting dizzy and I didn’t want her to collapse and hurt herself.” The dark-haired woman kept rambling, but the entire focus of Erik’s attention centered on the beautiful female he held in his arms. He turned and walked back to the water, taking the steps while still cradling her close.
“What the hell are you doing? She’s passed out. She needs to recover and—” The friend followed him down into the pool, tugging at his elbow.
“—stay warm. Don’t worry, I’ve got her.” Erik had no intention of letting her go. Ever. But that probably wasn’t what this other woman wanted to hear. He settled on one of the submerged benches scattered through the natural pool and rearranged his mate in his arms, her head resting on his chest. The sensation of her cheek on his bare skin made his whole body react.
His mate.
Incredible. After all these years of waiting and longing, she dropped into his arms out of the blue. For now, knowing she actually existed was enough to make him want to shout in delight. Except, he didn’t do shouting.
A rather piercing voice broke through his intense concentration and he remembered the friend, now glaring at him with suspicion. He held out his free hand. “Erik Costanov, from Alaska.”
The brunette ignored his hand. “Pam. I think you should let me take care of my friend now.”
“I’ve got her.”
“I noticed. I’d prefer it if you weren’t holding her. Just take her over to the stairs and I’ll help—”
“Relax. I won’t hurt her.” I’m going to care for her for the rest of my life. The thought sent shots of pleasure through his system. Finally. His mate.
“Really, I’m not comfortable—”
“She’s comfortable.” It was true. The small armful of blonde snuggled in tighter and Erik’s heart swelled. Hmm. This was going to be wonderful. Except for the fainting bit. They’d have to figure out what was causing it and—8
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Wolf Games
A splash of water struck him in the face. “Hey, buddy. Thanks for stopping Maggie from hitting the deck, but I’ll take over now. Got it?” Pam tugged on his arm, causing small waves to splash everywhere.
Erik took a deep breath. Maggie. He’d been right. He laughed at the irony. All this time waiting and his mate was the sister of his Omega. Why hadn’t he known?
“Look, mister, I don’t know what the hell you think is so funny—”
A soft groan rose from Maggie. “Pam, can you stop the shouting for a sec? You’re killing me here.”
Oh hell, even her voice made his body sing. She squirmed and he carefully cradled her against him, keeping her head above water.
Pam leaned over and looked her in the eye. “Maggie? Can you hear me?”
“Are you kidding? They heard you in Vancouver. Stop screaming, my head hurts enough already. If 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.