“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—
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.
“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 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.
Chapter 2
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.”
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.”