“Riley,” she said as I stared intently outside “Riley, can you hear me?”
I could almost picture the water now. The soft sounds of it as it sloshed and the noise it would make as I splashed in it. I closed my eyes, imagining it, my mouth parting in ecstasy.
“Riley,” Sandra said, a little shriller now.
My head turned instinctively and I began to walk, towards the back door of the pack house as Sandra stared incredulously. I couldn’t really hear her. It was like her voice was coming from far away.
Water, water, water. The words continually echoed in my mind as I made my way outside. “Riley” shouted Sandra.
I failed to hear her. I could feel the softness of the grass as I walked, my body beginning to make my way towards the lake, almost by instinct. I had never been there before, but it was like my body knew where to go. I felt like I was moving incredibly fast, my hair billowing behind me. The lake was beckoning me. It called to me. I heard music in my head and it made the sweetest sounds that caused tears to come to my eyes.
The lake was up ahead now. I could see the water shimmering beneath the moonlight. I had never seen anything so beautiful. So mesmerizing. I kicked my shoes and socks off, still staring at it. My hands undid the buttons on my shirt, slowly pulling it down over my shoulders and dropping it to the floor. I undid the button, slid the zipper down off my pants, and stepped out of them, leaving myself clad in nothing but my panties and bra. The water was calm but so clear and so clean. I touched a toe to the water and felt the coldness as it chilled me.I held my hands above my head, breathing in the freshness of the air, my heart beating fast and rapidly. My eyes were fixated on the center of the lake. Without hesitation I dived, my body propelling itself forward. The water surrounded me as I dove deep, into its midst, my eyes wide open as I took in the beauty beneath it, before I surged back to the surface, my lungs burning for air. Home. I was home. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I trod the water and then dove back down, my hair flowing behind me, like a curtain, spreading out on the lake behind me as I continued to sink deeper than I ever had before, my lungs burning, and yet, I was not afraid, nor inclined to surface. The water was familiar to me. The only thing that reminded me of a simpler and happier time. The water soothed me. It reminded me of who I was. I was not about to relinquish its hold on me now. I surged to the surface once more and lay on my back, floating, my eyes glancing up at the sky, a look of contentment on my face.
Alpha Jaxon POV
I’m about to leave the dining room when Sandra comes out, her face an expression of dismay. The other pack members have already eaten and left, whereas I have delayed, Callum and Cody relaxing at the table with me.”Something the matter Sandra?” I drawled.
She looked upset. “Alpha Jaxon, I don’t know how to put this” she began, eyeing me nervously.”Spit it out,” I said impatiently.
“It’s the new girl, Riley. She um, she asked me if we had a lake, and when I told her where it was she went off looking for it. It was like she couldn’t hear me calling her back.”
The lake? I glanced at Callum and Cody who looked just as confused as I was. It was a cold night and she must be freezing. “She just took off?” I asked, wanting to confirm.
Maybe Sandra had it wrong.
But Sandra was nodding. “Yes, Alpha Jaxon. I tried to call her back” her voice broke “but she didn’t even look back. It was strange, her behavior.”
Damnit. Riley was proving to be a right pain in the ass. I gave a long groan and stood up. “I’ll go and fetch her,” I said and looked at Callum and Cody “you guys might as well come. I might need help bringing her back in.”
Both of them nodded reluctantly. We headed out onto the grounds and headed north towards the lake. I knew the way but it had been a long time since I had gone there. I didn’t have much interest in the lake. Nobody really did. Wolves didn’t like water all that much.
I could hear splashing up ahead. She knew how to swim, which answered one of my questions. I was about to yell out when something made me pause. Cody and Callum remained still behind me. Our eyes widened. It was like I was watching something out of this world. She was otherworldly. There was no other way to describe it as she swam and dove into the lake.
Her complexion was almost shimmering under the moonlight. Her hair was a beautiful blue vibrant curtain that billowed behind her on the water. She was as graceful as a dancer as she moved easily, every movement designed to capture your attention. I swallowed hard and mind-linked my men behind me.
Go back to the pack house, I have this.
They knew better than to ask questions. I heard the soft sounds of their footsteps as they turned and walked away slowly. I kept my eyes forward, unable to move, unable to make a sound. She was so beautiful. It was impossible to take my eyes off of her. She was like a fish in the water, so comfortable and so at ease like she would live there if she could. I had never seen anything like it. She had a smile on her face that lit up her entire face. It was like she was at home in the water and now she was back where she belonged. Even her hair seemed like it had turned even brighter from being there, although that had to be my imagination.
I was being fanciful. She turned and dove again and I saw a birthmark on her shoulder, one that reminded me of a seashell. Small and brown, it was hard to see, let alone distinguish, hidden beneath her hair. I stepped closer, careful not to make a sound, not wanting to break the spell she was weaving right in front of me. I didn’t want her to stop swimming and stop the dance she was performing.
How was she not tired? She wasn’t slowing down. Any other person would have been exhausted by now. My chest tightened. I wasn’t supposed to be feeling things for her. I wasn’t supposed to be staring at her in fascination and wondering how it would feel to run my fingers through her hair. I wasn’t supposed to be raking my gaze over her body and taking note of the lace panties and bra she was wearing as she frolicked in the water. What did she remind me of? Something tugged at the corner of my mind but just as quickly it was gone before I could grasp it.
The urge to claim her was overwhelming. To rip her from the water and mark her as she struggled was right there, as I fought back my wolf who was desperate to make her ours before the party and before we made a decision that would wreck both our lives. I was tempted to let him win. To just throw caution to the wind. What harm could it do? Then reality set in and doused me with cold water.
Watch our mate as she dances and plays in the water. Watch her and see how easily she moves. This is what makes her special, if only you would pay attention he growled.
She is still wolfless and therefore a liability to me. What good is her ability to do this I said with disgust when it does me and my pack no good. Granted she looks beautiful, but looks are not everything as well you know.
You are a fool Jaxon. The truth is right in front of your eyes. Just because she doesn’t have a wolf, doesn’t mean she’s weak or not unique. There are many other abilities a person can possess, all of them just as valuable if you would only look properly.
The pack needs a strong Luna. You know that. Why do you insist on protesting and fighting so loudly? Our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our pack. It has always been that way. Why then, are you fighting me on my decision?
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