by Vivian Arend
“Oops, looks like your wolf isn’t as asleep as you thought.”
Maggie dropped back into the chair opposite her sister. “No, she’s getting more and more vocal, especially when it comes to Erik.”
“That’s a good thing.”
The delight in her sister’s eyes bothered her. Get a mate, solve all your problems. Maybe it just wasn’t that easy. Maggie jerked to a standing position.
“So you say, but I’m not convinced. I only met him a few days ago. I need more time.” She scrubbed her hands over her face, rubbing her temples. Her body and mind ached. Plus she wanted Erik so badly she could scream, but she was attempting to ignore those sensations. “I’m tired. I’m hoping to catch up on my sleep tonight before I hop into nanny mode for you.”
Missy wrinkled her nose. “Heading to bed? Already? But we have plans.”
Oh hell, no. “I can’t do any big events yet. I only have to see you and Tad, right? At least for a while?”
Missy hemmed and hawed a few times. Something was up. “Dinner has been planned. The Alphas will be there. You can’t insult Keil and Robyn and not come.”
Shit. Her first night here, and already she felt like running into the woods and hiding. She gritted her teeth and spoke through tight lips. “Fine.”
“There’s the Alpha’s brother, TJ. And…well…”
“Erik’s going to be there, isn’t he?”
“He goes where the Alpha goes, especially formal events.”
The only sound was the water tinkling in the fountain. Maggie turned to stare in horror at her older sister. “Formal events? What are you talking about?”
Missy sighed. “I’m really sorry, Mags, I didn’t do it on purpose. There’s kind of this thing tonight. It’s a big deal around the wolf community and it only happens every five years. I didn’t realize the timing overlapped when you called to say you were arriving. I don’t know if you remember from when we lived in Whitehorse before moving to Whistler. The AWG?”
“The Arctic Wolf Games? Those are now?”
“Yeah. The selection banquet for the Granite Lack pack is tonight. That’s why there’s a crowd of cars at the pack house.” Panic must have shown on her face because Missy rushed to reassure her. “Honey, it’s going to be okay. I’ll sit with you, and Tad will, and we can leave as soon as they finish the announcements.”
A shiver of fear rolled over Maggie. There was going to be a gathering of wolves and she had to go.
Welcome to hell.
She kept her back against the wall for as long as possible. Hidden in the shadows, she watched the pack members stroll around the large hall, chatting and laughing.
It looked safe. For now.
“You okay?”
She bit back a little scream. “How did you sneak up on me like that?”
Erik stroked a finger down her arm, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ve been here for five minutes watching you. I thought you might like an escort back to the table. We’re going to do the selection soon, and it’ll get a little noisy in here.”
She swallowed hard. Somehow her fingers snuck their way into his. The warmth of his hand reassured her, calming her slightly. There were a hell of a lot more wolves in the building than she had ever wanted to see in her life again. Still, she couldn’t hide in the corner all night, no matter how much she wanted to.
“Okay.” She stood straighter and held her head high. She might be shaking inside, but there was no way she would let any of the pack know.
Erik squeezed her fingers as he led her past the Alpha and his mate. The two of them smiled at her before turning their attention back to the man seated beside them.
“They like you.” Erik pulled out her chair, next to Missy. He sat on her other side and draped his arm along the backrest.
The curls of hair on his arm tickled the back of her neck and her nipples tightened. Great. She was freaking out with fear and getting aroused.
His mouth was next to her ear. “I like you too. Very much.” He licked her earlobe.
A shockwave raced through her system. Shit. “Stop that.”
His soft voice tickled her. “I can smell your desire.”
She elbowed him, and he moved away slightly, chuckling.
Missy leaned over. “You okay? We can go now if you want. Seriously, we’ve put in our appearance, we can leave.”
Maggie shook her head violently. She just wanted to get to the end of the bloody evening so she could curl up in a ball and collapse, but she refused to appear weak.
At the head table an older man in a business suit rose, the badge on his suit jacket marked with the initials AWG. He cleared his throat and the room hushed.
“The Arctic Wolf Games will begin three days from now in Skagway, Alaska. The rest of the teams have already been selected, and are en route to the first challenge. The captain of the four-wolf team from Granite Lake will be selected first from a pool of ten hopefuls submitted by your Alpha. The other three will be filled by random selection. As always, the events involve both physical and mental abilities, so strength and speed are not the only abilities honoured.
“Every pack member over twenty is eligible. Your Alpha has already removed the names of those members who for one reason or another aren’t capable of taking part in the Games. Like your Omega, obviously.”
“Yeah, cause she’d kick their butts,” some wiseass in the back shouted, and the room rang with laughter.
Maggie wrapped her arms around herself to keep her limbs from shaking. It was too noisy, too many bodies and just too much. She glanced to her right, her fingers itching to re-grasp Erik’s hand.
He returned her gaze, reaching to clasp her fingers and anchor her spinning world.
The chairman dug into the bag and pulled out a paper, holding it aloft. With great pomp he opened it and leaned into the microphone. “The first competitor, and team captain for Granite Lake, is—Erik Costanov.”
Roars of delight filled the hall. Erik squeezed her fingers for a second before releasing them to stand and wave at the pack members who all cheered and clapped.
“Damn straight. Finally we’ll have a chance at winning this thing.”
Maggie looked at her sister in confusion.
“Granite Lake has never won. They’ve never even placed. The random-lottery method of selecting the team means most years there’s been a team or two with a ringer. It looks like this time it’s our turn. This is fantastic.”
Something went cold in Maggie’s soul. She might not be ready to take Erik as her mate, but selfishly she wanted him nearby. “Will he be gone for long?”
Missy shook her head. “The Games themselves take about ten days. You can always go along as a spectator.” She smiled and touched Maggie’s arm softly. “Are you thinking you’ll miss him? That’s a good sign.”
Maggie shuddered. “I’m not going to hang out with more than a hundred wolves for a week. Tonight is bad enough, and it’s only bearable because you’re here.”
“And Erik. Be honest.”
Damn it anyway. Sisters were a pain in the butt. “Fine. It’s easier when he’s next to me.”
Conversations filled the hall for a while as Erik chatted with the selection chairman. He smiled across the room at her like she was the only thing he cared about.
Maybe…this would work out. Eventually. She knew better now than to deny her wolf, and the urge to get together with Erik grew stronger by the minute.
If only she didn’t feel like vomiting from simply looking out over the sea of bodies in the hall.
The chairman repeated his routine, selecting another name from a larger bag this time. With a loud yell, a man somewhere in his late twenties threw himself into the air, clasping his hands over his head and shaking them in victory. He strolled forward, taking the time to stop and plant a kiss on a pretty girl near the front of the hall.
Missy leaned in again and whispered with a laugh. “Oh goodie, that’s Jared Gilliland. If there’s a challenge involvin
g getting into the girls’ pants, we’re now guaranteed a win.”
Rather than watching what happened with the selection, Maggie was more intent on keeping an eye on Erik. He shook his new team member’s hand then stood back, his gaze once again meeting hers. Calming her from across the room.
He was there for her. Could she believe that? She’d been taught all her life her wolf was an important part of her, not something she could deny. She’d challenged that teaching to her own detriment.
Maybe Missy’s lovingly delivered lectures over the past two years had been right. Maybe it was time to move on.
Lost in thought she barely heard the chairman call the next name.
“Margaret Raynor.”
Terror raised its head and choked her throat closed. “I can’t…”
Her voice was a ghost of a whisper. Confused questions rang throughout the room.
“Margaret who?”
“Is she really eligible?”
The Alpha stood and raised a hand. The chaos stilled as Keil looked out over the room. “She is eligible. Maggie officially joined the pack two years ago when her sister became Omega for Granite Lake. I have no troubles with her appointment to represent our pack.”
Keil’s gaze stayed steady on her. His smile did little to calm the butterflies doing backflips in her belly. She didn’t like attention from an Alpha, no matter what her sister said about the man.
The pack quieted at Keil’s words, and everyone resumed eating and chatting. She couldn’t do this. She’d ruin everything for the whole lot of them, and the Games were a big deal.
More than a few curious glances were thrown her way as she excused herself and made her way over to Erik. “I need to talk to you.”
The pleasure in his eyes at her request hurt. She didn’t want to be the one to ruin what should be a special day. She tugged him back into the corner of the hall. He knelt by her side so their heads were closer to level.
Oh shit, was she really going to tell him? She had to. She grabbed him by the collar and put her lips inches from his ear to make her confession.
“I can’t shift.”
He’d wrapped his arms around her without her even noticing. Now his hands tightened where they held her waist. “What?”
She fought to get it out before she lost her courage and simply ran from the confining and overwhelming setting of the hall. “Some of the challenges are done in wolf form, right? I can’t shift. I haven’t for over seven years.”
Erik stared for a moment before folding her closer, their bodies touching.
“Thank you for telling me.” He kissed her forehead gently. “Don’t worry about it.”
Maggie gaped at him. “But…did you hear me? I can’t shift. We’ll automatically lose any challenge requiring us all to be wolves. I don’t need a group of wolves pissed off at me. I need to decline, or whatever.”
He shook his head. “You can’t decline. If you step down, we compete with three. No substitutes are allowed. As for the rest, you need to trust me. Remember the mate thing? We’re a couple, and there’s no challenge we can’t face together.”
His totally honest and straightforward answer did something to the block of ice enclosing her heart. Maggie reached out and latched onto his collar again, dragging their lips together.
Instant need. Passion and desire rocked her body. Moreover, she felt safe. Loved. His fingers tangled in her hair as he angled her mouth to the side, his tongue stroking her lips, her teeth, the roof of her mouth. They wrapped around each other in the corner of the hall, and she was oblivious to anything but the raging fire sweeping over her.
A roar rose from the crowd. A mixture of laughter, jeers and moans.
Maggie jerked to attention and squirmed back. The sound, so overwhelming and loud, frightened her, and she clung to his forearms even as Erik released her. He cupped her cheek for a moment before leading her back to the head table, keeping her safely tucked under his arm. “What’s the fuss?”
The chairman sniffed. “Didn’t you hear the selection for the final member of your team?”
Erik glanced down at Maggie and grinned. “Nope. I was kind of distracted.”
A long-limbed young man sauntered forward. Maggie frowned. He looked barely old enough to take part in the Games, although the resemblance to the pack Alpha was uncanny. So this was the younger brother she’d been told about.
“TJ?”
The gangly male flashed them double thumbs-up. “Hey, big guy. Let’s win this thing!” He reached to give Erik a high five, and tripped over his own feet.
Chapter Five
The wind picked up as they left the natural harbor of Haines behind, cruising on the forty-five minute ferry ride to Skagway. Erik leaned on the railing and watched Maggie out of the corner of his eye. She sat by herself, away from where the rest of the group traveling to the Games lounged, laughing and goofing off.
He’d been busy the past two days. Not so busy he couldn’t have made time for her. Hell, all he wanted to do was spend time with her, but she’d asked for space to prepare herself for the contest. He’d given it to her.
Now he wondered if it had been the right choice. The sweet kisses she’d bestowed on him had revved his motor and made him long for her to join him full-time—in his bed and in his life. Now she stayed back. Separating herself from him and holding to her fear like a coat of armor.
Funny how quickly his perspective changed. Until last week the most important thing in his life had been his position as Beta to the pack, and his friendships with Keil and Tad. His job? It had always been an extension of being there for people. He’d long ago dealt with his demons and life had been floating along just fine.
Until Maggie.
For a small package she was a bundle of trouble. She ran hot and then cold, and both sides drove him nuts. Not only did the mate connection draw him to her, but he was used to protecting the weak.
When she looked around, like she did now, with fear filling her pretty blue eyes, he could barely hold himself back from grabbing her and attempting to erase all her sadness.
Then she’d flip and get all tough and powerful, and that side was mighty attractive too. Both of them were strong wolves, and the temptation to see how strong she could be teased him.
Sex between them was going to rock, if they could get past her freezing up every time he walked near.
The pack members wandered down the deck, leaving a clear path between Maggie and him. Pleasure filled him as she rose and made her way across the space, seeking him out. He opened his jacket to offer her protection from the wind. She wavered, her eyes dilating as she licked her lips.
His body hardened.
She stepped back a pace and shook her head. “Don’t do that. Not now. I’m barely managing to hold it together.”
He shrugged. “Just thought I could warm you a bit.”
She stuck her hands in her pockets and stared up at the sky. “We need to talk about this whole situation. How are we supposed to deal with the contests? I can’t shift, and I don’t really want to be around all these wolves.”
“It won’t be as bad when we start the competition. Usually they have staggered starts for events, depending on what they are. You’ll have only myself, Jared and TJ around.”
She lowered her head and he caught his breath. The blue orbs were filled with tears. “I don’t want to do this. Not any of it. I wish I could just go home.”
Screw being patient. Erik stepped forward and gathered her in his arms. He held her, rubbing her back and trying to get the tight knots in her shoulders to relax. Whatever burden she carried was driving him crazy.
“I know you don’t want me to say this, but sweetheart, you are home.”
Maggie pushed herself away until she could look into his eyes. “I’m scared.”
“I see that. But you’re also very strong. You’re also not alone. I’ll do what I can to help you. Unfortunately, whatever it is you fear, we’ll have to deal with eventually. The issue
of your wolf, I’ll worry about. Trust me.”
“Trust you? Right.” She paced away, her arms folded over her chest. She glared at him. “This mate thing really sucks, you know? Because as much as I want to just go hide, I can’t help but want to be with you and it’s part of what scares me.”
Erik frowned. “Why would being with me scare you?”
Maggie hesitated.
Ah shit. “Is it because I’m so big?”
She dropped her gaze.
Great. Another instance of being judged at first glance. He hadn’t expected it from his mate and it hurt more than he thought it would. He turned away to face the water. The demons were buried deep, but obviously not as completely gone as he’d imagined. Her opinion mattered a great deal.
A soft touch on his sleeve caught his attention. He looked down into her gentle face. “It’s not your size. To tell the truth, I’m kinda…attracted to how big you are.” She blushed and he coughed lightly. Oh yeah. She rushed on. “What I’m scared about is you going all wolfie on me and being overprotective. I don’t need it. I can take care of myself.”
He shrugged. “I won’t go all he-man on you.”
“Oh yeah? You can control the wolf so well you won’t hurt anyone who touches me?” She walked away from him, leaning her back on the sidewall of the passenger compartment.
This conversation grew more confusing by the second. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw it. In the Whistler pack, there was an incident. Tell me it wouldn’t infuriate you if I…hugged someone. Or kissed them.”
Holy shit. Missy had told them a few stories about her time in her old pack, but there were obviously more issues than he’d been aware of.
He crossed to her side and knelt to take her hands in his, warming them between his palms. “I wouldn’t like it, but I can behave responsibly. I don’t think my reaction would be any wilder than a typical human man. I do have control. I’ve worked hard at it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really. Being the biggest guy around means there’s always someone who wants to prove how tough they are by taking me on. I don’t agree with violence as a first resort.”
