Chapter 10
TEN
NAVIRA
They hadn’t spoken as much recently, not since she’d started shutting the world out after her injury. It had been easier to retreat into herself than to be vulnerable, easier to pretend she was fine than to admit how lost she’d felt without the structure and intensity of competitive swimming.
But something about Nova Aurora was stripping away those carefully constructed defenses, making her feel raw and exposed in ways she hadn’t experienced in years. This place seemed to demand authenticity, to pull truth from hidden corners of her soul whether she wanted to reveal it or not.
She rose from the desk and moved to the massive windows, pressing her palm against the cool glass as she stared out at the pink ocean that stretched to the horizon. Even from here, she could feel its call—a deep, primal pull that made her want to dive in and lose herself in its depths.
What do you want, Navira? she asked herself, watching the alien waves crash against the pale yellow sand.
The answer came without hesitation.
That ocean. And maybe, just maybe, the man who brought me here.
The realization should have terrified her. Instead, it felt like the first honest thing she’d acknowledged in years.
An hour later, Navira stood before the ornate mirror in her guest suite, smoothing her hands over the flowing fabric of a yellow sundress she’d impulsively pulled from her suitcase.
The soft material hugged her curves in all the right places before flaring out around her thighs, and the warm golden color made her blue eyes pop with startling intensity.
What are you doing? she asked her reflection. You literally told him no romance an hour ago.
But even as her rational mind protested, she couldn’t deny the flutter of anticipation in her chest. Something about this place—or maybe something about him—made Navira want to shed the practical armor she’d worn for the past five years. Made her want to feel beautiful and feminine and alive again.
It’s just lunch, she told herself, applying a touch of lip gloss that made her mouth look soft and inviting. You’re being a good guest. That’s all.
The lie felt hollow, especially when she caught herself checking her reflection one more time before heading for the door.
The corridors of Thalric’s estate felt different now that she wasn’t being led through them like a confused tourist. She found herself noticing details she’d missed before—the way the afternoon light streaming through the windows caught the subtle patterns in the marble floors, the artistry of the tapestries that seemed to tell stories in threads of silver and blue.
Everything about this place spoke of wealth and power, but also of careful attention to beauty.
Following the main staircase down to the ground floor, she located the dining room without difficulty. The oak doors stood slightly ajar, and she could see warm light spilling through the gap. Taking a steadying breath, she pushed them open and stepped inside.
The dining room was as magnificent as the rest of the estate—soaring ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and a long table that could easily seat twenty people. But her attention immediately zeroed in on the man waiting at the head of that table.
Thalric rose the moment she entered, and the simple courtesy of the gesture sent warmth spiraling through her chest. He’d changed from his earlier formal attire into dark slacks and a blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. The casual look should have made him seem more approachable, but instead it only emphasized the raw power contained in his lean frame.
As she moved closer, she watched his eyes darken with unmistakable desire. The hunger in his gaze was so intense it made her breath catch, and she felt an answering heat bloom low in her belly despite her best efforts to remain unaffected.
Stop looking at me like that, she thought desperately, even as part of her preened under his obvious appreciation. You’re making this so much harder.
When she reached the table, he moved with fluid grace to pull out the chair to his right, his fingers brushing against the back of her arms as she settled into the seat.
The brief contact sent electricity racing along her nerve endings, and she had to bite back a soft gasp at the intensity of her reaction.
“Thank you,” she managed, her voice coming out slightly breathless.
“My pleasure,” he replied, his deep voice carrying undertones that made the simple words sound like a promise.
He pushed her chair in with gentle care, his hands lingering for just a moment longer than necessary before he returned to his own seat.
Get it together, she commanded herself, smoothing the yellow fabric of her dress. You’re a grown woman who can handle having lunch with an attractive man without losing her mind.
But the pep talk felt futile when that attractive man was looking at her like she was the most fascinating thing he’d ever encountered.
He’s just your host and you’re just a guest here. Nothing more.
But even as she thought it, she couldn’t ignore the way her body seemed to gravitate toward his despite her efforts to maintain professional distance.
The mate thing he’d mentioned might be something she didn’t understand, but the pull between them was undeniably real and getting stronger by the minute.
A chef appeared as if summoned, presenting two plates that made Navira’s mouth water instantly.
The Nova Auroran cuisine looked nothing like anything she’d ever seen—delicate proteins that seemed to shimmer with their own light, vegetables in shades that didn’t exist on Earth, and sauces that smelled like ocean breezes and exotic spices.
“This looks incredible,” she said, inhaling the rich aromas as the chef retreated with a respectful bow.
“I hope you enjoy it,” Thalric replied, and she caught the note of pride in his voice that suggested her approval mattered to him.
The first bite was a revelation—flavors that danced across her tongue in perfect harmony, textures that ranged from silk-smooth to delightfully crisp.
“Wow,” she breathed between bites, “this is amazing.”
She looked up to find him watching her with an expression of deep satisfaction, as if her enjoyment of the meal he’d provided gave him genuine pleasure. The burning intensity of his focus made her skin flush with warmth, and she had to look away.
“I’m glad you’re settling in,” he said quietly, “after our... difficult introduction earlier.”
The reminder of their confrontation should have brought back her anger, but instead she found herself appreciating his diplomatic way of acknowledging the awkwardness without dwelling on it.
She didn’t feel guilty for her earlier reaction—being blindsided about the whole mate situation had been legitimately upsetting—but now that she’d had time to process, she could see that he was trying to be reasonable about an impossible situation.
“Tell me about your Olympic career,” he said, clearly steering the conversation toward safer ground. “Gerri mentioned you were quite accomplished.”
Something in his tone—genuine interest rather than polite small talk—made her relax despite herself.
“I won multiple medals across different events,” she found herself saying, surprised by how easy it was to talk to him.
“Gold in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, silver in the 400 individual medley, bronze in a couple relay events. Those were... incredible days. Full of excitement and dedication and this sense of purpose I’ve never quite found again. ”
The words came easier than they had in years, maybe because he was listening with such focused attention. His eyes never left her face as she spoke, and she felt seen in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying.
“Why don’t you compete anymore?” he asked gently.
The question she’d been dreading hit with the familiar punch to the chest, but somehow his presence made it easier to answer honestly.
“Shoulder injury during an Olympic warm-up. Tore my rotator cuff pushing myself too hard, which seems to be a pattern for me.” She managed a rueful smile.
“It shattered my confidence. I haven’t been able to find that joy again, even though coaching gives me some happiness. It’s just... not the same.”
“Maybe you can find some joy here,” Thalric said, his voice holding a warmth that made her chest tight with unexpected emotion. “Training my pack will be different from anything you’ve known back on Earth. Maybe the challenge will be invigorating.”
“I hope so,” she admitted, meeting his eyes directly. “I’m up for any challenge.”
The promise in those words seemed to resonate between them, and she saw something flicker in his expression—approval, maybe, or anticipation.
She tried to turn the conversation toward him, asking about his background and his role as Alpha, but he deflected her questions with the skill of someone who’d spent years avoiding personal revelations.
Every inquiry was met with diplomatic non-answers or redirections back to safer topics, and she found herself wishing he wouldn’t be so guarded.
He’ll open up eventually, she told herself. Some people just need time.
Then his expression shifted, becoming serious in a way that made her stomach clench with sudden apprehension.
“There’s something you should know,” Thalric said, his voice taking on the authoritative tone she’d heard in his office. “I don’t want to hide anything else from you after today’s... misunderstanding.”
She set down her fork, giving him her full attention. “What is it?”
“Our territory is facing a crisis right now. The ocean isn’t safe for swimming alone, and you absolutely cannot go in the water without supervision.”
The words hit her like a blow. She’d been looking forward to diving into that pink ocean since the moment she’d arrived, and had been planning to spend the afternoon exploring its depths and reconnecting with the water.
“What kind of crisis?” she asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
“Pirates have been attacking our ships along the trade routes,” he explained, his jaw tightening with controlled anger. “The man behind it is unpredictable and dangerous. I can’t risk you going anywhere alone, especially not into the ocean.”
The protective note in his voice should have annoyed her—she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself—but instead it sent a warm flutter through her chest.
“I understand,” she said, though her heart sank at the restriction. The ocean had been calling to her since she’d arrived, promising the kind of freedom and peace she hadn’t felt in years.
They finished the meal in relative silence, the easy conversation from before dampened by her obvious disappointment. She could feel him watching her, probably sensing her mood even though she tried to hide it.
“If you want to test the water before tomorrow’s training session,” he said suddenly, “I could take you out there this afternoon.”
The offer sparked immediate excitement in her chest, so intense it was almost painful. The thought of finally getting into that gorgeous pink ocean, of feeling the water against her skin and the familiar embrace of liquid freedom, made her pulse race with anticipation.
You should keep your distance from him, her rational mind warned.
But the pull of the ocean was stronger than her common sense, and she found herself nodding before she could think better of it.
“That sounds perfect,” she said, her voice bright with genuine enthusiasm.
His answering smile was devastating—warm and pleased and just a little predatory in a way that made her stomach flip.
“Go get changed,” he said, rising from his chair with that fluid grace she was beginning to recognize as distinctly his. “I’ll come by your suite in a few minutes.”
She practically flew from the dining room, her heart hammering with anticipation as she hurried through the corridors toward her guest suite.
The prospect of finally experiencing Nova Aurora’s ocean, of feeling that pink water surround her body and wash away five years of restless dissatisfaction, made her feel more alive than she had since stepping through Gerri’s portal.
And the fact that she’d be sharing that experience with Thalric—with his intense presence and those storm-grey eyes that seemed to see straight through her—only added another layer of electric anticipation to the mix.