Chapter 11
ELEVEN
THALRIC
Thalric strode from the dining room with measured steps, but the moment he reached the privacy of his wing, his carefully maintained composure began to fracture.
His wolf prowled restlessly, still intoxicated by Navira’s citrus and vanilla scent, still reeling from the way she’d looked in that yellow sundress—like sunshine given form, like every fantasy he’d never allowed himself to have.
She said no romance, he reminded himself firmly as he made his way toward his private chambers. You need to respect that boundary, no matter what your wolf wants.
But even as he tried to reinforce his resolve, he couldn’t stop replaying every moment of their lunch.
The way her eyes had lit up when she talked about her Olympic victories.
The soft sound of pleasure she’d made when tasting the Nova Auroran cuisine.
The frustrated edge that had crept into her voice when he’d deflected her personal questions with diplomatic non-answers.
She wants to know you, his wolf insisted. She’s trying to see past the Alpha mask, and you keep shutting her out.
“Because I don’t know how to be anything else,” he muttered under his breath, pushing open the heavy doors to his chambers.
The truth of that admission hit him like a slap.
For so long, he’d been the perfect Alpha—controlled, strategic, unshakable.
The polished leader his pack needed, the diplomatic face Nova Aurora required.
But Navira had been asking for something else entirely during their meal.
She’d been reaching for the man beneath the title, and he’d retreated behind familiar walls of authority and careful distance.
No wonder she looked frustrated, he thought, moving toward the massive windows that overlooked the pink ocean. You’re giving her the same performance you give everyone else.
But how could he do otherwise? Being Alpha Thalric was all he knew. It was the identity he’d built from the ground up after Roman’s death, the armor that protected him from the constant fear that he wasn’t enough, would never be enough.
His wolf snarled in disagreement, pressing against his consciousness with urgent demand.
She’s our mate. She deserves more than your political facade.
Thalric’s hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stared out at the water that would soon cradle both of them.
The ocean called to his sea wolf nature, promising the kind of freedom and authenticity he rarely allowed himself.
Maybe—just maybe—being in the water with Navira would strip away some of his defenses.
Maybe the element that had always grounded him would help him show her something real.
It was a brilliant strategic move, he admitted to himself. Offering to take her swimming solved her disappointment about the restrictions.
But his wolf knew better. This wasn’t about strategy—it was about desperation.
The mate bond was growing stronger by the hour, and every moment he spent in Navira’s presence made it harder to maintain his careful control and distance.
She affected him in ways no one ever had, made him want things he’d never allowed himself to consider.
Moving with sudden purpose, Thalric began stripping off his clothes.
The blue button-down hit the floor, followed by his dark slacks and everything else until he stood in nothing but his skin.
For a moment, he caught sight of himself in the full-length mirror across the room and barely recognized the man staring back.
Without the armor of expensive clothing and Alpha bearing, he looked.
.. different. Younger, maybe. More vulnerable.
The storm-grey eyes that usually held such careful control now burned with barely contained hunger.
His powerful frame, no longer hidden behind tailored fabric, showed every line of muscle and strength that marked him as a predator.
This is who you really are, his wolf whispered with satisfaction. Not the perfect Alpha. Just Thalric.
The realization should have been terrifying. For five years, he’d defined himself by his ability to lead, to control, to present an unshakable front to his pack and his enemies alike. But looking at his reflection now, he saw something that made his chest tight with an emotion he couldn’t name.
He saw a man who might be worthy of the woman currently changing into swimwear across the estate.
Grabbing blue swim trunks from his dresser, Thalric pulled them on with hands that weren’t entirely steady. The simple garment felt strange after years of formal attire, but also liberating in a way he hadn’t expected. When he looked in the mirror again, the transformation was complete.
Gone was Alpha Thalric, the diplomatic leader with his careful smiles and strategic responses. In his place stood a man who looked hungry and determined and just a little wild around the edges. A man who might actually be able to give his mate what she was searching for.
She’s not going to be a mate you can control, he realized with startling clarity. She’s going to challenge everything you think you know about yourself.
The thought should have sent him reaching for his usual armor of authority and distance. Instead, it sent a thrill of anticipation through his veins that this woman was going to change his life in ways he couldn’t predict or manage.
Good, his wolf purred with dark satisfaction. We’re tired of being perfect. We want to be real.
Thalric ran his hand through his dark hair, messing up the carefully styled waves until they fell in unruly curls across his forehead. The casual gesture felt foreign and familiar all at once, like remembering a version of himself he’d buried under years of responsibility.
Whatever it takes, he promised his reflection, his storm-grey eyes burning with newfound resolve. Whatever I have to change or risk or become—she’s not leaving. The mate bond won’t let me survive losing her now.
The admission terrified and exhilarated him in equal measure. For the first time in five years, Alpha Thalric was about to do something that wasn’t calculated or strategic or politically sound.
He was about to be himself.
And as he headed for the door to collect his mate for their swim, he couldn’t decide if that prospect thrilled or terrified him more.
Within minutes, Thalric was standing outside Navira’s guest suite door, feeling an unfamiliar tremor of uncertainty ripple through his controlled composure.
The two beach towels draped over his forearm suddenly felt heavier than they should, and he became acutely aware of how exposed he was—bare-chested, barefoot, wearing nothing but blue swim trunks that left little to the imagination.
His usual armor of tailored clothing and Alpha authority had been stripped away, leaving him feeling strangely vulnerable.
Before he could second-guess himself further, Thalric rapped his knuckles against the oak door. The sound echoed through the corridor, and he found himself holding his breath as footsteps approached from within.
Then the door swung open, and every coherent thought in Thalric’s mind scattered like schools of fish before a predator.
Navira stood before him in a blue bikini that made his mouth go dry and his pulse thunder in his ears. The color was almost identical to his swim trunks—a coincidence that made his wolf rumble with possessive pleasure. But it wasn’t the matching blue that stole his breath. It was her.
Her athletic frame was a masterpiece of lean muscle and feminine curves.
Her toned abs spoke of years of disciplined training, while her strong arms and shoulders testified to countless hours cutting through water with Olympic precision.
Her legs seemed to go on forever, pale and perfectly sculpted, making his hands itch to trace their length.
And her breasts—the way that bikini top showcased her cleavage made his wolf surge forward with desperate hunger, demanding he abandon their swim entirely and carry her straight to his bed.
Heat flooded his system as arousal hit him with physical force. He prayed the evidence of his desire wasn’t too obvious in his swim trunks, but the way his body was responding to the sight of her made subtlety nearly impossible.
Control, he reminded himself desperately. You’re supposed to be controlled.
But then he caught the way her eyes darkened as they swept over his bare chest and torso, the slight hitch in her breathing as she took in his powerful frame.
The knowledge that she found him just as desirable sent a thrill of masculine satisfaction through him that nearly undid his remaining restraint.