Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
NAVIRA
The building was all gleaming glass and weathered stone, perched dramatically on the edge of a precipice that overlooked the pink ocean. Warm light spilled from its windows, but as they approached, Navira noticed something odd.
“There’s no one else here.”
Thalric parked and turned off the engine, his storm-grey eyes finding hers in the darkness. “I may have arranged for some privacy tonight.”
Her breath caught. Any other man, any other time, she would have bristled at such presumption. But the way he said it—without arrogance or expectation—sent warmth spiraling through her chest.
“You rented out an entire restaurant?”
“Yes.” He climbed out and rounded the vehicle with predatory grace, opening her door before she could protest. “Has no one ever gone to such trouble for you before?”
Never.
Jeremy had been all subtle romantic gestures and public displays for attention, but never this—never focused attention that made her feel like the only person in his universe.
“No,” she admitted softly as she stepped out of the vehicle.
“That’s a shame.”
Thalric turned and led the way to the restaurant’s entrance and held the door open for her with old-fashioned courtesy.
When Navira entered the fancy restaurant, she was utterly captivated.
The interior was all warm wood and soft lighting, with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the dramatic coastline.
A host soon materialized, guiding them through the empty dining room to a private terrace that jutted out over the cliff. The twin moons hung like lanterns in the star-swept sky, their light dancing on the pink waves below. Candles flickered on their table, creating an intimate cocoon of warmth.
Thalric pulled out her chair, making her heart flutter traitorously. As she settled into her seat, she caught a glimpse of something unguarded in his expression—something that looked dangerously like a man hoping to impress the woman who’d captured his attention.
This isn’t a date, she reminded herself firmly. It’s a welcoming dinner. Professional courtesy.
But when he settled across from her, candlelight carving shadows across his strong features and the air crackling with electricity, her resolve wavered.
He leaned forward, looking like he might say something important.
But a waiter appeared with practiced efficiency and the moment was broken.
Thalric ordered for them both in his commanding baritone, including a bottle of Sidaii wine.
The easy authority in his voice and demeanor sent an unwelcome thrill through her.
The waiter nodded and left as quickly as he arrived, and they were alone again.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” he said softly. “I wanted to celebrate your extraordinary work with the pack today. I’ve never seen them respond to training methods like that.”
Heat crept up her neck. “It was... more rewarding than I expected. More exhilarating than any victory I’ve ever had.”
Something fierce and pleased flashed in his eyes. “I hoped you’d feel that way. You belong here, Navira. With them. With—” He caught himself, his jaw tightening. “You have a gift for bringing out the best in others.”
The waiter returned with their wine, pouring the rich, ruby liquid into crystal glasses.
As he retreated, Thalric leaned forward again. “Be careful with that. It’s potent for humans.”
She took a tentative sip, and the fruity complexity exploded across her tongue—divine but with an underlying heat that warned of its strength. “It’s incredible.”
“Like everything else here, it’s more intense than what you’re used to.”
The weight of his gaze made her pulse quicken. She took another careful sip, then set the glass down with deliberate control.
“Tell me more about Graven,” she said, needing to steer the conversation toward safer ground. “This threat you mentioned.”
But Thalric shook his head as their food arrived—plates of beautifully prepared local cuisine that smelled divine. “Not tonight. Tonight is about you, not Alpha business.”
“Well, then tell me about your family,” she pressed, cutting into the tender meat. “About your parents.”
He went very still, his fork pausing midway to his mouth. For a moment, she thought he’d deflect again. But then something in his expression shifted, walls cracking just enough to let her glimpse the man beneath.
“They died when I was five,” he said quietly. “Brutal attack while we were camping. I managed to escape, but I wandered for days before Roman found me.”
Her heart clenched at the raw pain in his voice. “Roman?”
“The former Alpha. He took me in, raised me as his son.” Thalric’s jaw worked as he fought some internal battle.
“He died five years ago from a rare illness. That’s when I became Alpha.
But I’ve always felt the weight of being chosen rather than born to it.
Some of the pack still question my legitimacy. ”
“From what I saw today, they follow you with complete loyalty.”
“Most do.” His smile was bitter. “Others are waiting for me to prove I deserve the position. I thought having a mate would silence the doubts—show them I was committed to building a future, providing stability and heirs.”
The word ‘heirs’ hit her like a slap. The romantic atmosphere suddenly felt suffocating as the reality crashed down on her. She wasn’t just a mate to him—she was a political necessity, a breeding strategy, a solution to his leadership problems.
“So that’s all I am to you?” The words came out sharp. “A political tool?”
“No.” The worry in his voice made her look up.
“Not anymore. I was wrong to think I could strategize the mate bond, control it like everything else. What I feel for you—” He ran a hand through his dark hair, the controlled facade cracking further.
“It’s consuming, Navira. The bond demands things I know you’re not ready for, but I can’t ignore what’s happening between us.
The way you led my pack today, how you respond to the ocean—you belong here with me. ”
The walls of her chest began closing in. The weight of his expectations, the intensity of his need, the impossible situation she’d stumbled into—it all pressed down on her like the ocean depths. Her breathing became shallow and rapid.
Not now. Not here.
But her body didn’t care about timing or location. Five years of carefully controlled existence shattered as panic clawed its way up her throat. The restaurant terrace tilted, the candlelight blurring into streaks of gold.
“I can’t—I can’t breathe—”
Thalric was beside her in an instant, his strong hands gently gripping her shoulders, steadying her without restraining.
“Hey, look at me.” His voice had shed all Alpha command, becoming purely human concern. “Deep breaths. In and out. You’re safe.”
But she wasn’t safe. She was drowning in expectations she’d never asked for, in a bond she didn’t understand, in feelings that terrified her more than any Olympic final ever had.
“We need to go,” she gasped. “Please, I need to go.”
Without question or hesitation, he guided her to her feet and toward the exit, his protective presence a shield against her spiraling thoughts. The drive back to the estate passed in a blur of concerned glances and careful breathing exercises, his deep voice anchoring her to reality.
By the time they reached his estate, the worst had passed, leaving her wrung out and embarrassed. She mumbled something about needing rest and fled to her suite. But once inside, restlessness consumed her. The walls felt too close, the air too thin.
The ocean. She needed the ocean.
Without considering the consequences, she stripped out of the black dress and pulled on her bikini.
The pink waters called to her like a siren song, promising the peace and clarity that had eluded her all evening.
She slipped from the estate and made her way down to the shoreline, where moonlight turned the waves into liquid silver.
The moment her feet touched the water’s edge, some of the tension began to leave her shoulders. And when she dove beneath the surface, the familiar embrace of the depths welcomed her home.