by Ellie Pond
“Incoming, lad.” The bartender bumped Spencer’s arm. He turned around and stared at her.
Aurora gasped—quietly, she hoped. His eyes were rimmed in red and sat over large dark bags.
No, this would happen now, at least with this Larsen brother.
She poked him in the chest. “You.” He looked at her finger, and she felt a slight bit of guilt. No. No.
“You, you … Did you know?”
“Of course not, Aurora. I would never have stopped it. I made him sick, me, for years. He’s suffered for years.” Spencer sobbed. The bartender opened a new box of tissues and put them on the bar. That’s when Aurora saw the garbage bin on the floor next to him, tissues spilling out onto the floor. Well, crap.
She sat down on the stool next to him. She rubbed his back. Thinking hard, she couldn’t remember seeing him cry. His grandmother’s funeral had been close, but not like this. At his parents’ funeral he was already alpha. Even after the funeral, she had lain next to him in his bed and held him. But he never cried.
“I made him so sick that my parents spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to figure out what was wrong with him. They died and didn’t know that it was me, that I made him sick.”
“I didn’t know. I mean, I knew that he had stomach issues, but he always seemed fine when I was near him.”
Spencer waved at her and blew his nose again. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Did he know?”
“I think he had been guessing at it for a while. The way he had been coming after you this week … Fuck, if I had mated you, it could have killed him.” Spencer took another tissue from the box.
Aurora looked up at the grizzly shifter, for he couldn’t be anything else. She mouthed, “How long has he been here?”
“Five hours. But to be honest, I’ve never seen an alpha breakdown like this. I couldn’t let him leave. I thought he would calm down.”
“I am right here. You don’t need to talk about me like I’m not here.”
“We are not talking about you, Spencer. Let’s get you back to your room.”
Aurora heard the bar door close, but there wasn’t anyone there.
“I can walk. You shouldn’t be with me. You should never talk to me again.”
“Spencer, you have been my best friend for a decade. I love you. But not that way. I tried to tell you that when we came on board. I can’t tell you the relief I felt when you said the pact could wait. Yes, Lauren being your mate confused me. But she couldn’t be a better girl. A girl who cried herself to sleep last night.” That would be something she would work on once she took care of her own mess. She smiled at him and tugged at his ear. “You are my dear friend. And the best thing now is that you’ll be my brother. And I can torture you forever and ever.”
“That will be good,” Spencer sniffled.
Aurora stood. “Come on. You can walk. I know you can. You need to get some sleep.”
“Do you want some help?” The bartender had rounded the edge of the bar. He stood a good foot taller than Spencer.
“What do you say, Spencer, do we need any help?”
“No, I’ve got it together now. Thanks, Kellen,” he sniffled.
“You take care, Spencer.” Kellen handed Aurora the box of tissues.
He followed them to the door and locked it behind them.
* * *
Aurora knocked on the guys’ door as Spencer had lost his bracelet somewhere. Tad opened the door.
“Oh, great. I am so glad that someone was around. I thought maybe you might have left.”
“I thought you might be back. Found him, I see. Damn, you look like shit.”
“Where’s Gunnar?”
“Parasailing with a bachelorette party. At least that’s what the note said this morning.”
Aurora smiled. Well, that sounded like him. Spencer stood in the middle of the room.
“Lie down,” Tad said, directing his attention away from Aurora. Aurora made a shocked face when Spencer lay down on the bed and started to snore.
“He may be my alpha, but with the shape he’s in, he’s got nothing on me right now. He really looks like shit. Thanks for finding him.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to rip into him. Kind of unsatisfying. So, has Duncan come back?”
“He was here for a minute or two but took off trying to find you. Guess he didn’t find you?”
“Oh, Tad, I really hope he didn’t find me.”
“What?”
“I was in the bar consoling Spencer when the door opened and closed before I looked over at it. I hope it wasn’t Duncan.”
“Well, that would suck.”
“I need to find him.”
* * *
Aurora stood at the front desk with Tad. “They told us at the debarking platform that you would be able to tell us if my cousin debarked already, if we gave you our bands.”
The tall, gangly shifter’s hair waved around to an invisible wind. “Yeah, if you’re in the same cabin, no probs.”
“Probs?” Tad blinked at the boy.
“He means problem. Give him your wrist.”
Tad put his banded wrist on the counter.
“He’s off board.”
“Crap.” Aurora wrung her hands.
“He’s registered for parasailing. Doesn’t mean he went there, but you can try. Good thing with parasailing is that it takes off from the beach next to the debarking dock. No need to hop on a shuttle.” He pulled a map off a pad and drew a route for them to follow.
“Thanks.” Aurora ran off with the map in hand. “I’ve got it from here, Tad. You should go get a physical.”
“Not happening.”
She didn’t believe that at all. Not if he felt half the pull to Dr. Cottage that she felt to Duncan.
23
Up, Up
He paid for a single sail with his wristband. There was no way he was strapping himself to someone else. The attendant showed him how to buckle in. Duncan strapped up. Why was he doing this? He had no right to be mad. She wasn’t kissing Spencer. She had her arm around him. And he had been the one to not tell her they were mates. How hard was it to say, Rory, you’re my mate? The fight in the dining room? That was my ass of a brother’s alpha vibes lifting their dibs off of you. We’re mates. But he wanted her to realize it on her own. If you act like a middle schooler, you’re going to get stomped on like one. Shit. He glanced at the ship and back at the speedboat about to pull him in the air. The two guys in the boat gave him the thumbs up, and he gave it back.
If he had told her to stop pining for his asshole brother … Shit, that was the problem; his brother wasn’t an asshole. Best damn alpha their pack ever had. Better than their dad. Even their dad had admitted it. Fair and strong. Shit, he should hate him for being so perfect. When emotions pulsed from an alpha, it was hard to breathe. Hard to know what your own emotions were with theirs raining in on you. Spencer didn’t do that to his pack. Today was the first time he had seen him so upset. Hell, the guy hadn’t cried when everyone's favorite grandmother died. Not that crying was bad, only painful for a whole pack that absorbed your emotions. Spencer held up their mom and dad while they cried. And when their parents died, he was a rock for everyone.
Another thumbs up. Okay, run. The boat took off, and it yanked him into the sky. Nope, his wolf said, this is not for me. The wind gripped his hair. He tensed. A few deep breaths and his mind cleared. He relaxed as the harness dug into his shoulders and thighs.
The cruise line owned this island, and there weren’t many buildings on the side the ship docked. On the other side of the island lay a small town of one-story buildings. With another breath, it hit him. Yes, the wind in his ears roared, and the harness sliced into him, but the lack of pain everywhere else startled him. He took inventory—his joints were good, no wheezing in his chest, and his stomach? There was some pain there, but he realized it was hunger. When was the last time he was hungry? Hungry for the buffet but even more for Aurora. With her, h
e could pass on food forever.
He would give her space. And then explain what they were. How she made everything for him better. How he might’ve healed her leg, but she healed his soul. He laughed and shouted, “Yeah!”
The boat driver and attendant waved at him. He laughed again into the wind. In the dark blue of the deeper ocean, a pod of dolphins jumped next to the boat. A baby dolphin swam next to his mother, and a half-dozen larger ones swam ahead. On the horizon, a smaller island sat with sail boats zipping around its shores. The water shimmered clear and blue. The boat began to circle, taking him back to the beach. Joy and hope surged through him. He was grateful for what lay ahead and that the chafing of the harness would stop.
The boat slowed, and he floated back to the beach.
The attendants ran over to him. They gathered the parachute and unharnessed it for the next guest.
“Thanks.” He patted the guy on his back and ran towards the boardwalk.
The beach next to the parasailing stand now held families with blankets. Shifter babies ran all around the beach. Little grizzly cubs growled at wolf cubs being chased by puma kits. What an amazing opportunity these little ones had, compared to his youth when he had to keep his wolf secret.
He crossed the boardwalk to the bathhouse and the locker where he had stowed his shoes and baseball hat. At first, he had hated the bracelet, but now he had to admit not having to keep track of a wallet or a key had its perks. It still reminded him of a collar.
As he left the men’s bathhouse, his pulse jumped. Aurora stood next to the women’s bathhouse, her hat pulled down over her fair skin. She hadn’t seen him yet. She stood at the edge of the boardwalk, her hand above her eyes and her hair blowing in the breeze. A gauzy black dress flowed with her hair. Duncan ducked behind a pillar of the bathhouse as she turned. He peeked out, and she was searching the sky again. He darted to a large bush next to the sand. She turned again this time, searching behind her. Duncan was inches away from her back, and he moved to her side; she didn’t notice him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him, nuzzling her neck to the side as he did. She jumped in his arms and swatted at his hand.
“Oh, my. You scared me.” She turned in his arms without pulling out of his embrace. “Duncan, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Did you … you might have seen me talking to Spencer in the bar? I didn’t …”
“He’s a mess. I’m glad you were able to help him.” He looped his other arm around her waist. Her scent enveloped him. She blinked up at him, and he pushed back her hat and kissed her forehead.
Her face dropped in shock. “You’re not upset with me? With him? You punched him yesterday.”
Duncan laughed. “I remember, Rory. It’s not something I would do again. Or something he would let me do again. He didn’t mean to hurt either of us.”
“He’s my friend, and you can’t expect me to stop caring for him after all these years.”
Duncan leaned in and kissed Aurora. He nibbled at her lips. “I don’t expect you to stop caring for him as a friend.”
“That’s the only way I ever cared for him.”
“Good.”
“Good. He’s not in a good place.”
“That’s something he will have to come through on his own.”
His mate made her quizzical face. The one where she was thinking and thinking too hard.
“Alone, Aurora.”
“You mean with Lauren.”
“I mean he and Lauren have to come to it together, alone. Without your help.”
“You mean with our help.”
“I mean alone.”
She kissed his neck, and he moaned. He wanted to take her now. “Is this how this is going to work?”
“Depends?” Aurora pulled back and blinked her brown eyes at him before kissing his neck again.
“On what?”
“Is it working?”
“Maybe? Let’s get you back on the ship before I get arrested again. Laurit made it clear next time I would get to see the brig.”
“Might be worth it, mate.” She slid her hand down his chest to the front of his trunks. Her thumb brushed under the elastic.
“Wait.” He held onto her by her shoulders and gazed down into her eyes. “You know we’re mates? I … shit, that’s not how I wanted that to come out. But I need to say it. I should have said it last night. I am sorry I didn’t.”
Aurora laughed, and his heart stopped.
“I am a little slow when it comes to things close to me. Yes. I know we’re mates and …” Aurora stopped. “It makes so much sense. I … you mean so much to me, Duncan. You have for a long time.” Her eyes flashed from dark to blue. He needed to talk to her about that next. One thing at a time. Her parents hadn’t told her, either. That would be the hardest part.
“I love you, Rory.” He pulled her to his chest. He hoped that she still would when she figured out what she was. He kissed her deep, tasting all of her. Until the catcalls became louder. And then someone close by cleared their throat.
Aurora pulled away first, her lips swollen full from their kiss. Duncan knew who blocked out the sun next to them.
“Mr. Larsen.” Laurit loomed over Duncan by more than half a foot.
“First Officer Laurit.”
“I am glad you and your mate are enjoying the cruise,” Laurit said. Aurora giggled, and the noise bubbled through him. He sensed that there was a “but” coming. “But the island is a family place.” Laurit pointed to the cub beach.
“Got it. Sorry. It won’t happen again, sir.”
Aurora’s eyes saucered.
“Have a good day.” He nodded at them and sauntered down to the cub shifting beach, where a dozen cubs and kits climbed up his body, like he was a living jungle gym.
Duncan grabbed her hand and led her down the boardwalk towards the ship. Another parasailer took off as they walked by.
“Wow, look at that. Did you have fun?”
Duncan looked at the ship and then at the parasailer. “I did. Do you want to try it?” He wanted to take them straight back to their cabin. But there wasn’t much parasailing on the Monongahela River. And even if there was, he wasn’t sure that he would want to do it. The river was cleaner than when his parents were cubs, but the way they talked about it kept him from ever swimming in it.
“I would be scared, I think?”
“We could ride tandem.” He wasn’t sure if he liked it the first time or liked the moment of clarity he had, but his mate pressed up against him would make it better, anyway. He let out a small growl. Aurora didn’t notice.
“That’s a thing?”
“Look.” Duncan pointed at the couple who were sailing through the air.
* * *
She giggled in his ear, and he held on tight to her.
“You’re not scared, are you?”
“Me? Never. I love holding you close.” Duncan squeezed her torso.
The view this time was greater than anything he had ever seen. She rubbed against him with each sway, her butt cheeks grinding on his hardening cock.
“Look, you can see the other islands in the distance,” she shouted over the wind.
“What?” he said into her ear, kissing it as she leaned in.
“This is good.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“I know.” She moved her rear around him again.
“You’re doing that on purpose. You wonderful vixen.”
“What if I am, Mr. Larsen?”
“Not a problem for me, future Mrs. Larsen.”
“What did you say?” His cute mate tried to turn in her harness to see him.
He laughed. “Aurora, would you marry me?”
“Ah, you’re asking me now? Yes.”
“I want to give you the big wedding that you deserve and let all of Butler County know that you and I are one. If you would like?”
“Really? That would be amazing. I didn’t think we would, well, you know, have a mating ceremony.�
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“I was thinking both, if you’re okay with it?”
“Yes.” She tried to turn to face him again, but the harness kept them both facing forward. The boat slowed, and their sail lowered to the ground. Duncan strode along the beach, catching Aurora in his arms, but a rogue wave crashed over them, sending them both into the water. Aurora’s arms flailed as she gained her balance. She coughed up water. It had thrown Duncan the opposite way. He jumped, thrust, and paddled to get to her. He grabbed her by her waist.
“Duncan, stop, I’m fine,” she laughed.
Duncan's wolf glowed beneath his eyes. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” His little mate nodded her head, her brown eyes soothing his soul.
* * *
Duncan kicked the door to the bedroom closed. The smell of his mate’s excitement chased though his body. He held her close to his chest before he placed her with care on the bed.
Aurora tugged at his shirt, and he pulled it off in a swift motion. Her nails ran along the ridges of his torso, her wet hair splayed about the pillow like Medusa. He reached behind her and pulled the string of her navy bikini. The wet top fell to the side. His large hand found her breast, and he caressed her nipple while he held her gaze.
“Aurora.”
The connection between them grew. The bond strings wound their way into his fiber. He hovered above her in a plank, caging her in with his taut body.
“Duncan.” Her voice was low. “Take off your swim suit, mate. I want to see all of you.” She pulled his hat from his head and tossed it onto the sofa.
“Yes. Mate.”
Her eyes followed him off the bed. She watched every movement as he stripped his swim suit off. It splatted to the ground.
Aurora laughed. “Sorry. But that noise.”