Page 39 of Corbin (Wild Wolf Pack from the world of Gallize Shifters #2)

Ares plunged into icy water, thrashing his legs around.

Corbin lost direction for a moment.

A reddish-golden wolf’s head came into view, then Pixie got under Ares and pushed him up.

When Ares broke through the surface, he was coughing and terrified.

Finally getting his wits back, Corbin started talking to Ares. You’re doing good. Pixie is right here with us. She will not let anything happen to you. She’s an extremely strong swimmer, so this is her element. Try to calm down and relax. You will have an easier time keeping your head above water.

Ares still floundered and slashed his paws like he was trying to claw the water to death.

That could be true.

Pixie bumped into him, and he jerked around to face her. She paddled smooth strokes.

He wouldn’t even try to mimic her and started sinking.

Pixie growled at him and shoved her muzzle under his head to keep it above water and allow him to breathe.

Corbin told Ares, She’s working really hard to keep you safe. You could help her by relaxing and moving your legs with smoother strokes. Do that and you’ll be swimming.

Ares said, Too heavy. Drowning. Then he coughed up water.

Pixie is a big wolf, and she isn’t sinking , Corbin argued. Trust her. Our mother was sick in the head. Pixie and Eirene are smart and good.

Once again, Pixie swam closer, but this time she licked his muzzle, an intimate motion for a wolf.

Ares still didn’t know what to make of her, but he did calm down. He moved his legs in less erratic motions. His shoulder muscles flexed without being tight.

Hope surged in Corbin again. Ares was beginning to swim!

Pixie slyly watched Ares, then floated away from him.

Ares made a loud bark, then paddled over to her.

Corbin laughed. Pixie was playing with a dangerous wolf half again her size who was acting like a love-sick puppy.

Once Ares calmed down and churned his powerful legs more like Pixie, he began making progress. She had no problem keeping up with him.

They’d made it probably two miles by the time dark began to settle fast with the sun hiding behind tall trees once they’d left the gorge. Corbin searched the bank until he found muddy skid marks likely made by people who had camped and then put kayaks into the water.

Ares, see that muddy bank on this side of the river?

Yes.

Guide Pixie there. I think we’ll find a good place to rest for the night.

Good.

His wolf sounded calmer, even relaxed. Corbin had never thought he’d use those words to describe Ares before now. His wolf would still blast out to kill anything in sight when needed, but he had been gentle around Pixie even after hitting the water.

Once both wolves reached the bank, Ares pushed Pixie out first. They shook off water and then sniffed the area. Yes, someone had camped here recently. The grass had been flattened where they’d raised a tent to sleep in.

Ares said, Need food.

Corbin couldn’t argue with that, plus the wolves eating something easy to find like a rabbit would be simpler than him trying to feed Eirene anything decent. They didn’t even have energy bars.

Ares killed a rabbit and gave it to Pixie after he realized she was not much of a hunter. Then he found one for himself.

Corbin had to see Eirene soon. He’d been patient through everything his wolf needed because Ares had faced his fears and overcome them. He’d also shown more desire to be a partner today than before. Corbin wanted to cling to that and not lose it.

Once the wolves had drunk their fill of water, Corbin said, Please give me the body.

Instead of a sharp no, Ares gave a long sigh and started the shift.

Pixie noticed, and she began shifting.

Pushing up to his feet, Corbin moved over to pull Eirene to him. “Are you okay, babe?”

Her pretty hair stuck out in different directions. She looked up at him for a few seconds and started laughing.

He didn’t know if he should be happy or worried at that reaction. “What’s so funny?”

“Surviving all that and hours in the water to finally shift so I can see you, and my second thought is how much I want a hot shower. Maybe I am a bit of a princess sometimes.”

He hugged her to him, holding her close. He would give her all the hot showers she wanted if he could get her to safety.

She squirmed closer to him like the minx she was and asked, “What would you want if we could snap our fingers and make it happen?”

“Given that both of us being naked is opportune, I wouldn’t need a genie to grant my wish, but ... I think we need rest.”

“Sadly, I agree.”

He walked her over to the flattened grass and stretched out on his back. “You lie on top of me. That’s the best I can offer for comfort.”

“My favorite bed.” She snuggled down on top of him.

He muttered, “Keep moving like that and your bed will be bumpy.”

Her laugh sounded like a bell tinkling in the wind.

He loved how easy she was, even at the worst of times. He had no intention of sleeping so he could keep watch over her. She started humming a tune that sounded like a lullaby. He closed his eyes to absorb her wonderful voice, looking forward to the day he could hear her sing a real song.

After a while, her voice trailed off and her breathing slowed. She was falling asleep.

He forced his eyes open, but he’d almost been lulled asleep.

He listened for any threatening sounds, only to hear crickets and frogs chirping and croaking.

He thought she would sleep like the dead, but after two hours of snoozing, his sexy ass female started running circles around his nipple with a finger.

Then she ran her tongue over his other nipple.

He grabbed her hand. “Last night, when I said I wanted to make love to you in many different places, this one hadn’t been on the list.”

“Good time to add to the list,” she said against his chest in a sleepy voice.

“Are you sure you’re awake, babe?” Because she’d brought his dick to full attention.

“I won’t go back to sleep with you poking me.”

“Hey, you’re the one who played with my nipples.” He smiled.

“You’re complaining?” she asked and pushed up to prop her chin on her folded arms.

“Not a bit. But I want to give my princess a more comfortable place than this.”

“It’s a good time for us to be creative,” she challenged. “Got any ideas?”

He considered everything and started grinning. “Just so happens I do.”

“Really?”

Ha. He’d surprised her. “I need to get up from here first.”

She scrambled off him and stood, bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement. As soon as he reached his feet, he swung her up in his arms.

She made a squeak. “Where the hell are you going? We don’t have a bedroom.”

Striding across the muddy strip, he walked straight into the water.

“Whoa, that’s cold,” she yelped.

He was laughing so hard that he waited for a breath to speak. By then, he was in the water up to his chest with her tucked against him. “You’re warmer now, aren’t you?”

Chuckling, she said, “I am now, but that first dip took my breath away.”

Pulling her around to let her body hang in the water in front of his, he said, “You take my breath away. I feel like that shy kid in school who had a massive crush on the sweetest girl there.”

She’d been holding onto his shoulders and leaned in to kiss him.

He answered her invitation with a soft brush of his mouth, then kissed her sincerely for a long time.

No light made it to this part of the river, but it was as if they’d known each other their whole lives. He knew her body, and she knew his.

There would never be another for him.

He moved his fingers to her waist and slowly massaged his way up to her breasts. She had the perfect handful and pert nipples begging for attention. With her suspended in the water, he had easy access to both.

Rubbing his thumbs under the plump weight, he moved up to roll her nipples with his thumb and forefinger.

She dropped her head back and moaned. “I had been lying there thinking not to wake you and take care of myself.”

His hands stilled. “Show me.”

She moved a hand from his shoulder. He slid his hands down to cup her waist.

Sliding her hand down his chest, she played with his nipple again, then moved farther down to where his dick had recovered from the cold dip. She ran her fingers over the head and stroked him twice.

He growled at her, and she laughed, then her hand disappeared. He felt her arm moving. Then she made a needy sound and arched back.

Stupid idea on his part.

He’d ached even more to drive into her. Still holding her with one hand around her waist, he pulled her hand away from her folds. He caught her fingers and brought them to his mouth, licking them.

She slapped her hand on his shoulder again and complained in a teasing voice, “Back to me. I need to feel you.”

Releasing her fingers, he returned to where she’d left off and stroked her folds slowly.

She begged, “More.”

He changed the tempo and worked her into a slick heat, then plunged his finger inside.

She rode his hand, and he brushed his thumb over her sweet spot, pushing her closer to climax.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and he loved it, moving his finger inside her faster until he paused and stroked her nub.

“Corbin!” She clutched him to her as he kept her on that high until the last second, then she slumped against him. Her legs hung loose.

He cupped her bottom, pulling her to him and slowly rocking her back and forth in the gentle water.

She caught her breath and lifted her head, kissing his neck, his chin, then his lips. His tongue poked at hers, and she loved on his.

When they broke apart, she sounded dazed. “I thought I could give you time, but I can’t.”

What the hell was wrong? He stayed silent and waited.

“I love you, Corbin, with all my heart. This may be too soon for you, but I don’t ever want to lose you.”

His heart felt as if it had started expanding with each breath. He said, “It’s not too soon. I wanted to wait until my life was simpler and I felt I had something to offer you, but you are my forever. You are all I have ever wanted and will be until my last breath.”

She lunged and wrapped her arms around him. “Does this mean we get to be mates, married, or what?”

He smiled into her hair. “We get to do whatever we want. You are my mate, and I will happily marry you if you want that too.”

“Mate.” She pulled back, and he couldn’t see her, but he could hear the thrill in her voice. “My mate. My man. I like the way it all sounds.”

“Keep in mind that I have some problems to sort out,” he admitted.

“I can probably match you in problems. We’ll sort out everything together if mine don’t scare you off.”

“Nothing and no one will scare me away from you.” He leaned down to kiss her, happier than a man deserved to be.

He hadn’t wanted anyone as a mate after losing her and figured no female wolf would want Ares, but his wolf had proved himself worthy of Pixie.

She had shown him she could hold her own even if she wasn’t dominant.

He didn’t give a damn what the world threw at him because he was mated with the greatest female on Earth.

Her legs moved up around his chest. He thought she was getting closer for a hug, but she shoved herself down on him.

Tensing at the incredible feel of being inside her, he choked out, “A little warning next time, babe.”

“I thought this would be a good way to celebrate our mating,” she said as if she were explaining how the river flowed. Then she broke into giggles. “Consider yourself warned.”

“Don’t ever change. I love you.” He put both hands under her bottom and began to move her up and down. So easy in water.

“I won’t as long as you always love me.”

“Bet on it.”

She took over the pace and rode him with more enthusiasm than she had his hand.

When she reached underneath them and cupped his balls in her cool fingers, game over.

He came harder than the last time, which was saying something.

She flopped her arms over his shoulders. He wrapped her in his arms, content to stand here for as long as she wanted, but she stirred and began cleaning them both.

“Think you can sleep now?” he asked, trudging through the water to the shore.

“Oh yes. I might not make it back to the grass.”

He wrapped a hand around her wet hair that she’d wrung out and pulled her forehead to him, kissing her. She gave a contented hum.

Once they were settled again, he rubbed her shoulder muscles and down her back until she slowly dropped off to sleep again.

This time, she snored a little. Cute.

Hours went by while the water lapped at the bank and nature sang its tune. He fought to keep his eyes open again and again, sure that sunrise would be in an hour or two. He could make it and grab a nap while she kept watch before they struck out again.

Sounded like a plan, but with the tension in his body, he was spent.

Exhaustion pulled at him, dragging him under.

Daylight began to peek over the trees and brush away the darkness. He forced an eye open then immediately ran a hand along her back, just to let him know she was breathing and safe.

She kissed his chest and mumbled, “I want waffles this morning.”

Someone answered, “That will not be possible this morning.”

Corbin rolled her over beneath him, but he had no hope against this threat.

Vlad and four heavily armed men stood above them.