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F rom my vantage on the dune, I watch through binoculars as my little mate slaps the angry professor. My chuckle is a deep, satisfied rumble. She’s got fire. I wish I was close enough to see the spark in her eyes. I have to admit, I may be a little jealous of the guy, I wouldn’t mind her sexy ass slapping me around a little bit. Just thinking about it has my dick getting hard. Not that it takes much to fire up my arousal since I found my mate.

The security alpha and the nerdy beta are standing at the edge of the pit talking to my mate, but they’re all too far away for me to hear. Is she giving them as much heat as she’s giving the professor?

Before I can get lost in thoughts of my fiery mate, the earth seems to open, and she’s slipping down, falling. No. No no no! I run.

Charging full speed down the dune, sand kicking up behind me, her friends’ yelling reaches me but the words don’t register. There’s a ringing in my ears. The pound of my heart, faster than my feet. I need to get to her.

Fuck, why am I so far away? I’m never leaving her side again.

Now on level ground, I can’t see her anymore, which only increases my panic. The big guy they call Bear is grabbing for the beta who’s sliding down, twisting like a sand serpent, trying to claw his way to more solid footing. They clasp forearms and Bear pulls the smaller man up, falling backward as he lands on his chest, but the reprieve is short-lived. The unsteady ground gives out, sucking them toward the hole like sand in an hourglass. Down, down, down.

Faster. I need to be faster . Someone has to save her! How long has it been since she fell? The sand is still sliding and tilting.

Don’t let me be too late. Please, goddess above and whatever powers exist, don’t let me be too late.

Without hesitation, I charge straight for the pit, and dive.