Page 20 of Seas the Day
“That happiness looks good on you,” she said, swimming closer with easy strokes. “You should do it more often.”
If only it were that simple,he thought.
Alpha duties, Graven’s looming threat, the constant pressure to be perfect—none of it allowed for moments like this. But with Navira here, floating in his ocean and looking at him like he wasmore than just a title and responsibilities, maybe he could find more opportunities to simply be himself.
“Maybe I will,” he said, and meant it.
Navira began swimming further out, her strokes confident and powerful. Thalric followed, his body moving through the water with natural ease even in human form. His wolf pressed at the edges of his consciousness, wanting to shift and truly be free in the depths, but he wasn’t sure if she was ready to see his true nature yet.
They swam together in companionable silence for a long time, the freedom of the ocean and the presence of his mate creating a sense of rightness in his soul he’d never experienced.
When they stopped to rest for a moment, as they floated together in the deeper water, Navira turned to him with curiosity bright in her blue eyes.
“Would you shift into your wolf form?” she asked, her voice carrying no fear, only genuine interest. “I’d like to see your true nature. And if I’m going to be training your pack tomorrow, I should probably understand what I’m dealing with.”
The request sent a surge of elation through him. She wanted to see his wolf—to know him completely. His heart soared at her acceptance, at the trust implicit in her words.
“All right,” he said, his voice rougher with emotion than he intended. “But stay back for a moment.”
Navira swam a short distance away, giving him space while keeping her eyes fixed on him with fascination rather than apprehension. The fact that she showed no fear, only curiosity and acceptance, made something tight in his chest finally loosen.
Thalric let the shift take him.
The transformation was always easier in water, his element calling to both sides of his nature. His bones stretched and reformed, his muscles expanded, and thick fur sprouted across his changing form. When the shift completed, he was no longerthe controlled Alpha in human skin—he was pure sea wolf, magnificent and free.
His wolf form was massive even by Alpha standards, his dark grey fur streaked with brown and silver like storm clouds touched by sunlight. His storm-grey eyes remained the same, luminous and intelligent as they fixed on his mate.
The look on Navira’s face made his wolf’s heart sing. Instead of fear or revulsion, her expression held nothing but pure awe and acceptance. She swam closer without hesitation, her movements slow and respectful but utterly unafraid.
“You’re beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to stroke his fur.
The touch was more intimate than anything Thalric had ever experienced. Her fingers combed through his thick coat, and every nerve ending came alive at the contact. In this form, he couldn’t speak to her—their bond wasn’t complete yet for telepathic communication—but he could show her his trust and affection.
He nudged her gently with his muzzle, a rumble of contentment vibrating through his chest. Navira smiled and continued to pet him, her touch growing more confident as she realized he welcomed her attention.
Then together they swam deeper into his ocean—him in his true wolf form, her in her perfect human body—and for the first time in his life, Thalric felt complete. This was what he’d been missing, what no amount of political success or pack approval could provide. His mate, swimming beside him in perfect harmony, accepting every part of who he was.
THIRTEEN
NAVIRA
The pink ocean embraced Navira like a long-lost friend as she tried to keep pace with Thalric. Swimming beside him in his magnificent sea wolf form felt like stepping into a dream—one where she belonged to something vast and wild and utterly perfect.
This is what I’ve been missing,she thought as she cut through the crystalline depths with powerful strokes.
The water here didn’t just support her; it seemed to energize her, filling her with a vitality she hadn’t felt since before her injury. Every cell in her body hummed with recognition, as if the ocean itself was welcoming her home.
Thalric’s wolf form was a masterpiece of primal grace and lethal beauty. His dark grey fur rippled over muscles built for both speed and endurance, while those storm-grey eyes remained fixed on her with a piercing intensity that sent warmth flooding through her chest. His massive frame moved through the water with an effortless power that made her Olympic training look amateur by comparison. Gerri had been right—these sea wolves made even elite human swimmers look like beginners splashing in a kiddie pool.
When Thalric accelerated, testing her limits, Navira pushed herself to keep up. Her competitive spirit flared to life as she matched his rhythm, stroke for stroke, her body remembering what it felt like to be pushed beyond comfortable boundaries. The challenge exhilarated her in ways she’d forgotten were possible.
How am I supposed to train his pack when he swims like this?
The thought flickered through her mind before dissolving into pure sensation. She had ideas—techniques from her Olympic days that might translate—but right now, analysis felt impossible. The only thing that mattered was this moment: the burn in her muscles, the rush of water past her skin, and the magnificent creature swimming beside her like they’d been doing this for years.
Swimming with Thalric felt natural in a way that defied logic. Their movements synchronized without conscious effort, as if some invisible current connected them beneath the surface. When he dove deeper, she followed instinctively. When she changed direction, he matched her seamlessly.
Eventually, her human limitations began to show. Her strokes grew less precise, her breathing more labored, while Thalric’s wolf form showed no signs of fatigue. As if sensing her need for rest, he slowed and began to shift back to his human form in the water beside her.
