Page 7 of Seas the Day
“Tomorrow works.” His voice came out steadier than he felt. “I’ll have quarters prepared, arrange for?—”
“Just be yourself, darling,” Gerri interrupted gently. “Not that polished Alpha mask you wear for everyone else.”
The observation hit too close to home, and Thalric found himself staring out the window at the pink waters that had always been his refuge.
“I’ll be ready,” he said finally.
“I know you will be. And Thalric?” Gerri’s voice softened, taking on the warm, maternal tone that somehow made her seem both ancient and ageless. “Thank you for trusting me with this. You deserve happiness, dear.”
The words settled into something deep and wounded inside his chest. Before he could respond, Gerri continued.
“I’ll bring her through tomorrow morning. Try to get some sleep tonight—you’ll want to be at your best.”
The connection ended with a click, leaving him alone with the overwhelming silence of his office again. For a long moment, he simply stood there, the communicator still in his hand, processing what had just happened.
His fated mate. Here. Tomorrow.
A slow smile spread across his face—not the careful, diplomatic expression he wore for pack meetings, but something genuine and fierce. Something that belonged entirely to the wolf stirring beneath his skin.
He set the communicator down and moved toward the door, his steps lighter than they’d been in months. Maybe years. The weight that had been pressing against his shoulders since Roman’s death seemed to lift, replaced by something he’d almost forgotten how to feel.
Hope.
Outside his office, the corridors of the estate felt different somehow—brighter, full of potential instead of burden. He made his way through the familiar halls and out onto the terrace that overlooked the pink waters.
The twin suns were beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple that reflected off the ocean’s surface like scattered jewels. Thalric breathed deeply, tasting salt and possibility on the evening breeze. His wolf was no longer clawing for release. Instead, it sat alert and eager, every instinct focused on tomorrow and the mate who would finally settle something that had been restless for far too long.
A swimmer. An Olympian. Someone who understood the water the way his pack did. The strategic advantages were obvious, but beneath that practical assessment lay something deeper—a recognition that felt inevitable.
Graven and his fanatical followers preached about false predators and corrupted evolution, but they were wrong. The sea wolves belonged to these waters, and had been shaped by them for generations. And now his mate would understand that belonging in a way few humans ever could.
Tomorrow, everything would change. The pack would see their Alpha had done something even Roman never managed—secured not just a mate, but a Luna who could stand with them through whatever storms lay ahead.
FIVE
NAVIRA
The cool morning air nipped against Navira’s face as she stood outside the Indiana power plant with her two oversized suitcases flanking her like loyal sentinels. The larger one—a nylon monstrosity that had taken twenty minutes of strategic maneuvering to zip closed—contained everything from sweaters to swimwear, because how could she possibly know what the weather patterns were like on an alien planet. The second, slightly more reasonable in size, held more clothes including some dresses, and enough toiletries to supply a small army.
Maybe I went overboard,she thought, eyeing the bags with a mixture of pride and embarrassment.But better to show up looking like I’m moving permanently than to need something I don’t have.
The restless energy that had kept her tossing and turning all night still hummed beneath her skin. Every time she’d closed her eyes, her mind had spiraled through the same impossible loop:alien planet, elite swimmers, one month assignment, the mysterious Gerri Wilder—each concept more surreal than the last. By four AM, she’d given up on sleep entirely and spent theremaining hours getting ready, triple-checking her packing, and eating some breakfast.
The sound of tires on gravel made her turn, and relief flooded through her chest as a yellow cab pulled up to the curb. The door opened with a flourish, and Gerri Wilder stepped out like she was making an entrance at a red carpet event.
The woman was a vision in turquoise—a perfectly tailored pantsuit that somehow managed to be both professional and playful, paired with statement earrings that caught the morning light. Her snow-white bob was styled to perfection, and her heels clicked against the pavement with the confidence of someone who had never met a surface she couldn’t conquer.
Gerri’s bright eyes took in Navira’s appearance with one sweeping glance, and her mouth curved into a knowing smile.
“Well, well. Looks like someone didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Heat crept up Navira’s neck, and she found herself laughing despite her nerves. “Is it that obvious?”
“Darling, you’re practically vibrating with excitement.” Gerri paid the cab driver and turned back to Navira, her expression softening with genuine warmth. “And a healthy dose of anxiety, if I’m not mistaken.”
Navira rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly feeling like a teenager caught sneaking out past curfew. “I couldn’t turn my brain off. Every time I tried to sleep, I kept thinking about... well, everything. The trip, the swimmers I’ll be coaching.” She gestured helplessly at her suitcases. “I haven’t felt this amped up in five years.”
“Five years?” Gerri’s smile turned mischievous. “Interesting timing.”
