Page 105 of The Alpha's Fallen Spell
We run for what feels like forever but is probably only minutes. Erik slows to a trot, then a walk. We emerge from the trees into a clearing that takes my breath away.
Before us lies a lake so perfect, it seems like something from a fairy tale. The water is impossibly clear, reflecting the moon and stars like a mirror. Even in the darkness, I can see all the way to the bottom through the crystal-clear depths.
Erik stops at the water’s edge, and I feel the familiar shimmer as he begins to shift back. This time, I’m still on top of him when the transformation completes, and suddenly, I find myself tumbling into strong, human arms as Erik catches me effortlessly.
He lowers me to my feet slowly, his hands lingering at my waist. His hair is tousled and his eyes are still bright with the wildness of his wolf.
“Well?” he asks, slightly breathless. “What did you think?”
“That was...” I struggle for words, still giddy with leftover adrenaline. “Incredible. Amazing. I felt like I was flying.”
His smile is triumphant. “I thought you might like it.”
I step forward and stare at the lake, trying to process its impossible beauty, and trying not to focus on the fact that Erikis naked. “What is this place? I’ve lived here for over a year and never heard of any lake like this.”
“That’s because it’s a secret,” Erik says, moving to stand beside me. “This lake belongs to the Clearwater family—wolves who’ve been its guardians for seven generations. The water stays this clear year-round because of their magic. They don’t allow outsiders here.”
“Then, how are we here?”
He looks slightly embarrassed. “I may have called in a very large favor. And promised them exclusive access to certain palace hunting grounds for the next decade.”
I stare at him. “You traded royal hunting rights to bring me swimming?”
“It seemed like a fair exchange at the time.”
The casual way he says it, like giving away pieces of his kingdom is nothing, makes me uneasy. “Erik—”
“The water’s warm,” he says, cutting me off. “Heated by underground springs. Perfect for swimming.”
My mouth goes dry as I realize why he stripped earlier. When he starts toward the water, his body magnificent in the moonlight, I know what he intends to do.
“You’re going skinny dipping?” I call after him.
He pauses at the water’s edge, looking back at me with a wicked grin. “We both are.”
“I am not—” I start, but he’s already diving in, disappearing beneath the surface with barely a splash.
He surfaces a few yards out, water streaming from his hair, looking like some kind of lake god. “Come on, Fiona. Live a little.”
“I am living,” I protest, but my eyes are fixed on the way moonlight plays across his shoulders, the water droplets catching the light like diamonds.
“Are you scared?” he calls, and there’s just enough challenge in his tone to make my spine stiffen.
“I’m not scared of anything,” I call back.
“Prove it.”
The dare is pure manipulation, but something about this place, this magical clearing hidden from the world, makes me feel reckless. Before I can lose my nerve, I start pulling off my clothes.
Erik goes very still in the water, watching as I strip down to bare skin. The night air is cold against my flesh, raising goosebumps, but his heated gaze makes me feel like I’m on fire.
I walk to the water’s edge on unsteady legs, hyperaware of his attention. The first step into the lake makes me gasp—not from cold, but from the unexpected warmth. It’s like stepping into a perfectly heated bath.
“Told you it was nice,” Erik says, his voice rougher than before.
I wade deeper, the warm water lapping at my skin. When I’m chest-deep, Erik begins swimming toward me with lazy, powerful strokes. He stops just out of arm’s reach, treading water.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, and I know he’s not talking about the lake.
