Page 46 of Freed

Maybe Erica and her grandmother can help. Maybe there’s some potion that can help establish a broken bond. Internally I nod, letting that sprout of hope bloom, pushing back my dark thoughts as Maddox leads me to the pool.

I see the twins turn our way, their eyes filling with heat, and decide not to let this sour my mood right now.

Everyone is safe, healthy, and I’m back in the pack bond. That will have to do for now.

“You picked the one I bought you,” Chase says with a devilish smile.

“I should have known it was you,” Maddox says in amusement as we step into the shallow edge of the pool.

“You’re welcome,” Chase tells him with a smirk.

Hunter grabs my free hand as he asks, “You ready for your swimming lesson, baby?” I nod as I look at the water and bite my lip. I keep my hand in his and Maddox’s as we walk down the slope. When the water reaches my waist, I let go of their hands to run my hands through it.

Chase stands in front of me with the other two beside me, and with every step I take, they take one too. As if determined to make sure I don’t so much as slip under the water.

“Can you guys give me a little more space?” I ask in amusement. In unison, they all take a single step back, and I try to hide my smile.

I take another step forward then lift my legs and start kicking them as I move my hands back and forth.

“Hey!” I say in delighted surprise. “I’m doing it!”

“Maybe you know how to swim in your human form?” Hunter asks.

“I don’t know,” I say as I hesitantly start to swim toward Chase, who’s holding his hands out toward me. “I don’t remember.”

“Well, you’re doing great,” Maddox encourages. “You’re a natural.” Chase keeps his arms out but moves backward as I continue swimming toward him, a huge smile plastered on his face.

“Look at you go! You’re doing amazing!” I smile back and try to move in bigger strokes but end up splashing myself and start spluttering when water gets in my mouth.

Instantly, I’m scooped up in Maddox’s strong arms as he cradles me to his chest. His bare chest. I give it a firm pat. “Thank you. But I wasn’t drowning.”

“I wasn’t willing to take that risk,” he says seriously.

Awe, this guy. Unable to resist, I wrap my fingers around the back of his neck and pull him lower, pressing my lips to his. He seems surprised at first, but then he lifts me a little higher, making it easier to kiss, and I moan in approval.

When his tongue touches my lips, and I open for him, I know I haven’t completely lost him. He still wants me. He’s still my mate.

He’s just scared. As am I. I can’t help but wonder if Bain and Gage are too.

After that heated kiss, I did a little more swimming before I decided that I wanted to lie in one of the lounge chairs and watch them. I chose one that also let me watch Bain chopping wood near the back of the yard.

I wasn’t sure why he was doing that. We hadn’t had a fire in days, and there is a giant pile of cut wood right behind him that he keeps adding to. Eventually, he pulls off his shirt, clearly getting sweaty from the physical effort, and I sit up a little as I try to get a better look at him.

Somehow, even though I see him all the time, I’m still surprised by the sheer size of him. He’s positively massive. His muscles bulge as he swings the ax over his head and drives it down into the log, splitting it clean in two.

I think about those arms lifting me up and driving me down on his cock, and suddenly I feel my cheeks heating as I press my legs together, hoping nobody notices my sudden arousal. It’s been far too long since I felt him, but nerves keep me rooted to the chair.

What if he feels the same way as Maddox? He must, otherwise wouldn’t he be using what can only be described as pent-up energy on me? I bite my lip, unsure what to do, but the need to make sure he’s not in pain has me climbing to my feet and wrapping my towel around me under my arms as I make my way toward him.

He hears me coming instantly, his head jerking up to me, and he slams the ax down into the cut tree stump he was using as a base. Silently, he turns to me, his hands fisted at his sides as he watches me approach.

“Hi,” I squeak out as I stop a few feet from him.

He tilts his head as if assessing me before he asks, “What are you doing here, angel?”

I try not to let him show how that question hurts me, so I press forward, asking, “Am I not allowed to come see you? Do I need a reason to see my mate?”

“Of course not⁠—”