Ryder''s POV


    "Well, you made it six miles when I thought you''d give up at five, so you''re doing better than I expected. Though looking at your legs shaking like that, I''m surprised you made it this far,” I said withugh.


    "Go... to... hell," she managed between gasps. I watched her stubborn


    expression, finding it strangely adorable despite myself.


    I just chuckled at her defiance. "Come on." I extended my hand, and after she took it, we continued walking.


    "How are you not even tired?" she asked a few minutester.


    "I''m an Alpha. We don''t get tired," I lied. Just then, she stumbled, fortunately still holding my hand. "Need me to carry you?"


    She red at me but ignored mystment. "I just haven''t worked out for about a week, and I was injured before that."


    "Alright, my poor little luna, let me show you something." We walked to the edge of a deep creek that ran through our territory. At the point where we stood, there was a waterfall flowing into a small pond, then the creek widened where water would drain out during rainy days.


    "This ce is beautiful," Xena said, releasing my hand to walk to the edge of the waterfall.


    "Yeah, beautiful," I said, but my eyes were fixed on her. Her silhouette against the sunlight, ying with the shadows and light effects, like an angel-I almost forgot to breathe.


    She removed her shoes and socks, sat on a rock, and dipped her feet into the water.


    "This feels so good," she said, tilting her head back and closing her eyes.


    "Let''s go swimming," I suggested.


    "Do what?" Xena looked at me.


    "Yeah, let''s go for a swim," I told her. I contacted the patrol through our mind link. "Stay away from the pond area."


    "Yes, Alpha," they knew better than to ask questions.


    "What if someonees...?" Xena nced around, but I had already started removing my shirt.


    "No one wille." Next came my shoes and socks.


    "The patrol...


    "I just instructed them to stay away." After removing my shorts, I stood naked before her. The satisfaction of watching her eyes roam up and down my body sent shivers down my spine.


    I jumped past her into the pond below. The water was almost crystal clear and felt good on this hot day.


    "Fine," Xena said with resignation.


    I caught my breath watching her strippletely before leaping into the water. I don''t know what it was, but my dick quickly grew rock hard.


    When her body emerged from the surface, her wet skin glistening in the daylight,


    it was so sexy that my lower region throbbed again.


    "This does feel amazing," she said with a smile.


    I turned around, about to show her the colorful stone I''d just picked up from the water, when suddenly my head was pushed down, two hands forcing me underwater. As a werewolf, I was an excellent swimmer. I quickly dove deeper, grabbed her ankles, and pulled her under too. Using the momentum from the bottom, I shot toward the surface.


    I emerged, slicking my hair back. This feels great! I looked around, checking the shore for the colorful stone I''d found earlier. I counted the seconds, yet Xena hadn''t surfaced. A sense of foreboding washed over me, and I frantically dove back in, finding her lying motionless at the bottom, eyes closed, small bubbles escaping her mouth.


    No, impossible! My heart sank, blood seemingly freezing in my veins


    "Fuck!" I screamed internally, diving down without hesitation to grab her. My arms wrapped tightly around her as I pulled her toward the surface.


    Don''t do this, Xena, you can''t do this to me!


    As soon as her head broke the surface, I ced her on the rocks, gently patting


    her cheeks, leaning close to her mouth to listen for breathing.


    Please, you have to be okay, you must be okay!


    Just then, a wet sensation slipped into my ear.