Chapter 192
Claire’s POV
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On the plane, the kids were very excited, barely able to sit still even when the seatbelt sign was lit. It was difficult not to mirror their enthusiasm, even if I was worried too. All of my emotions were smooshed inside of me in a boiling mixture. Trepidation, nervousness, but also excitement. Fortunately, my years of warrior training helped me keep a handle on everything.
The kids weren’t worried. Gideon and I had mostly kept them in the dark about the purpose of this trip. They knew Mom and Dad had to do some work, which was why Peter and their usual babysitter were with us, to help guard them while we were following leads. Other than that, they assumed we were having a family vacation to a beach front pack.
I did pack a bathing suit, so maybe that wasn’t totally wrong. Though I still felt guilty for it, like taking any time to enjoy the beach would diminish the seriousness of what we came here to do. Gideon had convinced me though.
He’d said, “There will be some downtime, and I would see you enjoy yourself in those moments. Your uncle must have loved this place to have stayed hidden here for so long. I’m sure he would have wanted his niece to enjoy its beauty as well.”
That had been what had finally convinced me. I still felt guilty for even thinking of having fun on this trip, but… maybe it would help me feel closer to my uncle, to try to see what he saw. To love what he loved.-
I’d never seen an ocean before. Though I had seen pictures, I couldn’t quite fathom the vastness of it. Would I feel small standing beside something so big, with the waves licking at my feet? Was that how Daniel had felt? Was that where he found his solace?
Beside me, Gideon was on his laptop for most of the trip. We’d left in something of a rush, so he hadn’t had much time to give specific directions to Xavier before leaving him in charge. He was making up for that now, typing away. He’d already apologized to me for the moments when he would have to step away to remotely deal with pack business.
He didn’t need to explain these things to me. I cared about his pack like it was my own.
Eventually, the plan landed and we all exited. The minute the cabin door opened, the heat of this place startled me. As we stepped out, the landscape was flatter than home, with mountains only far off in the distance. The sun beat down on us from a cloudless blue sky. Though we couldn’t see the ocean from here, a hint of salt lingered in the air.
This was nothing like I was used to, and for a moment, the excitement won out over my other emotions, filling me with a sense of childlike wonder. I couldn’t wait to see the ocean.
“Welcome, my friends,” said a member of this pack’s council. We had been told to expect one as a welcome party, after Gideon contacted this pack’s Alpha to gain permission for entry. An Alpha couldn’t simply go to another pack. They had to check in first, or it could be viewed as an act of aggression. “My name is Marco. Welcome, to the Moon Shores pack.”
“Thank you,” Gideon said and shook the man’s hand. I did as well.
He smiled at us both, and at our children who were trying so hard to be polite, though their excitement was making them bounce on their feet.
“We understand your purpose, and wish to help as much as we can,” Marco told us. “But of course, we also hope you enjoy yourself. Our pack prides itself on our natural beauty. Come. I’ve arranged for you to stay at a beachfront resort.”
“Oh,” I said quickly. “That’s kind of you, but I was hoping we could stay nearer where my uncle spent his final days.”
“Ah, forgive this misunderstanding,” Marco said. “This resort is exactly where your uncle spent his final days.”
We all entered a car and were taken to the resort, which to my understanding was beachfront. I could hear the waves, but not
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Chapter 192
see them. They must have been on the other side of the long massive building.
Marco left us after giving his number, and we went to stand in the check–in line.
“Mommy! Daddy! I want to see the ocean.” Leo said.
“Me too! Me too!” Nova agreed
Peter eyed the babysitter. “We can take them out back to see it.”
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“Thank you” I told them. After they left. I said to Gideon, “I want to start investigating right away.” I already felt guilty for not doing enough
“We have a meeting with Daniel’s lawyer tomorrow. We just got off the plane.” Gideon said. “There’s no harm in doing a bit of beach fun today.”
He was right, but
I just wanted to do right by my Uncle
Gideon checked in and then came back to me. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go see the water before we go scope out our rooms”
My wonder at wanting to see the ocean won out over my guilt and I followed him out the back door of the resort
Behind the resort was a long wooden deck with stairs that led straight down to a sandy beach. Beyond that, clearly visible now, was the ocean.
It took my breath away. Gods. It felt almost alien to be standing here, looking at this great ocean. Like I was looking at a whole other world
“Can we put on our bathing suits Mom?” Nova asked, rushing to me. “I want to build a sandcastle!”
Overwhelmed. I could only agree. We all went up to our rooms to put our things away and change. Not ten minutes later, we were back out on the beach
I helped the children build sandcastles, with Leo taking the lead, showing Nova and me how.
After a while, Gideon offered me his hand
I’d been trying not to look at him overmuch. He was so handsome in only his swim trunks Shirtless, every rippling muscle of his chest was on full display.
I was just as awestruck looking at him as I had been seeing the ocean
“Let’s go for a swim,” he said.
I wasn’t a confident swimmer, but if he was there with me…..
I couldn’t come to the ocean without going into it, could I?
Holding onto Gideon’s hand. I allowed him to lead me out into the water. It was difficult to get a footing at first, with the water churning so much, with even the sand sliding out from under my feet.
We’d made it to where the water was touching our waists, when a massive wave came lunging straight for us. I turned my back in time to avoid a face full of water, but the shifting sands left me unbalance.
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Immediately I started to fall.
Just as quickly, I was caught by a pair of strong arms and brought to the safety of a warm, hard chest.
My hands on Gideon’s bare, wet abdomen, I looked up into his eyes.
He was so close. I couldn’t look away. Not even as he started to lean in.
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