The Alpha’s Surgeon

25

The river’s gentle current carried them along, sun warming their backs as they paddled unevenly. Rae and Del fell into a mischievous harmony, their voices blending low and powerful. Soon, Remi, in her own kayak, added her soft, melodic tone, weaving through the lyrics, making the song fuller, richer.

“Don’t you know, I’m no good alone…” Del began, and Rae chimed in, her voice carrying across the water. Remi’s tone added a grounding warmth, filling the gaps and giving the song a surprising depth. Laughter bubbled between verses as their kayaks wobbled with every note.

By the chorus—“River, take me, I’m falling…”—Rae was grinning ear to ear, letting herself feel light and untouchable. Del’s laugh wove into the melody, Remi’s voice smooth and steady, making the river feel like their stage.

And then Aspen decided the performance needed… disruption.

Before anyone could react, the wolfdog leapt, aiming for Del’s kayak.

“ASPEN!” Del screamed, arms flailing as her kayak tipped.

Rae barely had time to steady her own paddle, laughing so hard she was nearly crying. Remi tried to sing through her chuckles, “Oh… my… god…” barely audible as she paddled toward the commotion.

Aspen landed with a splash, sending Del and her kayak flipping. Del popped up sputtering, hair plastered to her face, while Aspen barked triumphantly from the riverbank.

Rae doubled over laughing, paddling over to help stabilize her friend. Trey and Elijah were laughing so hard they could barely stay upright in their kayaks. Will’s low chuckle carried over the water, shaking his head in amusement.

“You knew he’d do that!” Del sputtered, glaring at both Rae and Aspen.

“I warned you!” Rae gasped between laughter.

Trey snorted. “Aspen, the ultimate chaos agent.”

Elijah grinned, glancing at Del. “You okay, firecracker?”

Del wiped water from her face, still laughing. “Barely. That dog hates me, I swear.”

Rae leaned on her paddle, smirking. “Nah, he just knows how to make life entertaining.”

Remi chuckled softly, paddling closer. “He’s… efficient. Adds excitement to the river.”

Aspen barked again, tail wagging like he had won some epic battle, as the four kayakers—bobbing on sparkling water, voices lingering from their song, laughter spilling over the current—shared a perfectly chaotic, unforgettable moment.

Aspen barked again, tail wagging like he’d just won some epic battle—and then all hell broke loose.

The wolfdog bolted along the riverbank, splashing back into the water at the worst possible angle.

“ASPEN—!” Rae shouted, but it was too late.

Del’s kayak clipped a sudden wake and veered sideways. She yelped as it slammed straight into Elijah’s.

“Elijah!” she squeaked—

Her balance vanished, and the next thing she knew she was tipping forward, arms flailing, before landing hard—right in his lap.

Elijah grunted, instinctively catching her around the waist as his kayak rocked dangerously. “Whoa—Del!”

She froze, breath knocked clean out of her, blinking up at him. “Hi. Um. This is… new.”

“I noticed,” he muttered, trying not to laugh as he steadied them both.

A split second later, Remi wasn’t spared either.

Aspen’s wake sent her kayak drifting straight into Will’s with a solid thunk.

“Remi—!” Will started, but momentum had already decided their fate.

Remi gasped as her kayak tipped, her paddle slipping from her grip as she fell forward—landing squarely against Will’s chest, legs tangled over his thighs.

Will’s arms came up automatically, locking around her to keep them both from dumping into the river. His low chuckle vibrated beneath her. “Guess I should stop saving you seats.”

Remi laughed breathlessly, cheeks warm as she braced her hands on his shoulders. “You didn’t even ask first.”

“I’m flexible,” he murmured, amusement dancing in his eyes.

And then there was Rae.

Aspen barreled past one last time, sending a ripple straight into her kayak. Rae barely had time to curse in Cajun before it knocked sideways into Trey’s.

“Oh you have got to be—” Rae started—

And promptly toppled forward, landing hard on Trey’s lap with a surprised grunt from both of them.

Trey’s hands snapped to her hips to steady them, kayak wobbling violently before settling. He blinked down at her, stunned—and then grinned. “Well. This is one way to get my attention.”

Rae stared at him for half a second, then groaned, dropping her forehead to his shoulder. “I swear to god, I’m blaming the dog.”

From the riverbank, Aspen barked triumphantly, tail wagging like he’d orchestrated the entire thing on purpose.

Del burst out laughing first, still half-sprawled across Elijah. “HE DID THIS ON PURPOSE.”

Remi laughed too, shaking her head as Will steadied them. “He absolutely did.”

Will snorted. “Your dog just caused a full-on kayak pileup.”

Trey chuckled, squeezing Rae’s side lightly before helping her shift back upright. “Chaos agent confirmed.”

Rae finally sat back in her kayak, pointing an accusing finger at Aspen. “You are grounded. Forever.”

Aspen barked again—proud, unapologetic, victorious.

And the river echoed with laughter as the girls untangled themselves from the boys’ laps, cheeks flushed, kayaks wobbling, the moment burning itself permanently into memory.