Page 40 of Ocean's Whisper

Nereus's teeth sank into the rogue's shoulder, the metallic tang of blood filling his mouth. The shifter yelped, his claws scrabbling against Nereus's sides, but he held firm, shaking his head violently until the rogue was thrown to the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Nereus saw the first shifter darting toward Isolde. His wolf howled in fury, but before he could intervene, Isolde raised her hands. The water from the hot spring surged upward, a crystalline whip that lashed out and struck the shifter square in the chest. He stumbled back, his expression a mix of shock and rage.

"Didn't see that coming, did you?" Isolde taunted, her voice steady despite the intense situation. She flicked her wrist, and the water coiled around the shifter's legs, yanking him off balance.

Pride surged through Nereus, fierce and unrelenting. His Luna was proving herself, and it was the hottest and most invigorating thing he had ever seen. He turned his attention back to the injured shifter at his paws, who was trying to crawl away. With a snarl, Nereus pounced, pinning him down with one massive paw.

"You should've stayed away," Nereus growled telepathically. He leaned in, his teeth inches from the shifter's throat. "Now, get out of my sight before I change my mind about ending you. But be sure, if I catch you near my territory again, I'll rip your throat out."

The shifter whimpered, scrambling to his feet and limping toward the cave's entrance. His companion, still tangled in Isolde’s water bonds, managed to break free and bolted after the injured shifter before Nereus could attack him too.

Nereus shifted back into his human form, breathing heavily as he turned to Isolde. She stood tall, her hands still glowingfaintly with the residual energy of her magic. Her hair was wild, her eyes blazing with a mix of fear and triumph.

"That was incredible," he said, his deep voice rough as he closed the distance between them. He cupped her face in his hands. "You fought like a true warrior."

She smirked, though her hands trembled slightly as she rested them on his chest. "You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve."

He laughed, capturing her hands in his. "I think you just officially earned your place as my Luna."

Her smile softened. "I fought for you," she whispered. "Forus."

His chest tightened, his wolf howling with delight. He pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her soft ones. "And I'll fight for you always, Isolde. My Luna. My true mate."

Her breath hitched, and then she kissed him, her lips fierce and demanding. He responded in kind, his large hands sliding down to her waist, pulling her even closer until there was no space between them. The adrenaline from the fight morphed into something hotter, something primal, and he knew that everything between them had shifted. She wasn't just his mate—she was his future.

Before long, Nereus draped his arm protectively around Isolde's shoulders as they left the cave. The memory of her wielding the water with such precision and power still burned brightly in his mind. She had fought like a warrior, likehiswarrior, and the sense of pride mingled with something deeper—something that made his wolf growl with approval. She wasn't just his mate, she was his true equal, and the thought of her standing by his side as Luna filled him with a fierce, unrelenting satisfaction.

The forest path back to the castle was quiet, the only sounds the crunch of their footsteps on the fallen leaves and the distantcrash of waves against the shore. His thoughts, however, were anything but quiet. The attack in the cave had shaken him, and not just because it had been unexpected. Whoever those shifters were, they spoke about a rumor about his Luna.

"You're quiet," she said, her voice cutting through his thoughts. She glanced up at him, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "Already plotting how to protect me from the next ambush?"

He couldn't help the smirk that tugged at his lips. "Always. But I'm more impressed you didn't scream and run the first chance you got. Most humans would've bolted at the sight of my wolf tearing into someone like that."

She rolled her eyes, but there was a playful spark in her expression. "Please. I've seen worse in documentaries about great white sharks. Besides, you're kind of hot when you go all alpha on someone."

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Kind of hot, huh?"

"Don't let it go to your head," she teased, nudging him with her elbow.

He laughed outright at that, the sound echoing through the trees. "I won't as long as you promise to keep fighting by my side like you did back there."

Her expression softened, and she leaned into him, her warmth seeping into his side. "I wasn't going to let them hurt you. Or me. I'm not just some damsel in distress, you know."

"I know," he said, his voice turning serious. He stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "That's what makes you so incredible. You're strong, Isolde. But I need to figure out who those shifters were and why they came after us. I can't promise they’ll be the last ones to try something."

Her brow furrowed, but she didn't pull away. "You think this is bigger than just a random attack?"

"I don’t know yet," he said, his jaw tightening. "They knew about you. They called youhumanlike it was an insult. And they were bold enough to come onto my territory."

She nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "So, what's the plan? I’m guessing you're not just going to sit around and wait for them to come back."

He smirked, the alpha in him relishing her sharp mind. "No, I'm not. I need to find Damien. He's got connections and resources I don't. If anyone can figure out who's behind this, it's him. But first…" He leaned in and kissed her gently. "First, I need to make sure you're safe."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing in a mock glare. "I thought we already established I can take care of myself."

"You can," he agreed, his voice low and heated. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to do everything in my power to protect you. You're my Luna, Isolde. And I'll fight for you until my last breath."

Her breath hitched, and she rested her hands on his chest.

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