Page 45 of Ocean's Whisper

He slammed his large fist against the window frame, cracking the ancient wood. What was she thinking, leaving without telling him? Did she not understand the danger?

No, of course, she didn’t know. He hadn’t told her how serious the situation was. What was he thinking not telling her how she would be hunted by their enemies? But if he’d done that, she would certainly have run as far from him as she could.

His love for her had just taken root, and already she was slipping through his fingers. He would not lose her, not now, not ever.

He tore through the castle corridors, his heavy footfalls echoing against the stone walls. The wolf inside him clawed at his skin, demanding release, demanding to hunt for his mate. Hefound Xavier in the security room, preparing their new security measures.

"She's gone," Nereus growled, his voice a thunder rolling across the room.

Xavier spun around. "Who's gone?"

"Isolde. She took the Aston Martin without telling a damn soul where she was headed," Nereus fumed.

Xavier shot to his feet. "I'll assemble the guard. We'll?—"

"No time." Nereus cut him off with a sharp gesture. "I need you to coordinate from here. Have the coastal patrols double their rounds."

"She probably just needed some space, Nereus. It's a lot to take in?—"

"Space?" Nereus's laugh held no humor. "She doesn't understand what’s going on or how much danger she’s in. Those shifters that attacked us weren't random rogues. They knew exactly who she was, and what she is."

Xavier's expression darkened. "How could they possibly know though?"

"Someone's been watching. Someone knows she's manifested her powers." Nereus tugged at his short black hair, his turquoise eyes flickering with wolf energy. "She needs to master those powers quickly, not just for her safety, but for all of us."

"What do you mean?"

Nereus paced the room, his massive frame coiled tight like a spring. "A Luna with control of water magic could turn the tide in any conflict. She could protect the pack in ways I never could alone. That's part of the reason they're after her."

"But you can't force her to be what you need," Xavier cautioned.

Nereus whirled on him. "This isn't about what I need! This is about her survival, and ultimately ours. She needs to proveherself, and fast, so I can formally announce her as Luna and complete the mating ritual."

He pulled out his phone, hitting redial for what felt like the hundredth time. Straight to voicemail again. "Fuck! Isolde." His voice softened despite his rage when he left another message. "Call me back. Now. You have no idea what you're walking into out there. It's not safe for you to be alone."

He hung up, shoving the phone back in his pocket with excessive force.

"I gave her that phone as a birthday gift after the tidal wave. She's had it less than a week, and suddenly can't be bothered to answer when her life might depend on it?"

Xavier watched his alpha with wary eyes. "The mate bond—can you feel where she is?"

Nereus closed his eyes, reaching through the invisible tether that bound him to Isolde. It pulsed faintly, tugging him eastward. "Toward the ocean. Probably her houseboat."

"I'll send men?—"

"No." Nereus's eyes snapped open. "I go alone. She's my responsibility."

He stalked out of the room, leaving Xavier staring after him. In the garage, Nereus bypassed the luxury vehicles in favor of his custom Ducati motorcycle—sleek, black, and faster than anything else in his collection.

The engine roared to life between his legs, vibrating with raw power. Just like the beast inside him, ready to be unleashed. He peeled out of the garage, the front wheel lifting off the ground as he accelerated down the private coastal road.

Wind whipped past him as he pushed the motorcycle to its limits, weaving through the territory’s traffic with supernatural precision. All the while, he focused on the pull, that invisible line drawing him toward Isolde.

"Stubborn, infuriating woman," he muttered. The mate bond hummed stronger as he drew closer to her location, confirming his suspicion that she had headed back to her houseboat.

Did she not understand what it meant to be his? To belong to him as he belonged to her? The thought of her alone out there, vulnerable to attack, made his blood run cold despite the early autumn heat.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled over long enough to check it, hoping it was Isolde, but found Xavier's name instead.

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