Page 12 of Ocean's Whisper

"Come back," she whispered, not entirely sure if she was speaking to the ocean or to the mysterious stranger who had vanished like sea foam in the sun. "Please."

The waves continued their eternal dance, offering no answers while the moon cast silver light across the water's surface. As she stood there, she had a very bad feeling that she just received a birthday present she never asked for and couldn't ever return.

SIX

NEREUS

Nereus strode away from the gathering crowd when the blonde woman rushed up to her distressed colleagues. The salt breeze chilled his naked skin, but he barely noticed. His senses remained locked on her—his Luna—even as he put distance between them.

He soon reached his black Ford F350, its massive frame parked on the packed sand beyond the dunes at the beach access point. The truck looked like any wealthy human's toy, but he had modified it extensively for beach terrain. He yanked open the back door, retrieving the emergency duffel he kept for situations exactly like this.

"Centuries of waiting and I meet her as naked as the day I was born," he muttered, pulling on dark jeans and a fitted navy Henley that stretched across his broad shoulders.

He slammed the truck door and stalked back toward the scene, positioning himself at the perimeter where the emergency vehicles cast red and blue pulses across the devastation. From this vantage point, he could observe without drawing attention. The destruction was quite extensive—the research station reduced to splinters and twisted metal, debris scattered like confetti across the once-pristine beach.

But his focus remained fixed on her.

His Luna stood amidst the chaos, her hair still damp and clinging to her face, yet somehow managing to look breathtaking despite the ordeal. His wolf paced restlessly within him, furious at the separation between them.

One of the male scientists—a gangly man—was animatedly speaking to the group. "Everyone, I just got off the phone with the USGS. They confirmed there was no seismic activity tonight. None. Not even a tremor."

Nereus watched the blonde woman's face transform. First confusion, then a flash of something deeper—fear? Recognition? Her eyes darted around, and for a moment, he felt like she might be looking for him.

But then a paramedic soon guided her toward an ambulance with a gentle but insistent hand on her elbow. Nereus clenched his jaw, his wolf snarling at the stranger's touch.

"Mine," he growled under his breath.

He rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to think strategically. Years of leadership had taught him when to act and when to observe. Charging into the middle of emergency personnel would only complicate matters. He needed to approach this delicately—a concept his wolf found infuriating.

But how to explain to a human woman that she possessed ancient ocean magic? That she had triggered a tidal wave during her awakening? That she was destined to be his mate, his Luna, the other half of his soul?

"Not exactly first-date topics," he muttered, scanning the scene with narrowed eyes.

He crossed his arms over his chest, watching as the paramedic draped a blanket over her shoulders and checked her vitals. Even from this distance, he could hear her heartbeat, steady but elevated. The salt-and-citrus scent of her skin floated on the breeze, tormenting him.

Two emergency workers passed by, their conversation drifting to his sensitive ears.

"Never seen anything like it," the first said. "A wave that size with no warning?"

"Meteorological anomaly," the second replied. "That's what they'll call it. Freak weather event."

Nereus's mouth quirked into a humorless smile. If only they knew the truth—that the woman they were treating had enough power in her slight frame to command the entire ocean if she learned how to harness it properly. And he was the only one who could teach her.

Nereus had barely taken three strides away from his observation point when some of the scientists spotted him. They waved frantically, rushing toward him like eager recruits seeking the pack alpha's approval.

"It's him!" The gangly one pointed. "That's the guy who saved us!"

Nereus squared his broad shoulders, planting his feet as the group converged on him. He had spent centuries interacting with humans when necessary but always kept those encounters brief. Tonight complicated matters. The bond with his Luna demanded his attention while these mortals required pacification.

"Sir, we can't thank you enough," one of the female scientists praised. "You swam like nothing I've ever seen. How did you move so fast in those conditions?"

His wolf bristled at how they delayed him from tracking his mate. But Nereus kept his expression neutral, his voice steady and authoritative.

"Former Olympic training. Swimming's in my blood." The half-truth rolled smoothly off his tongue.

The gangly scientist's eyes widened. "Olympic level? That explains it! But what brought you out here tonight of all nights?"

Nereus met the man's gaze directly, a subtle display of dominance that made the scientist step back instinctively. "I swim at night. Fewer distractions. Was doing my usual route when I saw the wave hit."

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