Page 28 of Ocean's Whisper

"This is ridiculous," she snapped. "I have a right to be here!"

As her anger mounted, the rhythm of the waves behind them changed. What had been gentle laps against the shore now crashed with increasing force. The workers further down the beach turned to look at the suddenly choppy water.

"What the hell?" the taller guard muttered, shielding his eyes against the sun as he stared out at the growing swells.

Isolde felt it then—the pull in her chest, the strange synchronicity between her rising temper and the agitated ocean. Nereus's warning echoed in her mind:When that power inside you surges again—and it will—when the ocean responds to your fear or anger or whatever emotion you can't control, you'll wish I had been more controlling.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a deep breath. The last thing they needed was another tsunami.

"I... I'm sorry for the confusion," she managed, backing away. "I'll come back with proper authorization."

Retreating to the Aston Martin, she slumped into the driver's seat. Through the windshield, she watched the waves gradually settle as she calmed herself. The connection was undeniable now.

"I need to learn how to control this," she whispered to her reflection in the rearview mirror.

The drive back to the castle passed in a blur of self-recrimination. By the time she pulled into the garage, her determination had solidified into resolution. She needed help, and the only person who could provide it was somewhere inside this labyrinthine fortress.

After asking a surprisingly helpful maid for directions, Isolde found herself standing outside what seemed to be a state-of-the-art combat facility. The door was slightly open, and the sound of exertion filtered through the gap.

She peered inside, her breath catching at the sight that greeted her. The space was a perfect blend of ancient tradition and cutting-edge technology—wood-paneled walls adorned with traditional weapons alongside digital training interfaces and high-tech equipment. But it wasn't the room that captured her attention.

It was Nereus.

Shirtless, with sweat glistening on his sculpted torso, he moved through a series of combat forms with predatory grace. His muscles flexed and rippled beneath his tanned skin as he wielded a wooden staff against three digital opponents—all of whom appeared to be struggling despite their numerical advantage. His face bore an expression of intense concentration, his jaw set in a hard line that somehow made him even more devastatingly handsome.

Isolde felt her mouth go dry. The raw power and controlled aggression in his movements stirred something primal within her—something that resonated with the newly awakened energy coursing through her veins.

One by one, his opponents' digital forms faltered. Nereus stood victorious, barely winded, the staff held loosely in one hand while the other pushed back his damp black hair. Hiscommanding presence filled the room, an alpha male in his element.

He turned suddenly as if sensing her presence, and their eyes locked through the doorway. The blue-gray depths of his gaze pinned her in place, making her heart flutter and her legs feel weak.

Isolde knew she should speak, should explain what had happened at the research site, but the words stuck in her throat. All she could think about was how his warning had proven true, how the ocean had responded to her emotions exactly as he had predicted.

And how desperately she needed him to teach her control.

TWELVE

NEREUS

Sweat trickled down Nereus's bare torso as he centered himself. The combat facility's polished floors reflected the morning light streaming through high windows, illuminating the array of weapons lining the walls. His muscles ached pleasantly from exertion—a welcome distraction from the hurricane of emotions Isolde had stirred in him.

"I'm trying to protect her. She has no idea what she's capable of."

"Speaking of your temperamental mate," Xavier's lips quirked. "She's just returned to the castle."

Nereus's head snapped up, his wolf instantly alert. "She left?"

"In the Aston Martin. Seems she took a drive after your... disagreement."

Relief flooded through him so intensely, it nearly buckled his knees. She hadn't left him. Not yet. "Where is she now?"

"Asking directions to find you," Xavier smirked. "Try not to scare this one away. Luna candidates don't exactly grow on trees."

After Xavier departed, Nereus activated the combat simulation program again. Three holographic warriorsmaterialized, circling him with weapons drawn. He needed to burn off this restless energy before facing her again.

The first attacker lunged. Nereus parried, his muscles flowing with well-practiced precision. The second came from behind—he dropped and swept his leg in a wide arc, disrupting the hologram's balance. The third received a direct thrust to the chest.

His wolf senses prickled just as he dispatched the final opponent. Her scent—ocean spray mixed with something uniquely Isolde—reached him before she did. His body responded instantly, every cell attuned to her presence.

---