Page 47 of Ocean's Whisper

"How am I supposed to forget you when even the waves speak your name?" she asked the water, letting her fingers trail through the air as if she could reach across the miles and touch him. The water responded with a gentle surge that curled around her ankles like a caress.

She knew then, with a certainty that shocked her, that running from Nereus was like trying to run from herself. The question wasn't whether she should go back—it was how long she could possibly stay away.

Isolde soon noticed the dark-haired woman approaching her along the shoreline. Unlike the few scattered beachgoers in the distance, this woman walked with purpose, her eyes fixed directly on Isolde. Her sleek black hair fell to her shoulders, contrasting with a flowy white sundress that caught the breeze. There was something magnetic about her presence—a confidence that reminded Isolde of Nereus, though softer and more approachable.

"Beautiful evening for contemplation," the woman called out, her voice melodic against the gentle rhythm of the waves. "The ocean speaks to us when we're truly listening."

Isolde felt an immediate connection to the stranger's words. "It does, doesn't it? Though lately, it's been saying things I'm not sure I want to hear."

The woman smiled, extending her hand. "I'm Marina. Just moved into the houseboat two down from yours. I saw you on the dock earlier and thought I'd introduce myself."

"Isolde." She accepted the handshake, noting how cool Marina's skin felt against her own. "Welcome to the neighborhood, I guess. Though I haven't been around much this past week myself."

Marina gestured toward the horizon. "Mind if I walk with you? New places can be lonely without friendly faces."

"Sure." Isolde nodded, surprising herself with how comfortable she felt with this stranger. Something about Marina's presence felt soothing like cool water on sunburned skin.

They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes before Marina spoke again. "You seem troubled. The ocean carries our burdens if we let it, you know."

The gentleness in Marina's voice broke something in Isolde. Her carefully constructed walls crumbled, and words spilled out without thinking through them first.

"I turned thirty last week. Spent my birthday alone, then watched a tidal wave destroy my workplace. Now I'm being told I have water powers and that I'm supposed to be the Luna to a pack of wolf shifters." Isolde laughed bitterly. "And I'm falling for their alpha, who's gorgeous and commanding and makes mefeel things I've never felt. But his pack hates me. They actually attacked us."

Instead of the disbelief Isolde expected, Marina's expression remained open and oddly understanding. "Water powers? That's why I felt drawn to you. I have a connection to the water myself." She reached down, letting the incoming tide swirl around her fingers in an unnatural pattern. "See?"

Isolde's eyes widened. "You have powers too? I thought I was the only one."

"I just have a special affinity for water." Marina smiled mysteriously. "This alpha of yours—he's demanding things of you, isn't he? Expecting you to adapt to his world immediately?"

"He's..." Isolde hesitated, feeling a flash of loyalty to Nereus. "Intense. Commanding. Used to getting his way."

"Men like that take without asking," Marina said softly. "Especially those with power. They expect women to bend to their will, to put their needs first."

The words struck Isolde with unexpected force. "He says I'm his Luna, that I belong with him and his pack, but it's all happening so fast. I've been training my powers constantly, trying to please him and prove myself worthy to a pack that doesn't even want me."

Marina placed a gentle hand on Isolde's shoulder. "And what about what you want? What about your needs?"

The two simple questions pierced Isolde's heart. When had anyone asked her that? Even her best friends were too busy with their own lives to celebrate her birthday.

"It's not selfish to make sure you're okay before attending to others," Marina continued. "The ocean gives and gives, but even it needs the moon's pull to replenish itself."

A tear slipped down Isolde's cheek. "I just wanted some space to breathe. To figure out who I am with these new powers before becoming who he needs me to be."

"That's perfectly reasonable." Marina squeezed her shoulder. "You know what you need? A break. Some fun. I've got a hot tub on my boat and a pitcher of margaritas with our names on it. Just us girls—no wolf shifters, no pack politics, no training. Just relaxation."

Isolde thought of her empty houseboat, of the crushing loneliness that had driven her to the beach in the first place. She thought of her five best friends being too busy to visit for her birthday. The idea of female companionship, of simple conversation without expectations, called to her like a siren song.

"That sounds..." Isolde smiled, truly smiling since leaving Nereus today. "That sounds perfect, actually."

Marina's answering smile was radiant. "Excellent! Let me show you where I'm docked. And on the way, you can tell me more about these water powers of yours." She looped her arm through Isolde's as they turned back toward the marina. "I think we have much more in common than you realize."

As they walked, Isolde felt the ocean's waves growing slightly stronger behind them, but she ignored it. For once, she was going to focus on herself. Not on the water, not on Nereus, and not on what everyone else needed from her.

Isolde soon stepped onto Marina's pristine houseboat, immediately noting how much larger and luxurious it was compared to her own modest floating home. The deck gleamed with polished teak, and the interior featured sleek furnishings that looked straight out of a design magazine.

"Your place is gorgeous," Isolde said, running her fingers along a smooth marble countertop. "Mine looks like a floating shack in comparison."

Marina laughed, the sound tinkling like wind chimes. "Oh, I've had centuries to acquire nice things." When Isolde raisedan eyebrow, Marina winked. "I'm joking. I just have expensive taste."

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