Page 6 of Tide Touched

‘No,’ Moira says sternly, ‘you just have a penchant for getting in trouble.’

She is dead right, but I huff at her indignantly and march from the beach, toward the main field.

Cinder’s lands are vast, houses and dwellings spread out for miles, but the centre of it is a big, open field, usually used for ceremonies, wolf fights, or, you know, fucking under the moonlight orgies. And when we come of age and get our wolves.

Tonight, at sunset, I will present to our Tide Witches, and Zarah, the High Priestess, to receive their blessing, then I’ll Turn. I push the thoughts of snapping bones to the back of my mind. What’s some pain when it comes with such strength? I’ll find a way to deal with it. Just like I have everything else.

‘Water Pack haven’t visited in ages,’ I whisper as we hedge around the open field. There are market stalls along one side, not that they ever hold anything more interesting than grubby-looking vegetables. One day, I’ll visit another town with a real marketplace, with like… herbs, and tea and spices, and clothes. Here, there are two places that sometimes have scraps of cloth with which some people make their own clothes.

Cinder is one of the oldest pack lands, and Declan, our alpha, has not changed it much. I’ve always thought he didn’t want to change anything after his wife died.

We hide behind some of the awnings flapping in the breeze. ‘Who is even here?’ Moira whispers.

There’s a tent set up, a deep sapphire against the bright blue of the late afternoon sky. It’s large enough to fit several wolves, though cramped, shared spaces aren’t ideal. ‘I doubt the alpha would leave his estate, but maybe it’s just boring political crap.’ I peer around the flapping awning, the stall-owner giving us a weird look for attempting to hide.

Half a dozen people spill out of the tent as two Tide Witches arrive. They greet each other, the two witches nodding, welcoming them. The Fire and Water Packs are allies, after all. Five out of six of the Water visitors are males, four of them flanking one young man with a pretty young woman on his arm.

‘He looks important, the way the others are guarding him, and her,’ Moira says, noticing their formation, just as I do.

‘Do you think that’s the alpha’s nephew?’ I nod at the blond guy. Actually, they’re all blond, but somehow, he seems the blondest. The woman on his arm has long, waist-length white-blonde hair that she keeps tossing back. It reminds me of a horse swishing its tail to keep the flies away.

‘Yeah, maybe. Why would he be here?’

I shake my head. ‘No idea.’ Something occurs to me. Shouldn’t Killian and his father be here? Before I’ve finished the thought, my gaze lands on my alpha. Resentment pools in my stomach. The man has never really done anything to me, but I still dislike him. This is his pack. He lets people treat me like shit. For being different. My gaze slides to the tall, well-built man at his side. Killian, his son.

His arms are folded across his broad chest, dressed in jeans and a black shirt. Something stirs within me as I take him in. I feel the shell he gave me, resting in my pocket. Why did he give me this?

There are four wolf packs, one for each main element. Fire, Water, Air and Earth.

We only live with our own element, though. So, are they here for some political deal?

I watch our alpha look to the Tide Witches for guidance. They are our leaders, the ones who watch over us. The power that fuels us. I think back to what Moira said, about something special happening as I Turn and mentally scoff.

I glance back to Moira as the sun starts to slip down in the sky. ‘We should get ready.’ I try to keep the trepidation out of my voice. Who doesn’t love breaking their body to change forms?

We go back to her place, and I let her dress me up in a nice, form-fitting red gown. We’re supposed to look nice when we present ourselves to the Tide Witches before our first change and none of my clothes fit that category. I watch as she picks up a palette of eyeshadow. ‘Oh, please?’

‘Fine.’ I let her have her fun.

When she’s all done, and my hair is curled and twisted up on my head, my face covered with subtle yet striking make-up highlighting my cheekbones, I get to my feet. ‘I’m not wearing shoes,’ I insist.

‘You’ll wreck the dress.’

‘That’s going to happen anyway.’ I take Moira’s hand and give a squeeze. A long time ago, I always thought my father would be here for this day, but I was wrong. But I’m lucky to have her. I offer a smile that I don’t feel. I just want to get through this.

‘Time to go.’ Moira gives me one, final look. ‘You look stunning, Katie.’

I glance in the mirror. Yeah, maybe I do. I take the dusty pink shell from my jeans and set it on the bedside table for safekeeping. Let’s get this over with.

Chapter Four

Katie

I’m glad I stood firm on my no-shoes policy because it’s hard enough to walk in this long dress. I follow Moira out of the house with barely a cursory glance from Anna—though, I could have sworn her lips tugged up in a smile when our gazes met briefly—and I’m already tripping over the long skirt. Stupid, impractical thing.

I don’t think I’ve worn a dress since I was a little girl, and I grouse about it until we reach the main field. Moira sighs, though she’s smiling, and slings an arm across my shoulders. ‘You know, as of tonight, you might officially be someone else’s problem.’

‘Oh, ha-ha. You’re stuck with me.’

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