Page 8 of Tide Touched

Is he making fun of me? I turn and glare at him. Yeah, well done, falling all over yourself. Thanks so much, I want to growl. Eugh.

I focus on catching up to Moira. My wolf wants to run faster than my mind can keep up. With some difficulty, I temper her excitement because if I let her run the show, I know I’ll just fall over more.

On the beach, Moira’s wolf and I swipe at each other, playing, the sand soft and welcome under my paws.

I feel an overwhelming urge to run where I know nothing will stop me. I’ve never left Cinder before, and wouldn’t now be the time? To run as fast and as far as I can, forever?

To get away from the distant memory of my mother, who died when I was little. To break free of the chains of my father’s death, my stepmother’s horrid little shack?

What if I ran and ran and ran? Where would I end up? Somewhere in the human lands, where they don’t think we’re real? Somewhere I could blend in with people who don’t know my sorry past, and pretend to be normal? To smile, to meet a guy who wouldn’t turn his nose up at me for loving the wrong element of nature?

Bloody hell, humans have it easy, I reckon. They don’t have to worry about this stuff.

Moira’s paw lands on my nose, and I yelp as she breaks through my intense reverie. She jerks her head, motioning for us to go back. Letting me know that our time is up. I’ve had my five minutes of freedom, just a tiny taste, mind you.

It’s time to bow to the alpha and see if I mate with anyone. A low, rumbling growl erupts from me, sending my fur prickling. I don’t want to go. I want to play and swim and run. Moira’s wolf headbutts me, as though she understands. I take a final glance at the beach, at the tide far out, still calling to me under the light of the moon, and finally give in.

I pad forward, suddenly realising I don’t know how to shift back, but it’s not time for that yet. I walk slowly forward, suddenly feeling too low to the ground with everyone else standing much taller than me. Especially the alpha.

My heart is pounding almost painfully, both from excitement and nerves. I already love my wolf, and she me. We are two parts of my soul.

Alpha looks down at me. It takes me until that moment to realise I can’t be a smart-ass as a wolf because I can’t speak. I sit back on my haunches and look up at Declan. To my surprise, he crouches down and touches my head, almost fondly.

‘Good girl, Katherine. You’ve done well.’ His voice is a low, rumbling baritone, deeper than I’ve heard before. As head of my pack, something about his words touch my bones, my blood, reaching deep within me. In his eyes, I can see my own reflection as a wolf, just my dark eyes, the shade of my fur. As though from nowhere, a surge of pride rushes over me. I did it. I have my wolf.

Something trembles inside me, like a fist grasping one of my kidneys. I try to swallow, but it tightens, and need pools low in my belly like I’ve never felt before. My gaze snaps up to Killian—don’t ask me why—but my wolf drags me away before I can even glimpse his expression. Before I know it, my wolf is padding over to the group of strangers

The Water wolves. More surprising, one of them rises from his seat, his feet making a path toward me.

I try to dig my feet—paws—into the grass, but my wolf won’t let me. Why am I making a beeline for some Water Pack dude?

I want to turn my head, but I can’t focus. Even in wolf form, I’m incredibly turned on, and I don’t get why.

Like two magnets, Water Dude and I walk toward each other. Okay, who is doing this? Is this some kind of joke? I try to turn my head to Moira, to the Tide Witches, Zarah, anyone who might be able to explain this, but I can’t. My wolf is solely focused on him.

Now that I’m so close, I recognise him as the one Moira and I had seen earlier, who we thought might be the Water Alpha’s nephew. The woman behind him gets to her feet.

‘Carter! What are you doing?’ Her voice is shrill, clawing at my newly sensitive ears.

Carter, then, his name is. He’s tall, blond, and well-built. His expression is one of intense confusion and irritation. He holds his hand out for me, looking thoroughly confused. ‘The fuck?’ He looks to the Tide Witches. I’m glad someone said it.

How the hell do I shift back?

The Tide Witches, led by Zarah, give wide smiles. ‘Beautiful. Katherine, you may change back now.’

As though spurred on by her words, my body starts to change again. Then I’m standing butt naked before this Water Pack guy, actually, before everyone. Cool, cool. He gives me a briefly interested look, hardly being subtle about checking me out. I don’t bother attempting to cover myself. I turn and glare at the witches. ‘What is going on?’

Declan steps forward, turning to the witches. ‘I don’t understand. He—he’s Water Pack. This cannot be right.’

To my horror, I feel my need burning, growing so much that I worry it will soon slick down my thighs and I’ll basically make a water park out of myself. I press my legs together. Someone please tell me this is a really bad joke. I glance around, wishing for one of the boring Fire Pack guys I’ve known all my life. My eyes land on Levi. Okay, not him, but still. Why a Water wolf?

Moira changes back too, then is kind enough to hand me a dress to slip on, which I gratefully take and pull over my head. You won’t hear me whinging about this dress. I turn in a circle, staring out. Almost everyone from my pack has filed out to watch in stunned silence.

The blonde woman storms up to her guy and grabs his arm, trying to get his attention, but he sighs, pushing her back, as though not yet ready to deal with her. She does seem annoying.

The Tide Witches smile. Zarah steps forward. ‘For a long time, the wolves of the elements have been separated, but now you evolve. It is time to reunite. To mate in other packs.’ She sets a hand on my shoulder. ‘This is no mistake, Katherine. You and Carter are fated. I’m sure you both feel it.’

I open my mouth, realise I don’t have any words, and turn to my alpha. Behind him, Killian looks pale, eyes wide.

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