Page 5 of Tide Touched

‘Hi?’ I say, uncertainly. ‘What do you want?’

He chuckles. ‘Charming.’ He crouches down so his bare, slightly sweaty chest is much closer. He hands me something.

I take it and turn it over in my hands. A shell. A perfectly smooth, dusty-pink shell. I look up at him. ‘It’s beautiful.’

‘Happy belated birthday. And good luck on your Turn tonight.’ He gives me another look-over, as though noticing my injuries. I could have sworn his eyes darken, but he gets to his feet quickly and resumes his jog, heading toward the cliff face I jumped off last night.

My mouth hangs open. I turn the shell over and over in my fingers.

‘Hey, that’s nice.’

‘Ahh!’ I scream as Moira fucking sneaks up on me.

She squeaks, then laughs. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.’ She sets a hand on my shoulder, lowering herself to sit beside me. Her chin-length hair is straight today, which makes her green eyes look bigger. She sets a bag between us.

I place a hand on my chest. ‘Just because you have your wolf doesn’t mean you should sneak up on those of us without, you know.’ Moira just smirks and wordlessly hands me a sandwich, knowing I wouldn’t have eaten. My annoyance immediately fades, and I rest my head on her shoulder. ‘You’re the best.’

Moira nods at the shell. ‘It’s pretty. Where’d you find it?’

My gaze slides away from her. ‘Actually, I didn’t. Someone gave it to me. That guy I see running.’

‘The one you check out every single day?’ Her brows waggle.

‘Shut up. But yes.’

‘The alpha’s son gave you a water symbol?’

My fingers close protectively over the shell. Without meeting her gaze, I whisper, ‘Why would he do that?’ No Fire wolf in their right mind—okay, except for Moira—would give me a Water symbol. I run my fingers through the little grooves, my brows furrowed.

Moira takes a bite of her sandwich. ‘I don’t know. But it’s lovely. Oh, by the way, when I was getting groceries, I ran into Zarah. She said that some Water Pack wolves are coming this morning, and she said she’s looking forward to you turning. That something special will happen. I think she means you will get a mate!’

‘Sounds pretty chatty for a Tide Witch Priestess. I thought she took a vow of silence?’

‘Not on Turning nights.’ Moira elbows me.

‘So, what are Water wolves doing here?’ I don’t acknowledge the second-half of her comment. Knowing my luck, I either won’t get a mate, or I’ll get an asshole for one.

Moira lifts her shoulders. ‘I don’t know. But wouldn’t it be great if you got a mate!’

‘Wait until you see who I’m mated to first,’ I mutter, staring down at the shell. Normally, this would be the most exciting day of a shifter’s life. One to celebrate. To have all their family, their loved ones, beaming at them with anticipation and pride.

My life isn’t like that, but I thank my lucky stars for Moira every day. She is my family. My sister.

She got her wolf three months ago. She’s told me about turning, about hunting and the sensory overload. About how free it feels to run on all fours through the woods.

I might agree, but would prefer the beach. Because I’m a freak like that.

Moira seems to sense my discomfort, setting a warm hand on my shoulder. ‘Hey. I know you’re especially missing your dad today. He would have wanted to be here for this. To watch you become your full self.’ She plays with a strand of my hair, using her fire power to dry it. ‘He’d be proud of you, Katie.’

I don’t turn to look at her. I am a firm believer in not being a wuss. Besides, I don’t need parents, or stepparents, to be looking forward to this.

Moira silently dips into the bag she brought and takes out two books, one for me and one for herself. We spend a few hours reading on the beach, though my thoughts aren’t with the story. I’m still counting down the hours until everything changes. For the better, one might naively hope.

As the day passes, the sun rising in the sky, glittering over the beach, my restlessness and curiosity peak. ‘Come on. I want to see what’s going on.’

Moira sighs. ‘I don’t want to get mixed up in it. Who cares why the Water Pack are here?’

‘I do.’

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