Page 8 of Finding my Shifter Soulmate

It feels like the trees grow taller the further we walk. The sound of the wildlife around me blends perfectly with the river, and everything just feels... pure. Alive. A gentle breeze picks up and Gede smiles in satisfaction.

"Do you come here often?" I ask when we reach the tall, wrought iron gates surrounding the property.

"You could say that." He unlatches the gate, and the squeaking door echoes around us. "Mostly when I need advice, though."

"Advice? You get advice here?" I follow him through the lawn and nod at people as they pass me by. It would appear that this is an official place of worship for many Balinese.

"So much of what we do is ruled by instinct, yes?"

"Yes, but how does this park give you a clear mind?"

"A lot of energy passes through here, if you stop long enough to feel it. If you listen, you can hear these stones speak, and you can hear the jungle whisper secrets." Gede motions his hand around the valley. "There's a gentle mist covering the stone faces. Beneath that sits a veil of green moss, a carpet as old as this forest. Nature works to erase the memories, and spirits scurry to remind humans how strong the divine truly are."

I look around at the people mingling, many placing colorful orchids in on the ground in offering. "That makes sense, in a weird way."

I'm drawn in by this place, and I think Gede can tell. Without my having to say a word, he leads me away from themain court, back through the trees and undergrowth. "Close your eyes," he tells me, and I comply. "Listen and experience it."

Right away, the scent of sweet wildflowers is thick in the air, as the wind carries their fragrance. A child laughs and someone shushes her, but in the background, I hear running water. Behind me, a bush rustles and something chitters in the leaves. Off to my right, a bird chirps, and I recognize a baker bird by its repetitive call. Bird watching is something of a hobby of mine, and I’ve familiarized myself with those in this region. It’s better than I ever expected, seeing them so close. This whole place is alive, just as he said. My senses have somehow been heightened, and the world around me is intensely fresh and bright.

Gede squeezes my hand. "That's it. Tell me what you're experiencing."

My body isn't rigid anymore. My thoughts feel clear, my path true. My body instinctively shifts to face his direction. "It feels warm," I whisper. "Fresh."

"Yes. Keep going." His thumb massages my hand.

"I can hear everything. All the noises. The running water."

"Are you comfortable with all of this?"

"Very. It's strange, because I've never felt this relaxed. It's like..." I struggle with the phrasing.

"As if something connects you with the Earth." His voice is soothing and confident. "Yes?"

"Exactly," I answer. "And I can smell everything around me. Sweet."

"Would you like to see another temple? One that no other human knows is on the island? I should warn you. Its location is quite secluded."

The way he phrases it sends waves of chill bumps down my arms. No other human. I open my eyes and look at his face. He has a hopeful, yet cautious expression, as if he's anxious to see if I accept his offer.

This is crazy. I don't even know this man, and he wants to take me to a temple nobody knows about in the middle of nowhere. It's the perfect set up for a horror movie, and yet...

"Sure, why not?" I agree. "When in Rome." I smile and walk backwards, loving how his fingers envelop mine. "Take me to your special temple, Gede."

After another quick ride on his moped, he pulls off on the side of the road and extends his hand to me. "Now we must walk."

The path ahead of us is dense with ferns and low-lying shrubs. Filled with uneasiness, I keep a hold on Gede's hand. He leads me steadily down the overgrown trail with no hesitation, as if he's always been here, like this is normal for him. We come up over a hill, and a troop of monkeys chatter at us from the trees before they scamper to the ground and run tight circles around us. They're not afraid of us in the slightest. As we continue forward, more join the fun and, in a matter of minutes the area is dense with macaques.

"Are they safe?" I ask, clinging to Gede's arm. "They aren't going to bite me, are they?"

"They're merely curious."

"Of course, they are," I mutter. Gede chuckles, but that doesn't make me feel any better.

Gede stops walking and holds out his hands. One of the monkeys rushes forward and slaps his palm, then starts scurrying up his torso. The critter hops into his arm and the two share a moment of face to face communion. It's the sweetest thing I've ever witnessed. After several seconds, the creature jumps down and runs back into the greenery.

"That's incredible." I'm mesmerized by their easy companionship. "It's like he knows you."

"We have a long history," he quips.

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