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SIX

NEREUS

N ereus strode away from the gathering crowd when the blonde woman rushed up to her distressed colleagues. The salt breeze chilled his naked skin, but he barely noticed. His senses remained locked on her—his Luna—even as he put distance between them.

"Centuries of waiting and I meet her as naked as the day I was born," he muttered, pulling on dark jeans and a fitted navy Henley that stretched across his broad shoulders.

He slammed the truck door and stalked back toward the scene, positioning himself at the perimeter where the emergency vehicles cast red and blue pulses across the devastation.

From this vantage point, he could observe without drawing attention.

The destruction was quite extensive—the research station reduced to splinters and twisted metal, debris scattered like confetti across the once-pristine beach.

But his focus remained fixed on her.

His Luna stood amidst the chaos, her hair still damp and clinging to her face, yet somehow managing to look breathtaking despite the ordeal. His wolf paced restlessly within him, furious at the separation between them.

One of the male scientists—a gangly man—was animatedly speaking to the group. "Everyone, I just got off the phone with the USGS. They confirmed there was no seismic activity tonight. None. Not even a tremor."

Nereus watched the blonde woman's face transform. First confusion, then a flash of something deeper—fear? Recognition? Her eyes darted around, and for a moment, he felt like she might be looking for him.

But then a paramedic soon guided her toward an ambulance with a gentle but insistent hand on her elbow. Nereus clenched his jaw, his wolf snarling at the stranger's touch.

"Mine," he growled under his breath.

He rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to think strategically. Years of leadership had taught him when to act and when to observe. Charging into the middle of emergency personnel would only complicate matters. He needed to approach this delicately—a concept his wolf found infuriating.

But how to explain to a human woman that she possessed ancient ocean magic? That she had triggered a tidal wave during her awakening? That she was destined to be his mate, his Luna, the other half of his soul?

"Not exactly first-date topics," he muttered, scanning the scene with narrowed eyes.

He crossed his arms over his chest, watching as the paramedic draped a blanket over her shoulders and checked her vitals. Even from this distance, he could hear her heartbeat, steady but elevated. The salt-and-citrus scent of her skin floated on the breeze, tormenting him.

Two emergency workers passed by, their conversation drifting to his sensitive ears.

"Never seen anything like it," the first said. "A wave that size with no warning?"

"Meteorological anomaly," the second replied. "That's what they'll call it. Freak weather event."

Nereus's mouth quirked into a humorless smile. If only they knew the truth—that the woman they were treating had enough power in her slight frame to command the entire ocean if she learned how to harness it properly. And he was the only one who could teach her.

Nereus had barely taken three strides away from his observation point when some of the scientists spotted him. They waved frantically, rushing toward him like eager recruits seeking the pack alpha's approval.

"It's him!" The gangly one pointed. "That's the guy who saved us!"

Nereus squared his broad shoulders, planting his feet as the group converged on him.

He had spent centuries interacting with humans when necessary but always kept those encounters brief.

Tonight complicated matters. The bond with his Luna demanded his attention while these mortals required pacification.

"Sir, we can't thank you enough," one of the female scientists praised. "You swam like nothing I've ever seen. How did you move so fast in those conditions?"

His wolf bristled at how they delayed him from tracking his mate. But Nereus kept his expression neutral, his voice steady and authoritative.

"Former Olympic training. Swimming's in my blood." The half-truth rolled smoothly off his tongue.

The gangly scientist's eyes widened. "Olympic level? That explains it! But what brought you out here tonight of all nights?"

Nereus met the man's gaze directly, a subtle display of dominance that made the scientist step back instinctively. "I swim at night. Fewer distractions. Was doing my usual route when I saw the wave hit."

His nostrils flared subtly, catching his Luna's lingering scent even amid the chaos. The scent called to him like a beacon, but these humans required careful handling first.

A short man shook his head in amazement. "Well, thank God for your swimming habits, sir. But this wave—it's scientifically inexplicable. No seismic activity, no atmospheric pressure anomalies..."

"Complete demolition," another added, gesturing at the wreckage. "Our life's work..."

Nereus felt the subtle shift before the others noticed it. The ocean's energy pulsed—a reaction to his Luna's emotions, he suspected. The water stirred restlessly, foam gathering along the shoreline as the tide pulled back slightly.

"Your building can be rebuilt," Nereus cut in firmly. "Your lives cannot. Where's the blonde woman?" He couldn't delay any longer. His wolf prowled beneath his skin, demanding he find her.

"Oh, Isolde? The paramedics cleared her, but she wandered off that way." The woman pointed down the beach. "She seemed pretty shaken up."

Nereus nodded once, a dismissive gesture that brooked no argument. "I should go check on her. Excuse me."

He walked away without waiting for their response, following both scent and instinct along the shore. The scientists might have found his abruptness rude, but he wasn’t concerned at the moment. When an alpha moved with purpose, others simply adjusted.

He found her a quarter-mile down the beach, standing near the foaming water. Her blonde hair glinted in the moonlight, and her curves outlined perfectly against the silver-touched waves. The emergency blanket lay discarded on the sand behind her.

He stopped momentarily, his breath catching.

He had waited for so long, and the Moon Goddess had delivered him not just any Luna, but one who seemed physically formed to pull at every primal instinct he possessed.

Her delicious curves appealed particularly to his waterwolf nature.

His kind had always valued the softer, fuller female form that reflected the ocean's own swells and curves.

The bond between them vibrated incessantly. Even from this distance, he could feel her confusion, her fear, and beneath it all, a raw power she didn't yet understand.

The ocean crept slowly around her ankles, responding to her presence. He watched transfixed as tiny luminescent crests formed around her feet, glowing an otherworldly blue. She hadn't noticed yet that the water literally lit up at her touch.

His Luna. His mate. His equal in power.

But still completely unaware of who and what she truly was.

He felt the ocean's energy shift before he saw the water rise.

The tide surged forward around her ankles, frothing with unnatural intensity.

Small waves crashed against her calves as she stared out at the dark horizon.

The water around her began glowing brighter with a blue luminescence that no human would recognize as magical—but to Nereus, it was like watching a beacon ignite.

This was getting dangerous. His Luna's untrained power was responding to her emotional state, and if she didn't calm down soon, they might face another massive wave.

He moved swiftly, closing the distance between them with long, purposeful strides. The sand shifted beneath his feet, but his balance remained perfect—the natural grace of a predator who had mastered his territory.

"The ocean seems drawn to you," he said, stopping just behind her left shoulder.

She startled, whipping around. Her sea-blue eyes widened with recognition, then narrowed with suspicion. "You're dressed now."

"More appropriate for conversation," he replied, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "Though you didn't seem to mind earlier."

A blush colored her cheeks, visible even in the moonlight. "You said I caused this." Her voice trembled slightly as she gestured toward the destroyed research station.

The water swelled higher around their feet, responding to her distress. He placed a steady hand on her shoulder, the contact sending a jolt through the mate bond.

"We need to get you away from here," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "There's nothing more to be done tonight. Your workplace is gone, and you standing here in the dark won't bring it back."

Her eyes flashed with indignation. "You don't understand. That building contained years of research."

"None of that will matter if another wave hits us." He tightened his grip slightly, leaning closer. "Look down."

She followed his gaze to the water swirling around them, now glowing fiercely with that telltale blue light. She gasped.

"What—how is it?—"

"I'll explain everything, but not here." He dropped his voice to a more intimate tone. "Let me drive you home. So you can get some rest and process what's happened."

She bit her lower lip, indecision clear on her face. "I don't even know you."

"Nereus Varon," he stated simply as if his name alone should carry sufficient weight. To his pack, it did. "And you're Isolde, the marine biologist who kisses strangers on beaches."

A flash of embarrassment crossed her features, but she straightened her spine, meeting his gaze directly. "I have questions."

"I have answers," he replied, pleased by her spirit. The Luna in her was already showing itself, challenging him even in her confusion. "But not here."