Page 13 of Tide Touched

But why is he of Water Pack, not Fire?

My thoughts cloud my concentration until one of my guards holds up a hand, raises his nose to the air to follow their scent, then waves us on.

It’s the middle of the night. Soon, we will need to rest and pick up the trail tomorrow. Despite wolf stamina, we still very much need sleep.

I run a hand down my face. This just all feels so strange. I’m struck with the overwhelming urge to rip my way to Katherine to ensure she is safe. She’s in enemy territory—no matter our official status as ‘friends’ with the Water Pack—and was taken against her will.

My guards often glance at me strangely, and it takes a great deal of control not to snap at them. That they should want to protect one of our own just as much as I. We’re doing the right thing.

As we slow, finding a good place to set up camp for the night, dread weighs heavily in my gut, wondering what Katherine might be enduring right now. Are they hurting her? Have they locked her up somewhere?

I don’t know much about her, but by the way she kicked and fought them, I know she won’t go easy. Will they contain her? To be held as a prisoner?

I wonder what the Water Pack alpha thinks of all this. Julian, his name is. I don’t know much about him, other than he will follow the decree of the Tide Witches just as loyally as my own father. If they have decided his nephew and Katherine are fated, he will take great pride in this new union.

Nausea rolls through me like a wave. He will want them to complete the mate bond.

Something burns in my chest, sucking the air from my lungs. Carter will bed her.

I bite my lip, hard, wondering what Katherine is feeling toward him.

‘Sir, we’ve cleared the area. You can rest while we set up the tents and make supper.’ One of my father’s guards, Patrick, nods at me.

I lower myself onto a fallen log and create a fire with a wave of my hand. My mind feels like it’s spinning out of control. Where is this obsession coming from? This didn’t start until I turned for the first time, but now it seems my thoughts of Katherine are uncontrollable.

Staring into the flickering orange fire at my feet, I fall into a weary daze until Patrick sets a bowl before me. I eat the stew mechanically until a twig snaps nearby, setting us all on edge.

I set the bowl down, my teeth bared. We all wait, barely breathing. The only sound in the still night is the crackle of the flames and my own pounding heart.

Then another snap of a twig. Patrick and the others dash after it, diving deep into the woods. A howl, and a—female—voice, yells, indignant.

My wolves emerge from the woods with a woman held between them. Her red hair marks her as one of ours, and as they bring her into the light of the fire, I recognise her—the short hair, her slight frame and green eyes. Katherine’s friend, Moira.

‘Let me go!’ She kicks out wildly, catching Patrick in the nose. She has her wolf, too, so the blow is hard, landing with a crunch.

Patrick, as patient as a wolf can be while attacked, growls, his teeth bared, blood dripping from his broken nose.

‘Release her.’ My voice doesn’t have to be loud to be commanding. I’m second in line to be alpha.

They do as I say without hesitation, looking at me with questions in their eyes.

‘It’s Moira, right?’ I turn and sit back down before the fire, picking up my bowl. ‘Come, sit. You must be cold.’

‘What are you lot doing out here?’ Moira takes a few steps toward me, but doesn’t sit. Honestly, she looks a bit bedraggled—twigs in her short hair, a little streak of dirt down her cheek. It’s clear she’s cranky and frustrated.

Moira takes a step closer to the fire, subtly holding her hands closer to the flames.

The four of my guards fall back. Patrick mutters something dark about the young woman, followed by a cringe-worthy crunch of him setting his nose back in place. They eat and mutter to themselves, starting their own fire a few paces away.

‘I’m visiting the Water Pack. I don’t intend to allow them to take one of our own this way,’ I say, by way of greeting.

Moira narrows her eyes. ‘What are you saying? That you’re going after Katie? To bring her home?’

Pain grips me. As much as I hate to say it, that’s not the case. ‘No,’ I admit. ‘She’s mated to Carter. I just need to see for myself that they’re treating her well. Please,’ I add. ‘Sit. I can see you’re cold.’ I stand up and hold my bowl out to her. ‘And hungry, I imagine.’

Moira gives me the strangest look, as though she expects me to erupt in a wall of flames at any moment. Perhaps she doesn’t view me favourably, for seeming to let Carter keep her friend.

‘I’m going to get her,’ Moira says firmly.