Chapter 458 A Hint of Her Wolf
Mated To An Enemy
458 A Hint of Her Wolf
Luna Corrine was a beautiful woman with a fierceness that was both attractive and intimidating. Throughout the meeting, she had remained silent as the discussion went sideways. But she listened, and she heard every word.
The only other thing he knew about her was that she had once been a nomad like himself. He heard that she had come to Winter when her mother was sick, and in the end, her parents chose to stay.
After also finding her mate in the Alpha of Winter, all hope was lost for her.
Myka looked at her with pity as her journey had ended when she was still so young.
âHello,â he replied with a gentle bow of his head.
âMay I?â Corrine asked, indicating the spot on the bench beside him.
Myka moved over a little, ensuring her enough room. Corrine smiled and sat down.
They were quiet for a time. Then Corrine took a deep breath of the cold air.
âHave you been to Winter before?â she asked.
âNo,â Myka replied. âMost of my journey has taken me to other places.â
Corrine smiled.
âAh yes, the journey.â
Myka gave her a gentle look. Corrine saw it, and she chuckled.
âIâve seen that look before,â she commented in a gentle tone. âDo you pity me?â
Myka took a breath.
âI wouldnât say pity,â he lied. âI just find itâ¦unfortunate that your journey ended so soon.â
Corrine laughed.
âOh, childâ¦â she said dismissively. âTell me something. You are not a nomad by birth, are you?â
Myka furrowed his brows. He looked at her curiously and then nodded.
âNo, I was born in a pack.â
Corrine nodded to herself.
âThose that join the journey have a very different view from those born into it,â she smiled. âWhat is your journey about, Myka?â
âFreedom, exploration. Seeing the world, experiencing all of its splendor,â Myka replied dreamily, smiling as he looked up at the stars.
Corrine nodded.
âAnd have you seen the world?â
âNot all of it,â he admitted.
âNo, of course not,â Corrine laughed. âBut you have seen all of our werewolf territories, right?â
Myka paused. He gave her an unsure smile.
âNot all of it, no.â
âAnd how long have you been on the journey, Myka?â Corrine asked.
âTen years,â he said.
âTen years, thatâs quite a long time,â she said. âLong enough to have traveled these territories twice at least. Yet from my understanding, you havenât gone much further than the greater territories. Why is that, I wonder?â
Myka swallowed.
âHave you been asking about me, Luna Corrine?â
âOf course, I have, darling,â she smiled. âI have to know the people with whom I or my family plan to be involved. In recent times, weâve had far too many surprising characters appear in our lives.â
âNot all bad, I assume.â
âNo,â Corrine smiled, âbut enough.â
Myka kept his expression unchanged, but his heart began to race as he saw a hint of her wolf staring back at him.
âWhat is it that you seek, Myka? What is the destination of your journey?â
âThatâs⦠rather personal for our first conversation, donât you think, Luna Corrine?â Myka grinned, then leaned closer to her. âPerhaps we should get to know each other better first.â
Corrine smiled and looked away.
âLittle boy,â she sighed. âYou wouldnât know what to do with me.â
Myka found himself laughing appreciatively.
âBesides,â Corrine continued. âIâm not the one you wish to know.â
Myka swallowed and looked away as Peterâs smile worked its way into his mind again.
âWord travels fast in Winter, it seems,â he whispered. âShould I be honored that the Luna is interested in gossiping about me?â
âI donât care at all about you. I care about Peter,â she replied with a soft growl. âHe is a member of my pack. But even more than that, a great friend to my children and me.â
âI see,â Myka replied, keeping his eyes focused on the ground. âThe Peter I knew was quiet and lonely. But this Peter seems to have many friends.â
âThat happens when you stay long enough,â Corrine smiled. âYou build a community of your own.â
Myka let out a gentle scoff.
âMy mother was like you,â Corrine said. âFor a long time, she believed that the journey was only possible if you kept moving. Kept searching. It wasnât until she was forced to slow down, to stop. To stay. She finally understood that many kinds of journeys are available in this life.â
Myka took a deep breath.
âCommitting yourself to a people, a place, a person, these arenât bad things. Building a life is just a different kind of journey. A brand new and less lonely destination.â
Myka chuckled softly.
âDo you think that by trying to convince me to stay in Winter and using Peter to do so, I will commit the others to this alliance?â
âMyka, I am not trying to convince you to stay. I never even suggested it. I am suggesting that Peter is on a journey of his own. You donât have to understand it or join him. But perhaps, if you open yourself to it, you can find a way for your journeys to intersect.â
Corrine gave him another smile before standing from the bench. She moved to leave the courtyard but turned back.
âOh, and Myka?â she called.
âYes?â he replied.
âEvery Alpha in that room represents a pack of hundreds of wolves that are committed to fighting this war. Committed to risking their lives for everyone represented. Each of them speaks with one voice for their people,â she said.
Myka turned to face her, listening carefully.
âYou are here as only one representative of the nomads. There are five others,â she said. âEven still, you all represent independent voices shouting at each other. Joined together, not by community or trust. But by the circumstance of seeking help defeating an enemy that none of you can fight alone.â
âWhat is your point?â Myka asked.
Corrine gave him a gentle smile.
âMy point, Myka, is that, just like Peter, we donât need to convince you to commit to us. You need to convince us to be willing to accept you.â