“Need or want?” I ask.
“Both,” she says promptly.
All her answers and reactions up to now have left me completely stunned. I don’t know what to make of her; I don’t know how to read her. It’s the one thing I am usually not too bad at. I can tell when someone is upset or annoyed or sad. At times, it’s good to understand others that way, but most of the time, it makes me overthink my own actions.
However, with her, I have no idea how she feels. She has it all covered behind a mask. Obviously, as a luna, she had to go through some training, but most lunas I have met are different.
But then I haven’t met an awful lot of them. I know that Tristan’s luna is a light-hearted, sweet, young woman, but that’s about it. Maybe I am being presumptuous and prejudiced. I can’t make a judgment from the couple of lunas I know, and I believe all of them are the same sweet type of person.
Someone can be nurturing without being a walking cotton candy.
Not that being a walking cotton candy is wrong!
Both are fine!
It’s just…
Awesome, now I am arguing with myself.
The woman has remained completely quiet, not saying anything, not even moving. She has been hurt in an awful way, and here I am completely focused on myself. “Who are you anyway?” I ask carefully.
“You already know that,” she says evasively.
“I meant… your name, your pack,” I mutter.
She looks at me before turning her head away. For a split second, I can see her lips tremble, but it’s just a fleeting moment. I wonder if deep inside she is actually scared and hurt, but can’t show it. Whatdidshe go through to end up here?
I remember the bottle of gin I brought along earlier, grab it, and sit down on the floor again, closer to her. “Do you want a sip?” I ask. “I don’t know about you, but I feel like drinking my brain away.”
“Yes,” she says quietly. The emotionless expression and the tension in her shoulders seem to lessen a little. She sits up, groaning slightly, but other than that, shows no sign of discomfort. Then she accepts the bottle and takes a huge gulp. “That’s a good one.”
“From my grandpa,” I say. “This was his place.”
“I am sorry for your loss, Alpha Forest,” she says.
Alpha Forest.Barely anyone calls me by my title. I usually don’t receive that kind of respect, but she – a complete stranger – calls me that so naturally. “How did you know he has passed?”
“By the look of this place,” she says.
I look around and nod. Makes sense. “How can you be so…” I pause. “You must be in so much pain!”
“I am,” she says calmly. “Also, my mate bond broke only a couple of hours ago.” A bitter laugh leaves her lips. “But I am still alive.”
My eyes widen at what she just said. “What?” I exclaim. “I am so sorry! I wasn’t aware that your mate has just died.” Maybe it was an attack!
“I never said he did,” she says.
“So, he didn’t?” When she shrugs, my mouth drops open. “But… how? Your fated mate? How can… how is that possible?! What happened to you?”
She takes another sip from the bottle before looking at me thoughtfully. It’s starting to strike me what she is doing here. She is trying to gauge all my reactions, like she expects me to attack or do something evil any moment.
She doesn’t know if she can trust me. I am just a stranger, a future alpha, who could kill her in a heartbeat. I would never do that, but she doesn't know it.
Now, how to prove to her I wouldn’t harm her?
I scratch my head thoughtfully. Why does it matter? She doesn’t trust me, so what? We don’t need to see each other again. I will make sure to get her somewhere safe and then move on with my life.
My own thoughts make me flinch. What life? I barely have one!
