Chapter 80 : Unspoken Bonds

Karenina

"So that's Alpha Chase's daughter, Elena Goldstein?" She asked Xavier as she rested her head on his shoulder, looking up to see his face.

Holding her tightly in his arms, he ran quickly through the forest, away from the packhouse. He took her to Benjamin, hoping to get answers from the wise old wolf about the mystery of the grayish mark on her left side where the sacred moonstone resided. They both have the same thoughts about the mark, namely that it means the wolf aura living within her is growing. However, while she was afraid of the implications of the mark and her growing animal aura, he happily accepted its appearance and was not at all bothered by its presence.

Of course, he could not tell her that, knowing that she would not accept his view and would only push him further away. That was something he could not allow. He was already feeling shaky about her situation.

He answered her question, "Yes, that's her. Why are you talking to her, Karenina?"

She replied with a shrug. "I didn't really plan it. We just bumped into each other. And I wouldn't call it talking. We didn't talk for more than a few minutes before you came along."

"I see. Watch out for this woman, Karenina. Although I doubt she would attack you in my packhouse, she claims it was you who attacked her with an arrow."

"The funny thing is, I don't remember ever hitting her, Xavier. I don't even remember confronting her, and I've never gone after a she-wolf unless they attacked me."

He tightened his embrace around her and said, "Anyway, the competition is over. There's no reason for her to attack you, but just in case, you should be on guard and never wander the grounds alone until our guests have left."

When he said 'our guests' instead of 'his guests', she did not argue with him. Karen was in no mood for another confrontation with him. She had decided over breakfast with him that she would stop looking for reasons to fight with him. When they were not fighting over every little thing, she actually enjoyed being around him, even looked forward to it.

Then he jumped over a fallen tree, barely nudging her as he landed lightly on his toes, and ran through the forest at a leisurely but fast pace.

"Hey, Xavier?"

"Hm?"

"Did you learn anything new about Maya? Nathan's newest ally?" Karen asked, raising her arms to her chest and placing her hands on the small pouch that held her moonstone gem.

"I've looked into it, sent spies and many messengers, but no word yet," he replied. Although he had never seen his new ally, only her word that he existed, Xavier did not doubt her. There was no way Nathan could get past his barrier, let alone undetected. It made sense that the despicable rogue would use a she-wolf to help him get past his barrier.

"This is strange. I've been thinking a lot about what happened. Maya was the only one who didn't attack me, even when her relationship with Nathan was revealed. She helped me, not only with my wounds, but she also saved me several times and helped me survive the enemy's attacks."

"Maybe she was trying to gain your trust."

She shook her head. "Maybe at first, but she flirted with me, teased me. She even... kissed me once." She blushed at the last part.

Xavier stiffened at the news. "Explain," he ordered.

She was nervous, but tried her best to answer. It was more speculation than fact, but the more she thought about it, even though it didn't make sense, the more it seemed like the most likely conclusion.

"She was attracted to me. I didn't realize it at first, although there were signs. There would be unexplained touches or looks from her, but it never occurred to me that she was attracted to me...as a woman."

"She's attracted to her own kind, isn't she?"

She frowned at him. "And what's wrong with that? In my neighborhood, it's socially acceptable for people to be in same-sex relationships. Homosexuality is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Homosexuality?" He asked.

"People who are sexually attracted to the same sex as themselves."

Same-sex couples were common in their neighborhood? He gave her a quick, probing look before turning his face away.

"And are you sexually attracted to the same sex, Karenina?"

She stuttered, "Of course not!"

"Yet you defend her sexual proclivities?" He replied mockingly.

"Just because I'm not attracted to women doesn't mean I judge someone for their sexual orientation," she replied before looking at him curiously.

He caught the look and stiffened. "Don't try to insinuate that I'm attracted to men," he warned.

She giggled at the thought of Xavier being sexually attracted to another man. "I'm not. The thought didn't even occur to me until you mentioned it. In fact, it would be a great shame for all women if you were attracted to men at all." Then her expression changed to one of contemplation. "Although there are people who are sexually attracted to both genders."

He grimaced in disgust.

She smirked, reading his expression. "Not bisexual either, huh?" Then her expression became serious. "Do you hate homosexuality?"

"I don't care about other people's sexual preferences as long as no man makes a physical advance on me."

Again she laughed and asked with difficulty, trying to catch her breath, "And has a man ever approached you to... you know?" Imagining such a thing, visualizing the scene in her mind, made her laugh again.

He glared at her, even though her laughter was contagious, and his lips curled into a smile. "You think this is funny?"

Chuckling, she replied, "Kind of."

"Hmm." Xavier swung his gaze forward before saying, "There have been few men over the years who have dared to approach me in this manner."

"Then what happened?" she asked between laughs, her stomach beginning to cramp from laughing so much.

"They realized their mistake," he said without remorse.

Wide eyed, she asked, "What did you do?"

"I didn't kill them," though he wanted to, "but they didn't get away unscathed."

She could only imagine the injuries he had inflicted on the fools who had approached him. She scoffed again at the thought of seeing a man brave enough to hit on the arrogant and obviously straight Alpha of Westwood.

******

Xavier

He did not say anything more about the matter, but he felt a lightness in his chest after he heard her laugh. Yes, it was against his will, but he didn't feel humiliated that she dared to laugh at him. On the contrary, Xavier felt happy because this was the first time he had heard her laugh out loud.

Too many times he had seen her looking gloomy, sad, and lost. He was touched to see her take such joy from something as small as a meaningless conversation. This was what was missing in his life, he realized. A woman to keep him company, a woman who could give him peace and fulfillment, but who could also suppress his desires. She was everything he had ever wanted, the perfect mate.

Soon he realized that they were getting closer to their destination.

"We're here," he reminded her, before slowing his pace and finally walking gracefully with her still in his arms.