Page 22 of Destined to the Lycan
“But you won’t be once we heal you,” I argued.
“Ifwe heal me,” she countered.
“Whenwe heal you,” I said sternly while giving her a disapproving stare.
She chuckled and bowed her head in concession. “Whenwe’ve healed me, we’ll figure out a way to healyou.”
I gave her a sad smile. “Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a cure for me. The Weaver wouldn’t even see me.”
Amara waved a dismissive hand. “Because it wasn’t the right time. After all, she sent me to you. It cannot be a coincidence.”
As much as I didn’t want to allow myself false hope, I couldn’t help it taking root deep in my heart.
“Ultimately, Fate will decide,” I replied in a non-committal fashion.
She nodded, her gaze going out of focus as she reflected on something before returning her attention to me with a speculative glimmer in her dark eyes.
“Assuming that our mission succeeds, and that we do like each other, would we be able to lead a normal life together?”
My heart leapt, and a powerful emotion nearly choked me that she seemed so open to a possible future with me.
“I’m normal in most ways,” I replied a little too eagerly. “If we built a life together, I would only be away on the night of the full moon, and we also couldn’t have pups.”
My mate pensively chewed her bottom lip and slowly nodded again. “I remember you mentioning something about your seed, as did Ulric.”
My anger flared at the wretched male’s interference in my personal affairs. But I silenced it. Now wasn’t the time to let him ruin what could potentially be the beginning of the rest of my life.
“Correct. Exposure to my seed and my blood would be dangerous. But everything else is safe,” I confirmed.
“Then we’ll just be a normal couple who uses protection,” Amara said matter-of-factly.
I stared at her in awe, too many emotions clashing within me. She looked so reserved and demure that I never expected she would so openly discuss such matters with me. But once again, it was the ease with which she seemed to accept that we were indeed meant for each other that took my breath away. Obviously, she was no more in love with me than I was with her as we’d just met. And yet, she was acknowledging our bond like any other Lycan would, even though she couldn’t feel the same physiological responses I did.
Whatever the reason, I welcomed it.
“Yes, we will be,” I said, embarrassed by the emotion audible in my voice.
She smiled again, but it quickly faded as a frown creased her forehead. “I’m curious though as to why Ulric hates you so much.”
I flinched, the sorrow I had pushed back down years ago rearing its head again.
“It’s a long story,” I said dismissively.
She raised an eyebrow, giving me that look I was starting to recognize, which meant she wouldn’t let me dodge the question.
“We’ve got time,” she deadpanned.
I snorted and nodded in defeat.
She tore another piece of bread with some cheese and began to chew as I gathered my thoughts.
“This whole mess dates back too many years. It started before my birth. Ulric is actually my cousin. You met his father, Rolf, who is the current leader of our pack. Only the Apex Alpha can occupy that role. My mother was Rolf’s sister. He blames my father for killing her, and me as well.”
“You?! But it was the poison that killed her, not the pregnancy!” Amara exclaimed.
“Yes, but that poison was transferred to her through my father’s seed. And as I grew, the fluid exchange between a mother and her child poisoned her further. So he’s not entirely wrong, although I was as much a victim in all of this as she and my father were. For all that, he’s never been mean to me. But he cannot silence the resentment he felt about it.”
“I can see that.”
