Rem straightened out her legs. "Alright, honest question. What do you think of this whole mating thing and having a 'mate' at all?"
Loral sighed, a pensive look stealing her face. "You know, at first, it was odd. They say your soul bonds with that shifter once you are mated. That sounded weird at first. But the longer I'm here, the more I see it as the truth. They take it seriously and seldom mate for politics, although itdoeshappen. I'm happy the Elders want us to choose on our own. I want a relationship like what my Alpha Enzo has. He and his mate would do anything for each other. I don't even think that his pack matters as much she does to him."
Rem relaxed her shoulders and sunk into her memories. "My parents are like that," she said quietly as she glanced at the fire.I wonder what Ronan would be like…
"I'm sure they'd want you to find happiness here, too," Loral said.
Rem was about to respond when she heard the front door open. Nia's familiar, warm face came back into view, two sandwiches in hand. "Oh,hæ," Nia said, using Icelandic to say 'hey'. She glanced around the room. "I’m sorry that I didn’t grab you a sandwich. They had plenty at the bakers.”
Loral said, “Oh, it’s fine. I ate an apple.”
Nia gave her a polite nod, handing Rem her sandwich, to which she let out a sound of pleasure when she saw it was sliced ham.
Loral, not taking her eyes off of Nia, quickly asked, "Can I ask a question? I know it’s random, but I’ve been wondering about it.”
“Of course,” Nia said, taking a bite into hers.
Rem remained in the chair, digging into the savory meal.
“Okay… What do you like better, running on all fours or as a human?"
"Well, for one, I amnota human," Nia said, chewing more before adding, "And two, I like all fours. I’ve got better balance. It feels natural, too."
"Wait, but youarehuman, at least right now," Loral countered.
"This is a humanstate, but we are not like them. I like humans, don’t get me wrong. There is just a clear distinction between us."
"So, if you don't call it your human state, then what do you call it?"
"We usually call it ourdauðlegurstate. It means mortal."
"Oh!" Loral exclaimed. "Do the other states have names, too?"
"Our wolf state doesn't, but our giant one does. We call itvarúlfur.It means werewolf, although we haven't been werewolves for a thousand years, not since we evolved into shifter-wolves.”
"Oh, I want to learn more!" Loral said, scooting on the fur to get closer.
Nia nervously smiled. "Perhaps when we get back. Rem and I have things to do." Nia beckoned Rem with her eyes, finishing her last bite.
Rem took in a deep breath, her sandwich only half eaten. "You scarfed yours! And we do?”
“Yeah, I eat fast when there are things to tend to. Ronan wants to see you. He told me to bring you to him an hour before sunset,” Nia revealed. “I know, I should have mentioned it earlier, but you were already nervous as it was.”
“But we have to behereby sunset,” Rem responded, standing up, a half-eaten sandwich in hand.
Ronan.
“Something tells me he knows that,” Nia said with a raise of her brows.
“Yeah, alright,” Rem breathlessly said, looking at her sandwich and no longer feeling hungry.
"Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Loral asked.
Nia dutifully replied, “He is my Alpha. I trust his command.”
Rem breathed heavier and handed Loral her half-eaten sandwich, asking to find a hungry dog in the street if Loral didn’t want it.
With nerves that vibrated as much as the metal roofing of her home during a hailstorm, Rem walked through the front door, greeted by the chilled air and ambiance of the sun touching the horizon.
