Mated To An Enemy

Five years ago, Peter was still training to be a doctor. As a part of his training in Winter, he volunteered to visit the lesser packs to offer exams and primary care, as well as learn treatments and remedies from other packs.

He was thrilled and thankful for every opportunity he was given. The debt he owed to Luna Corrine was beyond anything he could ever pay back.

Yet, when he met Myka, he almost abandoned everything for him.

Peter clenched his jaw and took a deep breath through his nostrils.

When he heard about the potential alliance with the nomads, Myka stirred in his thoughts for the first time in a very long time. But he never imagined that he would actually come.

He crossed his arms on the desk and then lowered his head to rest on them. He let out a heavy sigh.

“Why did he have to come here?” he whispered.

Seeing Myka would have been enough to unsettle him, to leave him feeling all the things he had pushed back in his mind. But, feeling his heart beating, tasting his scent and his lips…. That was far more than unsettling.

Walking away was the only option he had because as angry as he was, as hurt as he felt, he knew that if Myka had reached for him once more, Peter would have fallen into his arms without hesitation.

He may not have been the same naïve and desperate teenager that had first met Myka five years ago, but he was still a wolf in the presence of his mate.

Even thinking of him now, Peter swallowed as the lingering taste of peppermint and honey danced on his tongue.

He thought of Myka’s arrogant laugh and licked his lips. He thought of the condescending way Myka had spoken to him as though he had no doubt that Peter had forgiven him. Even without an apology, that stupid grin on his face.

Peter’s heart was racing already.

He remembered how the strands of blue would fall over his face as he let out soft moans whenever Peter touched him.

Peter’s hand had taken on a life of its own. Moving down over his pants, massaging his throbbing erection.

All he had done was think of the idiot smiling, and already he was like this. What was he going to do when he showed up? Peter already knew he would. He had no doubt about that. As long as the nomads were here, Peter constantly had to be on guard. Prepared to run at any and every moment.

But right now, he was alone in his office.

He licked his lips as his hand pressed harder against the bulge in his pants. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against his arm as his fingers moved up to unfasten his pants.

There was a soft knock at the door.

Peter’s body stiffened, and his head shot up, looking at the door.

He took a deep calming breath and swallowed down the regrettable desire he was feeling.

Once he had calmed his heart, and another knock was heard, he grabbed a chart as he answered.

“Come in,” he called out.

The door opened, and he didn’t look up at first, still trying to focus his thoughts on the present moment.

“Hello, Peter,” Corrine greeted him gently, closing the door behind her.

Peter looked up with a smile. He lifted a fist to his chest and bowed his head to her.

“My Luna,” he greeted her in return.

“May I sit, dear?” she asked.

“Always,” he smiled. “How can I help you?”

“I’m here to check on you,” Corrine smiled.

Peter swallowed.

“I assume saying ‘I’m fine’ won’t get me anywhere with you?” he asked.

Corrine smiled and shook her head.

Peter took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.

“You are the only person in all Winter,” he began and then paused, thinking for a moment. “Actually, you are the only person besides Myka and me who knew about him.”

“Yes,” Corrine nodded, “That is why I have come to check on you.”

“Did Bell tell you about what happened?” Peter asked with an irritated sigh.

“She did,” Corrine replied. “But I had already heard his name from Axel. I knew right away it was the same. When Bell expressed concern for you, I spoke with him.”

Peter’s eyes widened.

“I appreciate your concern, but that wasn’t necessary,” he said. “Once the talks are over, he will be gone, just like before.”

“I’m not sure if that’s true,” Corrine commented

“What do you mean?” Peter asked.

“The boy is… a dreamer,” she said.

Peter scoffed.

“That’s true,” he replied.

“Yes, but I wonder if those dreams he chases after might be fueled by nightmares,” she said.

“What?”

“For a man that claims his journey is one of freedom and exploration, I have never seen someone look so stifled and trapped,” she continued.

Peter took a deep breath.

“It’s just the effect of the bond. It’s like a chain around his neck. He’ll be free once he leaves Winter,” he sighed. “We both will.”

“Are you sure?” Corrine asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, do you want him gone?” she asked.

Peter looked away.

“I told you what he said to me,” Peter replied quietly.

“Yes,” Corrine said.

Peter clenched his teeth.

“Then, if I still want him after that, what kind of pathetic creature does that make me?” he whispered.

“Just like the rest of us,” Corrine replied gently.

Peter looked back at her. She gave him a warm smile.

“Peter, there is nothing wrong with loving someone difficult to love,” she said. “As long as that person is who you want to be with.”

“So, should I just move on?” he asked. “Forget what he said and act like it never happened?”

Corrine raised a brow and had a hard look in her eye.

“I never said that,” she replied. “If you want to love and allow him the chance to do the same, he must earn your trust back. He must beg and plead until you are satisfied.”

Peter chuckled.

Corrine smiled.

“But if that is not what you want. If your reactions to him are entirely related to the pull of the bond. Then isn’t your heart already protected? Won’t you keep him from getting through your defenses?”

“Of course!” Peter stated.

Corrine smiled.

“If you’re that confident, then there is no reason you can’t…. Enjoy the benefits of that bond while he is here.”

Peter’s eyes went wide, and Corrine laughed.

“From what you have said, your relationship with Myka was almost entirely physical. Just the desire for the bond.”

Peter swallowed, thinking once again of the expression on Myka’s face as he lay beneath Peter, thrusting into him.

He licked his lips and pushed the thought away from his mind.

“It was… yea,” Peter replied quietly. “What are you getting at?”

Corrine sighed.

“Peter, you want him. He wants you,” Corrine stated bluntly. “If you insist on the rejection, just make it clear to him that all you want is his body.”

Peter felt his jaw drop.

“I… don’t know what to say.”

Corrine laughed.

“There is nothing wrong with sex, dear. And I know you can attest to the fact that it is far better with your mate than any other.”

“How could you…?”

“This is my pack, dearest,” she smiled. “I know far more than I ever wished to.”

She was right. In the past four years, once Peter opened himself to people like Corrine and Bell, he began to explore his world much more.

Since his mate didn’t want him, Peter saw no reason to hold himself back from enjoying whatever this world had to offer him. Whether it be man or woman, as long as they were willing, so was he.

He had been reluctant to admit what Corrine implied, but it was true. He had enjoyed each encounter, but it was never the same as it was with Myka. And to his shame, he had thought of his mate more than once during those encounters.

“I know you have a lot to think about,” Corrine said, standing from her chair. “But perhaps this is one of those times when overthinking is actually the problem.”

She gave him another warm smile, and they said their goodbyes.

Peter stood when she was leaving, but he slumped back into his chair once the door was closed.

Luna Corrine had just sat in his office, telling him to use his mate for sex.

He was baffled by this turn of events. Still, as his mind wandered once more to the grin, the laugh, and the blue hair that stuck to his brow in the sweat of their passions… he realized he was not entirely opposed to the idea.

Another knock at his door. He looked up, still leaning back in his chair. The door handle began to turn, and with it, Peter’s heart began to race as the scent of peppermint and honey filled the room.

Myka wasn’t sure how Peter would react. If he would yell or throw things at him. But he needed to try. He wanted to talk to him, to explain himself.

He knocked at the door to Peter’s office. Myka turned the handle, afraid that Peter would realize it was him, and lock the door before he had a chance to speak with him.

Myka pushed open the door, he looked toward the desk, but no one was there. Had he already left?

But before he could consider anything else, the front of his shirt was grabbed and yanked roughly, bringing Myka into the room. That was followed by the door closing and the lock turning.

Myka turned to see Peter looking back at him, but he looked strange. Different. His eyes swam with a familiar darkness he hadn’t seen in these five years. His breathing was shaky and shallow.

“Peter…?” Myka whispered.

But no other words managed to escape his lips before they were captured by Peter’s hunger.