Filed To Story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
It was stupid. So stupid.
But why was her heart racing so much that her breathing got heavier and heavier by the minute?
When the car suddenly stopped, and he opened the door for her, she got out without saying a word herself. Two could play this game
Fenir motioned for her to follow him, and she did, sensing that the sunrise was close.
The Rogue King placed a blanket on the ground and gestured for her to sit down. She did just that, and he joined her. It was always the praying time for the Easterners who believed in the old gods. One thing that shed quickly learned was that, although Solace accepted everyone who wanted to live here and could prove themselves worthy, the majority of the people were still the Easterners who survived the Kingdom that Perished, which was once composed of several cultures and religions, a reflection of its location. They still prayed to the gods they believed in, and the ruler did not object to any of it.
Now that Astrea was thinking about it, she didn’t feel that one religion was above another here. She saw people with Moon Goddess crescents on them; she saw that hideous statue of the northern god Fenrir; she knew about fox deities of the past and many others. Fenrirs tour introduced her to all that. It looked like a religion here was a personal matter for everyone to cherish on their own and without frowning upon others. She liked that part.
The first light of dawn began to pierce the velvety darkness, awakening something deep in Astrea’s soul as she stole a glance at Fenrir. The majesty of the towering peaks, with their rugged contours and deep shadows, illuminate under a palette of warm hues. From deep reds and oranges to golden yellows and light pinks, the vibrant sky created a breathtaking backdrop against the mountains and the desert below, spread like a golden carpet.
It was a beautiful spot, perfect for a romantic date, but Fenrir was not making a move, keeping his distance.
Astrea watched him, trying to push the eagerness and disappointment at his lack of action deep down.
He was a target. Just a target. Nothing more than a target.
A target. She didn’t need to get involved with him.
“Wait for it,” he said, keeping his composure as always, but this was enough to pique her interest.
“Wait for what?” she asked and turned back, her lips parting in surprise.
She could have never anticipated it, but she noticed two colourful hot air balloons flying up into the sky. She was about to comment on them when three more appeared from behind the sandy peaks. Then more and more and more of them until a whole rainbow of colours painted the sky, a stark contrast against the desert’s beige hues.
“Fenrir!” She grasped his hand without realising it, lacing their fingers together. “It’s so beautiful!”
“Mesmerising,” he agreed, looking only at her.
“What is this?” She didn’t notice his focus on her as she was too busy looking at what was unfolding before her eyes
“Yesterday was the night of the new moon,” the Rogue King sighed as if it was explaining everything.
“What does it mean?” She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the colourful display. She had seen many things but nothing quite like that. The balloons soared and bobbed gracefully, harmonious in their dance with the wind.
“It’s a tradition here,” Fenir tightened his grip on her hand.”
There are only couples in those baskets now.”
“Really?” Her lips curled into a smile. “What are they doing?
“They’re trying to find their mates,” he said, immediately getting her attention.
“A weird way to try to look for your mate” she shrugged with a chuckle, shaking her silvery white locks. “Not that I am an expert, but there are easier ways.”
“Not here,” Fennirs expression became darker. “The protection of Solace blocks the mate bond. It doesn’t let anyone find their mates.”
Is this a joke?” Astrea’s brows went up.
“No.” The Rogue King shook his head, not offering her any explanation.
“Fenrir, come on!” She jabbed him gently with her elbow. ” You dropped a bomb on me, and now you are leaving me hanging? I don’t think so!”
“Ask whatever you want to know,” The King suggested as if he really didn’t mind
She wanted to know a lot. Starting from his story with her Teacher to the specifics of what his bracelet was holding, but that was probably off the table. So, she stuck to the subject at hand instead.
“What do you mean Solaces protection prevents people from finding mates?”
“Exactly that. When we were building Solace, I had only one condition. No mates will be found on this land.” He stated nonchalantly, and Astrea’s lips parted in shock. “That’s why they are up in the air now. One day per month, on the morning after the New Moon, is the day when they can feel the bond if they are up there.”
“How is that even possible?” She tried to see the couples in the wicker baskets, but they were too far away.
“Magic, of course,” Fenir said, and his fingers drifted over the beads of his bracelet.
That has to be a clue, Nova whispered, and Astrea had to agree.
Were those beads holding magic inside? That would explain why Joran wanted the bracelet.
“No offence, it’s romantic and all that, but what happens when they go down?” Astrea was still processing the information.
“Nothing,” he shrugged.
“They just know now.”
“Will they still feel the bond?”
“No.” Again, his tone suggested that it wasn’t a big deal and that didn’t sit right with the Dragonfly.
“But why can’t they feel it again?” She tried to understand if she missed some crucial piece of information. Who wouldn’t want to feel their mate?
“Why would they need to feel it?” He offered her a questioning glance. “I don’t even understand why they want to know in the first place. If they love each other, that should be enough.”
“But we are talking about mates!” Astrea inhaled sharply, trying to hold back her fiery temper. “Who wouldn’t want to know?”
“Anyone with common sense.” Fenrir’s laugh rumbled through his chest.
“And that was your idea? What on earth do you have against mates?” she gasped’and noticed a momentary Nicker of pain in the man’s eyes, wondering if she had overstepped.
“Everything.” He cut her off as if it wasn’t a big deal. “
What’s so special about mates?”
“Everything!” She repeated his word to prove her point. “The mate bond is a divine connection that transcends time and space; forging an unbreakable link between two souls.
Everyone strives to find it. It’s an honour to feel it at least once in your lifetime. Nothing else can compare to it.”
Astrea could see his spirits dampening at first, but then something else appeared in his gaze. An unyielding flame she recognised from somewhere.
“Nothing can compare to it? How about love? Real love!” His voice became darker, and she didn’t know if he was angry or simply passionate about the topic.
“The mate bond IS love!” she insisted, but a growl escaped his chest in response.
“Is it, though? So, you’re telling me that two people need the Moon Goddess to tell them they are in love? How is that real love? If they need her to tell them, then they aren’t in love at all!”
*I mean.. she sees the souls perfect for each other and binds them.” Astrea had never heard of such an argument against mate bonds, although she had to admit that he had a point.
“Are we just assuming she knows everything about everyone to make such decisions? The last time I checked, she was the Goddess of the Moon, not of people’s destinies. Do you know how many couples she got wrong?”
It seemed as if he’d had this conversation before.
“A few.” Astrea couldn’t deny this. She knew it, too.
Everyone did. The Moon Goddess indeed made mistakes from time to time. Queen Savannah of the North had a terrible first mate. Astrea had to work with him for a while, and even she could tell the two were wrong for each other.
Then why would the Goddess do it? A part of her believed that their pairing was part of a bigger plan. But… what if it wasn’t?
“But that doesn’t mean the whole mate system is bad,” she pointed out. More often, the bond did work as intended, and it was beautiful to watch.
“Doesn’t it?” He glared at her as if she insulted him. “
Imagine spending your whole life bound to a man who is not the one for you.”
“This is why mates can reject each other!” she argued, not knowing why she was bothering. It’s not like she had a mate. But like any girl, she did sometimes imagine what it would be like if there was someone out there for her. She usually quickly erased those thoughts from her mind because, due to her line of work, she didn’t consider herself worthy of such a gift.