Rebel

Toundrah

As we trekked across the thin forest, everyone kept their eyes on the new guide. Even Jax growled from time to time at the wolf steadily at Valerya's side. Everyone reacted almost normal when I introduced them to her.

Bo had blinked in surprise. Jako licked his lips. Esmeralda smiled, almost menacingly. Eugene stared at her with awe. And Hussain had give her a brisk smile. It was obvious she was gorgeous. I couldn't help but to notice the way Eugene's eyes wandered all over her body.

Hussain was the only one — other than Esmeralda — not to be practically drooling over her. Bo didn't stare at her openly, but I noticed the small glances he threw at her from time to time. It surprised me to see Hussain not ogling over her like the rest of the men were. That was something new.

I straightened as I realized Valerya slightly slowed down to match my pace. I was ahead of the others, but behind our new northern friend. Her wolf followed her as well, eyeing me lazily. I had to force myself from taking a step back away from them.

"He was your mate."

My head snapped quickly to face her. My eyebrows shot up in confusion. "Excuse me?" Valerya nodded toward Jako who was muttering something to Bo. I frowned. "What is this mate?" I asked, deep inside knowing what she meant.

Valerya tried to hide a grin coming over her lips but failed terribly. I grew slightly upset at how she found this situation very humoring. "A mate. That is what we call it. Someone who you're... romantically involved with." She told me with a smug look. Amusement filled her eyes as she saw me stutter.

"N-no. Not with him." I grumbled. Valerya glanced over my shoulder to stare at him. I shoved her away. "Even if it was true, it's none of your business." I growled. Valerya rose a red eyebrow. "I see this topic bothers you, little Nomad." She said, dragging her tongue over her teeth.

I blinked as I forced myself to look back up at her eyes. Valerya chuckled as she turned her face away, her wild curls brushing my shoulder. I swatted her hair away, frowning myself. There was something about her that I couldn't place.

She was nosy, I gave her that. She definitely liked to make people uncomfortable. But that was all I could make of her. We had just met a few hours ago. I kept on observing her. The confident steps she took forward, the way her long limbs planted themselves in the piling snow, even how the snow speckled her hair.

She was definitely a Nomad. Raised in the cold, no doubt. While the rest of us were shivering and breathing hard, she was just fine. Valerya didn't seem to mind the thickening layer of snow on the ground. She moved through it as if it were clay.

Valerya glanced over her shoulder at our tiring figures. "You all need to hurry now. That horse of yours isn't going to last long in the snow. If you all intend to arrive healthy, we need to pick up the pace." She called out, talking us all. I wearily looked over at Aspen. He continued forward, his head slightly bent down.

He did look tired.

I couldn't imagine the numbing cold he was feeling in his hooves. I also glanced at Jax. Though he stayed idly by my side, his thin figure wasn't meant for the cold, unlike Valerya's wolf. My eyes trailed back to Valerya. "I thought we were already here." I said to her.

The Nomadic girl gave me a sideways glance. "Yes we are. But we don't live in the Outskirts. The Outskirts is just the border. Toundrah is a few miles more north." She explained. Despite the cold circumstances, my dry lips found enough strength to stretch into a smile.

"You are from Toundrah. I... I was right! You people exist!" I exclaimed. Valerya gave me a flat look. "Well of course we are. Where did you think I was from?"