They say we are what we are, but we don't have to be

Moments before he splashed into the river to make his way across, Kevlyn's ears twitched to the sound of a voice and he looked up to see a white-haired female standing on the opposite shore. Her voice was laced with a mixture of concern and care, something Kevlyn rarely heard in a woman's voice, that for a moment made her rather compelling. Nevertheless, he faltered, allowing his mind and heart to war for a while.

As an Ostrega wolf, Kevlyn was inclined to behave politely in all situations. He didn't need to be taught that by his parents; it was more or less in his genes. As a consort of Ankyra Sound he was inclined to be stand-offish and unfriendly to unfamiliar wolves who didn't pledge themselves to Caiaphas. It was likely that warm note in Scarlett's voice that stopped him from being a total ass, though he did stand stiffly and uncomfortably still.

At length, he responded with a simple, "no," and angled his head toward the water, looking for a good, shallow place to cross. In spite of himself, he cupped his ears atop his head and directed them at her, quietly hoping she would speak again in that honeyed tone, so like his vague memory of his mother.