C15 | The Alpha's Reaction

A/N: I LOVE ALL OF YOU! I have no idea how to properly express my gratitude...but dangit you guys, come in for a group hug! This story has been such a roller coaster for me in terms of always trying out new drafts, and ultimately that got me a little burned out...but this one feels really 'right' for the first time, and it's your support that pushed me through all those humps! I got so many supportive comments last chapter! I am very excited to keep going with this world <3

The halls of Reiger Edge were nothing like the jagged exterior. Everything had been smoothed, intricately carved, and braziers burned brightly around every corner. Engravings of wolves and forests lined the walls, stone ingresses fashioned to look like trees rounding to form archways. Never having witnessed such talent before, Cora pictured some kind of god slicing away at the stone to create this place.

And this is where I will live.

As she stood there, waiting for Theran to arrive at the foot of the grand staircase, Cora found one scene to be the most intriguing -- it was of a bipedal beast, immensely tall, and howling at the moon. It was such a substantial piece of art that the carving of the wolf creature was as large as Cora.

"What is that?" Cora asked to Mina, who stood adjacent to her. "I've never seen that beast before."

With pride, Mina said, "That is a our verulf state. It gives the hunters a real challenge. Our skin becomes incredibly thick, along with our fur, which makes a nice natural layer of armor that even a blade would struggle to pierce."

"I haven't seen that one yet," Cora said quietly, gazing at it with wonder. "Can all of you turn into that?"

"Yes, we can. It takes a lot of energy to maintain that state, however, so we cannot use it for long. It's mostly used for serious battle. Like, someone like me might maintain it for thirty minutes. But Ludovic? Or Theran? At least twelve hours before either would need to sleep for a very long time. But if they were to use it, it would require a long break before using it again, or they'd be weak and useless in that state."

Cora chewed on her chapped lips, thinking that through, hungry for that same power. I could become that...then no one would bother me, or Ben. An adjacent brazier cast wavering shadows on the carving, almost like it might have been alive.

Cora asked, "And a Ruby? An Omni? What are they like in that" -she waved a hand at it- "state?"

Mina spoke quietly, their voices echoing through the stone halls. Ludovic, the Seer named Oleva, and other guards stood close by. "Rubies can last like that for days. We don't know about Omnis. They haven't been turned yet."

Cora breathed deeper, eager for such defense. It was easy to feel defenseless and weak among these lycans, especially when had to rely on them versus herself for protection. I have power in my veins...I have to remember that. I won't be weak for long.

Reaching out to the stone, Cora ran her finger along the grooves of the foot of the beast. The stone was so smooth, and they even carved the grass blades. "We have nothing like this in my village. Who made it?"

"This place is over five hundred years old. I actually don't recall who was supposed to have been the ones to carve it."

That's so long ago...and yet, here was Cora, a young woman born in lands from far away, birthed with eyes that signaled she was destined for these halls. It was an out-of-body experience to finally be in this lavish place, her imagination never able to conjure anything remotely akin to this.

Her amazement was only furthered as she realized that she'd be the one to continue a line of strong lycans to live among these halls, sitting alongside their Alpha, and even bedding him at night. She had never slept alongside another man in such a manner, and hadn't had the time to really consider that either.

Her mind raced as it reminded her that Theran would be here soon. She dreaded to know that there was a possibility that he might deny her, especially with Grimshaw haunting her shadows. She had taken to staring at these carvings as a means of distraction, but now she just grew impatient.

Cora didn't know much about pack politics, but no matter who she spoke with, everyone feared Steigen pack.

And while it was a genuine concern, she did know that her parents risked everything and left everyone to get Cora to safety. So now, she would do what she could to claim that position among these creatures. Whatever Theran needed of her, she'd grant, as long as he kept her here.

At least Ben is okay. When they had arrived, she got confirmation from Roman that Ben was doing fine, while a few of the Seers ran upwards to alert the Alpha. Left on the tenth floor, Cora was to go no higher as it would take too long for her to ascend to the Alpha, and there wasn't much time to waste.

The Tenth floor was also where Ben was kept. She had learned that the Tenth Floor was considered to be the grand entrance of the Edge. Important people would wait for Theran here, if they were worthy enough to bypass the Forum. The floors below were where the soldiers were housed, along with the storage of goods.

The hall she stood in was spacious enough for her to lie down three times, head to toe, in order to cover the width. A pair of guards waited around every corner, and after dropping her gaze from the scene before her, she walked further down the hall; the room opened up to reveal a ceiling that climbed at least three or four stories to reveal a grand staircase, wind coming in from windows that were over a story tall each. Outside, the morning sun tinged the sky with a deep purple.

She shivered and pulled the shawl tighter.

Mina followed Cora and said, "The Alpha is coming."

Cora looked at Mina, whose brown eyes were tired, her usual smile seeming too heavy to lift as her expression was flat.

"I don't see or hear him," Cora said.

"I can smell him."

"Scents carry that far?"

Mina glanced up at the staircase and shrugged a shoulder. "About four to five stories. In the woods, if the wind is blowing in our direction, we can smell up to at least a mile or two."

Cora looked at the ground, her cheeks heavy with exhaustion as every muscle struggled to do its job. "Theran will accept me, right? He already has, in a way? I can't tell how worried I should be. I'm just so tired."

Mina didn't look at Cora. "I don't know. I think so...but he's hard to read."

Cora faced Mina fully and spoke with a pleading, quiet tone. "If I somehow get stuck with Grimshaw, you make sure Ben is safe. Please. I know you owe me nothing, but just...please."

Mina's sympathetic eyes looked over Cora's face. "Ludovic won't give up without a fight, Cora. I'm sure that means Theran won't either."

Cora looked down and away, not wanting to think of Ludovic. It seemed that once that door had opened, Cora couldn't look at him without being reminded of the warmth that spread throughout her before. Hilda, over the years, had taught Cora about how being sheltered would make her prone to such fascinations.

That didn't help ease the way her body burned for more, though. It wasn't even infatuation, really. Just pure desire, a new kind of passion that made everything even more complicated. Perhaps once I spend more time with Theran, I will feel the same with him.

Cora faced the stairs, standing taller as she was ready, even if Hilda was with Ben and leaving her alone. I need to be able to handle this on my own. I can do this.

Down the stairs, a cascade of fur moved with haste, the sound of claws clacking on the stone, the weight of their bodies echoing throughout with each hit of their steps on the stairs. It became all too clear as to why the cliff face had so many stairs, as these wolves traversed a few flights with ease.

She wondered which one, out of the dozen, was Theran. Among them was an immense wolf, larger than any of those that she had seen so far. But as he hit the floor and his body morphed into a man, he was definitely not Theran.

More of them turned into men, and one of them became the Alpha that she recognized, latching onto his shorter hair and the tattoo bar across his neck.

The transformation from wolf to man was smoother than she had ever imagined, and something familiar to her to by now. The wolf would rescind its fur as the body morphed into a form resembling a human, already wearing their clothes that were crafted with the magic of the Seers, so as to prevent an endless tear of precious clothing. These mountains grew too cold in the winter for them to continuously rip and tear their attire. So, in a display of the lycan's human nature, they used their ingenuity over their brawn to fashion clothes to accommodate their transformations.

Cora pursed her lips and swallowed thickly when it was very clear that Theran was neither pleased nor concerned -- he looked angry, and he spoke harshly in Dånesh at lycans behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Ludovic leading the group, listening to Theran with a stern gaze.

Theran didn't even bother to see how Cora was, only grazing his gaze over her before nearing Ludovic, speaking quickly as the others behind him followed. The largest male eyed Cora with his dark eyes, his face as rigid as the surrounding stone. He was more foreboding than anyone yet, and she looked away.

No, I don't know if I should do that. Would an Omega look away, if he's not the Alpha?

Mina took a step closer to Cora, whispering translations in her ear as Theran questioned the others. "He is angry that the witch has brought shadow magic with her...Theran is confirming what he was told..."

Cora's body went stiff when Theran looked at her, his eyes glowing amber in an expression of lycan anger. He came over to her and grabbed her chin. She hated that she flinched, not expecting his hand to reach for her face so quickly. He stared into her eyes, close enough that she saw the light stubble on his face, no scars to be found. "Olana aeyos..."

It took a while, but she remembered Red. She assumed the other word was Eyes.

He dropped her chin and faced Oleva, who was quiet in the background. Cora breathed quicker breaths as she listened through he anxiety, only able to catch words about Grimshaw, Steigen, but that was it. Theran then looked Cora over as if he didn't want to touch her. Her heart pounded in her rib cage, not accepting that he might, indeed, reject her. Her eyes widened as she looked back and forth between everyone, her head slightly shaking. The more Theran recoiled at her, the more her exhausted mind pulled her under with negative thoughts.

He is afraid of Steigen. He is afraid to face Grimshaw.

Oleva spoke again, and Theran ran a hand over his short hair, throwing that arm to the side as he sneered. He glanced back at Cora one more time, scorn in his eyes as he swiped his chin before walking forward past everyone, his private guards following him.

Mina said, "He's going for a run."

Cora spun around to face Mina. "What did he say?"

Mina licked her lips multiple times, speaking as if to apologize, "He doesn't know what to do. About you."

"What does that mean?" Cora asked with a shaky voice. She had forced herself to be courageous, tough, and strong through all of this. For Ben. Because she knew could build a life here.

But the thought of not having that made her afraid. What else would she do if this didn't work? Run for the woods where Grimshaw would find her? She still didn't even know what the mark on her thigh meant. She couldn't just hide in the mountains-

Oleva stepped forward, placing a hand on Cora's shoulder. The Seer said, "It is alright, Cora. Our Alpha is uncertain, as he is allowed to be. He needs time to process, and you need to rest. Your body is going through a change, even if you cannot see it. It needs to sleep."

Cora pressed on with her concerns, the flood gate she had set up in her mind unequivocally cracked. "What if I don't stay? Who else will take me? My brother cannot be moved from one place to another. I cannot do that. It's too much. All for..." she nearly choked on her next words. "All for the possibility that the next pack will deny me. Until it's just Grimshaw left..."

Guilt weighed on her chest at the possibility that she would actually go to Steigen. Her parents would have left their world, all for nothing. Said their last goodbyes for no reason. Left their parents and family only for Cora to circle right back. She began to imagine what she should have done differently to make Theran keep her.

Oleva spoke calmly once more, "We will advise not to go to Steigen. It is a gut reaction on Theran's end, but not wise. I will look into the smoke for now, and perhaps ask Naila to assist."

Overwhelmed, and nearly numb, Cora quietly asked, "Who is Naila?"

"The previous Alpha's sister, and Theran's aunt. He trusts her. She is a Seer, and if she sees the same thing in the smoke, then you can rest assured. Theran just needs that comfort to affirm his decision."

While the words did help sooth the inflamed anxiety swelling in her chest, Cora looked down in defeat. Cora could imagine Hilda here, telling her that she was to become an Omega. Cora doubted those female lycans wallowed in their self-pity.

She faked a half-hearted smile to Oleva, trying her best to put on a brave face. "Thank you."

Oleva nodded and began to lead the way, Ludovic, and a few other guards following. Cora glanced at Ludovic, wishing she could speak his language and ask his opinion. When she looked at him, his resolute gaze moved to her. Gods how she wished she could exude the same strength in all of this, especially since she knew he was just as exhausted and frustrated.

She looked ahead and followed behind the Seer, figuring she'd try her to best to emit what Ludovic showed. Shoulders straight, head held high.

It was hard not to be frustrated to a point of anger, though. Theran was her primary hope in all of this. She was even willing to live a loveless life with him if she had to. And yet, he still treated her that way...like she was a nuisance. He didn't even bother to give her a word of comfort, or hear her side of what happened.

Cora missed a lot of the details as they walked to wherever they were going, zoning out with a wearied numbness.

They walked to a wooden door, and when it opened, Cora let out a grateful sigh as she saw Ben in a small cot, the boy was asleep in peace. They were in a room off of a narrower hallway, reached only by passing through twenty guards. The room was spacious with a single feathered bed and pillow, a few wooden chairs situated around a fire, and windowless windows that allowed in a chilly breeze.

Roman sat in a chair by the fire, rubbing his eyes after they woke him when they entered. It was dark, but enough morning light gave the gentlest glow as she neared Ben. Hilda made for Cora, but Oleva pulled her away. Cora was okay with that as she knelt down next to Ben, too tired for conversation anyway, and she was so eager to hear Ben speak again, or to see him smile.

He didn't smell the best, but it wasn't awful either. His bandages were looser, covering it from the elements but his wounds were no longer gaping. The feeling of seeing family was something she couldn't quite describe, and she pushed some of his hair out of his closed eyes, lingering her fingers on his face before letting her hand rest on his shoulder.

For a while, she just stared and took him in, wondering what was the best for him while Mina fetched fur blankets. I've got him, mother. I have to. I don't know how I will do this, but I will figure it out.

"You look exhausted," Roman said, walking over to her and checking underneath Ben's bandages.

"Has Ben woken at all?" she asked.

"He is growing tolerant of the kväll milk, but not waking up yet."

"Thank you, so much," she said, eyeing the lycan. Roman's blonde hair was in his eyes as well, a light scruff on his face. "I owe you for taking care of him, Roman."

Roman flashed her a smile and nodded. "It's a part of what I do. My nephew was out of line for attacking your brother, and the poor guy is not equipped to heal from something like this. Not in the way my kind is."

Cora gave a genuine, tepid smile before frowning. "Wait, that was your nephew? You don't look old enough for that," Cora said, looking at the door as Mina entered, carrying bundles of fur.

Roman nodded to Mina as she entered and went back to his chair, sitting down with a sigh. "We don't age as quickly as humans, at least not physically. Even then, I am still much younger than my brothers at twenty-two summers. Oren is forty-five. Or, is it fort-six?...I honestly forget."

Cora raised her brows, not expecting that age, as Oren had seemed in his early thirties. "How old is everyone else, then?" she asked.

Roman said, "Um, well Alpha Theran is thirty-five." He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. "Asla, the female guarding Ben is thirty-one. Same as Ludovic. Oleva is near her nineties--"

Cora widened her eyes. "What?"

Mina chuckled. "Going over ages? Humans always find this part interesting."

Cora stood up and helped Mina unroll some furs, telling her that she wanted to sleep next to Ben on the floor. "I didn't realize that some of you were much older than you looked."

It made her regard all of them differently now. At least Roman is around my age.

Mina answered, "Yes, we often say that lycans mine wisdom, whereas humans mine silver. Our oldest reach a hundred-and-thirty, or a hundred-and-fifty."

"How old are you?"

"I am twenty-five summers." Mina brought over a pillow. "You know, while we're at it, how many summers have you seen?"

"Twenty-three," Cora said. "I have a birthday soon, actually." She chuckled at how innocuous that sounded, compared to everything else that happened.

"I'll remember that," Mina said, getting her own fur blanket spread out on the floor.

Roman asked, "You're not using a bed? There are others we can bring in."

Cora lied down on the soft, brown fur. "I want to sleep next to Ben, in case he wakes up. And don't bother. I won't sleep for long, I don't think. Not with the sun rising."

Mina added, "And I am to stay by Cora's side. Per Ludovic's orders. If she sleeps here, then so do I."

Roman shrugged a shoulder and leaned further into his chair. "Fine by me. I'm tired myself."

Everyone seemed so taxed by the travels and events that they all quickly fell into silence. Cora had two fur blankets, one to lie on and one to cover herself. The pillow was feathered, and she already she felt like she was in a world of luxury just from that alone.

She snuggled into the warmth and breathed deeply to smell the cotton of the pillow covering, her head sinking into the feathered comfort as the morning sun grew brighter. It was a very pleasant moment, actually, as she stared at the wooden box that Ben's bed was on, everything so calm and quiet.

As she dozed off, her imagination wandered and she imagined she was back home with her father in the kitchen. Perhaps even her mother would be there, miraculously alive, and Ben would chase Walnut somewhere in the yard. Cora imagined looking into the mirror to see that her eyes were hazel.

My eyes...she hadn't even seen them since the cave, wondering if they were still red. There's no going back now. She thought back to the shadow, hating it. It was the reason Theran didn't want her, the motivation that even gave the Seers a moment of pause.

She opened her droopy, sleepy eyes to look up and see Ben's hand on the edge of the bed. He was all she had left, and she decided, for now, to just enjoy the moment of peace with her brother. Who knows what lies ahead for us, baby brother.

She scooted closer to the cot he was on and reached up to grab his hand, her breath hitching immediately upon holding the only flesh that was the same as hers. She wanted to cry, but was too tired to do so, and instead quickly fell asleep, Ben safely at her side.

Ludovic sat outside the room where Cora and her brother were sleeping, Asla at his side. These halls were built on the exterior of the southern end of the mountains, whereas the lake was on the northern side. Windows lined the chamber, the sun seeping into the halls to remind Ludovic that morning had arrived, and that he desperately needed to sleep.

With his bad leg straightened out and his other raised so his arm could rest on it, he leaned his head back against the cool stone and stared ahead, thinking back to Theran's reaction. His cousin had been so quick to look at Cora with reproach, like she was a tarnished Omni. And while there was no way to ease the fact that Steigen was after Cora, Theran had not witnessed that shadow in the cave.

Whatever dark magic resided with Steigen would not be resolved by giving Cora to them. Grimshaw was not a male to share power, and would no doubt seek the removal of the Reiger Clan, to prune these lands of the Alpha lineage.

It's what my instincts beg of me to do with Theran. Grimshaw will take her power and do the same to our entire family.

Asla inquired about what had happened, and Ludovic slowly recanted the story, his eyes burning from exhaustion. Asla contemplated on the matter, and Ludovic closed his eyes.

Eventually, she quietly asked, "What do we do?"

He grunted. "I don't know. Keeping Cora ensures that there will be some kind of fight with Steigen. Giving her away ensures that Steigen, and that witch, get what they want. Plus, Cora's witch warned that if Grimshaw gets his hands on Cora, it will change everything. That's why her witch fled all the way over here, all those years ago."

"Has our Seers seen any of this?"

"I think Oleva took Hilda to look into the smoke for that very reason. At least that's what she told me."

"If that proves true, then Cora cannot go to Steigen."

"Theran is already relenting."

When Asla didn't respond, Ludovic chewed on his bottom lip as he looked over at his sister, her gray eyes wide and her brows furrowed. Then she said, "You know what I am thinking."

He looked back away with a tired blink. "I know."

"And?"

"I cannot think about that right now. I need to rest."

"Go ahead, then. I got the watch. If you need to do that, then you will need your rest, anyway. Especially with your bum leg," she said, hinting at the removal of Theran.

He closed his eyes while remaining sitting up, not willing to leave the area. Ludovic didn't trust his cousin to make rational decisions, as Theran often reacted on emotion. At some point, Ludovic entered a deep sleep, and when he next opened his eyes, it was because Asla had shaken him awake.

"What?" he asked, taking in a deep breath and rolling his shoulders forward in a stretch. His leg was stiff, but it felt better.

He caught his scent right away. Ludovic stood up and stretched, looking down the hall to where he smelled the scent of Theran's private guards.

Around the corner, Ludovic watched as Walder Orgona appeared, or Theran's Second Talon, along with three sentinels that always followed him. Walder was the official lycan in charge of the sentinels, or the lycans that rotated in their servitude to the Alpha.

There were four Talons in total, each representing the claw of an owl -- the informal symbol of their goddess Dagma. The amber belt around Walder's waist distinguished him for their service.

Ludovic eyed the Second Talon -- Walder's long black hair pulled back in braids that reached his hips. He was a brute of a male, even in his human form, lean and muscular. Ludovic was taller and thicker than most in his pack, and yet Walder had at least a foot on Ludovic.

Seeing Walder reminded Ludovic that if he were to challenge Theran, then this lycan would also be in the way. Ludovic sighed to himself, not sure how any of this would be possible. Even if he somehow managed the fight, it didn't feel right tearing down Walder. Not someone who was so loyal to the Alpha's seat.

This will not be an easy decision.

"You are requested," Walder said, his deep voice echoing in the hall.

"For?" Ludovic asked, his brows furrowed.

"Theran has called many to him to discuss the issue with the Omni."

Ludovic looked back at the wooden door with Cora inside before nodding to his sister, who returned the gesture with resolve in her gaze.

Ludovic followed Walder and the sentinels as they walked back to the stairwell, which broke up into four different directions, all leading to various parts of the cliff face. He had heard that their dwelling mirrored the human castles, although this home was not nearly as welcoming to humans with the tall flights of stairs and open windows.

The male lycans turned to wolves, a transformation that felt as natural to Ludovic as standing up from sitting. On all fours and moving with haste unmatched to his human form, they trotted up the stairs with ease as they moved in the exterior stairwell that weaved alongside the outside of the mountain.

It did not take long to travel up to where Theran was, as they were not going to the top of the Cliff face today. Instead, the Alpha's Lavorna --the war room-- was only fifty floors up from the entrance, and they had started at the tenth floor. There was even a chamber off of it where The Alpha frequented as a living area, along with ample space for his younglings and Omega. The designers of the cliff had even incorporated a wide expanse of open, flat terrain where grass and trees were planted; it was an unofficial living space for the Alpha's family, and the most frequently used.

The top floor was mostly for the Omega when her belly was heavily swollen with child, or if the Alpha needed extended alone time with his family. It was very high up and most only traveled there when they had intention to remain for a while, a safe haven from the rest of the world.

And while Ludovic wanted to ask Walder what to expect with Theran, Ludovic would have to wait for that. They could not speak as wolves, as their body language was down to the minute detail; it was all they needed in this state.

At least his leg hurt less.

They reached the desired floor and transformed back into men. Walder avoided looking at Ludovic, although asked, "How has your leg healed, Magna?"

"Slowly," Ludovic said, aware of the demeanor he had to give off. He spoke succinctly, mimicking how his grandfather would carry himself. Ludovic would need to embody the Great Fornar Reiger if he were to even remotely challenge Theran.

The only true solace that Ludovic had was that wolves responded to the strongest, always. Even with their politics, brute strength was something none of them could deny.

Ludovic's heart raced as he wondered what Theran would have to say, and if it would culminate into that decision.

They headed to the two wooden doors that were carved with depictions of the mountains, a wolf's head at the top left door and the moon on the right door.

A cold gust of wind blew as two sentinels opened the doors for Walder and Ludovic, the sentinel lycans dressed in their standard gray attire with red belts, furs on their shoulders. I will have to fight them as well, if they remind loyal to my cousin.

In the center of the room was an enormous table that was carved from a slab of an ancient, large tree, stained to show a map of Eloria. A large fire roared in a fireplace, the windows fashioned with stone lines to mimic human windows, a view of the mountain chain outside.

There were thirty lycans inside, all ranging from his cousin Sharla to Ludovic's mother, even Oren was present, along with many heads of Clans. Rasha was there as well by the fire, standing next to a male of the same, dark skin tone. The Frost Moon Clan...Ludovic thought of Sava Frost Moon, the only female of Reiger Pack that he had spent any of his valuable time with. Seeing more members of her clan made a part of him wish that she was here to give him advice and support, but she was in different lands now, mated to another.

"And the one that has spent the most time with the Omni..." Theran said, hands on the table as he looked Ludovic over.

Theran wore similar leather pants and a green tunic; a rather simple attire. It was the bold tattoo across his neck that symbolized who he was. It was a band of geometric patterns, either black or red.

An Alpha wore that for his entire life, as only death could remove it.

"My liege," Ludovic said, bowing his head at his cousin.

Theran stood up straight and looked at the fire where the Seers were. "Rasha brought damning news, as I know you are aware." He looked back at Ludovic as all eyes were on him, "We want to make this succinct. Is the Omni going to be worth the fight?"

"Fight for what?" Ludovic asked, furrowing his brows, his heart racing once again.

Sharla spoke up, the light from the sun behind them, gleaming against her pale skin. "Keeping her here. We have to consider the option that she might not be worth it."

Ludovic didn't immediately respond and did his best to control his breathing. Through tight lips, he slowly asked, "What else would you plan to do with her?"

Sharla looked around at the other lycans, the tension palpable through scent alone as she said, "Give her to Steigen, of course, as a token of good faith, since she belongs to him."

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