Following the newly instated Alpha, with nearly all watching, Cora had to remember to breathe. Thee. overwhelming knowledge that she could no longer hide behind a language barrier sent her heart into a heavy-pounding rhythm.

All the previous interactions and conversations came back to her. He had said he would choose her, if she wanted. He had attacked his own cousin for the position of Alpha—the person she was to mate. Fresh tattoos lined his body, his hold on the position strong and clear.

And here Cora was, following him, all alone. No translator. No aid. Her steps felt light as her legs moved on their own.

Once they made their way down a hall that only guards lined, Cora allowed her gaze to wander over Ludovic. To take in the ridges of his muscles, or the long, thin dreads down his back, eyeing the place that his thick belt situated just above his hips. She even took in the way he swayed as he walked.

He was larger, and thicker, than any man she had ever known.

She tried to look ahead of him, catching natural light ahead, and saw that the hallway spilled out into an enclosed courtyard with a single, old oak tree trunk visible. "Where are we going?" she muttered, the question surprising her, her voice gently echoing against the stone walls.

His deep voice resonated much stronger than hers. "Nowhere in particular. It just looks better if you walk away with me."

Cora parted her lips, but no response formed. Only a grin managed to take her, surprised and unsurprised as to how bold he was, although her smile fell when he turned to casually face her with a raised brow. She stared back at him, wide-eyed. Ludovic was so much more intense than Theran ever was. He even slowed in his walking.

"You're quiet," he stated, his stark gray eyes looking her over.

"I am not used to talking to you," she mumbled, clenching her fists.

He smirked, which then turned into him looking away as a crooked smile formed, giving her his back once more.

"Why's that funny?" Cora asked, although she smiled as well.

"You look like a deer that's realized it's being hunted by a wolf."

With blushing cheeks, she said, "Well, I suppose that's not far from the truth."

She couldn't see him, but she heard a faint chuckle escape.

Tempting thoughts invaded her mind. Ludovic was such an impressive male that flirting with him wasn't as daunting—at times— as she thought it would be; like climbing a hundred-foot tree as a joke, only to realize you already made it halfway up.

Grasping that she was actually attempting to flirt with him felt so out-of-body, and yet it was real.

There was a desire to enjoy the moment, to melt her worries away and enjoy the fun. But that felt dangerous, like letting a wall down. Nothing went her way, especially not as of late.

They reached the archway that transitioned to the courtyard, the oak tree a pillar for the canopy of leaves above. The enclosed space was surrounded by stone walls, the only entrance the one they came through. To the side was a wooden table with wooden chairs. Melted, unlit candles sat in the middle of the table, suggesting this was visited even in the dark. The usual crisp air didn't affect Cora like before, distracted by everything else.

Being around Ludovic had a way of making her life feel a lot more real.

He kept walking towards the chairs, the guards remaining at the archway, moving out of sight until it was just the two of them.

It was nice not to have so many listening in, but now Cora had to figure out how to hold a private conversation with an Alpha. It almost amused her as to how difficult everything always seemed to be.

Ludovic scooted his chair against the stone ground, sitting down and watching as she carefully neared a small chair, his own creaking with his weight.

Before she sat down, her hand on the back of the chair, he casually asked, "So, how are you settling in, after all the drama that greeted you?"

His gaze was hard, and Cora glanced between the chair and him, sliding into the wooden seat. She clasped her hands in her lap, wanting to have a decent conversation with him. It felt important to get this right. Did she answer casually or with the truth?

Responses formed in her mind until only one thing remained, like a confession she held in for too long—"I'll be honest, I have no clue what I am doing. I thought for sure I'd go to Grimshaw, and I'm still processing that I'm not. I spent the last six hours plotting how to kill him," she said, giving a sardonic chuckle, nervously glancing at him. "I don't know if I believe that everything is safe. Not that I don't value what you and your family have done," she said, opening up her palm as if that would show her sincerity, "I just mean...I still sleep with one eye open" —she smacked her lips and sighed, shaking her head— "Sorry, that was a bit serious. I guess I'm doing fine."

Her cheeks were so warm that she wouldn't be surprised if steam rolled off of them. At least her skin was already a caramel shade, which always his her blushes better than Hilda's pale cheeks.

His expression darkened as he leaned back, although she maintained a straight back. Her nerves didn't compare to her fatigue, keeping her on edge.

He asked, "You could kill someone?"

Cora hesitated, replaying what she said...yes, I said I'd kill Grimshaw. She nodded and looked at her hands. "Him? Absolutely."

Ludovic raised a hand to his chin, mindlessly caressing it with his fingers. "Isn't killing wrong for humans? Unless you're a hunter?"

Her brows furrowed and she quickly countered, "It's not wrong for shifters."

Ludovic gave an approving rise of his brows and looked away, a gentle breeze brushing through the leaves above, moving the shadows below. "Valid point. Humanity does has their own rules, and so do we—" he looked at her "—we don't look down on killing a lycan that has wronged us to such a degree. I just find the differences between human and Lycan culture to be interesting."

"Yeah, yeah I suppose it is interesting," she lightly said, finding it interesting to agree with him on such an arbitrary topic. "I won't lie though, the wish to kill someone is a very new sensation for me. A lot of these things are."

The concept of killing seemed to barely affect him, and he indifferently changed the subject, "Yes, a lot of things will be new...how isolated were you, back in your home?"

The question confused her, not in context, but in its tangent. "Why?" she asked.

He readjusted, looking off as if he didn't quite know how to phrase the thought before rolling his gray eyes back at her. "Pointedly, I want to know how gentle to proceed with you."

She blinked rapidly to reply quickly to conceal her involuntary reaction. With a slightly higher pitched voice, she stammered, "Oh, um, well...uh, yeah, good um, good point."

Cora wasn't sure if he meant the sexual undertone, but her mind surely took it that way.

He seemed amused, although was careful not to laugh at her, his smile pulling back enough to show the fangs of his canines. "What I mean is that as long as I have this rank, you are staying here, no matter what. Even if it's just to spite Grimshaw. Which means it is important to gauge where you are truly at. This is all a big adjustment, but it must happen."

"I'll learn to adjust to anything as long as I don't have to go to Grimshaw," she said seriously, although gave a faint smile. It was hard to put into words just how much the trauma meant so little, as long as Ben was safe. "And I suppose as long as I don't have to mate Theran. I might have clawed his eye out."

He chuckled, the humor warm and she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. He shook his head. "What a fucking idiot he was."

Cora grinned, partially laughing as she had yet to hear anyone curse here. Then again, she didn't understand any of them until today. She wondered if they used foul language just as much as the blacksmiths did back in her village.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Why didn't you kill Theran?"

Ludovic didn't take long to consider that before flippantly saying, "He is my kin, and I won the fight. He had the option to leave. We don't always have to result in killing, although I could have."

"What if he is cursed, too? I have been thinking...what if he acted the way he did due to bewitchery?"

Surprise reflected in his gaze. "I wondered the same. We asked Naila, when she was coherent, but she said she didn't think he was, as she felt nothing when near him. She could always feel the shadow magic when it was near."

She nodded, thinking to the shadow in the cave and in the woods. "So what happens if he comes back, and turns out he was cursed, but isn't anymore? Does he get it back?"

Gods she hoped she didn't have to mate him if such a thing were true. Even if Theran was  a better man than she had met. Do I really want Ludovic that much?

Ludovic sat up straighter, the muscles of his stomach flexing. "He will have to fight me for it. He was never loved by my people, but he was familiar, and that made many complacent during war times. I won the throne in the Old Ways, so he has to reclaim it the same."

She liked how even just speaking of it made his eyes turn competitive. It made him feel safe, in a way. Like he would be a boulder for anyone to move. "So was that scary, to fight him like that?" she asked, but then followed it up with, "Sorry if that's a silly question. I've just never seen that before. The first violent attack I saw was my brother's face."

That curiosity continued to burn in his gaze, more depth coming to his expression as he seemed to enjoy it. "No, it is fine. I was angry at him and fueled by a desire to put that to an end to how he ruled. I was more concerned about the pack turning on me, but so far that seems to have transitioned...relatively well."

"Relatively?"

"Clearly some are concerned, but many understand it," he sighed and before she could reply, the gears turned in his reflection as he asked, "What do you want with your life?"

"What?"

He added, "The questions are random, I know, but I have been thinking about them. We don't have a lot of time before we leave for Ingram. These are important things for me to know, and I'd prefer to hear them directly from you. I might as well directly ask it rather than lead up to it."

That made sense to her, and she even valued it. Listlessly, and looking off into the leaves, she contemplated what she wanted, wanting to give him a good answer. It was kind of him to want to at least try and have a natural conversation, which was far more than Theran ever gave.

But, nothing came to mind.

"I don't know. I want Ben to be happy. I've never been able to plan for myself," she quietly said, numb to the concept. So she just gave an empty answer, rooted in the only truth she knew at the moment.

She couldn't read how he felt about that. "Becoming anything akin to an Omega would be something you can't change. It is a lot of responsibility."

She thought that over, and for a moment, wanted to relinquish that to another. Did she really want that pressure on her shoulders? Of course she wanted the life, but she pictured a long journey of ruling. And it was daunting.

Not looking at him, and with detachment, she politely said, "I understand if I do not appear to be suitable for that."

He only let a moment of silence hang between them before he calmly spoke, and she thought she even heard disappointment. "If you do not want that title, now is the time to share it. Many would look to you for answers. For strength. It's why I want to know what you want, what you truly want, so I know this isn't all done out of fear or desperation, as neither are desired."

Looking at the table between them, her silenced rolled into a faint chuckle as she replied, "I can barely keep my brother from harm, let alone an entire pack. It's actually kind of funny thinking of me leading and attack."

He responded seriously, not engaging in the humor. "And yet you've done what you can with what little power you have, and it has impressed many. Standing up to Theran revealed a potential in you that you cannot teach."

She rose her gaze, her heart racing as she made eye contact with those gray eyes. The words meant a lot to her, more than she expected. She chuckled, feeling proud of herself when thinking back. "Sometimes I forget I even did that."

"It's one of the primary reasons I'm considering you. I want a mate that would stand up to anyone, if she needed."

Something about referencing that she could be his mate excited her, lighting a well needed fire under her rear. She cheekily replied, "And what about what me considering you?"

Without missing a beat, he replied, "I would say you have already done that , especially at the hot springs."

Her cheeks flushed with warmth, smiling shyly. "That's not fair. I didn't know."

"You didn't look away," he said, a faint playfulness in his gaze.

She smiled wider at him. "Oh, please. You don't need me to tell you you're, well, you know, the way you look" –her cheeks burned even more and she changed her tone, leaning an elbow on the table and declared—"Yes fine, I clearly prefer you."

He laughed, more than any of his half chuckles that he familiarly gave. This one crinkled his eyes, and it made her laugh too.

Cora, succinctly, was confused on what to feel, or how to read the situation. After palming her eye to rub it with a gentle sigh.

She wasn't going to fight him on the subject—of course she still wanted to live in this lifestyle. To be doted on. To be closer to a male like him, to see more of his playful side. To even see Ludovic's gentle side. To afford Ben true safety and luxury.

It prompted her to reconsider his questions earlier. What do I really want? Outside of all this? Outside of all the expectations?

The answer lurked under the surface of her subconscious, and perhaps she had been ignoring it for how silly it was in light of everything else. I want to be loved, and to belong. I want someone to make me feel like I don't need to fear again. I want a home. A real home.

Not able to admit that out loud, she said, "Well...can I at least have someone help me learn my position?" Her eyes gyrated in her skull as she looked back and forth between his, a ghost of a smile on her face.

He seemed to like her boldness, giving an approving nod. "Asla can help, along with Mina—" he abruptly paused to look over her shoulder, his body stiffening and his eyes regaining his unyielding glare that he adorned with more frequency since he gained his new title.

Cora looked over her shoulder, seeing one of the guards approach. Ludovic didn't stand as the lycan bowed his head.

"My liege, we are ready to depart for Ingram come the night."

Ludovic nodded and finally rose. Cora did as well, feeling like perhaps she should rise if the Alpha did; that's what everyone did when Theran stood up. Although, she remained where she stood while Ludovic began to walk around in a mindless pace. He eyed where the guard left, and then ran his hand down his neck, looking at the tree as something clearly consumed his thoughts. Whatever humor had been there was now gone.

After a few moments, he gave a slight smirk, and not looking at her, he asked, "So, tell me, what do you really think about becoming a lycan? I suppose once we leave, your old life is left behind."

That wasn't hard to answer. "Well, my parents are gone, and I never got to know the village the way others did. So, I suppose my life doesn't change much. Or I guess, I'm not leaving a lot behind. I am looking forward to having my own claws. I've never felt more vulnerable than being here," she said with a defeated laugh.

Ludovic nodded, then slowly moved his gaze to her. He reminded her of Hilda, of when the witch danced around a point rather than start with it. Cora wasn't sure what to do with her hands as she stood there, looking him in the eye. She contemplated whether to—

Thankfully, he spoke, "I wanted to spend more time understanding you, and asking questions, but I don't think we have the time. So, my next suggestion is now relevant, and not really easy to bring up, so forgive me if it is forward—do you want to enter Ingram marked, or unmarked?"

She hesitated, feeling like the way he asked that meant something immensely significant, but it felt simple to her. Through chatting with Mina, Cora knew that lycans could be marked. She was ready for that, as he had told her she had to decide before leaving.

Ludovic added, "It is a rather suggestive question, for my kind. It means I will mark you before we leave, claiming you as mine. It is a significant claim, more so than any verbal agreement, which humans are used to."

Her eyes widened. "How significant?"

"Enough that many will expect the bite to become permanent. It is a question many females would want addressed before leaving for such a journey. You can either enter Ingram claimed, or not, as we spoke before. Now is the time to decide."

She thought to the conversation. To the competition of the other Omnis in Ingram. She believed him that he did find an intrigue in her, and letting him go to Ingram without commitment...she had to admit she didn't like that suggestion at all. It made an ugly part of her rise in her chest, wanting to fend those other Omnis off.

Her gut held the answer, and yet it was so hard to admit it out loud. Was this wise? To officially commit? It felt so easy to make such a large decision. "What is the mark like?"

"It's not a mating bite, but similar. It lasts a while and puts the scent of another onto a lycan. It would be formalized once you've turned. I asked a Seer, and the bites don't last as long with a human, but they will remain for a few months. Since you have taken the serum, it will last even a little longer."

His gaze wandered to her neck and shoulders, looking back over her face. Her heart raced at the suggestion.

It wasn't romantic, and yet that felt expected. Lycans didn't make Cora think of romance, and yet, committing to this meant she really would mate with someone she didn't know.

She had always expected this, but a part of it gave her trepidation. It was all coming together, and a part of it felt empty.

"You look disappointed," he remarked, taking a step closer, his eyes curious.

She twiddled her finger, staring at the stone ground. Quietly, she said, "It's hitting me that it's real that I will mate someone I don't know."

"Likewise."

She looked up at him. "What if it is a bad idea?What if I am not strong? Like what if being an Omni isn't worth much, after all? What if I make a horrible Omega? What if I don't like the role?"

"You have to earn your worth here, special blood or not," he gently said.

She could hear Hilda in her mind, telling her to be strong. To show him that she didn't fall to weakness or doubt so easily. Earn it.

One thing was certain for Cora—she was looking forward to just believing in one thing, in one reality, in one future, rather than feel like her mind and heart fluttered around like a leaf in the wind.

A calmness moved over her as she looked at the Alpha, eyeing the inky line on his neck. Ludovic had taken the throne, so these really were a people that answered to demonstration of raw power and leader. She could become that.

For a moment, she believed a future where she could earn her own place.

It tempted her, like the way she used to spend hours daydreaming of a new life. Her cheeks flushed with warmth again, wanting to be bold, but not sure how to behave.

Just do it. Get over it. Become one of them. "If I am to be honest, a part of me is genuinely...I don't know, well, I suppose excited. Is that odd? It's odd, isn't it. It's too fast, which is what makes me nervous. I expected all of this, and yet..." she shook her head, rambling by now.

"You are used to making decisions for your brother, not yourself," he pointed out, still nearing her one slow step at a time.

The corner of her mouth rose. That felt nice. It felt nice to have someone understand her here, even if it was just as simple as knowing she valued Ben over herself. "Yeah, I suppose that's it," she said, looking up at him.

With an excited recklessness, her worries about her future washed away. She allowed herself to imagine this place as hers and was satisfied with the man Ludovic had proved to be so far.

She'd never get to properly court her future mate, not with Grimshaw in their shadows. It was necessary to pick someone in haste, and everything in her gut told her to give Ludovic that very chance.

"I choose to be marked before leaving," she declared, her body warming with nerves and excitement.

He looked her over, the size of him nearly double of what she was, and the faintest amber glow exuded from his irises. The small pause he had, more like a moment to take her in, reminded her that he, too, was committing to the unknown.

At least he seemed pleased with whatever tales his imagination spun inside his head.

His posture changed; his muscles loosened in tension, his breathing deepened, and his unrestrained gaze revealed his desires. He took in a deep breath, reminding her that he liked her scent.

She wondered what he would smell like once she changed.

His roughened hand raised to grab her side of the neck, holding her still. The intimate touch surprised her, and yet confirmed that her body desperately wanted him. Perhaps it was wrong to want someone so easily and quickly, but so much of it didn't feel wrong.

But rather than move closer, his keen gaze continued to look her over.

"What is it?" she asked, his face only a foot from hers. She could see the individual hairs of his eyelashes.

"Trying to wonder if a human would see it as rude to mark her before, well, anything like a kiss. My kind wouldn't mind, but you might."

At those words, it didn't matter what he did. The fact he considered what she wanted was enough romance for her. Perhaps that's truly all she wanted in this. The corner of her lips curled even higher into a nervous smile. "I wouldn't mind that."

Once he moved, he did so quickly; like a lycan. His lips were on hers without hesitation, but they weren't demanding. It was a new kind of passion, one that intrigued her. Moving with his warm lips became effortless, not caring if she was good or bad at it. He seemed to enjoy it, like they both surprised the other with exchanges of pressing harder than the other. Cora didn't know when, but the gentle kiss deepened, even feeling a swipe of his tongue on her lips. She placed a hand on his shoulder and let out a small groan, liking how powerful his body felt against her hand.

Ludovic's breath mixed with a gentle growl, vibrating into her lips, and it intimated her in a curious, wonderful way.

It was just a kiss, and it made her want it everything else.

As if realizing he was too excited, he parted the exchanged of their warm breaths and moved to her neck and above her clavicle, quickly sinking his fangs into her skin. She quivered and sneered with the sudden pain at she stared up at the tree. She clenched her teeth, determined to take the pain.

She stiffened, gripping his hard shoulder, the high from the kiss gone. She could only withhold a partial groan from the discomfort of it all. Cora was grateful when he removed his fangs, then she was overwhelmed with knowing what she just committed to, a deeper part of her enthralled with the possibilities. The hand he had on her neck slid down to her shoulder, his skin rough on hers.

With his breath in her ear, his deep voice rasped, "Be with your brother for tonight, and your witch. On the way to Ingram, you will stay near me."

I must say that the interest in this story from all of you guys really made me push through to get this chapter out. I think I am at an odd limbo in my writing journey where I still love Wattpad, but feel that pull to move to full publication, and then I get stuck in the middle often. I also get stuck in wondering how to better promote myself, how to brand myself, etc and it can get overwhelming. I think I just have so many works in progress (never honestly saw them getting that much attention so didn't care how many I started) that I also get overwhelmed too. My main goal now is to finish them all so I can properly organize and prioritize.

Wattpad is a great escape to just write and get stuff published, because I write and finish these stories to get that interaction with you guys, and I am forever grateful for it. I'll probably always put stories on here. The only way I can truly pay you back to see this book to the end, edit it, and then work on the rest of the series! It might take me a while, but I won't give up! I really do try to work on this the best that I can, but when I hit those writer's blocks...I just get really stuck! One day I'd like to afford a Beta Reader/some kind of editor that I can pitch ideas to as I write in order to get a feel for my writing decisions. I second guess things too much and that's really what takes forever!

Anyway, love you guys!!!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I decided to go with throwing these two into a pool of sexual tension mwuahahaha. 'Cause why not?!?! Cora deserves it XD