I was drowning in exhaustion.

My bones were screaming for mercy. Muscles were aching for massage. Nerves were begging for a hot bath.

Mind was throbbing for peace.

But here I was, standing ahead of the crowd, hand in hand beside Karam, with our gazes at the front.

Fire torches had created the golden hue all around. The commons people including the wolves and Lycans had come to witness the acceptance of the new addition in the royal family. Yet neither I could catch Chelsea anywhere, nor Joran and his sons.

Each member of Karam's family was present here. Some had poker faces on while some were smirking. Some were staring at nothing while some were fascinated.

The Severans had bathed and dressed up in their homely attires now. Noira's long braid was back on her shoulder while Alma had rich kohl in her eyes. Emily had her leather boots belted up while Stella's brown dress looked fine. Reveka had her blank eyes on the ground all the time.

I couldn't even take a long bath because of the evening turning darker sooner than I had thought. Despite being upset and angry, Amelia managed to send a plain blue dress for me and a black little cloak for Keev. There were a little tunic and a fabric pyjama kind of thing too.

And when I dressed Keev up in those clothes with combing his hair neat. He would be a heartbreaker, I knew.

He was all red from the continuous excitement he had by being surrounded by so many people. The noise had made him all fascinated and curious. His eyes were round and big tonight.

Karam was already out with the brothers, freshly bathed and dressed in his usual faded colors. When Keev and I left the room, he was already there in front of the crowd waiting for me to approach. A path was created for us to wait as Barald, the Beta took Keev's hand with no expressions on his face and led his small steps by walking towards the Alpha and Luna standing at the front.

Beside them, on the ground, was a big iron bowl full of fire. The Aunts would chant hymns one by one and touch a twig to Keev's forehead before throwing it in the fire.

They did it six to seven times before asking for the bowl of the blood.

Just as the words reached my eats, my guts collected inside and stomach churned crazily. I was prepared to see rituals and taking blessings but not visit some dark cult doing practises.

Karam slid his hand into mine and squeezed it tight. I kept gulping hard to skip overthinking.

Valeria, for the first time, I saw her doing her job as a Beta. She came from the side with the bowl in her hand was filled the liquid that looked so rich.

Goosebumps risen on my arms as the members of the family started chanting some hymns. The Aunts dipped their fingers in the bowl and bent down in front of Keev.

I could see his right profile while metallic taste was already mixing with the air.

One by one, they made rays of blood on his cheeks, giving him the creepiest expressions they could.

The crowd behind me starting singing a straight chorus like a rehearsed choir, making it feel like a background music for the chantings done by the family members.

Keev was standing quiet and lost, staring at the ladies, eventually smiling when they drew the rays on his forehead and neck.

I blinked in slight terror as the Aunts moved back and let Amelia come ahead.

She gave us one glance of extreme blankness and then, looked down at Keev. He had craned his neck to look up at her, mouth all parted in curiosity.

She tilted her head, the tight braids moving along as if finally observing him for the first time.

"Our world is charmed by the addition of a new spirit, " she announced slowly in a loud booming voice.

The drum beats stopped while the music was silenced too.

"Our Ancestors are exchanging hugs as we welcome this pup and call him by the name his father gave him."

I sucked in a breathe while glancing at Karam who was staring at the scene with firm gaze.

Looking back at her, she was now touching his cheek, smiling at him. "Keev, son of Karam. All your ancestors are prideful of your birth and shower their blessings. They pray along with us to the Moon Goddess as we ask her to make you the strongest and undefeatable of all. Ronyn watches over you, my son."

I blinked as the Aunts suddenly grabbed the pup all of a sudden.

My heart jolted in shock and I nearly let a worried yelp.

Nysa forwarded the metal plate on which was placed something that Amelia had picked up hurriedly.

I couldn't understand a thing and stepped ahead. Karam's grip tightened and pulled me back gently. He put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer.

"He'll be fine." He whispered in my ear.

Confused, I looked back at the scene in horror as Keev let out a cry. Amelia grabbed his earlobe and pushed the metal ring through it, rounding it immediately like a pro.

I gasped and remembered my own plight of the first day.

"What the—" I whispered and watched as she did the same with the other ear.

To my surprise, Keev was silent and calm. Though, I could notice the moist eyes and curled lip as if he just needed someone's worried gaze to burst out in tears.

Amelia picked up and stepped ahead, faced the crowd.

Karam's grip loosened and as I glanced at him, a smile curved his lips.

The drum beats and the music began again. The hooting and roars echoed around. The fire had risen while Kingston had finally greeted the forehead of Keev with keen gaze and the gentle touch of his hard fingers, giving his blessings as the Alpha.

Both of them walked ahead and looked towards the pack, towards us, roaring in unison.

"Let us celebrate as we welcome —Ronyn's newest descendant!"

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Staring at the asleep little cutie, I bit my lip.

His little fingers were wrapped around my index finger, making me feel heavy at heart.

"He is a Lycan and younger than you. His skin is thinner than yours, my love. Two pricks wouldn't disturb him. His heart is calm as a lying feather." Karam whispered while starting at me. He was laid on Keev's left side.

The bonfire party went longer than I had thought. Drowned in exhaustion, I left early with Keev after eating the food. Alvena had helped me in getting him milk and chicken soup with less spices. For which, I was thankful to her. Because of being so sudden after the trip, I couldn't talk to her that deeply as I had planned. I would do it, later.

First, I needed to be all free from the soreness in my legs and feet.

I could have eaten dinner and leave for bed within five minutes after Keev's rituals. But the curiosity of seeing Karam getting excited to see the mystic dancers kept me stayed.

Yet, fortunately, the mystic dancers didn't arrive.

Natasha had later come to deliver an extra jug of hot milk for Keev, in case, he would be needing it any soon in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I wondered how thoughtful some of the family members were.

She then explained how Amelia let out all her anger at the mystics, realising that the root of Keev's birth was the presence of mystic dancers only. She denied them the entrance to Kingston's ultimate disappointment.

Maybe, that was why, the faces of all the men seemed like it was no party. None of them even bothered to drink much wine.

It was only Anton and Virion who were dancing with some of the local females to celebrate Karam officially having a son.

"He's still a child. Not a Superman."

"Superman?"

The man who called himself my mate, looked like he was awake all this time after the party. I was sure that I had slept two-three hours peacefully. A little wince at hurting my sore feet by moving them had woke up. Since then, for two minutes straight, I couldn't stop starting at Keev, wondering about the piercings.

"I could hear his heartbeats. He felt the pain for a blink and then, he faced it without even realising it. Just like a pup is capable of doing, " Karam explained while blinking softly.

"Does it even matter to you about how much pain Keev and I had to suffer to become yours?"

The words had escaped my mouth all of a sudden, without any thought.

Karam didn't even breathe. He had turned silent. I had to raise my head to see him starting up at the ceiling with no expressions on his face yet the eyes seemed lost and moist.

The sudden guilt filled my heart as the glimpses of seeing him writhing in pain came in my mind. That night, in rain, in thunder, he left me to run to the mountains and check on Keev. The next two days, I made a mess out of that topic.

He listened and faced the situation. He took me to the mountains, all this time, helping me trek, not even ever expecting Keev's exit from that temple. He had been taking care of Keev more than me since then, and I just hit him wrongfully by stupid words.

"Karam, " I whispered while turning on my stomach and putting arm out the blanket, from above Keev's little form to reach his hand on his torso. "I didn't mean it that way."

"You said the truth, my mate."

His voice was hurtful and full of sadness. My heart clenched and I tiredly raised myself to sit.

Getting out the blanket, I covered Keev from his right side and walked around the bed to see Karam already sitting up in concern for me.

The moonlight was peeking inside through the window, making it all visible.

Karam shifted as I sat beside his legs, facing him. He glanced at my feet in worry.

"Cover yourself, my mate." He spread blanket from his feet to up on mine as I faced him with guilt spreading all over my face.

Natasha remembered my complaint about two piece dressing and got me this white cotton night dress. It was comfortable and I could see Karam's eyes lingering down from my face, observing the new look.

"I have been. . ." I gulped and let out a harsh breathe. "I have been a brat."

His eyebrows furrowed while I lowered my eyes shamefully. My cheeks turned warm as I explained, "Staying in the temple, I had so much time to think of all this. The first day to that moment without you, I considered all of the conversations and events between us."

His loose hair were silkier than mine, falling on his shoulder beautifully. He waited with concern in his eyes as I added, "I have realised that I have been bad mouthing you too much. I swear that I have never disrespected someone so elder than me at this scale except for my Mom's mate. I have called you uneducated, monster and what not. I. . . I. . ."

Words were falling short because I knew all those banters between him and me were not always funny. Sometimes, I would overdo my words and hurt him so much.

"I was rough to you, my mate. I behaved like a monster, " said Karam while staring down at me.

"No, " I whispered while shaking my head. Looking at him in guilt, I said, "I did a lot of cursing and you are so much elder than me. You have seen more life than me. You are not uneducated. You were pro at trekking and knew about stars. Constellations. You knew the directions. You knew the names of plants and herbs. You are smarter than I had judged you to be—"

Karam grabbed my hand with both of his hands and kissed the knuckles lightly. I shivered while he looked in my eyes.

"You had to suffer so much pain because of me. You are away from your family because of me. You are away from your world, because you are my mate. You had to suffer the truth of me being father after being bonded to me. I have not been what a man of my age should have been, my love." He whispered apologetically.

"You have given me so much even before I could provide you the biggest happinesses. You are the one who is bringing colors to my barren life. I fail to think of a way to pay you back, my mate. For everything that you have done for me, " he whispered blankly while caressing my cheek. "You fought my family for my happiness. I do not know what I did to deserve you."

My cheeks started burning as I turned overwhelmed by his words.

"When I look in your deep eyes, I see the horrors of your life that you are wanting to share with someone. I feel scared to know that one of those horrors could be my presence in your life. . ." he whispered shakily.

I blinked and shook my head. "You are not the horror, Karam. You make me feel protected and safe."

"Yet you still do not believe that I didn't touch that woman with my own will, " he said sadly, making me stiffen. "Lucine didn't tell you anything."

"She did what she saw, " I said while rubbing my thumb against his bearded cheek. "But it is only you who will make me believe the truth."

Karam flared his nostrils in emotion. "I am dying to use that one way. It will make you believe me. It will prove everything true, my love. But it won't happen without giving you pain. I do not want to give you any pain again."

My eyes filled up slowly. "You were worried for Keev that night. How could you feel that he was sick?"

Karam gulped slowly. "The Lycan in me knew that something was wrong. My body ached until I saw Lucine giving him the herbal juice drops with my own eyes. I waited and the next morning, he had cooled down."

He turned his head to look at Keev lovingly. "I did not ask for him. But he still arrived in my life. As if Moon Goddess just wants me to take care of him as a father and love him. You brought him to me and now, I feel free to fulfill her wishes. All because you understand my love for him and that he is innocent, " he whispered in deep voice, making my heart shiver.

I pressed my lips right and observed his tired eyes.

"I do not like fighting with my family, " he said, smiling sadly. "I hate seeing Amelia being upset with you because you did something precious for me."

I smiled tightly. "You love your family, " I whispered.

He stared at me intensely.

"I love you."

My jaws clenched as a wave of shiver ran across my heart. Butterflies erupted in my stomach while he started massaging my feet under the blanket. Pleasure hit me hard along with relief as the pain slid away with each of his finger tips pressing on the points.

"I have so much to talk to you, my mate. So much to say. It feels like even the eternity would fall short for me to tell you how I feel about you, " he whispered while I looked down at Keev.

My heart was calm yet now being back in this room, on this bed, I was reminded of the life I had outside the border.

Eternity would always only be eternity for me.

"I have to share some things too, " I whispered, remembering the eight towers, the happenings in the temple and so much more. I just didn't feel like sharing it now when we both were sleepy and tired.

"Tell me."

"Not now, " I said while looking up at him. "I only wanted to apologise to you."

He breathed heavily. "You don't have to. You rule my heart."

I blushed slightly and bit my lip. "Lucine is nothing like what everyone thinks of her. She is different but has only been kind to me. And Tara. . ."

His smile tightened while I squeezed his hand. "We talked about her."

He hummed in encouragement while I nodded.

"Of what I have extracted from Lucine's words, I guess Tara was mated to the future Alpha of Mystic Warriors. He is no more just like her. I guess they are together now."

Karam gritted his teeth, flared his nostrils and nodded with a tight smile.

"I. . . I have met the woman who could have been her mother-in-law." I whispered while looking up at him.

He seemed curious.

"His name was Willis. His mother, Luna Elsie. A wonderful woman. Tara would have been so happy among them. They are a spiritual and caring family."

"The name sounds so familiar, " he whispered while looking away in confusion.

That's when it hit me.

"Willis was Alvena's eldest brother." I whispered and his eyebrows straightened as he looked back at me.

"She has now two younger sister, Eytellia who is the Beta's mate and Clark. He is still single." I mumbled while remembering the face from the ceremony nights. "I guess, he has a Lycan mate."

Karam squinted his eyes while looking at me.

"Maybe, one of your nieces or cousin sisters."

He blinked and whispered, "I hope, that is not true."

"The temple is not as bad as you think it is. I loved being there."

His jaw dropped immediately and he gave me a look of complaint. "There is no life without a mate."

I gulped because he looked all ready to argue. "Okay. Yeah, " I mumbled while he looked away. "Well, I love your sisters and nieces. They stood for you today."

"They stood for you, my mate."

I smiled sadly while sighing. "My sisters, I miss them. Before crossing the border, they all have gotten their mates. I. . . I wonder how they are with their mates. They are dominating more than the males. They must be eating their minds, " I said, chuckling to myself.

"And they must think the same about you, " he whispered, making me give him a look.

"I am eating your mind?"

He smiled when I whispered, "Do you know, Luna Elsie warned to me to run away because she had felt your brother's presence on the third night only?"

"Mhmm?" He asked while bringing his face closer.

His hands reached for my waist just as I raised myself on the knees and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Still the fates won." He said while looking in my eyes. "You didn't listen to her. Did you?"

"I thought she was a fool." I mumbled regretfully while he hummed in understanding.

"We must read the signs. But I am pleased to know that you did what your heart said. And your heart wanted to come to me." He said while I closed my eyes.

"Thinking of her, I remember that we have to get Keev a talisman. He has mystic blood in his veins. He needs that protection for his abilities and innocence. I'll ask Alvena about it."

"You are the same soul I had left at the porch of that temple and you seem grown, my mate. In an unsettling way, " he said while pulling back his face and staring right through my eyes.

I nearly flinched from such intense gaze and felt exposed for a moment.

"Unsettling?" I asked fearfully as he nodded with confusion on that face.

"You would not avoid looking at the dark corners. Now, you do. Your hands shake when you close your eyes." He whispered while cupping my face. "Did Severa. . ."

"Later, " I whispered while pleading him with my eyes.

He kept starting at me as if trying to read and guess what happened. "You don't have to keep your fears to yourself, my mate."

I nodded while gulping hard.

"When you will be back to active and this soreness will be gone, I will take you and Keev to the northern lands. There are big green grounds there, less rocks."

I estimated the idea of the map and asked, "Towards the border that touches the Eastern pack? Where you took Tara too?"

He immediately nodded. "Yes, my mate."

I gasped and looked up at him in extreme excitement.

All this time, Chelsea risked her life to go to that side and Karam was offering for me to go there for free.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." I chanted happily while he hushed me, nodding towards Keev's sleeping form.

I bit my tongue and mumbled a sorry.

"Thank you, " I whispered finally while smiling widely at him.

Chelsea would be so happy to know this. And the next mission was coming, I was sure. It already was giving me nervousness.

He smiled and glanced at my lips.

My stomach churned and heart fluttered. Mind still could realise that for me to take baby steps like this, I had to keep Karam happy. Just what I had thought while climbing the mountains. Instead of fighting him, I had to keep him calm and please him. He would himself let me loose on this territory full of secrets.

He leaned closer and pressed his lips upon mine, making me close my eyes dreamily.

Not that I was betraying him by any means.

I enjoyed this time with him.

I cared for him.

My feelings were genuine but that didn't mean, I would loose myself in tho fantasy and forget the outer world's reality by any means.

Or maybe, I would.

Because Karam was playing crazy games with my poor heart.

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"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

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I will try to update sooner.