A/N: I could give a lengthy apology, but let's be honest, we all just want the book done hahaha. I'm getting there, piece by piece! I have more announcements on my wall that go over what was going on in my personal life that made it very hard to focus over the last 6 months, but alas, here we are! To my patient readers, you are the reason I even consider finishing these stories, and even post new ones in the future <3

For those that want a summary of my announcements/reason for absence: (TW pregnancy loss) I ended up having two pregnancy losses in the last six months, both requiring surgeries that really knocked me on my butt and resulted in heavy blood loss/anemia. I'm now on a six month break from trying (molar pregnancy requiring I take a break), so back to writing it is!!

Here is a 6,800 word chapter <3

Also, chapter header is missing because I'm having file storage issues and still trying to recover the original documents that I used for the banners.

Standing in the courtyard, Cora watched Ludovic be guided away, staring at his back and dreads with a new perspective—he would be hers. She could touch him however she wanted, and he could do the same.

Gently pressing her lips together, she held onto every ghostly sensation of his lips on hers. What a lovely feeling...she could feel something deepen inside of her, which only ached for him to return.

Staring up at the tree and placing her hand on her neck, where the flesh was raw and angry, she considered this new world with an entirely new light—she could thrive here, and fall quickly for someone like Ludovic. He could be what grounded her to these people, to this world.

How she longed to finally give in and let her heart wander as it desired...

Mina quickly filled Ludovic's absence, her dark eyes wide as she neared at Cora. Coming closer, Mina looked at her neck. "Oh, goddess," she said, half-smiling. "It happened!"

Cora beamed, still high on everything; high on the comfort that the Alpha had given her. She looked at her hand, which was covered in blood. "I have no idea if it was the right move, but I can't explain what I feel right now...I'm relaxed, even though there's a bite mark in my neck."

Mina bowed her head, which made Cora take a double glance at the foreign gesture.

"You have a lot to learn, Cora, but I'd be honored to help."

"Of course, Mina. I'm gonna need it, trust me. And stand straight. You don't have to bow to me," she said with half a smile, looking around for a place to wipe her hand. "Is there some water, or some cloth?"

"Yes, over here," Mina said, moving to a small table near the opening. "It's the drinking water, but let's go ahead and use it. Should be a rag—ah, here is one!"

Cora cleaned her hand as water poured over it, then pressed the rag onto her wound. She winced, the ache dulling slightly once there was enough pressure. It still didn't quite dawn on her that she had an actual claim mark from an Alpha.

"So...did he say anything?" Mina asked. "About the bite? I mean, I know what it means, but everything is so different with you being a human. Does it mean the same thing?"

"Yeah, actually," Cora began, adjusting herself before looking at Mina. "I mean, it basically means he chooses me as his mate. It's not permanent, in the sense that it can't be until I'm a full lycan, but the intentions are there" –Cora beamed at saying that, her heart lost in the romance of it all—"We also leave for Ingram. He told me to be with Hilda and Ben for the night, and then we leave. And he says I will be by his side the entire time."

A fluttering excitement reignited in her navel at remembering how he sounded when he said she'd be close to him. There was something in the certainty that she wouldn't challenge him that excited her, like she was worth enough to have her safety mandated.

"Makes sense. The males are only not fighting over you because of Ludovic, but the others in Ingram won't hold back."

Cora couldn't even think about Ingram, or what that would be like. Not in that moment.

"So, like...what happens now? Like with me and Ludovic?" Cora quietly asked, the pain in her shoulder hardly distracting her as her heart thrummed. "For humans, back home, two people show interest, maybe flirt for a long time, then the guy usually proposes. The engagement is short, and then they're living together. For me, this feels like an engagement, if that makes sense."

"Well, you have to change first before he can make you his mate. But if he marked you," Mina said, shrugging her shoulders with a smile in her eyes. "You'll be near him for a very long time, and eventually his Omega."

It was the obvious answer, but Cora just had to hear another say it to make it seem real. I'll be his mate. With fervor, she said, "I want to keep training. I want to be able to handle myself. I have to be worthy of this."

She imagined herself facing the other Omnis, and wanted to be the best version she could be. Something about having Ludovic as her audience ignited a fire inside of her, that up until that moment, had merely kindled.

"Well, rest tonight, Cora. It might be one of the last calm nights for a while," Mina said with a knowing grin.

The night had been everything Cora wanted. Ben was in a better mood, Hilda was confirmed to stay with him, and the witch even approved of what she had learned about Ludovic, inspecting the bite and cleaning it.

Cora, for the first time in a very long time, was safe. She secured a future that wasn't with Grimshaw, and her heart ached for more of that swelling need that Ludovic's touch and presence conjured.

"Just remember," Hilda began as they sat next to a fire, Ben finally asleep in a cot, the night dark outside. "Ludovic is quite the male. Many would fall very deeply for him, and I won't ever think anything of you for that happening to you. But you barely know him, at least at a deep level. You're just learning their culture. Let your heart fester with infatuation, but give yourself patience with learning his ways and his world."

Those words hung heavily in her mind as she barely slept that night, churning the pendant in her hand like it was a prayer. Just what did Ludovic really think of her? She was such a defenseless, ignorant human. Then again, what other choices did he have? The other Omnis were human women as well, with most probably just as foreign as Cora. No doubt they would be mated swiftly, leaving no time for courtship. Perhaps even a few were claimed already, like Cora was.

I suppose Ludovic is the same for me—a choice I had to quickly make.

She was eager to prove that she was worthy of his world, as even if he was the most convenient option, something also felt right about him. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she felt it.

The morning came sooner than she anticipated, and she couldn't remember if she got any real sleep or not. The parting with Ben was full of excitement and support, as the boy seemed confident that an Alpha like Ludovic would take strong men to protect his sister. "You take care, Ben. And make sure to clean the wound regularly. When I get back, I want to see new fighting moves."

His one good eye beamed at her. "Oh, don't worry. No one will do this to me again. Or if they do, I will do it right back."

Cora's expression fought between a concerned frown and a grin, wondering if fostering such intensity at such a young age was healthy for him. Then again, it's not like he was a sheep farmer in peaceful lands.

The boy had to fight real monsters now.

Then the thought occurred to her—she could ask Ludovic what he thought. He was a creature of a world full of battles, wars, and fighting, and he seemed to turn out alright.

Cora kissed Ben's head. "Just be careful, goofball. Take care of Hilda, alright?"

"Of course."

They hugged and said kinder things to one another before Cora finally left to descend the stairs of Reiger's Edge, crossing the lake to get on a horse that took her through the forests.

A few hours passed before they reached an open patch of fields.

Up until that point, it didn't quite feel real that she was traveling away from Reiger; her journey felt more like a peaceful ride through the woods.

It was when she saw how many were waiting that she understood the safety of their home would be left behind. She couldn't even count how many of them were there, half of them in their wolf form. All eyes seemed to be on her as she neared.

The air smelled of wolves, which was a new sensation.

In the middle of the sunlit field was Ludovic and a few others, mounted on a creature she had never seen.

It reminded Cora of a mix between a giant wolf and cat, at least with the nimble nature of how it moved. It stood a few feet taller than any of the wolves, large enough that Ludovic's boots were a few feet off the ground.

The beast was like a giant, feline wolf.

If it had been a few months ago, she might have made a scene about witnessing such a creature. But she had seen many things since, and she knew the others were watching for her reaction. So, she merely observed the beasts and continued to follow Mina towards Ludovic, her horse feeling so out of place among all the shaggy fur and fangs.

The Alpha wore a long sleeve shirt, but even that seemed to hang off of him in a way she liked. She smirked to herself, amused that she was quicker to look at him in that way.

How she couldn't wait to see what a night alone with him would entail, even if the anticipation made her an anxious wreck inside.

One of the creatures yawned as they neared, revealing a large row of fangs, and the horses stopped, even slightly backing up.

"We'll walk over from here," Mina quickly said.

Cora nodded, a part of her actually curious and interested in whatever the beast was that Ludovic sat on.

Dismounting her horse, patting the tan hide as another lycan came to take it away, she followed Mina to the small group on beastly steeds. They were much taller now that she was on the ground.

"Do you think you can ride?" Ludovic asked to Cora, nodding down to the creature he sat on.

Her heart raced, but she tried everything to remain calm. "If it's needed," she said, only half of her false confidence making it through in her voice.

She eyed the animals, who all stared at her, half a dozen in total. It's like a horse, Cora. They're all watching. Keep your posture.

Perhaps she overthought every movement, but she had also never been so intent on impressing a group of people before.

Theran felt far from their world now, but the lycan had at least showed Cora how miserable her life could have been. For that, she'd try nearly anything that Ludovic or Mina recommended.

She walked over to one of the creatures that Mina selected, a saddle on its back, it's bright eyes watching her closely, it's head standing a foot or two taller than her.

"Just get on, similar to a horse," Mina instructed.

"What is it?" Cora asked, trying not to stare in the animal's eyes.

"It's called a lupus. Very useful for traversing through the woods. Horses need flat terrain, but these can climb through like a bear or tiger, and has extreme stamina. We weren't initially going to take them, but I think we changed that so we can get there faster."

Was Cora ready for this? Probably not. It felt like getting into the deep end of water for the first time. "Alright. Let's do this," Cora replied, as she stared at the thick fur coat in front of her, figuring it was best just to jump in.

She climbed on, and sure enough, it fit similar to a horse. Although once there, Cora found that it was harder to maintain her posture, the creature making her sit differently.

"I can't stay level," Cora quietly said, hoping only Mina would hear.

Mina put a hand on Cora's thigh. "It's alright. Trust the creature and it will be gentle with you. They serve Ludovic, and you now have his scent. They'll not harm you."

Looking at its thick neck, it looked over its shoulder at her, its face shorter than any wolf, its head wide and blocky. The creature had eyes the color of glowing honey.

"Good creature," Cora mumbled.

She had been so focused on the animal that Cora didn't notice Asla nearing. She squeezed her legs against the creature's ribcage when Asla spoke up.

"It's name is Cavu," Asla said, stopping when only a foot away.

"Good, Cavu," Cora corrected, and the creature finally looked away.

At least the saddle was comfortable, but she only had a harness around its neck for her to hold onto. No ropes or reigns.

Asla said, "A new part of your training, Cora. This one requires more agility to ride. A horse you can fall asleep while riding, if you are experienced. But not with these beings. Clench your stomach most of the time for balance, and lean with it. We sometimes have to ride these into fights, so learning their balance is key. It's a high sign that you are integrating, so don't take this challenge lightly."

"Alright, I can do that," she said, determined to rise to the occasion.

Asla patted the creature on the side before transforming into a wolf, slinking off and snapping at another that tried to smell her as she passed.

Mina quickly got on hers and rode it over to Cora.

"You ready?"

"Nope, but let's do this," Cora said, looking at Ludovic's back as another addressed him.

It was him, Cora, Mina, two Seers—one that Cora recognized as Rasha—Walder and another Talon that all rode on a lupus. The rest, in the count of many dozens, turned to wolves, creating a sea of fur.

Mina yelled out, "We are ready!"

With that, Ludovic looked over his shoulder at Cora, and she gave him a firm nod, gripping the harness that was tight around Cavu's chest and back, her hands shaking with adrenaline. Ludovic faced forward and the creature moved, to which hers did as well.

Ludovic looked back to periodically check on her, but primarily left her be, spending most of his time speaking with Walder and the other Talon, and sometimes Rasha. The other Seer seemed to merely listen in, perhaps shadowing the older one.

It was probably for the best that she was left alone, as she was far from being in a position to chat with confidence while figuring the beast out.

Getting the hang of riding on a lupus, in fact, never became clear to her, and by the time the sun began to set, every part of her was sore and aching. She saw the merit in them, however, as inclines, logs, and streams seemed to not exist while on their back.

She found it best to lean down and onto its body when it moved swiftly or in difficult maneuvers, spreading her arms out to grip more of the shoulders than its back.

It was exhilarating at times, with her sporadically feeling more like a lycan than a human...and she reveled in it.

She found not once did she miss her village as wolves ran alongside her.

Night was upon them with hooting owls in the distance when they neared a cave, her vision not as good as the lupus's in the dark. It navigated around logs that she only saw once they were crossing them. It helped her bond with Cavu in a way, forced to trust it.

The cave was a lot like Reiger's Edge, where from afar it could be just another hole in the stone, but glowing orange lights burned through carved out windows, indicating it was much more than that.

Ludovic moved back to alongside her, and Mina fell back even further to give them privacy, a slew of wolves moving by them in the trees.

Cora pretended like she wasn't in the slightest pain when  Ludovic said, "You seem to be dealing with the lupus well."

She laughed, trying to sit up straighter as they finally reached flatter ground. "Let's just say I can't wait to move on my own like this." She didn't let the answer linger for long before adding, "Why do you have them at all, if you can run through the woods?"

"It can be very useful to exhaust a lupus rather than ourselves if we need to travel for something that requires our energy upon arrival. Mostly for battles."

She had no idea that something like this ever existed, and that amazed her. Her life back in Ashmire was so sheltered it felt surreal. "That is actually a smart move—so what is that cave?"

"It is an outpost. A few members were sent early to start the fires. It can often serve as a place of refuge for visiting packs, so they aren't too deep in our territory."

"Your world is so much more interesting than I ever could have imagined."

"It is your world, now," he said with an edge in his voice.

The hairs on her arms rose, glancing at him in the night, very little of him or the lupus visible.

"Yeah, I suppose it is," she said with wonder, looking back at Cavu as they climbed a small boulder.

Ludovic said, "Asla will be at the cave's entrance and guide you to where you and I are staying. Follow her for now, while I see that everyone is settled."

'Where you and I are staying...'

"Alright," she said, the burning excitement helping dull the ache in her lumbar, leaning into the warmth of Cavu.

Ludovic moved away from her once she got near a giant bonfire that was located near a clear entrance. Many wolves stood around, along with lycans in human form.

Getting off of the creature was the hardest part. By the time she went to hang off and drop to the ground, her entire body was shaking from exhaustion. It seemed she had just been glued to her position the entire ride.

"Jump down. I'll catch you," Asla said from behind.

Cora did so, and her legs trembled upon touching the grass. Asla helped balance Cora.

"Probably not the sibling you wanted to catch you," she said with a cheeky tone. Cora looked up at her, and the sister smiled. "It seems you two are quite the official pairing."

Asla patted her back when Cora stood on her own, muscles hurting that she never knew she had.

Cora hadn't considered others and what they would think of her. At least, not about having that conversation directly with them. "Not until I am changed," Cora said, not sure what to say.

"Oh, if Ludovic is marking someone, then it's official."

Cora couldn't suppress a smile, and followed Asla into the cave, Mina remaining outside with Rasha.

Their conversation gently echoed against the stone corridor, lit by torches. "I hope he didn't make a mistake. In me," Cora said. "I still am processing this is even happening."

"Wrong thinking, my friend. You should be hoping that Ludovic maintains his worth to you."

Cora glared at Asla's back, her messy hair even more disheveled than before. "I can barely ride a lupus without my legs giving out. How am I the one he has to impress? And before you say it's because I am an Omni, I'm getting tired of it. I know it makes me special, but it doesn't entitle me to anything. Not with you people. I can tell that those titles are earned."

"I was actually going to say it's because you are looking at being the mate of an Alpha, Omni or not. Being in such a position requires a female of a certain caliber. Be that female, and you will never have to worry about my brother's interest."

Cora didn't answer, but rather considered that as she chewed on her lip.  She did often forget about making sure Ludovic rose to the occasion of meeting her standards as well.

Perhaps it was because, in her eyes, he had already done that in many ways.

They arrived to a wooden door and Asla pushed it open, revealing a very open bedroom. In the back was the bed, to the side a small sitting area, and on the other end a hearth.

"This is really nice for being in the middle of nowhere."

"We have lycans that tend to it. It's usually what the younger ones do as they gain their worth. It keeps a level of prestige as well, for any that may visit."

"Lycans are way more sophisticated than humans give them credit for," she said with wonder.

Asla smiled and neared the door, holding it open. "The humans, sometimes, can be the barbaric ones. If you need anything, there's a bell on that table."

"Oh, I can't stay with the others until its time to sleep? Like be near Mina?"

"It's safer, for now. We don't know what's out there, and if something were to appear, it would be better to have you deeper in these caves."

Cora nodded, although was saddened to see the twin leave. She wanted to be near the other lycans, to listen to their stories and observe how they interacted with one another.

She mostly stood in the same spot, looking around the room that was fitted for inhabitation, but didn't have the warmth of a home. The sound of laughter outside pulled her to one of the balconies, to maybe get a better view and see what they were doing.

But she froze, her eyes widening and her heart nearly leaping out of her chest as she stared at a shadow with red eyes, right at the balcony's edge.

LUDOVIC

There was something wrong.

His kind could always sense a heaviness in the air, and this one reminded him of the cave back in Reiger. He had been standing with Walder and a few others, discussing any foreign scents that his wolves might have picked up on the way, when he felt it.

He held up a hand and they all silenced.

No, that's a heaviness I felt in the caves when the shadow first appeared.

"Call for Rasha," he said and swiftly moved the entrance, then through the dark halls as he followed Cora's scent, passing by a confused Asla, forcefully entering the brightly lit room with golden fires. He landed his gaze on the same shadow with red eyes at the edge of the balcony.

The creature made the hairs on his arms raise. It seemed ethereal and wispy, yet moved with such precision that a part of it had to be alive.

Cora didn't run from it. She stood still, facing the creature, her scent reeking of anger and hostility. Even her eyes began to glow red, the two staring at one another.

He moved quickly to Cora, and the shadow's red eyes changed as if the shadows had lids, narrowing on him as the blackness hissed at him. A stillness settled on the room as all three faced each other. He wanted to yell for Asla, but also wasn't sure if that would make matters worse. How did lycans even fight shadows? What was Ludovic's priority? Getting Cora out of the room, or bringing more lycans in?

Ludovic wasn't one to sit and be a target, however, and his instincts called for him to falsely lunge at the creature. He snarled at it with Cora directly behind him, his hand on her waist.

To his utter shock, the shadow backed away, shrieking, and then disappeared into the night. The black wisps faded first, the red eyes the last to leave.

With it seemingly gone, he became aware of how fast his heart pounded as he stared at nothing. It nearly felt like it didn't even happen.

Despite that, he knew how dangerous this was. He had only ever heard of such dark magic in stories of very old tales, black shadows stemming from a well of evil that nearly brought their world to their knees once...but that was very long ago.

Weren't those just stories?

Ludovic looked down at Cora, looking her over as she continued to stare at the balcony. "Did it touch you?"

She faced him, her eyes still glowing red, her body trembling with what appeared to be anger. "No." The glow of her eyes gently faded the longer she stared at him, and she quickly added, "It doesn't like you, I think."

"What?"

"When you entered, it felt completely different. It got angry," she said, looking at the empty window. "Whatever energy it was using to reach out to me completely vanished when you came in."

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, moving his hand from her waist to her shoulder so she had to face him.

She looked off in the distance, her breathing heavy, her eyes moving quickly inside her head, seemingly looking at nothing in particular. "I think so. It didn't touch me. It just stared at me for a moment before you came in."

"Then we need to get to Rasha," he said, pulling her closer to him as he guided them towards the door, not willing to linger like a hare being unknowingly hunted by a hawk.

Cora followed without question, leaning closer to him once they got in the dark corridor.

Rasha was already rushing her way towards them. The sound of her clinking jewelry faded when she spotted the Alpha and Cora, the Seer looking down as if focusing on feeling the energy around.

"What happened?" she asked, looking up, concern deep within her gaze. "The energy is gone."

"The shadow followed us, although it seems to have fled," Ludovic said.

"Followed me," Cora corrected, staring intently at Rasha, her voice shaking with anger. "Why is this even happening to me? I was alone, and then the same shadow appeared. I could almost hear it whispering, telling me to come to it. Then when Ludovic came near, it went away. But still...it followed."

Cora paced lightly, the anger clearly overwhelming her. She even lingered her gaze on the stone wall as if punching it might bring relief.

Ludovic wasn't certain what to do for her. When a lycan was angry, you just let them be. But were humans the same? Her eyes began to glow red once more.

Rasha reached out, touching Cora's shoulder, to which she stopped her pacing and stared at the Seer, anger still seeping through her scent. Rasha looked her over, touching the bite mark on her neck. Cora stood with resilience, despite how she breathed ragged breaths. Rasha even raised Cora's dress to look at the mark on her thigh, but it was as dormant as ever.

A part of Ludovic almost reached out to halt the inspection, having forgotten about the mark before Rasha raised her dress.

"It followed you, indeed," the Seer grimly said, looking into Cora's eyes. "The mark remains absent of magic, but I can feel it's energy on you the longer I look into your eyes."

Cora's face scrunched, her lips moving as if she couldn't decide on what to say. "Why?" she quietly muttered. "Why won't it just leave me alone?"

The Seer released Cora from her grip and looked at Ludovic, the faint light of a nearby torch glinting off of her jewelry.

Rasha said, "It wasn't afraid of going near her before...I wonder if the bite makes a difference. It is bizarre it backed off so easily."

"Why would the mark matter?" Ludovic asked.

"I don't know. But Cora's magic, scent, and presence are already slightly altered. It was following her before it touched her, and even Hilda can't find anything that connects her to it. In our world, that means it is probably finding her by sensing her. The Omni would have a unique feel, especially in the ether. But maybe the mark, in conjunction with you nearby, does something...I need to look into the smoke."

Ludovic put a hand on the back of Cora's neck, gently guiding her out of the cave as they followed Rasha, greeted by the cool air of night. He ignored the eyes on them, following the Seer to a bonfire, more wolven eyes shining in the shadows of the trees. He glanced at Asla, who neared the fire. "It followed," he grimly said to her before focusing back on Rasha.

Ludovic faced the lycans around the fire, "Give Rasha space."

Quickly, they bowed their heads and moved to another area, with Rasha not even bothering to wait before saying incantations, reaching into a pouch to throw a red powder into the flames, which made the smoke bellow and spin slower than usual.

Cora, for once, seemed to not be worried about what the other lycans thought, even though a few remained in an outer ring, cautiously observing from a distance. Usually her body language was full of apprehension and indecision, but she moved with a purpose as she stood close to the fire.

Ludovic hovered extremely close to her, her shoulder touching his chest.

He wasn't sure what was best to do with Cora. His first instinct was to get her to Hilda, but that clearly wasn't an option. He supposed as long as she was near Rasha, then it was the best they could do.

It was also unknown of what to do for her. He had known of lycans that mated without courting for long, for similar reasons to why he had to choose an Omni before knowing her.

He didn't like not having more of an understanding of her. She looked alone, standing there, even if she were right next to him. He felt responsible for her, having chosen her. Taking care of her would be a pure reflection on his worth as a leader, as well as a mate.

"How are you?" he asked.

She blinked, then looked down at the ground. "I don't know."

"You shouldn't be left alone for a while, if at the very least to have Rasha at your side. I don't know what you know, but shadow magic...it's dangerous."

She nodded, looking back at the smoke. "But I want to fight it. This is getting ridiculous. I'm just trying to live my life and someone is following me, on top of all the Grimshaw issues. I want to know where this is coming from." The sneer of angst return to her face. "I will hunt them myself, if I have to."

He raised a brow, finding this evolution of character to be interesting. "You need to train a lot more before that," he cautioned.

She looked at him like she had a remark, but it never formed. The intensity in her gaze faded as her expression turned to fluster, the glinting fire reflecting against her eyes. She looked down, although it seemed more out of nervousness than pensiveness.

He glanced at Rasha, whose eyes were glossed over and gray, indicating she was deep in whatever magic she was capable of. Ludovic slightly bent his head down to quietly ask Cora, "Why do you seem flustered when you look at me?"

She laughed, looking around, but not at him. "Well I feel like that's obvious," she said, although when he only raised a brow at her, she pursed her lips and lightly rolled her eyes to look back at the fire. "Fine. You, well, don't look too bad in the firelight."

He smirked, more to himself than anything, finding that endearing as he looked at the flames. Perhaps light flirtation would ease her heart, reminding her that by marking her, he was pledging to never leave her alone. Sure, he needed her powers for his pack, but that didn't mean he would take them selfishly.

She was his to protect now.

He leaned down closer to her, breathing in her scent. "You will have to learn to look at me, you know."

"I can look at you just fine," she defended, although the corner of her mouth seemed to fight its way into a smile.

"Then I should re-phrase it to you will need to learn to look at me when I am also looking at you," he teased

She scoffed, looking at him, although her eyes seemed less burdened. "You're never going to let that go, are you?"

He grinned. "It was quite funny, to be honest." He leaned closer, breathing in more of that scent that beckoned him, recalling when he was back in the hot spring and looked up to see her watching him. "If anything, I like catching you when you're looking."

She looked around with half a smile on her face before glancing up at him, that drive from the courtyard returning. It was a vigor that he craved, wanting to unlock more of this side of her.

The Seer interrupted them, waving a hand through the smoke, which then returned to its usual thinness and vapor, the vibrant blue of her eyes returning. "I understand more now."

Rasha looked at them, and Ludovic glared at Rasha with a bated breath, placing a hand on Cora's back, as if readying himself to take them in whichever direction they needed to go.

The Seer said, "Hilda said the shadow may be of a witch's magic, one we haven't seen in quite a while. Which means that it will struggle to fully confront pure magics of other beings, being it is limited in its shadow form. You, my liege, have a pure lycan line. It seems marking her has given her a sense of defense, connecting herself to you."

"So why is it after me?" Cora quickly asked.

"I don't know. I can guess that it's related to being an Omni, but that's the only guess I feel comfortable in making right now."

Ludovic thought over the revelation before asking, "Where should she be, for now? Do we need to send for Hilda?"

"She is safe if you are near, no matter the area. But you have to be close. We should leave Hilda be, as she intended to look into these matters more in depth while we were gone, perhaps even travel for answers."

Ludovic nodded, and asked, "What do we do if I am not enough?"

"You will be. That seemed clear. The problem will be if it tries to separate you," Rasha said, sighing. "I can inquire more once we get to Ingram. For now, I will light a fire in your room that must not be put out. It will use some of my magic that can help. That should be enough for tonight, as the shadow did feel quite weak. Tomorrow night, sitting around a campfire will be easier to manage, and I will stay near then, too. The following day we should be in Ingram, especially with the lupus creatures carrying us. I'd honestly be cautious, but not worry as long as she is within a few feet of you."

Ludovic agreed with that assessment. He felt vulnerable in these woods, the magic of lycans weaker among these trees.

Then it again, did that really matter? The shadow initially appeared being surrounded by that magic, even with Hilda nearby.

He despised enemies like this. It was cowardly and full of tricks, rather than confronting him, or Cora, face to face and with honesty.

As if sensing his uncertainty, Rasha said, "Ingram has their own witches, although they are as infrequent as our Hilda. I have met them before, and I believe their in their value. They can help when we arrive, if we need it."

"Then we need to focus on getting there as soon as we can," Ludovic said. "And then learn more of who is doing this. They marked my family, and now are clearly stalking Cora—" he paused, looking at the flames. "I wonder...," he began, thinking it through, "I wonder if whoever did this might have seen Cora in Reiger at one point, and targeted Theran, assuming she was to go to him. Naila was always close to him. They could have planned for Cora to be easier to target in that way."

A gentle breeze brought cold air, the fire contrasting the chilly night with the warmth on his face and legs. Rasha's blue eyes glowed amber. "I hadn't considered that. Oh, that may be the case."

Ludovic added, "Which means this infiltration has been long in the making. Meaning we interrupted something," he said, stopping himself before he sounded too alarming. Cora didn't need that right now.

Rasha, at least, seemed to understand.

If they interrupted a deep plan such as that, then danger was more present than before. Whoever was behind this might act recklessly to get back what they had initially planned to take.

It also meant he had to solidify a mating mark as soon as he could, if that truly protected her. "Light the fire for us," he said to Rasha before looking at the wolves in the shadows. "And I want lycans surrounding the cave, sitting outside each of the windows. Sleep in wolf form for warmth, if you must. Something rotten is hunting our kind, and we must stay vigilant."

Many of the eyes disappeared as Ludovic sighed to himself, wondering how on Eloria was he going to manage all of this? Not only was some of the pack against the entirety of him going against Grimshaw, but now a witch stalked their shadows. Stalking Cora's shadows.

He had to eliminate the threat as soon as possible, from the source.

Asla appeared before him, turning into a human. Ludovic said, "Get everything arranged for me out here. I need to take Cora back inside, and tell Walder to find a trustworthy wolf to send home to inform Hilda of what happened. Send a few, in fact. We need Hilda to find the identity of this witch before we return."

"Can do," she replied, bowing her head.

He spared no time as he guided Cora back to the cave in silence, everyone clearly lost in thought.

Rasha set up a fire in the hearth. Warm glows could be seen outside their window where some of his wolves had settled for the night, clearly building small fires.

The scent of his pack slowly surrounded them, giving him a sense of reprieve.

"If it is not too much to ask, Rasha, I'd prefer you sleep down in the hall. With Walder and Asla nearby. And take what you need to be comfortable."

"I can do that, my liege," she said, bowing her head. "I will send someone in within a few hours to tend to the fire."

"Make it Walder. If I am sleeping, his scent will startle me the least."

She nodded, facing Cora, who stared at the fire. "Keep your spirit, Cora. If Ludovic is correct, then it means we have a small window of opportunity to build a small defense. It seems the marking is already an inadvertent one. We will seek for more, in the meantime."

"Thank you, Rasha," she said, looking at the Seer. "I mostly worry for others, getting tied into this. And, well," she began, glancing at Ludovic as if she wished she didn't have to say her words in front of him. "I already have Grimshaw after me. If this witch is also after me..."

Rasha shook her head. "We have seen the smoke, and going to Grimshaw is not an option. Don't hold my words to the fire, but if I had to guess, the two are connected." She sighed, and then smirked to herself as she turned to leave. "At least you care more for the pack than Theran did. That's always a good start."

Ludovic sighed as Rasha left, leaving the two of them alone.

Cora seemed more comfortable with herself as she neared the fire, leaning down and sitting in front of it, taking off the fur shawl around her shoulders. Ludovic looked around the room and saw that someone tended to a bucket of water, filling it and leaving a cup nearby. He took a long drink, watching while she unbraided her hair, letting the dark color flow naturally down her back.

He envisioned her, one day, as a lycan. Of her transforming and embodying the strength she allowed that she intermittently allowed to come through.

Perhaps it wasn't fair to only think of her as her potential, as in that moment, she was still the human from a village that never even knew who she truly was, always hiding from them.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, walking over to the fireplace.

She didn't hesitate to say, "I want to fight it. Whatever it is. I don't care how hard it is to get to whoever is controlling it. I want to maim them. And I will. Even if I have to go alone. I'm not running from shadows any longer."

He sat down next to her on the cool ground, looking over her demure, yet shapely features, particularly her high cheek bones. He gently said, "Once you are turned, we will understand your powers better, which means we can better make a plan. You do not have to face that magic alone, you know."

She looked at him, a fiery edge in there that he had seen before, but it seemed completely unhinged now, like when a wolf tasted its kill for the first time. "Then turn me as soon as I can, so at least I'll have whatever magic is gifted to me. The sooner I can learn my limits, the better."

He looked her over, not sure what to say. His kind would embrace such a desire, coming together to fight whatever they had to as a group. But what she spoke of was fighting shadows.

Fighting shadows was a witch's game. "Your witch should find more answers in our absence. For now, it is not worth worrying over. The only thing we can control is keeping it at bay, which means to stay near me for now, Cora," he said, although caught a look of defiance in her eyes. "I will tie a rope to you if I have to, if I find you trying to seek this on your own."

She laughed, and the smile remained on her face, the redness of her eyes captivating him as they filled with joy.

She fascinated him, in a way. Like he was overly intrigued with watching her discover her new identity, and also observing how the magic of their kind blended with her own nature. Every time she opened up, he wanted to know more.

Her smile was good to see, as well. She even looked him in the eye, as if she wasn't sure how to reply to that, like she had been caught in the act of thinking about acting recklessly on her own. He smirked in return, and her gaze eventually dropped as her pale caramel skin flushed on her cheeks.

Asla had briefly mentioned the idea that Cora had never been close to a male like Ludovic. His sister had a point that human males of his caliber were more than likely to live in the cities, not in villages like hers.

A part of it amused him, and he greatly enjoyed when she overcame that shyness. And it's that part of her that he wanted the most; to be the one that she came out of her shell for.

Her looked at her shoulders, following the thread of the necklace that held the pendant of their communication.

"What would like, right now, to make things better?" he asked, curious as to what her answer would be. He didn't hold back on the look in his eyes, the one that hinted at what he wanted. Especially with her scent under his nose, filling his lungs.

It made his body ache with a need to fill his face with her hair, to breathe in the slight edge of his scent mixed with hers, to smell the claim that he made. It was a primal reaction, one that was supposed to occur when two lycans claimed another.

She looked at him; right at him. Her eyes lowered to his lips. The corner of her mouth gently moved to suggest the faintest smile. "I want more of what I felt in that courtyard," she gently said.

He breathed deeper, a desire taking over that made him want to act without paying attention to customs or comfort.

But he was of discipline, and he'd let her lead that way.

Although, he still leaned in, initiating the closure of the space between them.

A/N: Don't worry--it's not a fade to black chapter! Next one has some goodies ;D I SWEAR I am going to write it faster than this lol. The break in my personal life is giving me so much motivation to work and produce, and it's made it so much easier to get back to so many stories that I left untouched. There's something about being forced to take a break—due to the nature of the last pregnancy—that takes so much pressure off. And In that, I finally feel creative again.