The multitude of heavy feet hitting the dirt surrounded her, along with the panting of lycans.

The moon shone through the tall, vast trees to cast soft white rays. Once through the thicket of woods, she glimpsed the scene from when they first entered.

Before them was a magnificent sight that took her breath away, even in the darkness of night. A stretch of land led to a lake and she eyed an adjacent cliff face that had little speckles of glowing orange light trailing up the mountain.

Roman pointed straight ahead. "Ah, yeah, the Edge. What a sight, right? Let's see...the flickering orange in the distance, that's where the Alpha lives. And where many others do as well. Our Clans live throughout the entirety of Reiger, which we already passed through a small section of. But their Clan heads can stay in the cliff face as guests if they need. You humans like to call this a capitol, and sort of like an embassy. We just call it Reiger's Edge, or The Edge."

"An edge?"

"Due to the edge of the cliff face."

So, they actually lived inside the mountain. She found that exhilarating and overwhelming. The woods she was used to, but it was the cliffs, the large lake, and the fact they lived in the rock that astonished her.

Quietly, she asked, "Is that where I will live? In a cave?"

"In the end, yes." He snorted when he looked at her. "Don't worry, it's not like a wolf's den. It's meticulously carved with many openings for windows."

"Will it be cold?" She shivered from the cool air and couldn't imagine the winter that high up in the cold rock.

"Yeah, but we often sleep close to one another, or underneath a lot of furs."

She didn't want to imagine sleeping that close to an Alpha she hadn't met. "Well, will I stay there for now? That looks like a lot of stairs." She Ben would be near, unless they took him into the mountain as well.

"Don't know. There's nearly a thousand stairs, so it's not like once you go up, you'll casually come back down. We can run it pretty quick on all fours. It depends on what our Seers want, honestly."

"Seers?" She bounced lightly in her saddle as they trotted.

"They're like your witch, but lycans. They see into their own smoke and are in tune with the world like others are not. They also claim to be close to the gods. It's because of the Seers that none of the other Omnis have been turned."

Cora nearly stopped the horse and sharply glared at him. "They haven't?"

He nodded. "Been waiting on you."

"Truly?"

"The Seers demand it."

She let out an incredulous chuckle, staring with wide eyes at the lake ahead. The others are still human. Like me. She shook her arms as if to rattle the nerves and energy out of her.

As they made their way through, Hilda reminded Cora to straighten her back when many of the lycans came to witness her, smelling the air. These were more prominent lycans, and their opinion of her would be lasting.

A deep sorrow tugged at her chest, knowing that her parents would never see her here. What if she succeeded and flourished, making their sacrifice completely worth it? But now they'd never be a part of this and their tombstones were in another land.

She felt alone in that thought, despite Ben and Hilda.

The dirt road eventually turned to cobblestone when they crossed a bridge over a gentle flowing stream. It was almost easy to get lost in the detail of the lands with statues, walkways underneath the trees, and even tightly packed rows of homes with flowers and shrubs to surround them.

When they made their way to a more populated section, Cora became distracted by children. She had never thought of lycans as children and they all observed her just the same. Their presence reminded her that these creatures still loved and lived like humans did. This isn't the end, but just the start of something new. I just wish I knew where that ended up.

The path to the lake finally came to an end. Torches stretched alongside them, and the ascending, glowing lights the cliff face were clearly coming from incredibly large carved out holes, some of them balconies.

An island sat in the middle of the lake with a red, circular dwelling built on it, firelight leaking out and glinting onto the lake. A particularly long bridge connected from the mainland to the island, and another bridge connected the island to the cliffs.

Her heart pounded so hard she worried she might actually faint. Inside that building was the male she'd mate, the male that would save Ben for her, and hopefully, be good to her.

And if he wasn't...those thoughts are not for now.

Crossing the bridge reminded her of the tunnel in its novelty, but she was too close to her destination to get swept up in nerves, awe, or apprehension. If anything, she was mostly numb. Once across and off her horse, she had to stretch and move while doing her best to run her fingers through her long black hair. She shook her shoulders to help her concentrate, and Roman called her over as he got off of the wagon.

Roman said, "Alright, a few things. Kneel before him and only speak when addressed. Only look him in the eye when he says you can. There is quite the crowd inside, with many members from his Clan, so don't be alarmed by that. And, it goes without saying, but tell the truth. We can tell when humans are lying." He went to step away, but bounced back towards her and said, "Oh, and the males and females in red robes are the Seers, so don't mind them if they come over to you. They might not, but I want you to be prepared."

She nodded shakily. "Yeah, okay—uh, hold on. What does he prefer? What I mean is how can make sure that I impress him?"

Roman hesitated. "He likes his females submissive and subservient."

Cora stifled a groan and nodded, half expecting that from the stories she had heard.

Either way, she tucked that away for later. Entering this first meeting with a fiery spirit, while she was still a feeble human and without allies, was useless.

They walked forward on the stone pavement that led to the doors of the two-story construction, cool air brushing over her skin from the lake. She eyed decorative bones that were taller than her. "Does he speak the human tongue?"

"No. Oren will translate, as our Clan head."

Great, I'm sure he'll just be a book of truth.

They stopped in front of the large wooden doors and when two lycans went to open them, Roman said, "Now, keep your gaze forward and on the ground. Looking him in the eye without permission is very disrespectful and often seen as a challenge."

She nodded and looked down. As the heavy doors opened, she smelled incense, but it differed from what Hilda burned. Golden firelight emitted from within that enveloped around her to reveal just how dirty she was.

It was very quiet.

Cora kept her gaze low, but she could still see out of her peripheral—never looking directly at them—that the room was far from empty and the ceiling itself was nearly two stories in height. Overall, the throne room was a vast space with open carvings for windows and a chilly breeze carried throughout.

It was so silent that it was impossible to muffle her sandals as she walked, grounding her in the magnitude of this moment.

She stopped at Roman's command and he quietly said, "Alright, now kneel."

And without looking up, she knelt before the Alpha.

The floor was cold and hard on her knees and she already longed for this hour to be over now that it was before her.

She was too stressed to even try to translate the multiple voices that finally spoke, only catching things like 'we' 'they' 'need' 'Omni' and all the other consonants.

When Oren spoke it took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her in the human tongue. "You may raise your head to look at the Alpha."

She hesitated. Did that mean stand up too? Or just her head? She decided caution was her ally and raised only her head, her hair dangling over her shoulders.

The Alpha was entirely hard to miss as before her was an an immense, old tree trunk that grew on a raised, multi-stepped perch as its roots stretched down over the stairs and back into the stone. It was big enough to consume the male that sat in its carved seat, the rest elaborately carved in a way that appeared to tell a story. The arms of the seat were carved so each end was a large wolf's head that the Alpha's hands rested upon.

It made it look like a tree had bloomed just to seat an Alpha.

She tried to control her shaky breathing, not wanting to make eye contact for too long as she looked Theran over. There was some immediate relief that he was not old, or fat, and appeared strong rather than weak. He was not overly handsome, but he was far from displeasing with a square jaw, snub nose, and thin lips. He wore black pants and leather boots, with a sleeveless cloth tunic with golden-colored stitch work. Tattoos lined both of his muscular arms and a black line was clear around his neck. The Alpha's Mark. His dark blonde hair was short and sleeked back. A statement of being different.

Despite what Roman had said, Theran didn't look like a failure.

The Alpha took Cora in with a slow movement of his gaze, breathing deeply as his eyes were wide and hungry as he gently leaned forward. The others took her in the same way that Oren had, a few whispers traveling around the room.

Theran stood and the silence overwhelmed the throne room once more. She steadied her breathing, watching him as he neared her. He walked like a predator with careful but quick movements, and she didn't know what to do as she still knelt before him. Do I rise, or just stay like this?

When he was a foot from her, and she stared at his leather boots, he motioned with his hand to rise and with a heavy accent, "Up."

She did so and held back her wince from how sore her body was, standing tall and proud, but staring at his chest rather than his eyes. He came in close and she tensed, his scent consisting of something sweet and leather. He breathed her in at the nape of her neck and even touched her hair.

She gave it all she had to appear calm and collected, despite the many eyes on her.

Theran looked her up and down before finally stopping in front of her. Oh gods what is he thinking. He spoke in their tongue, his rough voice echoing against the stone walls as she stared at his chest, not wanting to look him in the eye. She noted he didn't have nearly as many scars as some of the others.

Oren translated, "The Alpha wants you to know that he is pleased with what he sees."

She nodded in thanks, and Theran turned around as Oren spoke again.

"The Alpha wants you to state your name for all those present."

"Cora Gabris."

Oren crossed his hands behind his back as Theran retook his seat as he spoke. "Alpha Theran extends his offer of protection to you, and I briefed him on what happened in the first place."

Yeah, your side of the story. But she wouldn't say that. For now, she needed to be grateful and show it. It was rude, Hilda had taught her, to not graciously accept a pack's gestures of protection.

"I thank him for greeting me with protection," she said.

Theran raised an approved brow and nodded. "Der win."

She knew that meant without worry, which was how they said 'you're welcome'. That gave her more confidence than anything and she licked her lips. Alright, so I am accepted. First step, accomplished.

Theran spoke, and Oren stiffly translated, "He wants you to tell your story."

She tried not to look at the other lycans in the room, with what felt like over fifty eyes on her. She wanted to give Theran her sole attention, as Hilda and Roman coached.

"Yes, right. I was born across from the Burned Lands, near Steigen Pack—" the surrounding eyes, as Oren spoke, all widened—"Grimshaw, I think is his name, wanted me when I was born. He still lives and leads, last I heard—"

"Steigen?" Theran growled with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, or—Lao." She corrected herself to give the affirmation in their language.

She caught the approval in Theran's gaze, who quickly turned to speak to others. She took the moment to take them all in for the first time. It was the same as when she saw the Ashmores in that they shared a likeness, except most of the lycans here had grey or blue eyes, their hair either ashen blonde or dark brown. They were all paler than Cora, but darker than Oren.

She became focused on one female with darker, warm skin watching intently, although her eyes were gentle. She stood out to Cora with her hair, which was familiarly braided halfway over the skull, but it expanded outward in beautiful, tight coils that Cora had never seen inside Kamas.

Many other lycans had hair like that, it seemed, and Cora at least enjoyed how there were so many different people, or lycans. It made her feel like she stood out less, despite her eyes. The female with graceful, curious hair stood behind a large, muscular male that intimated her like others his size did. Only the blacksmith back in Kamas even approached that size. The male seemed occupied with speaking to a female to the right of him, his gaze moving to Cora when he caught her staring.

She sharply looked back to Theran, who spoke to the quiet room. Oren said, "Continue."

"Yes, back to my story...well, um...My parents feared Grimshaw, obviously. The witch with us, the one who has come with me today, Hilda, saw in the smoke that she had to get me away from him. So my parents took me and stayed in Kamas. It was far from Grimshaw, but close to other packs like yours.

"My father built a cabin with other men of the village, hiding me away and saying I was sick. My eyes would change, glowing red on the full moon and turning to hazel on the new moon. I'd get to go to villages during the new moon, but otherwise, never really left home."

Her gaze flickered to the left when she saw the dark-skinned female leaning into the ear of the more formidable lycan, speaking to him as he watched Cora intently. She was the only one whispering anything.

Before appearing too distracted, Cora focused back on Theran.

She tried to throw in kind words for Hilda. "Hilda taught me your language from a very early age, my liege, although her knowledge of it is limited. I can probably learn it faster than if I didn't have her, however. She taught me of your ways, as much as she could. She prepared me for when I'd come here, as she always told me she never saw me staying hidden. It was always a temporary plan."

Theran had been listening with rapt attention and was quick to respond, to which Oren asked, "The Alpha wants to know why didn't you come to Reiger, or the other packs, once it was clear you were safe?"

"I don't know. I can't speak for my parents on that. I know that Hilda followed them with that decision, so it wasn't her fault either."

Theran was quick to speak again, and the Oren translated, "To hide for over two decades is still a long time. Alpha Theran says he can partially understand waiting until you were slightly older, but that robbed you of being raised among us and knowing of our ways, which has been crucial to the success with other Rubies."

She tried to control herself, but a slight impatience escaped. "My mother died giving birth to my brother, my liege. It changed a lot for us, and my father needed me...but he died a year ago. Which is why I was able to come so freely today."

She hated saying that, as if her father dying liberated her. Her heart ached for knowing that she didn't have a tombstone to apologize to.

Oren said, "Our Alpha asks why you didn't come right away, after your father's death."

Cora furrowed her brows. Maybe it was just their culture, or their way of thinking, but expecting her to come right after her father's death struck her as extremely cold. Especially for creatures that prided themselves on family. "Well, I was, actually. Or at least planning on it. It took a month or two to mourn, obviously, and then after that...Hilda and I knew it was only a matter of time before I should leave. All the humans know what my eyes mean, so I could never plan to live there for forever. I just wanted to mourn my father and not abandon my brother. He is only thirteen, my liege. It wasn't an easy decision."

She couldn't read Theran as he spoke, and waited for Oren's translation with a bated breath. "And then when your brother attacked one of us, you only came out of necessity."

Cora couldn't hold back the small bite in her tone, feeling judged for what she had done. "He feared for his friend's life. Is that really a crime?"

Theran spoke with the same rigidness, and Oren seemed pleased as he said, "The Alpha reminds you to watch your tone, and that your brother still attacked one of us with silver."

That made her angry and it reminded her of something Roman said along the way, about how Theran was peculiar with his forgiveness, or lack thereof.

But the words from Hilda emboldened Cora. I am responsible for myself now. I am a Phasing Ruby. An Omni. Behave, even if only for Ben. "My apologies. I am tired and stressed. I only meant that I have heard it's not uncommon for lycans to attack each other when there is a threat, even among neighboring Clans. Ben was doing the same."

When Oren translated, she felt a change in the air. She glanced around to see that most eyed her curiously, and she looked specifically to the male with the female whispering in his ear. Cora's body stiffened when his eyes were already on her, penetrating much deeper than most in the room. Maybe even more than Theran's.

Finally, Theran spoke, and Cora breathed with relief when it he didn't seem offended.

Oren said, "The Alpha reminds you that while we do engage in such traditions, it is different since your brother chose to use a silver dagger. Silver is very harmful to us, and it is great offense to use it. Only the hunters do."

"Well, yes, I can see that." She suddenly felt like crying, not knowing how to dig herself out of this hole she was apparently in. "It's because my brother has no claws himself. It was an immature decision"—she hated speaking ill of his decision, especially since she was rather proud of him— "But I promise he has already paid for it. You'll see his face, my liege. He will be scarred for life and it will take him nearly an entire year to heal."

Oren relayed the message and she hated that she couldn't validate the words he spoke. I need to focus on the language almost immediately. I am too foreign here.

Theran spoke and Oren seemed miffed. "Your brother is safe, for now. The witch will remain unharmed, for now. After you have accommodated to this life, we can revisit any further punishments that might be necessary, based on your behavior and willingness."

There it was again — the sheer loathing for the choice of words coming from the Alpha. It made it seem like she'd have to have go to extra lengths to please him, even if it meant faking all of her affection. She had known two men from the village like that.

They often liked their ego stroked just as much as another part of them.

She bowed her head, nonetheless, as she knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Not when she was so close to saving her brother. I can find other ways to take it out. "Thank you."

She bit her lip as she looked at the floor in her bow, not happy that she forgot to use their language. She knew 'thank you', at the very least. Hilda used to make her say it for years straight whenever she did something for Cora.

Looking back up, Theran narrowed his eyes on her, and she honestly didn't know what or how to feel. At times, he seemed alright, and at others she got a sense that this would be hard to work with. Roman did warn me...

Theran spoke, and she didn't blink as she stared at Oren as he translated. "Our generous Alpha says that you are to be given two days to yourself before a private presentation to him is had. That should be enough time to clean, rest, eat, and roughly settle in."

Private presentation. Her stomach lurched at the thought. "Forare," she said, which meant 'thank you' in their language.

At least that seemed to please the Alpha.