"Your Majesty." Emira looked up at the crown prince as she entered before quickly turning her head away. The man did not look any less scary today than yesterday. His stare was still as unnerving... making her want to hide. He made her feel as if he really could see through her.
Only when he nodded and looked away did Emira feel as if she could breathe?
"Are your legs healed?" he asked slowly and Emira glanced up at him from under her lashes. His voice was almost hypnotic.. It was so low and gravelly...
Realising that she was getting distracted, she nodded hurriedly. Whatever medicine they had given her had indeed cured her overnight. She had no idea how it happened. This was the first time that something that severe had healed so quickly for her. Even the doctor who had checked her this morning had been amazed.
She wondered if it had something to do with the wolf who had visited her last night, but then shook her head. At present, she couldn’t even say for sure if the wolf had been real or a figment of her dream. Because when she had woken up in the morning, there had been no sign of a wolf.
Thankfully, the Crown Prince did not notice her distraction.
Just then, she heard his voice, "Zen, you may go outside. The Great Witch has already agreed to preside."
"But..." Zen hesitated.
Emira frowned. Why did he want Prince Zen to leave? Emira suddenly felt a friction of fear. Why did he want him to leave? There was no rule for staying alone during initiation into a pack, right?
As her apprehension rose, he then turned to the woman present and ordered, "Please make the preparations. It will take a few moments."
Emira watched as the woman gave her a glance and left the room, leaving only the two of them behind.
Once she was gone, Emira felt the room turn oppressive, and she was almost tempted to escape. "Emira. I am letting you enter this pack. But mark my words, Emira. If you make a single mistake, or if you do anything to harm even one member of this pack, I will personally bury you in a place where no one will ever be able to find you."
Emira nodded at that. It was not a threat but a promise. And from the tone of his voice, she knew it was not because he looked down on her personally but a warning from an Alpha. One, he would give anyone who dared to hope to join the Pack.
"I... I won’t, Your Majesty. I promise." Emira said softly. She had no vendetta against the Stormhold Pack, so it was no trouble to promise.
He watched her slowly and Emira had to curb the urge to shuffle on her feet and look away... something that had never happened in the past.
In the Moonville Pack, she had kept her head down, to survive. Here in the Stormhold Pack, if what Prince Zen had mentioned was true, then she meant to live with her head high.
There was a long silence, as if he were weighing her very soul. Finally, when he spoke again, Emira felt as if she had passed some test that he had laid out for her. Even though his voice remained the same, she felt a change... "I understand why you evoked the ancient bond to escape your former pack. You freed yourself, even if only partially. While the slave bond cannot be broken, you don’t need to remain tied to this pack. If you wish, arrangements can be made for you to enter another pack. One where your presence would not be... complicated. And you might find a mate there, something that is not possible within this pack..."
Emira shook her head immediately. "No. I... I want to swear allegiance to the Stormhold Pack. Even if it means I might not be able to find a mate."
Prince Lance’s brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze sharpened at her hurried answer. Emira wondered if her answer had been too hasty or something else in it had displeased him. But he did not press her further, instead asking. "You cannot shift into a wolf, can you?"
Emira shook her head. It was no secret, and she dare not lie to the Alpha.
There was silence again. Prince Lance did not move, didn’t speak. Emira could feel his eyes boring into her, the weight of his judgment pressing down like a physical force. It made her stomach tighten. Yet, strangely, there was also a strange sense of safety.
"I see," he said finally said and Emira looked up carefully, "So you are willing to bind yourself to a pack that you may never truly become a part of. You are willing to risk... everything, knowing the limitations that hold you?"
Emira’s jaw tightened. She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze without flinching. "Yes.I am willing."
Prince Lance leaned back in his chair and gave her a stronger look, "Do you know there is a reason the slave bond was abolished all those centuries ago?"
Emira shook her head," I do not know of this... I only know that my mother made me promise to use it if I ever needed the protection. The chant was one of the few she left for me. I didn’t intent to use it but I really could not see a way out."
As she wondered if he would tell her the reason for the abolishment of this spell, he changed the topic and instead gave her instructions in a cold voice, "Being part of this pack is not a privilege. It is a responsibility. You will be watched. Every action, every word, every thought that can be seen or heard-will be observed. One mistake, and everything will be taken from you. Do you understand?"
"I understand," she said without hesitation.
He studied her for another long moment, as if searching for a crack in her resolve, then leaned forward slightly. "Very well," he said finally. "If you are willing to swear allegiance under these conditions, I will allow it. You will remain under my observation for the time being. Soon, as you assimiliate to the pack life, you will be tested and given responsibilities for you. We work hand in hand with humans, other packs and even witches, as you know. This means, that there is work for everyone and everyone has to pull their weight."
Emira exhaled quietly and quickly bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I... I will not fail you or the pack."
"See that you don’t."