It all begins when a silver dagger goes missing.
For her entire life, a human named Cora Gabris has known that lycans were searching for her, as she was born as a Ruby -- a human that, when turned into a lycan, will become much stronger than any of...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Once more, Walder carried Cora up the stairs to the Alpha's Lavorna. This time, Cora felt ashamed for needing to be carried...I need to get strong. I need to train. Being human is no excuse. If Ludovic can stomach the pain of teeth piercing his flesh, then I can toughen up.
Cora had tried to go on her own, at the very least, but Mina pressed her point that Cora didn't want to face Ludovic sweaty and a mess.
Walder didn't seem to mind, and for that she liked him already.
It wasn't until they neared the floor of the Lavorna that the inner stairwell opened up to the world outside, the windows and balconies revealing that it was raining. Thunder resonated through the stone, the area smelling of wet rock. The storm moved swiftly.
Walder put Cora down, her heart racing but she held her head high. She could do this. She wanted to do this.
The doors opened on Walder's command.
Mina leaned in as the old wooden doors groaned when the sentinels pulled them open. "He could want you to leave immediately, so just be ready, Cora."
"That is fine," she said. "I just want to make the effort."
The room was empty compared to earlier and it seemed immensely more spacious. When Cora took a few steps in, she spotted Ludovic near the hearth, rain pummeling outside. It even wet the floor where it sprayed in from the open carvings. Cora shivered, grateful for the fur on her shoulders, whereas all Ludovic wore was his loose, black tunic, leather pants and boots.
The Alpha glanced over at Cora, his bundle of dreads, that were bound down the center of his skull, dangled over his shoulder. His hard-lined face bore little warmth as he massaged his hand with the other.
"Kå?" he asked.
Cora glanced at Mina, the doors closing behind the translator. "He wants to know why you're here."
Cora faced Ludovic, wondering if this really was the best decision. She had yet to see him so immersed in pain, his patience always about him. Now, he seemed to only want to be alone. Just make it short, then. "Forare."
He looked back at the flames, then said, "Na'lorna." You're welcome.
"Should we leave?" Cora asked.
"You should offer to help him. If he refuses, then yes...we should leave."
She took a cautious step forward, a streak of lightning brightening their world before it cracked through the clouds, settling with low, deep rumbles. Ludovic glanced her way, brow raised, as if to tell her she better explain why she was here or leave.
She motioned to his hands, to which he glanced down, then back up at Cora. Bowing her head, as she had been shown with Theran, she said, "Ya morgi." I help.
