Ethan sighed quietly, his breath stirring the strands of her hair, as he watched Kasia's sleeping form. Her dark hair fanned out over the pillow. Her eyelids fluttered with dreams. Ethan studied her face, the delicate curve of her cheekbones, and the sharp cut of her jaw. She was beautiful, fierce, and, against all odds, lying next to him.
Due to his response to her heat, he had dominated her in every way for hours. He had made sure she was utterly satisfied before allowing himself to come down from the high. But now, as she lay exhausted beside him, he knew they needed to have a real conversation about what would come next for her.
Easing his body away from Kasia, Ethan sat up against the headboard and focused his thoughts on Janet, opening a mind link. "Janet," he said in his mind, "have you made contact?"
"Indeed," Janet replied through the link. "They will be here within the hour." She paused before asking, "Have you spoken to Kasia about her marking you and what it truly means?"
Ethan hesitated. "No, not exactly."
Silence filled the mental connection between them, but Ethan didn't need words to feel her disapproval.
"Listen," Janet said after a moment. "You need to make a declaration soon, and you should go to your office to get an update from your warriors on the situation with the rogues. I'll come to get Kasia in a few hours."
"Fine," Ethan agreed. "She'll be here in my room."
With that, Janet severed the mind link. Ethan slid out of bed, careful not to disturb Kasia, and padded toward the bathroom. As the hot water cascaded over him in the shower, he couldn't help but think about the impending conversation with Kasia. He knew there would be no easy way to explain the consequences of her marking him, the challenges she would soon face, or the responsibilities that now weighed heavily on his shoulders as Alpha King.
When he returned to the bedroom, wrapped in a towel, he found Kasia sitting up in bed, her hazel eyes blinking at the sunlight streaming in. Her gaze turned to him, and a mixture of emotions flashed across her face: happiness, embarrassment, and a flicker of something else he couldn't quite identify.
"Good morning, well, afternoon since it is well past 12 now," he said, trying to gauge her reaction.
"Afternoon," Kasia replied, her voice slightly hoarse from screaming. She cleared her throat and continued, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Ethan admitted, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But there's something important we need to discuss." He studied her face, searching for any signs of resistance.
Kasia sighed, nodding in understanding. "I figured as much."
Ethan took a deep breath before diving into the difficult conversation. "I won't mark you back until you're ready," he began, his eyes locked on hers. "However, by marking me, you've set certain events in motion."
Her hazel eyes flashed with curiosity and concern. "What things?" she asked hesitantly.
"Because of your mark, I have to notify every pack that I'm open to finding a mate," Ethan explained, his tone heavy with the weight of their situation. "Every eligible high-ranking female will be competing against you. On top of that, you'll need to undergo Luna training."
Kasia's eyes widened as the gravity of her actions sank in. She had never imagined that one impulsive act would lead to such consequences. As her heart raced, she tried to process everything Ethan was telling her. It seemed as though her life was about to change drastically, and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
"Is... is it possible to go back on this?" Kasia asked Deva.
"No, there is no undoing this unless Ethan rejects you, and he is not going to do that," Deva replied.
"I am your fated mate, right? So, why do the packs need to know?" Kasia asked.
"Because I have never looked for a mate nor accepted a claim from a she wolf before," Ethan explained.
"Then why can't you just tell everyone I am your mate? Wouldn't that solve everything?" Kasia asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
"You're not ready to be mated to me," Ethan said firmly, his piercing blue eyes holding hers. "I won't have you resenting me for forcing this upon you. And it could be dangerous for you."
Kasia furrowed her brow, concern etching across her face. "What do you mean?"
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his jet-black hair. "I have someone coming to explain everything to you. But what I need from you right now is to pledge your allegiance to the pack."
"What does that mean?" Kasia asked, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to comprehend the implications of Ethan's request.
"It will provide you with some protection," Ethan explained. "There is no formal ceremony. You just have to do it."
"This has to be done, Kasia. We smell like rogues, and a rogue trying to claim the Alpha King as her mate is a great offense. Trust Ethan. He has yet to harm or lie to us," Deva urged Kasia.
Though apprehensive, Kasia knew that Deva was right. From the little education she had on Lycans and werewolves, she knew that being a rogue is not what you want to be as a wolf. Kasia needed the pack's protection, even if it was temporary.
"Fine, I'll do it," Kasia agreed.
Ethan extended his claw and made a small cut on his palm, then did the same to Kasia's. Their blood mingled as he clasped her hand tightly, their gazes locked.
"What do I say?" Kasia asked.
"What comes to your heart?" Ethan replied.
"I, Kasia Thorne, swear my loyalty to the Alpha King and to the pack," she declared.
As soon as the words left her lips, it felt as though the floodgates had opened. Kasia could hear all the voices from Ethan's pack welcoming her. Deva quickly put up mental barriers to prevent Kasia from becoming overwhelmed by the noise, despite the overwhelming, almost suffocating volume of voices.
"Welcome to the pack, Kasia," Ethan said, his hand still holding hers.