Bound By Destiny - Thorian and Emmeral

[Thorian Thalric]

The icy wind howled through the peaks of the Blackfrost Range, carrying with it the scent of blood, fear, and something far more insidious... dark magic. The massive iron gates of Eboncrest Citadel stood firm against the elements, but within its walls, unrest stirred.

A Frostclaw warrior burst into the grand hall, his breath heaving in white puffs. He dropped to one knee, fist over heart in deference. “My King, survivors from another pack have stumbled into our lands... wounded, desperate. They bring warnings.”

Thorian Thalric stood from his seat, broad shoulders squared, piercing frostfire eyes narrowing. His presence alone was a force of command, the weight of his crown heavy but never wavering. “Where?”

“The eastern border, near the Veilwood. Our patrol intercepted them, but they refused to be turned away. They demand to speak to you.”

Without hesitation, Thorian strode past his warriors, his long cloak swirling behind him. His boots crunched against the frozen earth as he emerged into the open courtyard where a small group of battered werewolves had been held back by his warriors.

One of them... a grizzled male, barely standing, his fur streaked with the crimson of battle... lifted his head. “My King,” he rasped, bowing as best he could. “Please... you must listen. We are all that’s left.”

Thorian stepped forward, his towering form casting a shadow over the trembling wolves. “Speak.”

“They came at night. Rogues, but... they were not themselves. Their eyes, their movements... it was as if they were something else entirely. Dark magic turned them into monsters.” He swallowed hard. “They slaughtered everyone. Our Alpha fell, our Luna…” His voice cracked. “We barely escaped. And she...”

Thorian’s gaze sharpened. “Who?”

“Emmeral,” the wolf croaked. “She fought harder than any of us, held them back so we could run. If she lives, it is only because she is too stubborn to die.”

Something stirred in Thorian, a whisper at the edge of his mind, a pull deep in his bones. But he dismissed it for the moment.

His voice was cold and commanding. “Beta, gather warriors and meet me at the front gates. Now.”

Through their mind-link, his Beta responded immediately. As you command, my King.

Thorian turned back to the battered wolves. “You’re safe now. Tend to your wounds.” Without waiting for a response, he strode towards the gates.

Minutes later, his Beta and a dozen warriors arrived. With a sharp nod, Thorian shifted.

Bones snapped, muscle expanded, and in mere seconds, the man was gone... replaced by a towering beast of dark silver-gray fur, streaked with the faint, ethereal glow of blue that shimmered under the moonlight. His piercing eyes burned with a frostfire glow as Draco took full control. Without hesitation, the rest of the warriors followed, shifting into their wolves and taking off into the night.

Through the snow-laden pines they raced, silent shadows moving with purpose. Thorian led the charge, the scent of blood thick in the air. But then... something else. Faint, yet unmistakable.

A scent that sent a jolt through his entire being. "It can’t be." Thorian says confused. Draco growled, the sound raw and possessive. "Mate."

Thorian’s breath hitched, his powerful strides faltering for a mere second before instinct took over. His pulse thundered, denial warring with primal need. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Not like this. They pushed harder, running at full speed toward the source of the scent. Every second mattered.

They found her at the base of a jagged rock outcrop, half-buried in the snow, blood soaking into the ice beneath her. Even in ruin, she was striking... dark hair tangled with frost, her body battered but unbroken in spirit. Shadow clung to her skin, shifting like living tendrils, fighting to keep her hidden from the world. Thorian shifted back, kneeling beside her. His hand hesitated only for a moment before he touched her, fingers brushing against her ice-cold skin. A force unlike anything he had ever known surged through him.

The air around them crackled. A blinding pulse of silver-blue energy erupted from where their skin met, sending a shockwave through the clearing. Frost spread outward in jagged veins, the ground beneath them quaking. For the first time in his reign, Thorian felt powerless against something greater than himself. Her body shuddered, and with a gasping breath, her eyes fluttered open. The moment their gazes met, the tether locked into place. Silence stretched between them, the weight of the moment sinking in. Disbelief warred in his chest, the reality of what had just happened pressing down like an iron weight.

His Beta’s voice cut through the frozen air. “Is she alive, my King?”

Thorian blinked, the spell of the moment breaking. He exhaled sharply. “She is.”

“No other survivors were found,” his Beta added grimly.

Thorian’s jaw clenched. “Send the trackers to the border. See if they can pick up any remaining trails.”

His Beta bowed his head. “And what of her?”

Thorian glanced down at the unconscious female in his arms, his emotions a storm of chaos. He should have felt victorious, relieved. Instead, rage simmered beneath his skin.

"Why now?" he thought bitterly. "Of all times, why now?"

Draco’s voice rumbled in his mind. "The Moon Goddess has decided. She is ours."

"She is a burden I cannot afford right now." Thorian responded. 

The wolf growled lowly. "She is fate."

Thorian exhaled sharply. This wasn’t a battle he would win. Not against destiny itself. With a final glance at his Beta, he made his decision.

“I’m taking her back to Eboncrest.” he said to his Beta without taking another glance back at him. Lifting her effortlessly into his arms, he turned and began the long trek back through the forest. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on him harder than ever before. 

As Thorian approached the gates of Eboncrest, he mind-linked his best healer "I need you in the infirmary now!" without waiting for the healer to respond Thorian made his way through the courtyard towards the infirmary. Without having to say a word the path was cleared for him. As he laid her down on the bed in the private room, Thorian couldn't help but stare at her. "Is Lunara serious right now?" he asks in a barely audible whisper. 

"The moon goddess knows what is best. And when." Draco responded. 

[Emmeral Langley]

The feeling of Andarna almost moving back and forth in her mind irritated Emmeral's patience "Can you stop"

Andarna's low huff as her sense of separation was more giving Emmeral a headache than helpful "We must be around him, his presence helps us in recovery"

The acceptance of that notion made Emmeral furious "The bond will not have that power over me" her words laced with the knowledge that the bond, his mark, within his pack all aided her greatly.

A teasing tone as Andarna remarked lowly "Now you are beginning to sound like him"

"Leave me be for now. I'm tired" mentally shoving her wall up from Andarna angered by reference to his immaturity. Andarna making no means of pressing as she could feel the uneasiness the bond placed on Emmeral's human form. It was not healthy the further a bond was denied. History knew it was even fatal to some.

The potential to a rejection was in refute of current thought as Emmy merely focused on gaining her strength back herself. Undesired aid over a bond.

Riddled in battle wounds that still remained in shades of recovery, a curiosity to Eirik's observations remained upon his expression - Emmeral could not hear him but could see upon his features that he was deep in thought and note taking as he assessed her over.

Eirik remained respectful in his touch, always asking and stating what he was going to do before doing it. The needed requirement for Emmy to return the following morning to get her bandaging changed to her shoulder and ribcage. As his experienced fingers carefully assessed their current standings to ensure she would not bleed out in absence of the infirmary and was indeed in the capacity to seek rest elsewhere.

Her battle marks to her cheeks, neck and legs had completely faded to appear smooth to her paled complexion; a further 30 minutes within the infirmary to supply her body with sufficient intake of the blood loss she had shed in battle.

Fingertips unmarked of her shadows in cling as they had in the snow but inability to access till she regained more of her strength as walking would prove to be a battle in itself.

Although heavy eyelids pained in desperation of closure, Emmeral's seek was not of sleep but fixated upon the bond. Ever growing and understanding the stronger the resist, the strong the pull. She could feel the fight within Thorian's body just as she was aware he could feel her pain despite either of their expressions giving away much. It was an irritation strong within their tethering for different means. Hers in reveal of feeling weak, his of knowing the bond was there to begin with.

Finding it impossible to tease enquiry towards Eirik as he cleansed and stitched her shoulder, her body strong and already in healing within Thorian's presence, slowing in his absence "Is he always that charming?" she remarked with an unsettle sense of amusing annoyance upon their meeting. Her eyes peering towards the door which Thorian had exited sometime prior.

A few more enquiries passing between Eirik and her in small conversation between knowledge to her wounds and what steps she needed to take to bettering herself. Most was simply time, a few days of hydration drips, light eating and as much rest as possible, appreciative that Eirik hadn't stated her pairing as any wolf knew the pros and cons to finding their fated.

The unwavering pull slithered along every part of her inside and out, desperate to be tied to Thorian.

A need to be close to him.

The resistance on Thorian affecting Emmeral; as if his push was physical to her. A chain affect that was dangerous to ignore.

A pinched nerve that made her feel cold inside from his lacked presence.

Appreciative to Eirik as he aided her in appropriate clothing, nightwear as the repeated apologies of needed to touch her to aid as lifting the simple fabric up along her legs was better than placing it over her head before she seated upon the beddings edge, fatigue further in her features in standing for those few moments before she waited.

Andarna pressing within her mind as Emmeral was too weak to ignore her, pressing her excitement forward that she was hard to contain as Thorian walked through the doors.

Feeling the invisible binding of roping tether between them loosen slightly to an oddly more comforting pressure in replace. A soft exhale to her lips as if it were the only visible sign given over the bond.

Her shoulders falling more in exhaustion, his tone more calmed than before, his gaze searing into her as she ignored how her body felt under his gaze "Yes, I am" an undertone of self-irritation as she hoped it wasn't far a journey as she was running on fumes to remain awake.

Surprised in herself that she had any strength after her endurance, ignoring the potential of their bond having any affect as she slowly rose to her feet, one foot in front of the other towards the doors.

A momentary stop as she reached the beds end to peer towards Eirik with kind but exhausted eyes and soft smile "Thankyou for your kindness and experience. May Lunara's kindness fall upon you. My gratitude and life is indebted to you."

Her gaze falling towards Thorian and the door, evident within the bond her irritation as her eyes searched his "You have acknowledged your disinterest to the bond -" stating as the than our to keep separation between them as she continued "But, I must seek a guard to lift me as I cannot move without undoing the healers work" refraining from saying weak as anyone in her state would be dead and she hated feeling weak by injury or this infuriating bond.

[Thorian Thalric]

Thorian's fingers curled into his palm at her words, his expression impassive, yet beneath the surface, something in him twisted at her request.

A guard? She would rather be carried by a stranger than him?

Draco bristled, a low, guttural snarl echoing in the depths of Thorian’s mind. "Unacceptable. We carry her. No one else."

The bond constricted, pulsing in silent defiance of her attempt to distance them. Thorian exhaled through his nose, his sharp gaze locking onto Emmeral’s, unreadable yet intense. For all her irritation, for all her insistence on separation, she was struggling. He could see it in the faint tremor in her limbs, the way she fought to hold herself upright despite sheer exhaustion. He should not care... not this much... but he did.

Before he responded, Eirik placed a steadying hand on Emmeral’s forearm, his touch brief, respectful. “You need not speak of debts, Emmeral,” the healer said, his voice calm and measured. “Your survival is enough. But you will need to return in the morning to have your bandages changed. I expect you to rest... properly.” His sharp gaze flicked to Thorian, the silent weight of unspoken expectations passing between them. “Ensure she does.”

Thorian gave a curt nod, not breaking his stare from the woman before him.

“No,” he said finally, his voice quieter than before, but firm. “No one else will carry you.”

He saw something flickered in her eyes... surprise, frustration, something else he couldn’t quite place. It didn’t matter. He had made his decision.

With smooth precision, he closed the distance between them. His large hands moved to her with deliberate care, one arm slipping beneath her knees, the other bracing her back as he lifted her effortlessly. Emmeral tensed... he felt it in the way her fingers curled slightly against his chest before she forcibly stilled herself. The moment his hands met her skin, the bond flared, tightening, surging between them with a force that nearly stole his breath.

Draco rumbled, pleased. "Good. She is where she belongs."

Thorian ignored him, but even he could not deny the way her warmth seeped into him, how the pull between them seemed to settle in something dangerously close to ease. She was light in his arms, yet she carried a weight he could not put into words... a presence that unsettled him in ways he could not name.

His gaze dropped to hers for a brief moment, lingering. Those crystal-blue eyes, touched with amethyst, seemed to search his own, something unspoken passing between them. The air grew heavier, charged, neither willing to break the silent tether that held them in place.

Then, with a sharp inhale, Thorian turned, carrying her out of the infirmary.

As he strode through the halls, he mind-linked his Beta. “We are on our way. Ensure Aeris has everything ready.”

Gideon’s reply was immediate, tinged with something amused. “Understood. I’ll meet you there.”

The journey to the residence was swift, the guards and pack members they passed offering quiet bows of respect but wisely keeping their distance. Even as Thorian moved with practiced ease, the awareness of her in his arms did not fade. Every breath she took, every faint shift of her weight, the warmth of her pressed against him... it was impossible to ignore.

Soon, they reached the fourth floor of the residence, where a set of large double doors stood open, revealing her new quarters. The space was warm, the hearth already lit, casting flickering golden light across the deep sapphire walls. Heavy curtains of dark blue and silver framed the tall windows, while a queen-sized bed, draped in thick furs, awaited her. The room bore a quiet luxury, a blend of comfort and strength... an unspoken testament to the woman who would reside within it.

Standing within the room, waiting for them, were Gideon and Aeris. The Beta, tall and broad with sharp, perceptive eyes, inclined his head in greeting, while Aeris, a petite yet capable omega with soft brown hair and steady hands, stepped forward with practiced grace.

Thorian crossed the room without hesitation, lowering Emmeral onto the bed with a care that betrayed none of the turmoil within him. As soon as his hands left her, the absence was immediate... an unsettling void that made his jaw clench. He straightened, masking the feeling behind his usual cold demeanor.

Aeris stepped closer, offering Emmeral a warm smile. “It’s an honor, Luna. I will be assisting you during your recovery.”

Gideon folded his arms, his dark gaze appraising as he glanced between them. “Luna,” he greeted, the title rolling easily from his lips, as if it was already undeniable.

Thorian stiffened slightly at the word, but said nothing.

Instead, he met Emmeral’s gaze once more, something unreadable in his expression. “This is Gideon, my Beta,” he said, his voice even. “And Aeris, who will tend to you personally.”

His gaze lingered on her a moment longer before he took a measured step back, giving her space. But even as he did, the bond refused to loosen, ever-present, ever-demanding.

And he knew, no matter how much he tried to resist, he was already too deep to turn away.

[Emmeral Langley]

Momentarily the uneasiness of the bond tightened ever so slightly, as if in response to her request of the guard.

Unknown under his focused gaze if it were him reaction or the longing within the bond seeking to tether that caused the occurrence. Either way Emmeral refused to allow its hold over her, her grip tightened on the bed end just as his to his sides as she remained under his watchful gaze.

Andarna prowling forward in second to the disinterest " No guard. Our mate is here"

Iindifferent to her words, her gaze strong despite her internal need that was magnifying forward. Clearly her body unable to withstand physically as her words scorched his reactions in return "Defiant to the bond. He stands there as a King not as an equal."

Andarna could feel the soft desperation of sleep, exhaustion had held Emmeral company for far too long and Thorian was complicating her physically and mentally. Instead Emmeral could feel her counterpart's comfort and waiting discussion when she had granted rest. 

Warmth meeting her in silence as Eirik spoke, green orbs unable to pull their direction away as she was requested to return tomorrow to address her wounds care, the expectation of rest weighted heavy importance between them. An unspoken means towards Thorian as Eirik was one of few who knew of their bond and having served Thorian knew his nature complicated Emmeral in her current state.

His address firm as he disregarded her words. His firmness frustrated her endlessly as he fought her on every matter.

Her body's feeble reaction the moment he closed the space between them and picked her up. Her uninjured arm resting over the back of his broad shoulders whilst the other remained to her chest. Her fingers natural need to touch skin as the press of his body against hers pressed against her wounds undesirably although reactive in tension to her wounds, her body evaporated feeling pain, the moment his hands met her bare skin; heat flaring over her skin, bringing it a hint of sunkiss back into her complexion. Andarna hummed excitedly as Emmeral's breath hitched in refusing exhale. 

Her eyes surged in shifts of blue and purple crystal statement as if calling to the frostfire's burning down to her soul. A name unknown but an understanding they could both feel it.

His arms enveloped her in care as their bond played upon the surface as if invisibly moving freely, charging until surging dangerously for attention. Emotionally unable to meet its comfort as the infirmary distanced behind them as they walked the halls.

Normally quiet confident, Emmy's current status shied away in exhaustion, unable to take in much of her surroundings as the sweet notion of sleep begged her body to take. Familiarity of a few who had found New Haven in Eboncrest had Emmy react, pain burning within the bond as her hand tightened to his chest. Quick to fight mental separation as Emmy adjusted in his arms but her body physically deceived her seeking comfort to him, her gaze watching the rise and fall of his chest.

Warmth kissed her skin as she peered towards the large double doors that stood open. Her quarters designed with an elegance that admittedly surprised, her environment inviting and unique as Thorian stepped through. Intake of Gideon and Aeris in wait in the middle of the room.

Meeting the softness of thick fur as Thorian lowered her to the bed, her body hesitating removal as the feeling of heavy emptiness sunk in as he stepped back. The bond reaching out as Emmeral was unable to remain defensive under its heaviness before gathering her walls as she tried to focus on Aeris instead.

Attempt to meet Aeris with the same warmth in her smile but it weakly formed as she attempted to rest in the comfort of the pillows, acknowledge to reference of Luna as all within the room could feel the reaction from Thorian but she chose to ignore him - The existence of their tethering known to them both.

An unmistakable shot of pain shot through the bond, now unable to hide any emotions or fight as Thorian's Beta held the same name as her Alpha before fighting control to represent some kind of thankful smile upon her features "Thankyou both for your kindness" before clearing her throat, swallowing her pain as she looked between the 3 men before her "Apologies but I must rest..." her tearful gaze landing on Thorian as she swallowed "I need alone time" she requested as Andarna was hard to tether too as she fought the presence of the men before her to appear strong despite her dealt hand.

[Thorian Thalric]

Thorian stood rooted in place as Emmeral’s words settled between them, the weight of her exhaustion lacing every syllable. The bond hummed, not in the usual subdued presence that had loomed since their first contact, but in something far more insistent… tangible. The moment his skin had met hers, he had felt it. The warmth that had pulsed through her, the way his very presence had driven color back into her pale skin. A visceral reaction that neither of them could deny.

Draco prowled at the edges of his mind, pressing against the confines of his control. “You felt it. She is ours. Stop this foolish distance.” His wolf’s voice was thick with authority, rumbling deep as if the very earth beneath them quaked in warning.

Thorian exhaled through his nose, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. He had felt it… every part of him had responded to her. When she had curled into his chest, when her fingers had grasped at him with instinctive need, it had taken everything in him not to succumb. Not to tighten his hold, to keep her close, to shield her from everything.

“She seeks comfort in you, yet you resist,”  Draco growled, pacing within his consciousness. “You deny what was gifted by Lunara herself. Do you not see how her body calls for yours?”

He did. And that was the problem.

Aeris inclined her head slightly, her voice gentle yet firm. "Of course, Luna. Rest well. I will return first thing in the morning." There was no need for more words; the omega understood the gravity of the situation and the effect Thorian had on her, even if the latter refused to acknowledge it outright.

Gideon crossed his arms over his broad chest, his sharp gaze flicking between them before nodding. “I will also take my leave, Alpha. It’s been a long day.” His words held a measure of finality, yet a knowing gleam lingered in his eyes as if he saw something unspoken between them. “Goodnight, Luna” With that, he bowed slightly and excused himself, his departure leaving only silence in its wake.

Thorian should have followed them. He should have turned and left her to rest as she requested. But his feet remained unmoving, weighted by the force of the bond coiling tighter with each breath.

Draco’s growl of approval reverberated through him. “Stay.”

Clearing his throat, Thorian forced himself into motion… not toward the door, but further into the room. His gaze flickered to the flickering lanterns, to the heavy fur-lined blankets that had been prepared. His voice was gruff when he spoke. “Are you comfortable?”

A foolish question. She had just been laid upon a bed far more luxurious than the infirmary’s cots, yet the words had tumbled forth regardless.

His fingers twitched at his sides. “Touch her.” The command was unrelenting. “Just once more. Feel the bond. Stop resisting.”

His jaw clenched, his body rigid with restraint as he forced himself to ignore Draco’s demands. Instead, he turned, adjusting the placement of the nearest lantern as if its positioning suddenly required his attention. Anything to prolong his presence, to justify staying.

She had asked for space, but the bond… the bond didn’t care for distance. It seared through him, a quiet, relentless force that refused to be ignored. And as he stood there, lingering under the pretense of insignificant adjustments, he knew he was losing this battle.

He exhaled sharply, the sound almost a growl. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a sleek, black phone and extended it toward her. “If you need anything… anything at all, you have only to call for me.” His voice was lower, rougher than intended. And though his words carried the authority of an Alpha, there was something raw in them. Something personal. “This will connect you to me directly.”

He turned to face her one last time, his frostfire gaze locking onto hers. Even in exhaustion, she was stunning, her presence a force he could no longer dismiss.

He was already in too deep.

And Draco knew it. “Good. Now stop running.”

Thorian exhaled heavily, his resolve teetering on the edge of something irrevocable. But he forced himself to move, to turn away before he surrendered to the pull entirely. Without another word, he strode toward the door, each step heavier than the last. Just before crossing the threshold, he hesitated, casting one final glance over his shoulder.

She lay there, wrapped in the warmth of fur-lined blankets, her breathing shallow yet steady. The sight of her should have brought him peace. Instead, it only worsened the ache in his chest. His fists clenched at his sides, the battle within him warring on.

Draco stirred, a whisper of a growl curling at the edges of his mind. “Foolish Alpha. You belong beside her.”

Ignoring his wolf’s taunts, Thorian stepped out, closing the door behind him with quiet finality. The hall stretched before him, dimly lit by sconces casting long shadows against stone walls. His chambers lay at the far end, separate from the rest, an intentional design of solitude. Yet tonight, that solitude felt like a curse.

Entering his quarters, he shut the door, the familiar weight of his space settling around him. Dark stone and towering bookshelves framed the walls, the scent of burning embers lingering from the hearth’s dying flames. A massive bed of furs and heavy linens dominated the center, its emptiness glaring.

His fingers ran through his hair as he crossed the room, stripping off his tunic before stepping into the adjoining bath chamber. Steam rose as he turned the brass handles, letting the water cascade down from the overhead spout. The first icy touch sent a shiver rippling through him, muscles tensing as he stood beneath the flow, letting it run from head to toe. Droplets trailed down the ridges of his back, the chill a stark contrast to the heat still simmering beneath his skin. He exhaled, pressing his palms against the stone wall, willing the fire within him to settle.

Draco was silent now, but his presence remained… a weight pressing against his thoughts, lingering just beneath the surface.

She is ours. Soon you will stop fighting it.

Thorian didn’t answer. He dried himself off, making his way to the bed. The furs offered little comfort as he sank into them, the scent of cold night air clinging to his skin.

Sleep did not come easily. It was haunted by violet eyes, by the echo of a bond he could no longer deny.

[Emmeral Langley]

Displeased by the devotion the bond seared between them.

His touch like an antidotal need, stimulating thoughts and reactions that rattled her bodys need like the air in her lungs.

It drowned her. Every part of her in screaming need, tortured losing focus upon anything and everything outside of the man before her.

Andarna's distant growl from the back of her mind as Emmeral's resistance even in fleeting began to mimic Thorian's, taking measures to protect herself as his presence - naturally healing - was creating more damage than good.

Appreciative to Aeris and Gideon's departures that had not lessened the invisible tethering defiant much like her fated who resisted to act on his exit.

A whisper of frustration to her adjustments upon the bed. Drawing the comforts of the fur to her chest as the pillow lessened the headache in her head, covers applying the perfect among of hug to her body without furthering discomfort to her injuries. 

Sleep unable to claim as the annoyance of Thorian's presence loomed within her chambers, his scent lingering furthermore as if marking natural in preparation to his absence.

Her fingers fiddling quietly to sweep to the fur edging.

Andarna's comfort prowled at the edges of her mind, her words almost in need of sleep herself "See. He wants to be around us"

"Why fight it, why not just reject" the wording felt heavy in thought as both unfavored despite what Thorian was doing to them.

An understanding of hopefulness laced in Andarna's words "He fears what he can't control" unable to seek knowledge, merely using her observations to see reasoning into his actions as she remained barred from being whole with him.

A notion with a hissing reaction from Andarna as Emmeral's thoughts darkened to state she should have fallen with her pack if this was how she would exist with her fated. The thought to reject herself and deal with the consequences tempting but knowledge to her sure death would occur in her state. So endurance would keep her captive which half angered the she wolf.

"You can't control your fear either, Em" Andarna's voice surrounding her thoughts.

Thorian's voice seep into a focal point, Emmeral's response soft spoken as one of heaviness stating her fight needed easy, his presence a complication "As can be, My King." A hidden plea within her gaze as his stubbornness was undesired to further fight, his selfishness ached through the bond as its weaving demanded action that could not be acted upon.

His distancing insulted Emmeral as he pulled out a black phone in offering towards her in contact, an unrevokable one as she reached out and snatched it from his grasp and dropped it to the wooden bedside dismissive - disgracing the bond's natural calling and connection with one another of communication "Thanks" the singular word statement to the unnecessary interest of using the phone in any regard.

Of his absence that tugged at the binding bond, Emmeral tried her best to simmer down her emotions as she was, for the first time, alone. The depth of the ember lit chamber only met her in coldness of its foreignness.

Her chest aching of his unwanted absence, quick to shove the feeling aside as she watched the flickering dance of the fireplace to her stone structured ceiling until her heavy eyelids took her in surrender.

Emmeral's night passing in a blink as the weight of her exhaustion kept her in sleep till the first sign of daylight peaked through her long dark curtains.

An energetic thrum within her mind as Andarna danced along her minds edge "Good Morning" missing a mere half a second before adding "Let's go find our mate"

Childlike in excitement, Emmy's sights adjusted to her surroundings "His not ours, that's made very clear." ignoring Andarna's further attention towards the bond as the mere thought was exhausting.

The fire extinguished not by the night but by Aeris whose presence already comforting her loneliness. The room striking in beauty and a regalness that even her old quarters hadn't had. 

Emmeral appearing more together than the night prior, despite the tug of injuries that sunk deep "Morning, Aeris" her soft tone ensuring to not alert as Emmeral slowly eased to sit against the beds backing.

[Thorian Thalric]

Thorian’s night was anything but restful.

Sleep eluded him, chased away by the lingering heat of a bond he could not control. Every time he closed his eyes, he felt it—the warmth of her body against his, the way her scent curled around his senses, burrowing deep into places he had long fortified. It was maddening. Draco prowled ceaselessly within his mind, his presence a relentless reminder of what Thorian refused to claim.

“Stubborn fool. You deny what is meant to be?” Draco growled. 

Thorian exhaled sharply, lying on his back, staring at the high stone ceiling of his chambers. “Shut it fleabag!” he shot back through their link, his mental voice edged with irritation.

Draco growled, pacing within the depths of their shared consciousness. “You can’t deny this. You felt it…the way she responded, the way her body called for you. Even now, she aches for our presence, and you deny her?”  His wolf's frustration simmered, pressing against Thorian’s control.

Thorian rubbed a hand over his face. “She is wounded. Conflicted. Do you think forcing this upon her will make her accept us?” He scoffed. I will not be another chain around her throat.

Draco’s growl deepened, raw and uncompromising. “You are a fool if you think distance will ease this pull. You deny her now, but what happens when she turns away? When another wolf proves he is willing where you are not?” 

The words struck harder than Thorian would admit, a dangerous seed of doubt planted in his mind.

A muscle in his jaw ticked. He was exhausted, and Draco was relentless. With a sharp push of his will, he severed their connection, forcing the wolf into silence. The sudden absence left an ache, but it was necessary. Only then did sleep finally claim him—though it was shallow, fractured by dreams he could not escape.

When dawn finally approached, he surrendered to wakefulness. Rising before the first light crept through his chamber’s high-set windows, he crossed to the washbasin, splashing cold water over his face in a futile attempt to dispel the restless energy clinging to his skin. The frigid sting barely registered. He dressed in dark, tailored trousers, a crisp black tunic fastened at the wrists with silver clasps etched with his sigil. Over it, he donned a heavy leather doublet, its intricate frost patterns a testament to his lineage.

Settling at his desk, he sifted through reports detailing rogue activity. The threats beyond their borders had grown increasingly bold, and a council meeting loomed later that evening. He forced himself to focus, but his mind betrayed him, wandering back to the fragile weight of a woman who now occupied too much of his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Aeris arrived at Emmeral’s chambers early, carrying out her duties with quiet efficiency. As she entered, she offered a soft smile. “Good morning, Luna. Did you sleep well?”

Emmeral stirred slightly, adjusting against the pillows before offering a measured nod.

Aeris began preparing the room, ensuring everything was in order before turning back to her. “Would you like anything specific for breakfast? I can have the kitchen prepare whatever you prefer.”

Pausing, Aeris moved toward the bathing area, adjusting the brass knobs to allow warm water to fill the large stone basin. Steam curled in delicate wisps, the scent of soothing herbs rising into the air. “I’ve drawn a bath for you, Luna,” she added, her voice gentle. “And the King had some clothing sent up for you. You may choose whatever suits you best.”

She gestured to the elegantly folded garments placed neatly on a nearby surface—fine fabrics in muted shades, designed for comfort but still reflecting the regal status that now followed Emmeral.

By the time the sun had fully risen, Thorian had lost all patience for paperwork. He stood abruptly, raking a hand through his hair before heading toward Emmeral’s chambers. As he walked, he mind-linked Eirik. “Eirik, Good morning. What time will you be expecting her?”

“Greetings Alpha. Midmorning. I’ll be ready.” Eirik responded through the link. 

Reaching her door, he knocked once. It was Aeris who answered, her head dipping respectfully. “Alpha.”

“Is she awake?”

Aeris nodded. “She is.”

Draco stirred restlessly. “See her.”

Stepping inside, his gaze found Emmeral. A rare, almost imperceptible smile flickered at the corner of his lips. “Good morning,” he murmured, his voice smooth, controlled. “Did you sleep well?”

[Emmeral Langley]

The bond was a madness slowly taking over their minds, the more resistance, the harder the desires.

Emmeral could feel the chaotic storm that weaved between them, vibrating off the appearance of the tight shoulders of Thorian. In his absence the pull dull almost, a crawling to her flesh that was of discomfort than anything.

"Let's begin!" the pressure against her mind gentle like a tug for action as slumpish movement took to Emmy's activity.

Their wolves could not understand resistance to what was natural, feeling Emmeral's resistance due to the pain it coiled her in, as if suffocating like a snake around its prey "Let me rest, I'm the one physically injured. So pipe down" shoving her connection to Andarna as green orbs addressed Aeris.

Aeris scent covering the room in indication she was quiet within her duties, Emmy must have been exhausted.

Unbeknownst to the rumbles of murmurs she'd had upon closed eyes. The heavy sever of her pack rooted within her chest, whispers of her ache in her sleep.

The formality addressed as Emmeral took comfort in limited movement, knowing soon enough she would have to strengthen through her injuries to be somewhat presentable for Eirik upon examination "Please, call me Emmy" a request as Luna was a title restricted "I slept well as can be. I hope your night was well?" asking in politeness as she threw back the comforting covers of warmth and eased herself to the edge of the bed.

Infuriated within herself to feeling weak as she shook her head "That won't be necessary, I will seek nourishment after I see the healer" a slowness to her words as she pushed through the pain, her feet meeting the cold stone ground that felt wonderful to her warmed skin.

Emmeral ignoring the feverish sickness that began to infect in the clamminess of her paled complexion. The inviting scent of herbs soothed as the bath had a cloudy effect, visible to the base as address came to the neatly folded clothes Thorian had picked out. Curious to his tastes before she was assisted bathing. Naturally comfortable within her body but appreciative as Aeris aiding to clean her, weary of her injuries, the remains of battled soil swept away down the drain.

Defiance through a sigh as it slipped past her full lips, the need to get out of the tub before she pruned, seeking Aeris closer than when she entered feeling heavier now wet.

As Aeris dried the last of her, Emmeral slowed her efforts, walking towards the large dark oak coffee table, her eyes flicking through the material, drawn towards a blue silk, her fingertips grazing over embroidery of ice and crystal detailing as she gathered within her grasp. Giving enough freedom of mobility as she was thankful the silk would slip on and off without a fight when it came to her assessment with Eirik.

Frustration as fatigue afflicted her body as she eased onto the couch nearby, a stubbornness exhaled her lips as she looked towards Aeris, intrigue within her gaze as her skin itched "Tell me about yourself, Aeris?" curious as Aeris aided in brushing her hair from her face.

Emmeral was relaxing into conversation, Aeris seeing Emmeral for who she was when exhaustion wasn't holding her captive yesterday. Mere moments prior Andarna shrieked forward, feeling the bond flare upon the surface of her skin as a knock made both woman's heads turn.

Aeris excusing herself to address before she bowed and stepped aside for Thorian to enter.

Her parted lips twitched with natural reaction towards the edges of his lips but she quickly replaced with words "Good Morning, My King" rising to her feet and lowering her head submissively in greeting "I had, yes. Thankyou for your hospitality" he uninjured arm gesturing to her quarters and falling to smooth the material of her garments. Her gaze meeting his as she wasn't sure with how to act nor awareness to when Eirik was needing their presence.

[Thorian Thalric]

“She is there. She is waiting. Go to her.” Draco urged on in his mind. 

His wolf’s urge was primal and instinctual… yet Thorian resisted. He had spent years mastering control, bending himself to duty rather than desire, and yet this woman, this bond, threatened to unmake all of it. He had never wanted a mate. He had convinced himself he did not need one. But now? Now, the mere thought of her turning away, rejecting him, left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was infuriating. And yet, no matter how much he fought against it, he was still standing here. 

He was thinking about her every second. She had taken over his thoughts entirely. He was unable to focus on even more pressing matters that needed his attention… the rogues who were not far off from their borders. He didn’t need a distraction. He needed to keep his people safe. But yet still, Thorian couldn’t help but be drawn in by the woman that has come into his life. He had never seen Draco so restless before. He was driving Thorian insane with wanting to be near their mate. 

Meanwhile inside Emmeral’s chambers… 

Aeris hesitated before bowing her head respectfully. “I appreciate your kindness, Luna, but I must decline. It would not be appropriate for me to call you by name.” There was no chastisement in her tone… only a deep-seated respect for the hierarchy she had long lived within.

The omega hesitated, hands briefly stilling as she finished smoothing Emmeral’s hair away from her face. “There’s not much to tell, Luna.” A small, reserved smile graced her lips, though her eyes betrayed something deeper. “I was born into the lower ranks, an omega like my mother before me. Life was not always kind to us, but the King took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He has treated me with more kindness than most would offer someone of my station.”

There was more to her story, that much was clear, but Aeris steered away from details, unwilling or unable to share them. “I am grateful to serve,” she finished softly.

Thorian’s patience was wearing thin.

Standing in the doorway of Emmeral’s chambers, he felt the invisible tether between them coil tighter, an unrelenting force that refused to be ignored. The bond was a living thing, pulsating beneath his skin, urging him closer. His wolf prowled beneath his consciousness, restless and agitated.

“She is right there. Within reach. Go to her.” Draco’s voice was low, coaxing, thick with need.

Thorian exhaled sharply, shoving the demand aside. He would not be ruled by instinct alone.

Stepping inside, his gaze found Emmeral. The tether between them pulled tight, an unseen force demanding he move closer. His wolf pressed at the edges of his control, eager to bridge the distance, eager to meet her wolf. Thorian inhaled deeply, steadying himself. Not yet.

The title made something in him bristle. His tone softened instinctively. “You don’t need to be so formal,” he told her. “We are mates, after all. You may call me Thorian.”

Draco rumbled in approval, pleased with the small step forward.

His gaze drifted, taking in the outfit she had chosen… a gown of blue silk, embroidered with crystalline patterns that shimmered in the soft light. The color suited her, a stark contrast against her dark hair and pale complexion. He was struck, momentarily, by how effortlessly she wore it. It suited her in a way he could not explain.

Shifting his weight slightly, he met her gaze once more. “I will be taking you to see Eirik in an hour.” He hesitated briefly, something foreign creeping into his tone. “In the meantime… I would like to invite you to join me for breakfast.”

Even as the words left him, he wasn’t certain if she would accept. The uncertainty unsettled him. He, who had commanded legions, whose word alone was enough to bend others to his will… stood here now, awaiting the response of a single woman.

The bond gnawed at his restraint, an ever-present pull that defied logic. It had been days, and still, he could not shake the quiet longing that settled deep in his bones. He had spent so long believing he needed no mate, no tether to another soul. And yet, here she was, disrupting the careful order of his world.

His wolf pushed against his control again, demanding more, demanding action. “Go to her. Touch her. Feel the truth of what she is to us.”

Thorian clenched his jaw. “Not yet.”

For now, he would wait.

[Emmeral Langley]

Remaining within a kind and understanding gaze, Emmeral merely nodded in understanding Aeris's decline to calling her by her first name. Knowing it was a long shot but the entitlement of Luna was unnaturally given, established over a bond unclaimed that being called such a title was unnecessary.

Refreshed with a warm bath and bedding, Emmeral felt less out of her own body. A she-wolf lost to darkness.

Her broken pack bond showing signs of slowing her regenerative nature down as both wolf and human weakened, her title within her former pack and nature of her Alpha's death made her ties heavier, the clamminess of her skin the starting onset of a fever due to the bond unclaimed.

Andarna's impatience thrummed along the edges, disapproval to the idea of rejection but even Andarna was not confident. Human counterparts always complicating what was to be. Seeing how it sliced into Emmeral ever so slowly, she wished she could comfort her counterpart.

"We must be strong" Emmeral's voice attempting to sooth although Andarna could feel her heartache.

Andarna's voice low in added hope "May the Moon Goddess guide us forward"

Whatever that may of been.

Emmeral's acceptance only held resistance in need with Thorian in mind; seeing the turmoil and bitterness of her presence had to complicate of his leadership. Gathering grim thoughts in preparation if he were to reject her, his reasons would be his to bare as a knowingness out of her own control to see reasoning would not be able to save her alone. Hopeful pain passed her quickly whether that be following her fallen pack or to begin anew elsewhere.

It had crossed her mind as to whether he had a chosen mate already, had a she-wolf to stand equal with but she hadn't dared to make her thoughts known. Temptation to enquire with Aeris but reframed as time would tell the life Thorian had led before her.

An irreversible effect that even Lunara could not change how mated's went about their pairings. Ignoring the invisible pressure within her chest of being rejected by her fated but she would not live a life that was not met within equality or want.

Peering to her shoulder towards Aeris seeing hesitation, her details short and sweet, acknowledged to an underlining means of her life that Emmeral couldn't quiet read within her eyes but they held a deeper pain than she wanted to address. Respectfully, Emmeral did not push. Learning Thorian had kindness towards his people and no matter their ranking, treated them fairly. Understanding Aeris was unwilling to dive deeper which she respected "None the less, I am grateful you stand before me" a warmth within her smile, eyes and tone - Never wanting Aeris to feel pressured. Appreciative her sharing anything to establish a connection with.

Thorian's presence sent a shriek of excitement through her connection.

Restless within state as Andarna edged her mind, wanting to meet Thorian's counterpart, to feel and hear him.

Settling Andarna back "Easy does it" although her exterior expressed nothing, Emmeral laughed over Andarna's playfulness of Thorian's words, stating as mates.

"Are we?" Emmeral couldn't help but jab almost tasting the frustration upon her tongue as she unapologetically spoke.

Andarna growling lowly, displeased with her flat tone "Play nicely" requesting to rephrase as she could simply watch on.

Refraining from disrespecting as she elaborated "Agree to disagree. Yesterday you refuse; what has changed today?" it was a needed and understandable ask that both Emmeral and Andarna hung on interest to his response. Formalities were given as any other she-wolf in the presence of an Alpha or King would, she was remaining respectful.

As if in need to feel his words, Emmeral reached out through the bond, testing it ever so slightly as she was very much an actions speaks louder than words and his actions through the bond spoke volumes compared to his words.

Unknowingly drawn towards the blue design that represented more than its beautifully intricate formation. Under his gaze she could feel a rising heat as he took her in, sucking in a breath as she could feel the sieging trail of his gaze upon her figure. Refusal to allow linger as her gaze glanced towards Aeris whom remained by the door, patient before focus returned to his words, acknowledged to visiting Eirik within the hour and inviting her to breakfast in the meantime.

Her stomach churned in giving away her need for sustenance, a few seconds in passing before she caved and accepted his invite to join him for breakfast "I'd be delighted, My King" her gaze meeting his in knowing he was going to address being mates again but she would not budge.

As accepting would only drawn pain to them both and she could not handle a teasing hope. It was better to understand where they stood with one another than complicate it further than it was.

The need to get off her feet as she had been standing longer than she had since her battle. Lowering to meet the soft leather of the couch draped in a thin fur. The action feeling unnatural as their bond twisted in woven tethering, a deep-set burn through her burns pulling her in his direction, her head swimming in his scent the more it filled her room "May we eat in here... and open a window" her gaze unable to meet Thorian's as she flustered under the bond, kind eyes addressing towards Aeris with the windows.

[Thorian Thalric]

Thorian let the weight of her words settle between them. Agree to disagree. Yesterday you refused; what has changed today?

A fair question. One he wasn’t entirely sure he had an answer for.

He had resisted this from the very moment he laid eyes on her, from the second that undeniable bond had snapped into place. The logical part of him still resisted, still clawed for control. He had lived his life in service to his people, to his kingdom. A mate had never factored into that path... never had he wanted it to. And yet, despite his rejection, despite every reason to deny it… here he was. Speaking to her. Seeking her out. Allowing himself to be drawn to her, no matter how much he wanted to fight it.

Thorian exhaled sharply, his gaze steady as he met hers. “You are right. I did refuse.” He paused, jaw tensing before he forced himself to continue. “And a part of me still does. Not because I do not feel the bond, but because I was never prepared for this.” His voice was even, but there was no mistaking the weight behind his words. “A mate was not something I wanted. Not something I ever thought I needed.”

Draco huffed at the back of his mind, displeased, but Thorian ignored him for now.

His fingers curled into a loose fist at his side, a silent outlet for the frustration coiling in his chest. He had spent years forging himself into what his people required of him... a leader, a warrior, a King. A mate? That had never been part of his plan. And yet…

He let out a slow breath, his voice quieter when he spoke again. “But I will not keep questioning what Lunara has given me. Even if I do not understand it.” His words came out rough, as if dragged from the depths of him, but they were honest. “My wolf... Draco... seems to think this bond is what we both need.” His lip curled slightly, not quite a smirk, but something close. “It is difficult to argue with him when he is relentless.”

Draco rumbled approvingly, pleased with the admittance, but Thorian wasn’t ready to acknowledge it further.

As if testing his words, something brushed against him... not physically, but through the bond. A subtle presence, hesitant yet seeking, like fingertips ghosting over the edges of his consciousness. Thorian stiffened. It was her. Emmeral.

His breath slowed, a strange awareness settling over him as he felt the way she reached for him—not demanding, not intruding, but simply reaching. As if needing to feel what could not be spoken aloud. The connection between them burned steady, alive, responding to her touch in ways he could not explain.

For a moment, he almost resisted.

And yet… before he could think better of it, before he could retreat behind the walls he had built for years, his own instincts betrayed him. He reached back. It was brief, fleeting... but undeniable. A pulse of acknowledgment, steady and firm. Not a surrender, but not a denial either.

Draco stirred, pleased. “Good,” his wolf rumbled. “Do you feel it now? How natural this is?”

Thorian said nothing.

When she requested to eat in her room, he gave a curt nod, turning his head toward Aeris. “Have our breakfast brought up here,” he instructed.

“Yes, My King.” Aeris dipped her head in acknowledgment before stepping away to open the windows as Emmeral requested. A crisp breeze drifted into the room, carrying with it the scent of pine and frost. Thorian barely noticed. His attention remained on the woman before him.

My King. She had said it again.

His jaw flexed, but he held his tongue. Why does she insist on using titles? The bond that tied them together should have stripped away such formalities, and yet she clung to them, as if keeping him at arm’s length. Perhaps she meant to. Perhaps she still held doubts, just as he did.

Draco stirred restlessly, his voice brushing against Thorian’s mind. “Enough of this. Speak with her. Truly speak with her.”

Thorian did not reply.

He studied her in silence, taking in the way the soft light cast shadows across her features, how the silk of her gown pooled around her as she settled onto the couch. The bond burned steadily between them, not weakening, not fading. It had no intention of relenting.

Thorian exhaled sharply, lowering his head slightly before finally speaking. “Draco has been… pressing me.” His voice was measured, careful. “He wants to meet your wolf.”

The words left him with difficulty, and he was not proud of how much effort it took to say them aloud. Because he knew what would happen if he let Draco too close.

His wolf was stronger than him in this. Unwavering. Unquestioning. And if Thorian allowed it... if he let Draco rise to the surface, even for a moment... there would be no more running from this.

There would be no more denying what they were.  And that? That was a battle Thorian was not certain he was ready to lose.

[Emmeral Langley]

Neither had expected to stand before their fated. A partnership that both met with differences.

Emmeral had grown to see a greater unity within packs, a strength no chosen could fill.

Thorian's measured distance established his exposure of how he saw a bond. A limitation. A weakness. A liability. Maybe even pain to distance himself of but he decided to see only the cons. Despite his layers upon layers of hard exterior, the bond revealed more than he'd of liked, he was scared. To relinquish control and allow another in a way that was deeper than the surface.

Her gaze unwavered under his as he spoke, a thought amused of this being the longest he'd held her gaze much less a conversation. Feeling his words as he admitted, unable to move past 'A mate was not something I wanted. Not something I ever thought I needed.'

Andarna's confidence as she chimed in "See, he needs us"

Emmeral had met rulers like him, whose stubbornness, whose pride, favoring control over every aspect was too strong over happiness, to see another as equal "He has proven thus far he needs control above all"

Andarna merely remained dismissive as Thorian's subjective ways was merely his upbringing "Lunara blessed you both, she is never wrong"

"Our mate should need to be something to us. An equal. A strength" feeling within their connectiveness Emmeral knew she was not undeserving, the infuriation between the bond and Thorian were weighting upon her mind and body.

"No one is invincible. Not even a King" she stated, not in harshness but in a softened understanding as a fellow warrior, the complications of having his people. She wanted to believe he'd see where they led.

Notion towards his wolf's name had Andarna giddy within, almost prance along her mine "Draco"

Matching his soft expression with a kindhearted smile towards his counter's relentless "Well, Andarna is just as stubborn but she is my reasoning."

Andarna prideful within her mind, pleased. A mental roll to Emmeral's thoughts.

Watchful eyes in simple silence as the bond for once was not as restricted, opened with the expectation of pushing back a slight flex to Emmeral's jaw almost stated a sense of relief, an inhale of breath that she hadn't realized she had stilled her breathing in anticipation before the familiar returned its coil around them.

Andarna's energy contained but Emmy could feel the longing that was wishful as Andara pressed against her mind, sinking her back severing the connection.

An apologetic gaze towards Aeris having offered and passed some time prior for breakfast, feeling Thorian wouldn't give her leeway and be more insistent for her to eat something. Having thought about it, she hadn't eaten since the festivities within her pack.

Seeing Thorian's jaw flex as she used his correct title, much as she would as Delta to her pack... Besides Gideon and Beatrix in private - She was respectful among presence. Her own title still foreign to herself as Luna. Thankful he did not press to her calling him Thorian as as much as he kept her distant, she needed to as well. Feeling as though if she kept him at arm's length the rejection wouldn't hurt as much.

"His name would not make him bite" Andarna's hopefulness pressing against Emmeral's mind.

"I have met him with openness, until he sees me as equal, I must" She could feel her wolf mentally sigh but did not press further.

His eyes burned into her, turned every part of her into liquid, her heartrate giving away her fluster but she appeared strong as relief of the opened windows filtered in pine and oak, his scent remained to burn within her nostrils and almost sheath over her skin invisibly.

Emmeral finding his next words to be hard to refrain for physically adjusting her seating upon the couch, feeling Andarna pressing against her, his words dangerous "That cannot happen, unless the seriousness of our fated matching is discussed. I will not force you to accept but I will equally decide moving forward as this is bigger than either of us. So we must meet it with all the facts before simple human reactions decide for us."

Their counterparts natural representational beings of Lunara, just as their humans had their customs and traditions, as did their wolves. Once Andarna and Draco were freed, their was no turning back.

[Thorian Thalric]

For a moment, Thorian said nothing as he moved over the the chair across from her and sat down. 

He sat with her words, absorbing them, feeling the weight behind them as they settled into the silence between them. She was not wrong in her assessment of him. He had spent years cultivating control, wielding it like a blade, and now she stood before him... challenging that control in ways he had never allowed before.

No one is invincible. Not even a King.

Draco let out a pleased rumble, his approval a steady undercurrent within his mind. “She sees through you,” his wolf mused, satisfaction curling in his voice. “Sees what you fight to deny.”

Thorian exhaled sharply through his nose, unwilling to dignify that with a response. His gaze remained on Emmeral, steady, unreadable. Her words lingered, pressing against the barriers he still held firm, testing them, challenging them.

And then there was that name... Draco.

It had slipped from her lips with ease, carrying no hesitation, no formality. A name meant to bridge the gap between them, and yet, in the same breath, she reaffirmed her distance.

His gaze flickered briefly to her jaw, the faintest tell of tension as she held herself firm. He recognized the restraint, the deliberate decision to keep him at arm’s length. It was something he understood far too well.

Because if they did not allow themselves to hope, there would be no pain when it was taken away. The realization settled into him with an almost bitter amusement. So, we are not so different after all.

His lips parted, but before he could speak, Aeris returned, pushing a breakfast cart into the room with practiced efficiency. The scent of fresh bread, spiced meats, and brewed tea filled the space, mingling with the crisp morning air.

Thorian gestured toward the open doors leading to the balcony. “Set it up outside.”

“Yes, My King,” Aeris responded with a respectful nod before moving to arrange the meal.

His attention returned to Emmeral. “Is that acceptable to you?” The question was not spoken as a mere formality—he was offering her the choice.

Thorian leaned back slightly, his gaze narrowing as he regarded her. “I understand why you are hesitant about Draco meeting your wolf,” he admitted, voice even, measured. “Because I feel the same way.”

The words were a rare offering, stripped of pretense.

Draco scoffed. “You feel it, but you fight it,” he chided. “You think too much, hesitate too much. We must act.”

Thorian ignored him.

“This is not easy for me,” he continued, his expression unreadable, but his voice carried a weight that could not be dismissed. “I have spent my life deciding my own path. To suddenly have fate intervene, to have my course rewritten…” His fingers curled against the armrest of the chair, tightening briefly before he forced himself to relax. “It is not something I can accept lightly.”

Draco huffed. “It is not something you should accept lightly. It is something you should embrace.”

He does not understand. Not fully. Draco was a creature of instinct, of purpose. He felt the bond, he knew what it meant, and to him, that was enough. Thorian could not say the same. But… he was trying.

And for now, that would have to be enough.

He studied Emmeral for a moment longer before speaking again. “I will not force you to accept this any more than I will force myself. But I will not deny what is in front of me either.” His voice dipped slightly, something unreadable flashing behind his eyes. “I am willing to try.”

Draco stirred, sensing the shift. “Then show her,” his wolf urged. “Words will not be enough. She has seen hesitation... now, she must see action.”

Thorian exhaled slowly. He was right.

His gaze did not waver. “You said this is bigger than either of us,” he acknowledged. “You are right. And if we are to meet it with all the facts, then I will give you what you need.” He let the words settle before adding, “But I ask the same of you.”

His meaning was clear.

She expected proof that he was taking this seriously. That he would not simply say the words and let them become empty.

Very well. But he would require the same in return.