“I forgive you, but under one single promise.”
The shifter grit his teeth, eyes on the dirt in front of him.
“Name it.”
“You pledge yourself to protect Maggie and the other omegas. You swear that no harm will befall them so long as you breathe, and I will grant you your life. My mate will see to it if you agree to the protection and care of the Moonwater omegas.”
Rork jerked his head in acknowledgement, his eyes still cast downward in submission.
“I swear it.”
“Then take your life and leave.”
No sooner had Cora uttered the words than Zehr let the alpha go with a grunt.
“A broken promise to my mate is a broken promise to me,” Zehr told Rork. “If I find out that you have failed, there will be consequences.” He stepped in front of the shifter as he spoke, green-amber eyes fixed on him. Then he turned to Cora, a low growl rumbling in his chest as his eyes swept over her.
“Are you well?”
“Now that you’re here.” Cora gave him a watery smile through her bruised lips and Zehr felt his chest tighten.
He slipped a hand behind her neck and squeezed. The rough drag of his fingers at her neck calmed her and she let out a sigh, leaning into the scrape of her alpha’s nails against her skin, though her pleasure at his nearness was short-lived. The metallic smell of agitation rolled off of him in a dizzying wave.
He was upset.
“What’s wrong?” Cora stepped into the protective bulk of Zehr’s body, which helped the alpha relax. Some. He said nothing but turned to pin with his eyes the pair of alphas who hadn’t yet left. They stood some distance away, gaping at the show of affection, but they were still too close.
So he bared his teeth at them and watched with satisfaction as the two came to their senses and scrambled away in a tangle of clumsy limbs and downcast eyes. He turned to her, pulling her close, but withdrew with a jerk when he caught wind of the other alpha’s smell.
“I swear I hope he breaks his promise so that I can make him pay for this,” Zehr growled, eyes glinting as he pressed his lips to her bond bite.
The other alpha had touched her there, and Zehr threw himself into removing the offending scent with a single-minded determination.
Cora sighed with pleasure as her mate kissed her neck, lips and tongue moving over her bond bite, hands delicately feeling her out for injuries and wiping dust and blood from her face. When he was satisfied that she was no worse besides her busted lip he rumbled contentedly.
At the sound, Cora had to fight back a moan of pleasure. How could she want him again so quickly?
Zehr learned close, picking up on the change in her smell, and gave her a smirk.
“Soon.”
Cora blushed and looked down at the bag she still clutched as her alpha smirked. It was going to be a pleasure to thoroughly debauch his omega, but now was not the time for that.
Now there were different matters at hand, matters of pack and honoring the old ways. The time for his coronation was near and he could only go forward with his mate at his side. Zehr took Cora’s hand, squeezing it gently as he spoke.
“I swear to protect you and care for you always. Will you come with me as my omega, my true mate, to the coronation, and take your place by my side in the Fireheart Clan?”
Cora raised her eyes to his. He was the most powerful alpha she had ever known, and with blood on her lips and magic alive in her heart she gave him her answer.
“I will.”
It was the easiest thing she had ever had to say.
