I was awoken the next morning by something smacking me in the face. I popped up out of bed and looked around, dazed and confused, until my eyes landed on Aislinn.
She was glaring at me, with hands on her hips and a shirt still in her grasp. I looked down to realize she had thrown a pair of black jeans at me.
"Uhh, good morning?" I sheepishly said to her. She huffed and threw the shirt at me, too.
"You have half an hour to get ready before you need to be in the throne room. King Ruben and the princes have been talking about your incident all morning. So hurry up." I grimaced at her harsh tone.
"Look, Aislinn.."
"Not right now, Indigo. I don't have the patience for you."
I paused for a moment before getting out of bed and heading to the shower. As I washed the remnants of last night away, anxiety settled like a boulder in my stomach.
Today, my fate with the DarkBlood pack could change.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hadn't realized just how much I'd enjoyed my time here. I didn't want to go back to being a nobody; the person who everyone in Moonlight pack could kick around and not even bat an eye. I turned off the shower and got out.
I dressed myself in the black jeans Aislinn had thrown at me, accompanied with an olive green v-neck sweater. I opted to pull my hair into a high, tight bun, and apply a little more makeup than usual. I needed to look like I took this seriously.
I ended with putting my mother's ring on my finger, adding a simple golden chain, and spritzing myself with jasmine smelling perfume. I was hoping the familiar smell would calm my nerves a little. It'd be almost like Artemis was here cheering me on. Aislinn knocked on the bathroom door.
"Are you ready?" She asked. I opened the door and nodded to her. Before she could leave the room, I put my hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Aislinn, just in case I don't get the chance to tell you later, I want to say I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I know you were just trying to be a good friend and look out for me. I took a risk that may end badly, but I want you to know how sorry I am." She looked back at me with tears in her eyes.
"I told you not to go. I don't want you to leave here. You're the first real friend I've had in...well, ever. As mad as I am at you, I'm really hoping King Ruben goes easy on you and let's you stay. Now let's go, it'd be really bad if we were to be late today." With that, she turned on her heel and began walking down the stairs.
I followed her with my head down. I guess I really hadn't thought of the reprocusscions my actions would have on the people around me. Shame weighed heavily on my shoulders as we walked down the long hallway to the throne room. She stopped suddenly outside of the door.
"Whatever happens, make sure you can stay," she whispered to me before walking in.
I waited.
I could hear voices beyond the door. It sounded like it was getting heated, but I couldn't make out any definitive words. Finally I heard King Ruben.
"You may enter, Indigo."
I straightened my shoulders and pushed the door open. I tried look confident, but I couldn't stop the shaking of my hands. I clenched my fists by my side and stopped just before the king's throne.
I scanned my surroundings. To my left, Valen and Von were huddled by their thrones, occasionally whispering to one another. On King Ruben's right, with her hand on his shoulder, was Queen Stella. She met my eyes and flashed me a small smile, but her expression was stiff. There really was no telling how this was going to play out. I took a deep breath. The room was silent for a few moments.
"Indigo, my dear, I assume you know why you're here," King Ruben said, while watching my every move.
"Yes, your majesty."
"Well, then I won't get into the nitty gritty. My sons here have been explaining to me what they believed happened last night. Care to elaborate?"
I wasn't sure what Von and Valen had told him, but I knew I needed to come clean. Not an ounce of what I told the king now could be false. My life depended on it.
"As I told them last night, I learned that they had done a perimeter run because of some wolves lingering too close to the border. I knew they couldn't get close enough to get a read on who they were, because their scent would give them away and it was too large of a risk for them. So I decided that, because I hadn't been initiated yet, I'd try and see if I could figure out who these wolves are."
I paused for a moment, before King Ruben gestured for me to go on.
"I waited in the shadows for a while, just watching. When the wolves finally did appear, there was no mistaking what pack they were from. Beta Alexander, his son Marc, and a few others from my former Moonlight pack were in that field last night searching for something."
"And what is it that they were searching for?" He questioned me.
"I'm not sure. It seemed like the Beta and his son were keeping watch while the others were sniffing out the grounds. I don't know what they want, but I do know that this is an usual move for the pack."
He cocked an eyebrow at me, silently urging me to continue.
"Usually, if they want something, they go about it the diplomatic way. Set up meetings, make peace, lots of paper work, etc," I explained. "But the fact that they're staying just far enough away to keep their scents masked and not coming to you directly leads me to believe it may have been a recon mission, just like I was doing last night." Again, the room was silent.
King Ruben raised his eyebrows at me again. I glanced at Valen and Von and saw them watching their father. Their poses were stiff, and their expressions tense.
"Young one, that's not all that happened. Tell me, what are these powers my sons speak of?" King Ruben asked. His face gave no hint of emotion.
I was startled for a moment. They really did tell him everything.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I could feel the wind roaring through me, like it was obeying my every command. I used it to drive off the wolves, and then immediately returned to the castle. I had intended to tell you all what happened today, but it didn't work out quite like that." Valen and Von both looked at me with guilt in their eyes.
"As I told them last night," I said while gesturing to the princes, "that was the first time I've ever done something like that. Strange things have happened around me in stressful situations and I realized it couldn't be a coincidence. So I decided to try and see what I could do. I do not know what else I am capable of, but I would like to learn. I mean no harm to the DarkBlood pack. My ties with Moonlight have been severed, and I only wish to protect and serve your pack. If you will have me."
I looked King Ruben directly in the eyes, before looking back down respectfully, to let him know I was telling the truth. He rubbed his chin for a moment, deciding. Finally, he spoke.
"I like you, Indigo. You're fierce and you're brave, two qualities we admire in this pack. I will allow you to stay. However, you will not be initiated until after the ball, and this incident will be brought up to the council. If they change their minds, you may have to start all over again to win their trust." I beamed at him.
"Also," he continued, "you will have someone with you at all times to keep an eye on you. Either Von, Valen, or Aislinn will always be by your side. I permit you to try and practice with your powers, but only in the night when no one can see you. I don't want the pack to know about this until we understand it some more. Is that understood?" I nodded my head.
"Yes, your majesty. Thank you for the second chance. I will not fail you again."
I bowed to him and turned to leave, Aislinn hot on my heels. As I left the throne room, relief flooded through my system and I had to clutch onto the wall to prevent my knees from going weak. Aislinn reached out to steady me.
"I'm so glad you get to stay," she said as she gave me a gentle hug. I gave her a weak smile in return.
"I am, too. I couldn't imagine leaving now." And it was true. I'd made my choice.
DarkBlood was where I wanted to call home.
Author's Note:
Was anyone else stressing out? I was. I wonder where she will go from here! And what about her powers? Do you think it'll be easy for her to learn about them? Does King Ruben's order seem fair? Let me know what you think!
Please vote!
Xoxo,
CrismynIris