Iron Heart

Chapter 1 - Cersy,

    I watched his golden eyes as he thought it over, the eyes of demons. But now that I’ve finally seen a pair, I couldn’t help but think they were beautiful. And what a pair it was for him to be my mate, the Demon Eyed and Haired. Together we would just be the Demon Marked. I could like that.     But all that really meant was that we were both elementally gifted, that we had a stronger spiritual connection. Nothing more. A piece from our old lineage, of the Werewolf's original home. But we all knew going back 'home' wasn't possible. Anira liked to remind me of that whenever I got too mopy.

    And besides that, I should be more concerned with what he was going to say, he had a very pretty face. Not the ruggedly handsome men and women I had been with in the past, but, pretty. And I realized that I liked that, his honor was held in the hair braided down his back, I suppose so he could keep his clean shave.

    He wore rather plain clothes for an Alpha, especially for one as well off as the Paleclaws supposedly were. I always heard rumors of human magics being used in this pack, and that they embarrassed such luxuries. Something unheard of in Ironfang. We had stopped working with humans a long time ago, generations ago in fact.

    But he was tall for most males, and lean, though he certainly didn't appear weak. Just, built differently in the ways I was used to, and ultimately I think I liked that about him. The thought of holding him in my arms was very pleasing to me. Protecting my mate.

    The more I noted his appearance, the more I realized how badly I wanted him to accept me, I had my Bird-dogs hiding in the trees as we spoke, ready to come to my aide if things didn’t go as planned. But I really didn’t want to use them, and that was a first. I and Anira alike usually craved conflicts, any chance to bash heads and gut stomaches was a welcome one in our trials so far.

    It made me a little nervous, I had a feeling this mate bond would force me to grow in ways I never thought I would have to, and that scared me a little. And I certainly was never scared...

    “And what are your conditions Ironflayer, what are the strings attached to this very pretty package you're offering.” He leaned forward as he spoke, trying to look at me better I suppose.

    Pretty package? What was he drinking? Making war prisoners pack members wasn't really considered to be a 'pretty package'. More like, a package kicked a couple of times, in a dirty puddle that you sigh at and go 'well, I guess I could'. I could hear Anira cackling in my head at the commentary.

    “I would like my Kin to keep dual fealty, not to be forced away from me, if another commander is to lead them I’d like to teach them my commands. As to not undo their training.”

    The blonde stiffened when I spoke of dual fealty, his lip curled and I swear he may have started growling though lowly, “ You are asking for your kin to keep equal loyalty to you and their new Alpha? Not even Betas have dual fealty like that.” They didn't? In Ironfang it was commonplace for specialized teams to give a secondary oath to their Beta so that there was no need to question orders that would usually need the Alpha's approval. It gave way more wiggle room, then again, I didn't recall Paleclaw having such units.

    Raven held up a hand to the blonde, “ I don’t believe she said equal, merely dual, saying you’d like to keep their command. Correct?”

    He looked at me then, and I nodded my head, it was the same deal I had made with Cain, though he didn’t understand what I meant like Raven was. Cain was too stupid to realize what the dual fealty really gave me in that pack. For example, he was now down a little less than half his fighting force.

    “I can agree to that, anything else?” He surprised me more and more, I was startled he would give me anything else. I genuinely thought the fealty was already pushing his buttons, but he looked ready to give me whatever I asked for. This mate bond was some real s**t.

    “I would like to be sure that as pack members, my Kin have the rights of Free Wolves in your pack.”

    “All Wolves in my pack are Free Wolves, anything else?” I was pleasantly surprised by that, the humans in Wolves tend to put hierarchy in Wolf's Rights, where they never should be.

I bowed my head, “Then I would be honoured to have you as our Alpha, Raven. My only other request is a shelter for our heads in case of a storm.”

His palm was warm on my head, “ Then I, Alpha Andre Ravenstare Krialsi, accept Cersy Ironflayer Gythor and her Kinship into Paleclaw. Welcome, Fresh Blood.”

Fresh blood… hadn’t been referred to like that before. It’s only reserved for new bloodlines in a pack, or renewed bloodlines if for whatever reason an old one resurfaced. I had been born into Ironfang.

“My Kin and I are honored to be accepted, Alpha Andre,” I responded, and the flood of connection between myself and the other members was startling.

I had gotten used to speaking in the minds of my warriors, but the whole pack felt open and connected.

“Free our Fresh Bloods, and have them all meet me in the meeting room, Cersy please do stay with me as we walk.” He gestured to the blonde, “That is Hawks, he will share his full name on his own time,” he gestured to the male behind me freeing my hands, “And that is Brentol Varalsi, but he prefers Breny.”

“Alpha,” I rubbed my wrists as I rose, for show mostly, “I have Birds in the woods that need to be called. They are also my Kin.”

“Very well,” He looked at Hawks, and Hawks seemed to understand what he meant because both he and Breny left ahead of us.

I mind-linked all my warriors to let them know what was going on, I had to stifle a laugh at the various responses I recieved. But everyone seemed relatively happy the plan went well, even though it meant they didn't get to fight anyone.