I looked over my shoulder at Rowan. “A new oath.”
“When the oath taker died, while the first oath can not be overridden, a new oath can be done. Their priorities shift, and the new oath takes precedence.”
I nodded once and turned back to the man. “Do you want to take a new oath, Senith?”
He looked up in surprise. “What?”
I crouched so I could look him in the eye. “Do you want to take a new oath?”
“I don’t…know.” His eyebrows furrowed. “No one ever asks us if we want to take a new oath.”
“Well, I will never force someone to take a new oath. You have options.”
“Not really.” Silas looked down. “Once they are removed from the pack structure, they can’t ever reenter it.” Silas looked up, and I could see the regret in his eyes. “They would be rankless wolves with immense power. An Alpha with no one who can control them because they don’t follow commands.” I stood and wiped my hands together. I needed to check his words, so I decided to put them to the test.
I smirked as I unleashed my aura. It flowed out of me in a wave, and I felt it hit each wolf. “Bow.” Every person around me bowed at their waist. All except my father and Rowan, but I could see the strain on my dad’s face trying to resist the urge.
“Holy Goddess,” Ronnie called out. “I knew you were strong, lovebug, but I haven’t felt your full power since you were a kid.” He tried to look at my face. But the bow was interfering. “Can you pull it back?”
Silas grunted. “I was wrong.”
I pulled back my power with a snort. Everyone stood back up, while a few wiped sweat from their bow. Toya smirked and wrapped her arm around mine. “I don’t think having ranked wolves outside the power structure will matter with the King and Queen.”
I looked at my friend with a smirk. I turned back to the wolf on his knees. “You have options, Senith. But you have to remember that you will be almost unranked in the royal pack. You will have to take orders like everyone else, as just another pack member. Or you can remain a guard and take the oath from someone.” I dropped back down to look him in the eye, but the man refused to unbow his head. I lifted his chin with my pointer finger. “It will be your choice.”
“Y-.” He choked on the word, so he cleared his throat and tried again. “I want to take the oath from you.”
I nodded once. “Let us get through everyone, and I will figure out this oath thing, and we can do it later.” I stood and offered a hand. “Okay?”
He stared up at me for a second before his trembling hand reached for mine. “Of course, my Queen.” I jolted at his words, and I turned to Rowan, who was already smiling.
“Surprised?” His voice was full of mirth as I stared at him. I just nodded. “You are the Queen.”
My mouth flopped open, and I sat there like a fish out of water. “But I haven’t been sworn in yet.”
Rowan threw his head back and laughed. “I think we have had more important things to worry about than your coronation.” He leaned over and kissed me. “Let’s finish here, and then we can work on our next steps.”
I nodded and turned back to Senith. I pulled him to his feet and motioned for him to step to the side. I called up the next person and then the next, and they followed Senith’s decision. “Are you all sure?” I looked at the six men standing next to me now.
Senith smiled. “You said it was our choice, and yet you seem to be trying to talk us out of it.”
I felt heat rush to my cheeks. “Fine.” I turned back to the remaining men, and we got to the group of men under Silas. I was going to call Sequan up, but Toya’s father and mother walked out of the trees.
“I heard my daughter has found her mate.” Toya’s father walked over with a smile on his face. “Who is the lucky man?”
“Baba.” Toya let go of my arm and jogged over to her parents. “I thought you were with Tiven.”
Her dad smiled at her and patted her head. “And we were. But as soon as he heard your squeal down the mind-link, he sent us to find you.”
Her mother kissed her cheek. “Your brother is an Alpha, and is healing well. But this is important.” She turned to the men still in chains. “He’s…” Toya’s mother furrowed her brow. “Which one is he?”
Toya turned back to me with a plea on her face. I stepped away from the men and walked over to her side. “Alpha, Luna.” I bowed my head, but I heard a gasp, and arms wrapped around my shoulders.
“My Queen.” Toya’s mother wrapped me in a hug. “Please do not bow to us. We are unworthy.”
I pulled back with a grin. “You are Toya’s mother and father. You raised one of the people I love most in this world. That alone earns you my respect.” I stepped back and bowed again to them both. “Thank you for helping my pack when I couldn’t.”
My father walked over and patted Toya’s father’s shoulder. “My daughter, Amy Maclean. This is Alpha Roderick, and Luna Tova. Now you have officially been introduced.”
