What was he to do?Did he have any tasks?Was he allowed to leave the room?Allowed to put the TV on?
He undid his braids, brushed his hair, and rebraided it with the rings Jiprix had given him.He wasn't sure he wanted to display them, but no one other than him would know they were payment for giving himself to a shifter.
When the door opened, he jumped to his feet and fastened his gaze on the floor.The footsteps faltered."What are you doing?"Flint sounded confused.
Ezra didn't reply, and Flint took a step closer, moving slowly.
"What...eh...what's your name?"Ezra chanced a glance and was met with wide eyes.
"Rourke Flint of the Flint Pack.What's your name?"
"Ezra Inaxx Kuxium Enizax."Ezra went back to studying the floor.
"Is Enizax a clan name?Shixyll is also named Enizax, right?"
"No, there are no clan names.Enizax is a family name."
Rourke was quiet for a few seconds."You and Shixyll are related?"
Ezra nodded.
"Huh.What made you volunteer to be my mate?"
Ezra looked into Rourke's eyes before he could stop himself.
Rourke growled, and Ezra stumbled backward.
"You didn't volunteer, did you?Fuck."He turned around and left the room.Ezra stared at the door left slightly ajar.What was he to do now?
Minutes went by, several if Ezra was to guess, then the huge man pushed the door open and stepped inside."Hello again."
Ezra dipped his head.Was he to be punished now?Should he have said he volunteered to be Rourke's mate?He hadn't said he didn't, but he'd read it in his expressions somehow.Why had Shixyll made him believe he'd volunteered?To humiliate him further?Being ordered to mate with a man for the clan's sake was one thing, but to do it of his own free will...Was it what everyone here believed?That he had wanted Rourke to do what he had done?Heat overtook his cheeks again.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded.
"Do you find the floor interesting?"
Was he making fun of him or was he tricking him into looking at him so he could punish him for being rude?"Eh..."
"So Rourke is a little upset about you being here against your will.He can't let you go now.The deal was a volunteer mate to strengthen the relationship.Not whatever this is."
Ezra blinked at the floor.Would it mean they'd attack the clan?"No one volunteered."Or he assumed no one had since he'd been told he'd been chosen.
The man sighed, then silence stretched."What do the braids mean?"
Ezra's hand flew to his two braids on the side of his head."The more braids, the more you've proven yourself to the clan."
"Hmm.And the things in the braids?"
"Gifts, a sign of respect."And Ezra had next to no braids and few cuffs and rings.
"Okay."There was a tapping sound, and Ezra raised his head enough to see the man drum a fingertip on the kitchen table.
"You need to relax, man.I get nervous with this..."He gestured at Ezra."Tenseness."
Ezra nodded, but he couldn't get his shoulders to drop.He'd never set foot back home again.He'd live with monsters."What's your name?"
