He leaves me to

‘celebrate’ 

his legitimate claim to succession 

Mated 

Maybe a child to come

He truly does have much to celebrate 

They leave with him

Those beasts

all of them

Following their young alpha candidate after he showed his prowess 

Elu and the females with similar markings stay 

The eldest smiles at me 

Her fang pressing into her lip belying her worries

'It’s over, child.'

For now. 

None respond but Elu cradles me to his chest 

No.

I’ll stain you. 

Hands squeeze me closer

with how gentle the pads of his fingers are

It’s like he doesn’t even have nails

This time my wounds don’t heal as fast 

I’m too tired

Too beaten to muster the energy 

They clean me as my grandmother had

Feather touches

Quick and to the point 

The only time they paused was at my neck

I do use all a favor and press the anointed oil into it 

The salt within scarring it before it could begin to fade 

They dress me in the hand stitched sheer linen 

Lead me to a blue rose filled bed

But it’s worthless 

I knew he won’t return 

He’s done his obligation 

Since he wants to return to the Old

He’ll likely only visit every three days until he 

Steals what little else I had called my own 

The muset wolves leave 

Elu stands vigil 

Guards the door all night long

Maybe that’s why I sleep