Chapter 88: Ryn
"Hi. I am here for you."
Emira looked up at the girl who had just stepped into the way and blinked at her happy smiling face. She was here for her? Or for the Great Witch. She looked at the girl and then at the great witch... well if she was here for the great witch, then the old woman was definitely not happy to see her.
The girl smiled, dipped her head politely toward the Witch before turning to Emira. "Miss Emira? I’m here for you. His Highness asked me to give you a quick tour and introduce you to everyone."
Emira felt her shoulders loosen with relief. Yes! The girl was here for her. Which meant she could escape the sudden inquisition that the witch had thrust upon her. She nodded eagerly towards her rescuer, who turned to the older woman and said, "If you don’t mind, Great Witch, I’ll steal her away... I dare not delay the Prince’s orders."
The great witch wanted to protest and say she had not yet received any answers but she knew that asking was just for the sake of politeness. If His Highness had ordered something, she could not stop it.
So, she just nodded at the girl and then turned to Emira and said softly," I’ll see you soon." before walking away.
Emira watched her leave with apprehension. Why did that sound like a threat?
The girl waited until the Great Witch’s robes disappeared around the corner before turning back with a grin that made her whole face light up. "Finally! I thought she’d never let you go."
She stuck out her hand and even before Emira could shake it, she caught hers and wound it around her arm, as if they were best of friends. "I’m Ryn. I am an Omega here, I tend to the Pack lands and so, I have been designated as your guide for today. Or at least that is what I thought. But after the curiosity that I just saw in the great witch for you, I think I might have been chosen because I’d rather talk about myself than question you. So, what is your name?"
Emira hesitated for a second and as she let the girl drag her along, she answered, "Emira."
Ryn grinned at that and said," Actually I knew it already. Pretty name. And you are already quite famous. New member always are. But you’ve been especially brought back by the princes. Added to that, you ended up saving the pack’s youngest and are staying with..."
As if biting off the words that had been about to slip out of her mouth, Ryn continued, "Well, come on. If we are here any longer, someone else will swoop in and try to question you again. Trust me — once you’re the new face, everyone suddenly wants to know everything. Though I am quite shocked the Great witch wanted to question you. That woman does not even deign to come to the pack unless especially invited. And even then pretends to be doing us a great favour."
Emira, who had been worried about this new person almost laughed at her. The girl was really right. She did not subject her to any probing and simply seemed to talk about the random things.
"So. Since I’m officially responsible for showing you around, you get to pick. Where do you want to see first? Usually, I take new members to the housing quarter, but I heard you’re not staying there."
Emira nodded. Yep. She was to be staying with Prince Kael... She frowned for a moment when she realised that the Omega had sidestepped talking about Prince Kael and continued,
They passed under an archway that opened into a path lined with tall pines. Beyond it, Emira could see rooftops and smoke curling up from chimneys so calm that it almost felt like something out of a movie.
"So here’s the deal. We can go toward the market and enjoy some good food, noise, and a lot of curious eyes. Or we can head to the training fields. You’ll get to see the warriors- and if you’re into watching big wolves throw each other around, it’s not bad entertainment."
She grinned, obviously teasing. "Or, if you’d rather keep it quiet, I can show you the Omega quarters anyway. Even if you’re not staying, it’s nice to know where everyone hangs out. Makes you less of a mystery."
Emira thought for a moment, unsure which path would be safest. The idea of stepping into a crowd where everyone might stare at her made her stomach twist. As for the training fields, she wanted to go but not to watch the other werewolves. She was interested in how they trained and when she would be able to become a part of it.
So, she took a deep breath and said directly, "The training grounds."
Ryn’s brows shot up, and she immediately tilted her head, eyes glinting with curiosity.
Seeing the gleam in her eyes, Emira realized what she had said about watching werewolves and hurriedly explained, "I mean. I just... want to see how everyone trains. I’d like to know how things work here, what’s expected. Not... you know... to watch for fun."
Ryn stopped walking for a second and gave her the kind of look that said she didn’t believe a word. Then a slow, mischievous smile curled across her face as she nodded, "Uh-huh. Sure you do."
Emira opened her mouth to explain again but the girl did not give her a chance, letting out a low squeal," I just knew it. You would be my kind of girl. Training grounds it is. Let’s go."
Realizing that there was no point explaining, because Ryn had already decided for her, she just sighed softly and let Ryn keep tugging her along.
As they continued to talk and Ryn continued to chat about random things, Emira could not help but admire the girl. So, this was what it meant to be free in a pack. Ryn was an Omega, an unmated one but so happy. She was innocent, unaware of all the hardships and just that one thing was another proof that Prince Zen had not lied to her about being treated equally.
Other than having their homes further away from the others, because of their susceptibility to their ’heat’, the Omegas were not discriminated against, at all.