At the face of such a sweet smile, Shinro could only shake his head in resignation. "Sometimes, I really can't figure you out. No, scratch that. I really can't figure you out at all."
Taking off his gloves, he continued. "You will have to take care of yourself. I won't be here to tend to your wounds next week…" He paused and looked straight at Diana. "I will be taking back the Black Ridge Pack. The Werewolf Committee finished their review and with the pieces of evidence I presented, it was a sure win. Now, it is time to take back what was stolen from me—my honor and my innocence."
"Good for you."
"That's it? After the help you had given me, that's the best you can come up with?"
"Uhm… I am glad for you? Justice has prevailed, yey?"
Shinro sported a face as if he did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I really can't figure you out."
Diana grinned at Shinro. She knew fully well what he wanted to convey. "You want me to ask something of you as repayment. I get it. If I tell you, I want you to be mine. Will you dedicate yourself to me?"
"I was waiting for you to say that, Benefactor." Shinro stood abruptly, making Diana raise her brows.
Diana watched as Shinro knelt before her. "Hey, I did not say you kneel. You are an alpha and I am an—" She was about to pull him up when his next words cut her off and caught her off guard.
"Accept my oath, my life, and my choice to serve you and honor you until I draw the last of my breath. I, Shinro Ridge, will accompany Diana Ritchell in tranquil rivers and storm's end, in every allegiance earned and betrayal sowed, in victory and defeat, and in life and death."
A gasp escaped from her lips. The Oath of Faith was not a light promise. Next to the mate bond, the strongest connection in the Werewolf Community was the Oath of Faith. In the history of werewolves, only great alphas received this kind of oath. And as time passed, people grew greedy and they started to betray each other for more power—the existence of the Oath of Faith was lost forever… until today.
Whoever crossed the Oath of Faith would suffer pain worse than death. This was the reason why werewolves did not often use this, for the people were ever-changing. To swear an Oath of Faith—especially to someone as ambiguous as her—was both stupid and valiant.
For Diana, the only way she could keep such valiance was to keep Shinro's honor—a fate much different than his original future when he was reduced to the alpha of the rogues.
Ever so slowly, Diana inched her bandaged right hand toward Shinro. "I accept your oath with every breath and blood in me. Until the sun sets to the east and the moon splits into two, I, Diana Ritchell, will keep a space for Shinro Ridge in my first line of allegiance. May faith binds our fate."
Accepting Diana's hand and kissing the back of her palm before placing it on his forehead, he whispered. "May faith binds our fate."
STANDING BEHIND THE BUSHES, A BLINDSPOT FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE PACK house, Diana watched as the people of the Blood Claws Pack bid their final farewell to Shinro Ridge, Alpha of the Black Ridge Pack.
The moment Shinro turned around to enter the car, he smiled in her direction for a fleeting moment—it was so quick that no one noticed aside from Alpha Dylan.
On instinct, Alpha Dylan looked at the bushes but found nothing.
Unbeknownst to him, Diana had already left the area with her cleaning tools in her hands.
She head straight to the top floor of the pack house while everyone was still enjoying their lunch in the kitchen. This was the reason why Sally punished her the other day. It was because Alpha Dylan designated her in the top floor's comfort room. In fact, she was not only assigned to the comfort room but the entire floor.
Diana did not know what to make of this change. Since it did not affect her plans and she could gain some chance for more information, she had no qualms but to accept Sally's jealousy.
Diana immediately started with the comfort room with the hope that Alpha Dylan and his strategist, Beta Seymor, would come back and exchange a few words in the office—this way, Diana could hear something new, and maybe, something useful.
Sally scent's wafted inside the comfort room.
Splash!
The basin beside Diana was kicked out by the newly arrived 'boss'. Diana hurriedly stood and bowed at Sally. "W-What brought you here, Madam Sally?"
'You are that jealous, huh?' Diana mocked at the back of her mind while stopping herself to show any hint of emotion rather than cowardice.
Slap!
A crimson hue appeared on Diana's right cheek.
"Did I tell you to speak?" Sally crossed her arms, scoffed, and poked Diana's head repeatedly. "You are so eager to impress Alpha that is why you are so early, huh? Huh?"
With her hair disheveled to the point that it almost covered her entire face, Diana whispered. "I can go back, Madam Sally. But I can't promise that I won't meet them in the hallway. By now, I think they are done with their lunch."
Diana picked up her cleaning tools and head straight to the door with her head hanging low.
Realizing the implications of Diana's action, Sally immediately pulled Diana by her wrist. Her adrenaline pumped her strength, throwing Diana to the nearest open cubicle. With a loud thud, Diana slumped on the floor right after hitting her forehead on the tiled wall.
"Th-That is not my fault!" Sally stammered, pushing the blame on the groaning Diana. "It is your fault for pushing me to push you!"
'What? Are you crazily stupid?' Diana pondered after listening to Sally's nonsensical words. Inch by inch, Diana was losing her will to make Sally her people. Instead, Diana wanted to have Sally as a disposable puppet who would dance on her palm as she willed.
"What is this commotion all about?"