A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

"Thank you, Miss Elora!" Emma chirped in response.

Elora petted the girl's head and chuckled, "Since we're family now, I'd prefer if you just called me Elora." Then she winked suggestively, "Although I also like Mommy as an option."

Emma flushed red at Elora's implication and stammered, "I- I'll stick with Elora for now. Maybe I'll call you that other thing one day, but for now… it may have been seven years, but I haven't had much chance to mourn my parents in that time."

"Of course, dear," Elora nodded understandingly. Then she shrunk down and went to sit on Erik's shoulder before continuing. "I'd never try to replace your late mother."

The funny thing was that she actually meant that. Truly, it was like a switch had been flipped now that Emma was placed in her family bracket.

After settling down, her lips formed into a teasing smirk. "By the way, how about you show our husband the mark that signifies your bond."

Seeing the confused look on Emma's face, Elora chuckled. "Take off your outfit, dear."

Emma blushed a little, but she didn't see much of a problem with it since everyone in this room had already seen her naked, let alone in her underwear. Still, she shot a quick look toward Erik, as she didn't want to get naked without his permission. Not even for Elora.

Sensing her feelings, Erik chuckled inwardly, although he certainly didn't mind her attitude. Still, he simply nodded with a warm smile.

Meanwhile, Emily felt a little uncomfortable. In fact, she felt like the odd one out in this group, since she was the only one who was not exactly a part of their weird little family.

Yet, she stayed out of it. She realized this relationship was what Emma wanted, and she could only support her little sister. Although she would naturally be keeping a close eye on them to ensure Emma wouldn't be mistreated.

As for the little sister in question, after getting permission, she quickly removed her maid dress and was astonished to find something akin to a tattoo on her lower body, just below her navel.

It looked like an elegantly drawn heart, with some embellishments on the side and a howling wolf's head in the middle.

Emma stretched out her hand and slowly caressed the mark with a face full of awe. Then, she turned towards Erik and Elora with an excited smile. "Is that…?"

At the same time, she also noticed the missing covenant mark on her hand. Clearly, one mark had replaced the other, and she was no longer beholden to the deal they made, making her a mostly free woman.

Mostly free because, well, she was married now.

Erik chuckled, and Elora giggled before they both nodded at her unspoken question. It was Elora who then said, "Yes, that's the mark symbolizing your connection to Master. It is proof of your marriage to him and your status as a part of our family. Do you like it? I designed it myself."

Emma nodded excitedly, "I love it!" she squirmed a little and turned to Erik. "It makes me feel like you've truly marked me as yours, Sir. I'll treasure it, just like I'll treasure you and our… marriage." she giggled excitedly at mentioning the marriage.

She still couldn't believe it had all happened so fast. One moment, she was still suppressing her feelings. Next, they were married!

Behind her, Emily's eyebrows twitched a little at the idea of Emma being marked like property, yet she just sighed inwardly and left it alone. Emma was happy, wasn't that the important part?

Erik could only smile at Emma's excitement. 'It feels good to have someone so devoted to you. I'll need to treasure her properly in the future…' he thought.

He stepped closer to Emma and kissed her lightly, causing Emma to smile. "And I'll do the same to you." He whispered in her ear.

Then he pulled back and grinned with a raised eyebrow. "Do you want to see mine?"

Emma blinked in surprise. "You have one, too?"

Chuckling, Erik pulled off his shirt. "Of course I do."

Although Emma had made up for some of the malnourishment during the last seven years, she was still only 1.65m (5'5"), putting her at a little under shoulder height compared to the two-meter tall Erik.

So, when he removed his shirt, she immediately noticed the additional mark on his chest. There was a fairy's wing right above Erik's heart, which Emma had noticed before, but now there also was another mark a few centimeters (about an inch) above that.

It looked like some green plants and vines encasing a white light.

Seeing that, Emma smiled warmly and extended her hand before slowly caressing the mark with her finger. Seeing that, Erik just let her be for a moment as he chuckled.

Suddenly, Emma turned around and looked at Emily with a bright smile as she pointed at both her own mark and Erik's. "Look, big Em! Isn't it awesome?!"

Since she actually kind of liked the idea that Erik had his own mark to symbolize his bond with Emma, Emily could only sigh before nodding with a smile. "Yeah, little Em. It is. Congratulations. I'm glad you're happy."

Emma chuckled and ran up towards her big sister, giving her a hug and whispering in her ear. "I'll wait patiently until your mark stands next to mine." Emily's eyes twitched at her little sister's comment, but she kept quiet about it, choosing not to answer.

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Erik then stepped towards Emma, as he still had something to say. He took her chin in his hand and looked into her eyes. "Listen, Emma. I know this all went very quickly, but I want you to know that as soon as there's an opportunity, we'll have a real wedding, with a party and everything."

His romantic love for Emma may only be in the beginning stages, but he already cared deeply for her and wanted to give her the wedding she deserved.

"It already feels real for me, Sir!" She said with a bright smile. "I don't need anything like that."

Erik chuckled. "Maybe not, but I'd still like to give it to you." Then he raised an eyebrow. "On another note, are you going to continue calling me Sir, even now?"

Emma fell silent and frowned as she thought about Erik's question. She spoke up a little hesitantly. "I'm not sure… calling you by your name feels like a betrayal to the respect I bear you in my heart."

Erik chuckled at her response, "Well, it doesn't matter to me; you can call me whatever you like and feel most comfortable with."

Quickly glancing at Elora, she turned back to Erik. "I know, Mi- I mean, I know Elora calls you Master only because of that bet thing you do, but… I actually consider you both my master and my husband. Although… I'd like to be your maid, first and foremost." She looked up at him with a gaze filled with respect, love, and devotion. "So… can I call you Master?"

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Even after what you just saw in the basement?"

Emma smiled and caressed the mark on her stomach. "What does that matter? I know what I am, and the mark will always remind me. Our bond is the difference between me and her, so what does it matter what I call you then?"

Erik smiled warmly as he remembered Elora saying much the same thing the first time she proposed their bet. So he nodded. "Well, I said you could call me whatever you liked, so it's really your decision. So long as you remember that, as my wife, while there are a few things I won't allow, you are free to do as you please."

Emma smiled brightly and nodded, "I'll remember, Master!"

Meanwhile, Emily looked at it all with extremely complicated emotions. Seeing her little sister happy, especially after the last seven years, was naturally something she was delighted about, but seeing her so devoted to a man Emily herself still had conflicted feelings for was difficult.

Especially because they had only known him for a few weeks!

Still, she could do nothing except stay quiet and hope for the best while promising herself to always remain firmly in Emma's corner.

Not long after that, they all went to sleep in the same bed again. It had been a long, exciting day for all of them, and they needed to get some rest.