Chapter 7 : RENGOKU

I don’t think that we’re going to arrive soon. The sun is already going down. I need to go back to the capital fast, who knows that greedy mother-in-law would do. Trying to get rid of me by sending me to the mountain to check on the human territory and sending assassins to my back to kill me, I wasn’t expecting her to be so lame. I am never going to follow her commands anymore; she really bewitched my father to put me in a rough position. That bastard, I am never going to forgive him. To follow her leads to condemning me to the outside world. To me, his son, who was born to his true mate.

« Alpha, what are you thinking about? We need to install a camping site, » said Rasha.

« I agree. We’ll stay the night here. Maya cast a protective barrier here. »

Listening to the crunches of the dead leaves under my boots, I rushed to help them mounting the tents. The forests are all dead; I wonder how the human world function. I heard that they have a bad Emperor. It’s not like I care about it. I gave them other commands to make meals and organise the luggage. It’s a leader’s duty to supervise the efficiency of the work done.

I roll my eyes as I spot my Beta flirting with his mate. His mate is from the human race when he first met her; he was confused. The human race has made all the other races its enemies. Sitting down, enjoying my Beta’s vain efforts to appease his mate’s anger made me laugh. I bet that he did something stupid again. I don’t know why I even chose him as my Beta. He always acts idiotically.

I want to meet her, the one that is supposed to be my mate. I wonder how she looks like. I strolled the whole capital Dasha searching for her, yet no one made me feel like I want her. I tried searching for her outside the walls, I wanted to use this opportunity to look for her, but it’s been three years that I am outside the walls now. There is no trace of her. I long for the feeling that makes you feel a warmth that you never felt. I was unable to find her.

It makes me annoyed to see my Beta all happy. Since finding her, he spends his whole time with her. There was once; he skipped his work to stay entangled around her. She is a good girl and a good magician. She was helpful more than him. I took a sip from my warm liquor.

« Rengoku, should I help you get rid of tiredness? I would make you feel better. »

This chick, she always does this. Dressing up to show her curves to me. It isn’t enjoyable. I stared at her, bored at her continuous approach. I ignored her for ten years now. I’ll ignore her more. I turn my gaze looking at my party who were enjoying themselves.

« Ren, I can serve you better than anyone. Who knows if your mate is dead? This is probably the case. I can support you and act as your mate. I am all yours. »

She put her hands around my shoulder, hugging me from behind. This annoyed me more. I can’t do anything to her, since she is the daughter of a powerful figure in Westineof, our lands. I pushed her away, pointing that I don’t like it. I cringed from the way she acts; a complete whore.

« Get away from me. If you keep acting this way, I can’t guarantee your safety anymore, how often did I warn you? I believe this is the second time. The next time, I’ll throw you out. You can deal with the infected on your way back alone, » I scowled.

« Rengoku, why are you this cruel to me? I can do everything you want me to do. »

« I believe that you must address me as Alpha. I am not your friend or anyone close to you to call me by my first name. »

She darted away crying. I am sorry, but your tears can’t move my heart.

« She repeated one of her many shows. I guess she doesn’t learn, Alpha. We should kick her out. She doesn’t deserve to be here. She makes me want to pull her hair and leave her with nothing but baldness, » said Rasha.

« Imagining, it makes me feel satisfied. That jerk can’t think rationally. To accept her human family between us, werewolves. It’s unthinkable. »

« I agree with you, Alpha. Let’s throw her outside today without waiting. »

Rasha is my left hand; she has the same position as my Beta. She is a fairy that has great knowledge and wisdom but acts as she wants. My heart suddenly started pounding erratically as if it wanted to go somewhere, my breath shortened, and my instinct told me to run to my right direction.

« Alpha, are you alright ? » inquired Rasha.

I don’t know why I feel anxious. I want to go to the direction that my instinct told me to. I was taken back by a strange smell; it was pleasant but mixed with blood. Blood that has been exposed to the outside for a long time that it began to rot. I like part of the smell that invaded my nose. I was oblivious of what happens to my surrounding. I was focusing on smelling the pleasant sweetness. A sudden scream got me out from my imagination.

All my pack was on alert. I could hear several snarls pointing at one direction that I turned my head to. I didn’t feel like we were in danger. We had a barrier to protecting us. My eyes were laid on a beautiful creature who had white hair and red eyes. She was so white that the snow was pale in comparison with her. The smell belonged to her. She smelled like a human.

She is mine. Mine, only mine. Mate.

« Can you help me? I need help, » she slurred. Aware of the snarls she kept saying, « don’t you want to? I’ll search somewhere else. »

She turned around leaving. I was focused on her dead expression. My heart ached. Her back was stabbed by a knife that she didn’t take off. I see now why she is so white; she is dying. I can’t let her die. Not after that, I found her.

« Wait, don’t go. I’ll help you, don’t go, » I ran to her.

When she heard me saying that I’ll help her, she tumbled on the ground, unconscious. If I missed her, the knife would’ve destroyed her heart. Right, the knife was dug directly at her heart. I was surprised that she was still alive. I couldn’t move her; she had a knife on her body. What should I do?

« Alpha, let me check on her. She bled too much. I don’t know why she is even alive. Heft her to my tent, I’ll take care of her, » said Rasha.

« I’ll take her to mine. I don’t know how I should heft her. She has a knife in her back, » I replied.

I frowned. I don’t know how I should act. She is dying. My mate is dying. What is this irony, is fate pulling a joke on me? I don’t understand. I won’t ever forgive the one who did this to her. I’ll kill him; I’ll torture him before killing him.

« Alpha, let’s go, » said my Beta Jack pulling me back to reality.

I pulled her body to my chest, avoiding the injured part and darted towards my tent. I growled at the other werewolves pointing to stay far away. I commanded to keep guard. We don’t know who might come. I felt my jaw clench in anger as I noticed the bad state that she was in. The surface surrounding the stab became purple. She had a strange necklace that was glowing all the time. I wanted to take it off to make it easier for Rasha to help her, but I was struck by it. It has some unusual magic that makes it impossible for everyone to touch it. I guess that only its master has the right to touch it.

« Alpha, are you an idiot? It’s the necklace that is protecting her from dying. Once you take it, she is as good as dead, » said Rasha.

Then I must worship it because it protected my mate.

« What is it? » I asked curious about the necklace.

« I’ve never seen it before, but I read about a similar gem. If I guess right, this is the elemental key gem. Its powers are unknown, but it was said that it could do wonders. I don’t know this much, but is owned by the Chiba tribe, they are humans that have special abilities. She must be one of them, but I never heard of someone being able to use its power. »

« Then it must’ve waited for too long for a suitable master. »

« I don’t know; I read that it was lost 19 years ago. »

« Then, this one must be another gem. »

« No, it is. Because no gem has this kind of powers. As you noticed, this girl has been walking for a week at least. I am going to stay all night healing her. Her situation is critical. She has a strong will. »

« From the look of it, she must’ve been betrayed. She doesn’t have any injuries besides this one. »

Rasha bandaged her wound and left to sleep until dawn. Seeing her, all tended to make my heart at ease. I know that she’ll make it alive. She must. I caressed her cheeks; they were freezing. I needed to warm her. I hugged her body, giving her part of my warmth. Werewolves’ bodies have higher warmth than humans. When her body wasn’t cold anymore, I decided to investigate why she was in that state. I was surprised to see that her white hair turned black. I don’t know what happened, but I don’t need to know now. I’ll give her my warmth.