by J. K. Jones
He sees it all in snaps. Vuneas, Goddess of the Sky, coming to him, her soft hands cupping his cheek. Ryu Suzuki. Exiled. Abandoned. Thrown in the wolf pit and set to live out the rest of his days in the Outlands. Come to me. Come to me.
He went.
Body sore, soul withered—wishing that death would take him. A great plague will come and you will be the cure. Be the cure. She had whispered, her voice was as soft as silk.
Hikari.
“You’re right, I hate them,” Ryu hisses, voice slowly gaining volume. “I hate them all. I would gladly see them all burn. I hate them, but I love Micah. And I would rather die than see him come to any harm.”
Arima Kihei's smile drops. “Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought.”
“You have no idea.” Ryu grabs his sword. “You may be a Bloodhound Prince, cursed by the Gods—but I am the cure!”
“Impossible!”
His Katana glows, the white light burns bright, causing all the Lycan’s shrink back in fright. Ryu half kneels, struggling to get to his feet. The area around him sings and he knows the Goddess is watching him. She has been watching him this whole time. Ryu slices his sword out, the Katana breaks into two swords, Hikari nearly buzzes with excitement.
Ryu takes both glowing swords in his hand, feeling the full might of it in his grasp, shining like the sun. The broad silvery metal sharp and agile, laced with Wolfsbane.
The beasts cower back, sensing the tides turning. Ryu flicks one of his swords, sending it hurtling across the room like a boomerang slicing the heads of a thousand Lycans at once. Ryu charges forward, his Katana clashing with Arima Kihei.
“Two swords in one?” Arima Kihei chuckles. “I admit I did not see that one coming.”
“That is what my Sensei taught me,” Ryu growls, he jerks forward, infusing Hikari with all his energy, causing Arima Kihei to fling back. He lands gracefully, with an amused smile dancing on his lips.
“Let’s see what you can do.” Arima Kihei sprints forward, his sword cuts forward, meeting Hikari head-on, the impact makes sparks fly, the room judders. Arima Kihei grins wickedly, his long fangs protruding from his lips. “What a stunning Omega you are. No wonder Kenyon wanted you so badly.” He taunts, then strikes again, which Ryu effectively blocks.
Arima Kihei’s wrath is smothering, flaring hotter every time they inch closer and closer. It’s a close match, Arima Kihei moves with swift agility, a finesse of an individual with centuries of cultivation. Ryu feels sweat cool on his brow; he makes sure Hikari is effectively slicing the heads off the Lycans to give the wolves a break.
His heart beats for Micah.
Ryu hasn’t seen him since the fight began. Stop it. He cannot allow himself to lose focus. If he does, Arima Kihei will surely win and kill them all.
Ryu cuts and Arima Kihei thrust, the force is powerful and relentless, driving him around the ring and never letting him gain his balance.
Arima Kihei slips his guard, his fist comes crashing into Ryu’s face, it makes his head crack back in agony.
Ryu parries, desperate to counter, but Arima Kihei presses on without yielding, landing a fatal blow to Ryu’s kidney and back. “Tsk, Tsk, little wolf!” He laughs. “And here I thought you would be a worthy opponent. Time is running out.”
Ryu’s stomach twists.
He looks around and sees most of the wolves lying on the ground dead. His heart climbs into his throat when he finally sees Micah. His beautiful white fur matted with grime and blood; he breathes laboriously on his side. No. Ryu steps forward, frantic to get to his side but Arima Kihei blocks him with the rapid swipe of his sword.
“They’ve all been infected.” Arima Kihei laughs. “They’re all going to die. Then they will change into the things they hate the most. Lycans.”
No. Ryu rushes forward. “Hikari!” The sword shreds the air, sailing towards him with deadly force. Ryu catches the handle; he glows a malevolent yellow hue. “Kill him.” He releases it, the sword spins like a rotator, faster than the eye can see, and Arima Kihei springs back, just before it tries to take his head off.
Ryu turns around and dashes towards Micah’s wolf, kneeling beside him quickly. “No. God no!” he cries desperately, feeling around his pulse. He sighs in relief when he finds his heart beating, but it’s faint—fading.
Be the cure. Be the cure.
Ryu focuses, he presses a shaking hand to Micah’s chest, finding the Lycan poisons spreading in his veins, it’s like black tar, disgusting and evil. He harnesses it, pulling it from every cell. Ryu grunts, sweat covering his brow, lips trembling with force before he finally draws it out and sucks it back into his own body. Hastily, he grabs his other half of Hikari and releases the dark energy inside.
“Impossible,” Arima Kihei cries out in disbelief. “You’re the vessel—you—you—” Hikari tries to sever him, but Arima Kihei hurdles to defend himself.
“I am the vessel for Vuneas, Goddess of The Sky.” Ryu spits back at him, eyes frantically observing Micah as he changes back from wolf to human.
He’s done this a few times before, each time the person was able to regain consciousness in a few moments, once the toxins are gone from their body. Micah groans, and rolls onto his stomach, his body covered in cuts and bruises. They need to get out of here. There’s no way he can defeat Arima Kihei on his own, especially with the other wolves here. “Wake up Micah.”
Ryu jumps over to Trmon, infusing him with spiritual energy and taking the poison from him as well. He does so for all twelve wolves, keeping in mind that Hikari can’t hold Arima Kihei off forever. Once they are all awake and able to move, Ryu goes back over to Micah and kneels beside him. “Get them out of here.”
“What about you?” Micah asks, there's blood all over his body from deep wounds. “I’m not leaving you behind.”
“I will follow. Go, please. Run in your wolf form. You guys will be faster.” Micah pulls him into a deep kiss, shoving his tongue into his mouth.
“You will follow afterward.” Ryu shudders from the Alpha command.
Micah sends out the order, those that can, follow in wolf form and the ones that can’t are carried out by Deryn and Fermin.
Ryu watches them go, hearting slamming against his rib cage. He turns around, holding half of Hikari in his hand. “Come!” The other half sings, it zips past Arima Kihei and straight into his awaiting hand. Ryu presses them together; it crackles with lightning and the two suddenly become one.
“You have dark energy all over you,” Arima Kihei grins manically. “That’s why I thought you were of the same darkness, but it turns out you are not.”
Ryu looks at him steadily, holding his graze.
He had the choice. Many years ago, as he wandered through the treacherous wolf pits, he could have gone with the Oslene, Goddess of Torture. Hatred brimmed in his heart. He felt so consumed by it and he wanted to decimate the Silvercrest Howlers and Micah for turning their backs on him. He could have. It would have been easy then.
His love for Amaya kept him grounded.
His love for Micah kept him sane.
Looking back now, he realizes that Kenyon had nothing—nobody. Just the cool ache of death and decay to wrap around him. Ryu regrets that eternally, if he had visited, perhaps things would have ended differently.
“Why do you defend them?” Arima Kihei demands. “They don’t deserve it. They ridicule you, take your home from you and yet you still risk your life for them.”
“We must always stand up for what is right, even if we stand alone.” Ryu points his sword, deadly force rippling in his very being.
“You are the vessel of a God and I am one as well.”
Chapter 48
Ryu charges forward.
Their swords clash in a sonic blast that shatters the rocks. The air crackles between them, Arima Kihei growing more furious every moment. Two Bloodhounds. One good and one evil. It was catastrophic, their powers equal to that of the Gods. Ryu knew this was a battle he couldn’t win,
especially since the pack was outside waiting for him. If he fought Arima Kihei alone, he would have the upper hand, but with the other wolves, they would be a liability.
Arima Kihei senses that, several times he tries to pierce his guard to go after them. Ryu cannot allow it. The impact of their swords makes him tremble, the righteous glow from Hikari is brighter than the sun. Sparks fly rapidly as steel meets steel.
“What a team we would be,” Arima Kihei says as he slashes down. “You as my Second and me as the Bloodhound Prince!”
“Never,” Ryu presses onward, finding an opening, stabbing forward.
“Your hatred for them—I sensed it the first day we meet. I wanted to harness it, cultivate it, turn it into an unstoppable weapon.”
“I will never join you.”
“You will,” Arima Kihei grins. “When the Silvercrest spit on you for all your efforts. Expect no reward for serving the wicked.” Arima Kihei side steps just in time, as a large boulder falls from the sky.
They leap apart. Ryu pants wildly. He needs to get out of here fast. The cave is beginning to collapse, enormous rocks are coming down like rainfall.
“Hikari!” Ryu unleashes his sword; it rips through the spatter of falling rocks creating a pathway straight to the corridor. Ryu sprints like mad, following his sword until he reaches the entrance. He looks back just in time, to see the whole place crumble before him.
“We will meet again wolf,” Arima Kihei spreads his arms out, his sword glowing a sickening blood-red hue, he throws his head back and laughs.
Then Ryu watches in horror as he is crushed by a solid stone.
Fuck. Ryu jolts, his heart in his throat. Run. Fucking Run! Ryu pivots, the building shakes as he tears through the house. He zigs and zags, dodging wayward rocks and wood as the very foundation of the house starts to cave in.
As it topples, Ryu bursts through the front door, diving in just enough time. The grandiose house that sat on mount Horai for centuries caves in.
-
Ryu follows the scent of distress.
It’s thick with turmoil and anguish. He frantically dashes through the trees, his body sore and aching, but his mind clear for the first time in weeks. He breaks through the treeline, eyes frantically searching until he lands on a small heap of wolves several feet away.
“Micah!” he shouts, his heart slamming against his ribcage.
“Over here!” Micah calls and Ryu rushes towards him. They nearly tackle each other, both of them gasping out in relief.
“You-you're okay?” Ryu demands, checking him over. Oh God—he almost lost him. His life, his mate—his everything.
“I’m fine,” Micah says, he stands stake naked in the snow with the other wolves, his skin is blazing, and he’s covered in a few bruises but is otherwise unscathed. “We’re just recovering.”
“Okay,” Ryu says. Looking, around he sees that most of the wolves were in various stages of recovery. “We should leave. We can’t linger here too long.”
“Okay.” Micah hugs him again, burying his face in his neck and inhaling deeply. “I’m so glad you're safe.” They pull away and get to work on helping the wolves that need it down the mountain. It takes hours. Most of them are wounded by fighting the Lycans and the residual poison in their veins. Ryu is confident that it would clear up quickly, they just need a place to rest. Micah orders the wolves to stay in their wolf form, just to activate their healing powers faster. By nightfall, they make it down the mountain. Ryu watches the snowmelt, giving way to the stunning Alpes and evergreens. He’s exhausted by the time they reach Fermin’s place in the Outlands.
Deryn starts a fire in the Living Room.
And Ryu climbs the stairs, his feet dragging like anvils behind him. He sheds his jacket, vest, and Katana before collapsing face-first on the bed.
He sleeps for days.
Chapter 49
The Outlands
Yokohama 21’
Ryu wakes to soft murmurs.
The air is crisp and cool, the sun sits like a blistering tangerine in the sky. Ryu studies the fluffy haze of sun rays. He sits up, head pounding, and his mouth feels like it’s been stuffed with cotton. Shit. What time is it? He rubs his forehead, the events of the last few days coming back to him in slow, pulsing waves. They have much to discuss.
He showers, nearly moaning under the spray of hot water. It rids the layers of dirt, blood, and grime that have been on his skin all day and all night. Ryu finds a brush and combs his hair, taking out all the matted tangles. He stares at himself in the mirror. His grey eyes look bright, vibrant, he can feel energy buzzing under his skin.
The mission.
It all comes back to him now. The meeting with the Goddess and his oath to her. Then his journey to rid the world of Kenyon’s curse and make everything right again. He touches his cheeks, and the dark bags under his eyes. His right eye is nearly black, his lip is split, and his forehead has a gaping cut that is healing slowly. What a mess. He lost so much time. He forgot why he was doing all of this in the first place. Now he remembers—and it changes everything.
Ryu gets dressed in a simple white, long sleeve shirt and jeans. They’re a little bit big, but his other clothes need to be washed. All the wolves are gathered in the kitchen, most of them battered and bruised, looking forlorn as Micah leans against the countertop, arms crossed.
“Morning,” Ryu mutters.
They echo the words back quietly, each of them stares at him in hardly suppressed wonder. Micah grabs him, pulling him into a tight hug. “Morning,” he mumbles on his forehead.
“What’s going on,” Ryu asks, moving away.
“We are discussing what to do next,” Micah replies. “If what Arima Kihei said is true, then Randolph has taken the Silvercrest Howlers Clan. He has many supporters on the council, it would only be a matter of convincing the people.”
“Traitorous fuck!” Deryn spits. “I should have known Zy and Randolph could not be trusted. After he married Francesca, I could see the change in him immediately. That bastard Berriston always hated us for slighting his daughter!”
“Don’t talk about my sister like that!” Shamus spits. “It’s not our fault you Silvercrest Howlers cannot keep up your end of the bargain! It’s a lie anyway! My father is too ill to wage war. If the Midnight Nightstalker’s were truly against you, why would he send me on this trip to help?”
“Good point,” Trmon chimes in. “It doesn’t make any sense. Shamus is the only surviving son of Berriston. If Randolph planned to take over, then he would need the Midnight Nightstalker’s Clan on his side.”
“None of this makes any sense,” Deryn says. “What reason would Randolph have to betray us? He’s been loyal to Micah for years. Why now suddenly turn his back on us? He was never a greedy man.”
Ryu knew why. It was the same reason he did what he did. It was for the greater good.
“Alpha,” Ryu says quickly. “May I speak freely?”
Micah regards him for a moment, then nods. “I believe we must start from the beginning. Earlier you said that you thought I was the vessel—the person the Master of the Moon would use to grant their wish?”
“I did.”
“You were right. I am the vessel. Just not in the way that you think.”
“You’re a fucking Bloodhound!” Deryn rages. “We all saw you! Your very existence is unnatural, a curse that would bring hell down upon all of us! Did you all see how he took on Arima Kihei! His strength was enough to rival that of the Gods themselves! Your clan meddling in dark magic is why we are here in the first place!”
“Deryn,” Micah warns.
“He speaks the truth!” Rocky shouts. “We are all cursed! This—this abomination is no wolf. I’ve seen him move swift as lightning, his sword cracks like thunder. He does not shift. Nor does he heed our ways.”
“That abomination saved your life!” Trmon cuts in. “Don’t ever forget that. You would not be here if it wasn’t for Ryu!”
Ryu watches th
em tear each other apart.
It’s tiresome, arduous. He feels another headache coming on. They didn’t have time for this shit. “I will explain everything,” Ryu interrupts. “You must all be silent. Allow me to say my piece. Afterward, you can decide where you want your loyalties to lie.
“Yes, I am a Bloodhound. How I became one is of no consequence to you, but I will share. It was after the war with Kenyon. As you all know, the Silvercrest Howlers tortured me, exiled me. I was thrown out of my pack and into the unknown. With the exile curse, I could not shift. After I was thrown into the wolf pit, left for dead by the Silvercrest Howlers, I was consumed with hatred. It solidified in my soul to the point of rot. I wanted them all dead. Like Arima Kihei, I called upon the Goddess, ready to rage war and massacre the people just like Kenyon did. Only she did not come.
“I prayed to Oslene, Goddess of Torture, hourly. I prayed until my tongue stiffened and my throat went raw. I prayed until I collapsed. Still, she did not come. I was half-dead, my heart and soul were broken beyond repair, then I saw a light. Vuneas, Goddess of the Sky, came to me in a vision, she said everyone I love will die. She showed me a world consumed by Lycans and the wolves driven to the point of extinction. She said, ‘be the cure’. At the time I was delirious, riddled with disease and derision, she showed Amaya’s face and I knew that out of all you, she was the best. The Goddess showed me, one good person, among a sea of bad ones and I knew I had to do the right thing. It’s what Sensei Musashi would have wanted. So, I agreed. She gave me the power; we made a contract and that day I became a Bloodhound. Since then, I have been killing Lycans there to curb the curse. I didn’t know the source until just now when we found the Master of the Moon—or should I say, the Bloodhound Prince.”
The room is quiet.
All the other wolves are deep in thought trying to make sense of everything that was revealed. Micah looks oddly disturbed; his face darkens like storm clouds coming in.
Chapter 50