by J. K. Jones
“It’s fine.” Micah walks out of the room.
Chapter 24
He’s caught in an emotional hurricane, a spinning vortex of confusion and turmoil. Night is day, and day is night. He sits on the bed for a long time, hoping against hope that Micah is wrong. That the solution to all their problems isn’t marriage. Dear gods, things would’ve been solved already. If he hadn’t disobeyed Micah and looked for Kenyon, then peace between the two clans would’ve been inevitable. The bottom line is that right now, Ryu doesn’t know what he wants. For so long, it’s always been Micah. They were supposed to be married years ago, when he was sixteen and Micah just received his title as Alpha of the Silvercrest Howlers. That was then. This is now.
He’s been exiled, betrayed, mutilated, and scorned. How can he yield to the clan that did that to him? How can he yield to an Alpha who let it happen? Ryu grips his hair tightly as his breath comes out in harsh pants.
He can’t stay here. He should leave as soon as the war is over. But what about Marissa? What about Amaya? What about the countless other wolves that will die if he doesn’t get his shit together soon?
Fuck. Can he really be that selfish? There has to be a way out of it. Ryu gets up, grabs his weapons, and leaves the room. He exits the encampment, not sure where he’s going until he reaches the inner city. The Filthy Claws are milling around. At the market, they sell their meager goods and services to passing wolves. Ryu remembers following Kenyon down the street. His heart aches at the familiar stalls and alleyways they used to play in and call home. Ryu walks for a long time, with no destination in mind. Just thinking and enjoying the cool breeze. He rounds a corner.
“Fermin?” His eyes widen. Fermin and Caine are kicking a battered soccer ball around with a few dirty children.
As if sensing him, Fermin looks up. Laughing, he jogs over to Ryu. “Hey.” He looks happy, breathless even. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in the big war council meeting.”
“That ended,” Ryu says cautiously. “What you are doing?”
“I love soccer. The Impure Canines usually have large tournaments. Caine and I were just walking down the street. We saw them playing and asked them if we could join them.”
“I see.” Ryu watches the kids play. It’s strange and nostalgic.
“Want to play?”
Ryu ponders it for a moment. This may help take his mind off things for the time being.
“Sure. Why not?” He introduces himself to the five kids, who are ranging from eight to twelve years old, they give him their names. Caine breaks up the teams evenly and places some rocks as goal posts on either side of the alleyway. He’s laughing so hard his sides and cheeks ache. Fermin and Caine allow the kids to score easily and make sure none of them gets hurt. They play until the sun sets. The kids groan when it’s time to leave, but they soon turn giddy and make plans for their next match.
Caine walks some of them home, concerned about the Lycans hiding in the shadows. Ryu and Fermin take the long way back to the encampment, and Ryu enjoys the cool silence that settles between them. Today was fun. Ryu can’t remember the last time he laughed so freely. It’s been years. Fermin keeps a respectable distance. Given their history, it’s probably best not to get too close. Ryu can tell Fermin doesn’t want to cause any trouble between them.
“Mhm.” Fermin smiles, his dark hair and muscular form standing out in the setting sun. “I never thought we would be alone again.”
Ryu doesn’t respond and keeps his gaze fixated on the sidewalk. It’s hard to believe that several months ago, he picked him up off the street. Little had he known Fermin belonged to the Impure Canines, a formidable pack that had built an alliance with the Silvercrest Howlers and joined him on his journey.
Strange indeed. Ryu thinks about their last time together, how he fucked Fermin just to hurt Micah. He realizes now it was wrong to do that. Regardless of what Micah has done, he didn’t deserve Ryu’s betrayal.
“Me neither,” Ryu says finally.
“I feel the gods have cursed me with bad luck.”
Ryu rolls his eyes. “Being around me isn’t that bad.”
“No.” Fermin laughs. “I mean…” He scratches the back of his neck and blushes. “I mean with Omegas…I have bad luck with them.”
“I see.” Ryu shrugs. “It happens, but if you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I’ll be happy to do it for you.”
“No thanks.” Fermin wrinkles his nose. “I have enough Alphas laughing at me as it is.”
Oh. Ryu looks at the ground. It seems fucking Fermin has made them both easy targets. If he had any idea who Fermin was, he probably wouldn’t have gone through with it. “Sorry.”
Fermin laughs. “It doesn’t matter. I enjoyed myself. I thought you did too?”
A heavy silence falls between them. Ryu isn’t sure why Fermin wants to talk about this now. They fucked once. It was good, but nothing even compares to having sex with Micah. “Awkward.” Fermin chuckles. “Anyway, I’ve seen Micah kick ass. I’m not an Omega, but even I want to bend over for him.”
Ryu snorts. “You sound worse than Deryn.”
Fermin rolls his eyes. “That guy is such a bastard.”
“You’re telling me.”
“I never met anyone with such a shitty ass attitude.”
They continue their walk back to the base, both of them laughing and trading jokes. Ryu smiles to himself. Maybe things can change after all.
Chapter 25
They part after they reach the encampment.
He doesn’t linger in the halls. Instead he asks around, trying to find out where they’re holding Marissa. Although he had a lot of fun today, he still needs answers. Marrying Micah can’t be his only option. Ryu needs to find out more about the Filthy Claws’ position. If he can figure out a way to get them to keep their lands and be stable while doing it, then he could convince them to help him with the war against the Bloodhound Prince. Aside from that, Ryu knows nothing about Arima Kihei’s past. If he could gain some more insight into their enemy, it may help with winning the war.
Ryu goes directly to Marissa’s holding cell, motioning to the guards to let him through. Since they’re still negotiating the release of General Miah and dividing up the lands and resources, he knows Micah will want to keep her close.
“Ryu.” She beams at him, placing her hands through the bars.
Ryu takes her hand, smiling down at her. “How are you?”
“Good. Better, actually. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I know the Filthy Claws will be pleased when I can get word to them.”
At least now, they’ll have access to resources. Ryu’s mind goes back to the kids he played with on the street. A sliver of hope takes root that things are getting better.
“You seem troubled. What is it?”
“I need information, and I don’t know where to start.” Ryu sighs. There is so much to ask.
“Micah told me about the Age of the Lycans,” Marissa says. “I had no idea… Kenyon never disclosed anything like that to us.”
“What can you tell me about the Bloodhound Prince?”
Marissa looks at their hands briefly and sighs.
“After Kenyon saw you…it was like he became obsessed with him. Day and night, all he talked about was the Bloodhound Prince. Most of the legends are centuries old. Starting with a poor boy named Arima Kihei, who lived in the slums of the Filthy Claws. Arima Kihei was a sickly boy of poor heritage, so naturally, he had no chance against Miyamoto Musashi. Kihei attacked with a wakizashi, but Musashi threw Kihei, and when Kihei tried to get up, Musashi struck him between the eyes and then beat him to death. Miyamoto Musashi cultivated the two-sword fighting style. He emphasized that warriors should be well trained in their profession.
“The Silvercrest Howlers always sought to take over the Filthy Claws clan. Back when we were powerful, they constantly raged wars with us. After Arima Kihei was beaten by Musashi, he was left to die on the streets. However, a Silvercrest general foun
d him and patched him up again. The legends go that Arima Kihei fell madly in love. Soon after, he learned that the general was going to be their pack leader. He was so enamored that he presented himself to the Alpha naked and ready inside his tent. Shiroi ōkami is what Arima Kihei called him, which translates to the White wolf.
“They were lovers for years, until Arima Kihei saw the destruction of his people by the Silvercrest Howlers. He plotted to overthrow them, and when Shiroi ōkami caught him dabbling in dark magic, he exiled Arima Kihei from the clan. There were many wars after that. Shiroi ōkami drove Arima Kihei in the mountains. They cursed him, banished his wolf so that he could no longer shift, and left him for dead. I heard he even spent time with the Blackfang Hounds, fighting in the wolf pits. After he disappeared, nobody knew what happened to him. It is said that his hatred for Miyamoto Musashi grew stronger and more powerful. He blamed Musashi for everything—for defeating him, for bringing the Silvercrest Howlers to his clan, and for making him fall in love with Shiroi ōkami.”
Marissa goes quiet for a moment. “Arima Kihei stayed away for a long time. It wasn’t until the death of his dearest friend that he snapped. He swore vengeance against the Silvercrest Howlers and made a pact with Oslene.”
“And his friend? Any information regarding him?”
“None that I can think of. The legends say the only name he goes by is Kin no kami, which translates to “white hair” or “golden hair.” Kenyon used to find it funny because that’s the literal translation of his name.”
How odd? That may be why Kenyon was so obsessed with the Bloodhound Prince. Perhaps he thought that they were so much alike. “And his lover? Shiroi ōkami? What do the legends say about him?”
Chapter 26
“Only that he was eventually killed by the Bloodhound Prince.” Marissa says. “Nothing from the legends we were told talks about him in more detail. In fact, nobody even knows his name. The only thing we know is that they were mortal enemies, fighting for centuries until Arima Kihei got the upper hand and killed him. Shiroi ōkami was a righteous Alpha, known for his goodness and kindness. However, rumor has it that he is a True Alpha and that he could also command legions of wolves from different clans and bring them all into one.”
“From the stories, it seems Arima Kihei was born an Omega, but it changes from time to time, so I think after he made the pact and his powers turned infinite, he became nonbinary. Neither Alpha nor Omega. Some say he is also a timewalker, moving from one dimension to the next.”
A timewalker can mean many things. Most wolves refer to those that have been reincarnated throughout the centuries as timewalkers. It’s also possible that the Bloodhound Prince is from a different dimension entirely. They don’t know, and they probably never will.
It’s sad. Ryu thinks. This story is parallel to many of the Filthy Claws clans as well as his own. A wave of pity comes over him as he realizes his life is similar to Arima Kihei. If the Vuneas hadn’t come, he would’ve been just like him—a Bloodhound Prince, raging war in darkness. Back then, Ryu was almost past the point of no return, but his love for Micah and Amaya brought him back.
“I heard you fought him.”
Ryu keeps quiet. Sure, they fought, but he lost. Since then, his thoughts have been in constant disarray. The Bloodhound Prince plagues his dreams constantly, visions, snippets of images and emotions, things he fears and finds revolting.
“You’re afraid.”
Ryu clenches his jaw tightly. “He’s too strong. I don’t know what he wants. I can’t, even with the goddess on my side, it’s a challenge. I need to know if he has any weaknesses.”
“Nothing from what the legends say,” Marissa replies. “But long ago he was stabbed in the heart by his mate. Most reincarnated wolves carry the same wounds they did in their first life to a different body. You could take advantage of that knowledge.”
Ryu nods gratefully. “He said he wants me to be his mate? What does that even mean? Is it possible when I already have a mate?”
“Maybe he doesn’t mean it in the literal sense,” Marissa answers. “He’s a Bloodhound. What use would a mate be for him? Perhaps he means it as you becoming a part of him, as a twin soul.”
“Impossible,” Ryu says. How can he become the Bloodhound’s twin soul?
“There have been rumors of a wolf missing half a soul…” She hesitates, looking down almost fearfully.
“What is it?”
“Just…Kenyon always believed he was the missing link. That his soul was the one the Bloodhound Prince was looking for…hence why he made the pact.”
“Why would he think that?”
“It doesn’t matter…just stupid superstition is all…” She clears her throat. “Kenyon paid the price with his life….like all those that make a pact with a Bloodhound do…I don’t know if it’s the Bloodhound Prince, but in the old world, once a wolf goes through reincarnation, if his soul is split, then he must travel through the dimensions of time to bring them together. Think of it as two separate people having different but similar experiences, sharing two bodies but having one soul. If the Bloodhound Prince is supposed to bring the Age of the Lycans down upon us, the gods must be doing everything in their power to prevent it, even if it means splitting his soul.”
It makes sense, but they don’t know for sure if it’s true. The Filthy Claws legends are never written down. Perhaps it’s just nonsense.
“You have the strength. I know you can do it. The gods have blessed you, Ryu. Don’t doubt their power.” She strokes his cheek. “Thank you for visiting, but you didn’t really come to ask me about the Bloodhound Prince, did you?”
Ryu sighs deeply, looking down at his feet.
“You want a solution. You want us to fight with you, and you want peace between the Silvercrest Howlers and the Filthy Claws clan.”
Ryu looks up at her sharply. “How?”
“I want those things too,” Marissa says. “Your emotions always show on your face. Even when you were a kid. You could never hide them, Ryu.”
He swallows down his emotions. He’s so lost. There are so many triggers from his past, damaged wounds that he can never seem to heal. Ryu wants to confess: his love, his pain, his shortcoming—everything.
“My mother used to say that when the tides are raging, never paddle against the stream. It’s best to turn your boat and go with the flow. Don’t fight it. Allow it to take you to the shore.”
Ryu’s cheeks heat, and tears prickle his eyes as he takes the words in.
Focus. Don’t fight it. That’s exactly what he’s been doing. He’s been fighting against his heart the whole time. It’s so hard to get over past hurt, to push through, and finally have everything he wants.
“You love him a lot. I can tell. The way he looks at you… it’s inspiring. I never cared for Byakuren. He’s like all the other Silvercrest Howlers, but I care for you. If you ask us to stand behind you, then we will. We’ll fight for one of our own. After this, I’ll rally the Filthy Claws army. Once the mass immunization is established, we’ll take down the Lycans and get rid of the Bloodhound Prince once and for all.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure I’m worthy of following,” Ryu says seriously. “Is there anyway way to separate from the Silvercrest Howlers? Is it true? Can the Filthy Claws no longer survive on their own?”
Marissa shakes her head. “No. Perhaps when Kenyon was alive, there was a possibility, but all that is gone now. There’s nothing left. If it weren’t for the Silvercrest Howlers investing heavily in agriculture, we all would’ve died. As much as I hate to admit it, they saved our lives. Things haven’t exactly been…fair, but with you here now, I’m sure that will change.” She looks up at him brightly.
“Byakuren has already agreed to give us a generous amount of space. Afterward, we can move toward the inner cities, rebuild the infrastructure and homes, currency, wells, plumbing, and filtration. It can be done. Not by us alone. Most of us are aware we need the Silvercrest Howlers, no matter how
much we resent them.”
Marissa beams at all the new prospects. It’s exciting, nerve-racking even, to think about rebuilding his clan. Ryu tightens his hold on her hand, vowing in his heart that he would do whatever it takes to make their clan prosper.
If it means he has to put his pride aside and marry Micah, then he will.
They say goodbye shortly afterward. Ryu strolls back to the bedroom. It’s a lot to take in. He doesn’t know what the future will hold for them. What he does know is that they need to act fast. He’ll need to get the Filthy Claws rebels to fight alongside the Silvercrest Howlers before the other clans come. They all need to put up a united front, or else they will all be destroyed.
Chapter 27
Silvercrest Howlers Clan
Hiratsuka, ‘11
Ten years ago…
Micah McCorbyn
The coffin is dark-stained cherry, cushioned with a red quilted silk lining. Micah watches as it is incinerated. The flames engulf the wooden box expertly before erupting right before his eyes. The blinds close, and Michael tugs him away, and together they walk to the room where they’ll receive her ashes. Micah keeps quiet, his frown deepening.
She’s gone. Just yesterday, she kissed his cheek, her Omega scent smooth like lavender, warm and comforting. She’s gone. The bitterness of those words strikes him fiercely, along with the anguish of his mother finally leaving this world and transition into the next. He prays to Ehros to make her journey into the afterlife light and carefree. Many wolves join them at the Silvercrest Howlers hall, each of them forlorn and sad by the death of Yuma McCorbyn, killed by the Filthy Claws rebels. Most Silvercrest Howlers are dressed in a variety of traditional black kimonos and dress suits. Passing the night. The wake, tsuya, lasts for several hours.
“Alpha.” A councilman shakes his father’s hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Yuma was truly one of the rarest roses.”