[TAMIKO]
"Maybe you can pass by my chambers for a test run for your mate, no?" one of the warriors who were with Gabe spoke, and Tamiko could have sworn he heard Gabe let out a low warning growl, one that seemed to shut the warrior up.
And Tamiko arched a brow, knowing so well that what he was about to say could make the alpha's son go feral.
"Sure, why not? I might as well get laid like the mated ones, right?" Tamiko said as he looked directly into Gabe's eyes, like he was goading the alpha's son to say anything that would give up the truth about their bond.
Tamiko knew that this wasn't going to be easy for Gabe and he wasn't planning on making it any easier. The man had tormented him more than once and right now, this was one of the perfect chances for him and the man to get square and boy would he love it.
"I'll take you up on that offer later. However, right now, Gabe has a different assignment for you," the warrior said and Tamiko arched his brow, like he wasn't sure why Gabe of all the people would get him out of his responsibilities.
There was a chance that the next job could be worse than this, but damn, his enemy coming himself to do the reassigning was even stranger.
Tamiko could see that the wolves were also confused. This was new for them and as much as they wanted to ask questions, they figured they could let the man be, after all, they would be having an assembly in a few hours.
Maybe this was just Gabe needing Tamiko to let off some steam, right? But what if there was more to it? What if Gabe wanted to do something to Tamiko that people would frown upon and yet never complain about as usual?
Well, that didn't matter right now to Tamiko, because as he stared at Gabe, he couldn't care what the man wanted with him.
"What is it, alpha boy? Want me to be your escort? I should let you know that I haven't gotten laid since birth, so you might have a hard time with me, but I don't mind trying with the warrior first, before getting to you.
"I assume you're a patient man, no?" Tamiko asked, and this time, Gabriel let out a full-on warning growl, one that got the wolves bowing their heads.
But then Tamiko was different.
Gabe's growl had never once affected him, and right now he had no reason to pretend that it did; given they were equals in the presence of the goddess. After all, the Grealor wolves could roll over for all he cared anyway.
"Bring him to my chambers," Gabe growled before walking out angrily.
He seemed to be in a different mood again and it was horrifying, to say the least. They were still not used to him being that angry around them but maybe it was because of Tamiko, right? Then again, what would the alpha's son want with the outcast, in his chambers?
The warrior and the wolves who were at the mating hall weren't sure what they heard and for a moment, they assumed that Gabe had been joking but then there was a command in his voice, one that the warrior was smart enough not to defy.
"Did he just say his chambers?" the warrior asked once Gabe was out of earshot.
"Yeah. Quite the strange request," one of the women there commented and Tamiko just sighed. He hadn't ever expected that the bastard would call for him to go to his chambers of all the places.
What the hell was he even supposed to do there? Sing for him, dance kumbaya, or entertain his madness till Gabriel eventually had enough? It wasn't really an easy call but then it was what it was.
"Fucking shit," Tamiko grumbled lowly as he looked at the warrior who was staring at him pitifully. Unknown to Tamiko. The whole morning, Gabe had been in a horrible mood. It was almost like he had woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
He had been growling at people, staring at them like he wanted to kill them and when the announcement about his lack of a mate was made, the wolves had made it their mission to not be in his way Gabriel was dangerous and he was powerful too.
They didn't want to be the people he let his anger out on.
If the warrior could have been honest with Tamiko, he would have told the outcast that coming to the mating al with Gabe earlier had lightened up his mood, but then Tamiko and his words were probably another trigger for him.
Did Tamiko care? Absolutely not, and it wasn't like his world was about to start getting better today of all the days anyway.
"Well then, lead the way, will you? I don't want to be whipped at the square again. I would like to have at least a good morning," Tamiko said to the warrior who just nodded at him understandingly before he walked out and Tamiko followed.
As they walked to Gabe's chamber, the Grealor wolves were staring at Tamiko like he was the sacrificial lamb.
Of course, they had treated him like a slave earlier and this was no different, but why did they feel like Tamiko would be experiencing a horror so different from his daily horrors? Why did they feel like there was more to the call and wished Tamiko well for the first time in so long?
"What is he doing here?' Alpha Ashton asked when he saw Tamiko and the warrior walking through the doors of the alpha's pack house. It was the first time that Tamiko had come to the pack house and that in itself spoke a lot.
There was just no way the man who had never once been allowed in, was currently in here. It was like a challenge to the alpha somehow, but he hoped for Tamiko's sake that there wasn't some sort of rebellion on his end.
"Gabe said to bring him to him. Maybe he just needs someone to relieve him of the stress, and what better punching bag is there in Grealor than Tamiko the freak?" the warrior said so casually that the alpha just nodded.
Tamiko looked at Alpha Ashton, making sure to make eye contact with the man who probably knew why he was the only lycan in a sea of wolves.
He had questions, so many questions, and alpha Ashton, had to have known a thing or two about how he had come to this point, because otherwise what else was there? There was just no way that Alpha Ashton could have allowed a Lycan in his home and that too with the Lycan rules.
Kawai was dangerous, but what was even more dangerous than Kawai, was their mad king, a man whose every name sent chills down everyone's spine. Including Tamiko's. Even then he wanted to go home, but not without his answers.
"Alright, make sure to remind Gabe that the bastard should not stay here more than an hour. We wouldn't want the outcast selling out secrets to the other packs just because he lives in the woods alone.
"Who knows what he might want to do with the Grealor secrets?" Alpha Ashton said as he still maintained eye contact with Tamiko. However, in the process, Tamiko noticed that the alpha had flinched at his glares.
It was strange, especially for an unthankful alpha like Ashton. It just didn't make any sense that he would feel overpowered in the presence of Tamiko. Unless he was aware of something too. Well, secrets were a bore and Tamiko hated them so much.
"Okay, alpha," the warrior said before he grabbed Tamiko's hand roughly and rushed him to Gabe's room. He didn't even knock on the door, instead, the warrior pushed open Gabriel's door, and then threw Tamiko in roughly, before locking the door.
"Great. Why don't y'all just name me 'Tamiko the rag doll' at this point, no?" Tamiko said angrily as he looked at the bruises he had gotten. He hated them but then they had already healed instantly, something that Tamiko loved but hoped that Gabe wouldn't ask about.
"Good morning, mate."
"Seems to me like you want a rejection so bad, huh?" Tamiko said as he got up from the ground and stared at his mate, the man he hated more than anything.
"What do you want anyway, as you may have seen, I have a lot to work on today, Your Highness."
"I want you."