[TAMIKO]
Grealor was awfully quiet for the evening they had all had the previous day. No one was saying anything about Tamiko or even what he had done to the alpha. It was like they were commanded not to say a word.
Everything was so strange, and even as Tamiko went to check in for his daily duty, there was a different atmosphere.
No one was doing anything to him.
No one was mocking him, or even saying shit to him. It was like they had been unanimously commanded to leave him alone. The peace and quiet was something that Tamiko had never gotten even for a moment.
But now he was getting it and it was confusing as hell.
Staring at the wolves going on about their day like Tamiko wasn't even a member of the pack, Tamiko wondered if this had been done by Igor, Galya, and Danny or if this was something that Gabe had done.
Maybe he was being a little too hopeful about the mate he wanted to strangle. But perhaps this is right? Or maybe, just maybe the lycan Lord had wanted the whole of Grealor to keep their distance, right?
Then again, Lord Sadako had promised Tamiko that he wouldn't interfere and he didn't seem like the kind to lie to Tamiko.
"Well if it isn't the prince of sleep. Where the hell have you been?" Galya's voice sounded close, interrupting Tamiko's line of thoughts. He had never thought he would be so glad to see the Belova siblings.
They may have been a nuisance sometimes, but they were the only people who truly cared about him and what he did. They were the ones who would go to extreme lengths to make things right for him.
"You looked so worried. What happened to you?" Galya asked and Tamiko let out a long sigh as he looked at the wolves that were no longer bothering him. It was like everyone had finally grown up and decided to let the lycan kid be. But was that it?
"Oh, about them? Don't worry too much. Igor Konstantin made it clear that he would murder everyone who so much as looked at you with disrespect or even scorn.
"He warned the pack against being assholes and promised them an endless cycle of misery if he came back and found a scar that wasn't on your body when he left. He was very adamant, and even I was scared. At least he got that covered, right?" Danny said excitedly.
He knew that Tamiko would have never agreed for them to help him, but Igor and his decisions had made their lives a little better and that was something the siblings would forever appreciate.
"Kosta?" Tamiko asked in shock.
When he had gone back to his shelter and found his new boyfriend gone, Tamiko figured that maybe this was what goodbyes looked like. Well, he had to admit that Igor Konstantin was full of surprises.
"Yes. He woke up and didn't find you, so he called for an assembly, using the lycan order, the one that demands that wolves show up when a lycan who isn't of the pack comes and demands an audience with that order.
"Igor pretty much threatened everyone, including the alpha and his son. It was exciting to watch as the wolves squirmed. It's just quite a pity that you missed the show of a lifetime.
"You should have seen the wolves squirm under Igor's stare and how they looked like they were more than willing to trade everything just not to hurt you. It was so perfect," Galya added and Tamiko just stared.
He couldn't believe that this had happened. Granted, he had told Kosta that he didn't want help, but Tamiko hadn't been sure he would be able to handle the wolves if he was alone, especially after the last evening.
Turns out he had never truly been alone, and with the green amulet that Lord Sadako had given him, Tamiko felt safe around his friends. The young lycan felt like he didn't have to worry about anything anymore but was that it?
"You, my dear friend, have an awesome boyfriend. And he said to tell you that he left you a gift on your bed. Let's go back and check it out, given we don't have anything to do here anyway," Danny said.
Tamiko was still trying to process what had just happened and now it seemed like Igor truly cared, but what if this was just a ploy for him? What if this was just another game that the barbarian was playing with the younger lycan?
Then again, Igor had claimed him in front of everyone. He had made sure that the Grealor wolves knew that he was Igor's erasthai. Surely that wouldn't be a problem, right? Well, there was only one way to tell that.
"He left without saying goodbye. Let's get on with whatever the fuck I have to do here. Maybe we can help your mother with the chores. It has been a while, right?" Tamiko said and his friends stared at him like he had grown a second head.
They looked like they couldn't believe that they were hearing. However there were many options for Tamiko to explore anyway, so this was easily the only one right? The protection the barbarian had set up was good for Tamiko.
He couldn't deny that.
But would that fill up the empty space that had been left by Igor's leaving?
"No, mother is sorted. We already did everything. Now you're not getting out of this. You know we will pester you till the season never ends. So you can as well come with us and let's see what Igor left you.
"Maybe it was a marriage proposal or something as pretty as the amulet you are wearing. It looks pretty by the way. Can I have it?" Galya ranted as she took the amulet in Tamiko's hands.
It was a pretty amulet no doubt, but it was one that Tamiko would never be able to share with his friends. This amulet was from someone he cared about, and he couldn't betray that friendship like that.
Besides there was no telling when the lycan Lord would pop up again.
The amulet was special to Tamiko.
Very special.
"Let's go to the shelter then. As for the amulet, I was given by someone so special. I can't give it to you, Galya," Tamiko said earnestly and Galya didn't insist.
She knew that Tamiko rarely had special things, and if he was holding onto that amulet, then it had to be important.
"Alright, let's get moving before dinner. I feel like I'm about to starve into tomorrow," Galya whined and the boys just facepalmed.
She always did this, and they weren't surprised.
The walk to Tamiko's house wasn't long, and when they reached, Tamiko went directly to his bedroom.
He hadn't checked it earlier and hadn't paid much attention to it.
However, now that he looked, he could see three roses; one red rose, one lavender rose, and a white rose, each wrapped in a different sheet of paper.
There was also a different paper on its own and on it were some writings.
"For you, who has my heart and love, my beautiful erasthai. Please forgive me."