[TAMIKO]
"Are you familiar with this handwriting?" Tamiko asked barely a few minutes later when he saw his best friend again. He had rushed there and with his cyan speed, what should have taken him ten minutes, took him two.
"What is this?" Galya asked, her voice testing as she looked at the letter carefully. She recognized the handwriting so well and she wished she did. It was one that she had seen more than once and was way too familiar with.
"So… Do you recognize the handwriting? Or even the scent on it?" Tamiko asked, even though he already knew the answer, and was trying to confirm it.
"Tamiko—"
"Yes or no, Galya?"
"Yes… It belongs to—" Galya began, only to be interrupted by the long bell of Grealor. It was the one bell that almost never rang, but when it did ring, it meant that shit had gone sideways for them.
This wasn't what he had been expecting and once again he looked at his best friend, hoping that Galya would be able to tell him something, anything before she went on to respond to the bell. He knew she had to go, but a man could hope.
"Galya, please," Tamiko pleaded and Galya just looked at him, before looking in the redirection of the bell that was ringing constantly.
She knew that this wasn't going to be easy and she also knew that if she confirmed what he knew to be true, he would go on a rampage. If there was anything Tamiko hated more than Grealor itself, then it had to be betrayal and Galya knew that so well.
Galya Belova knew that he wouldn't forgive any betrayal whether it came from friend or foe. He would burn them all.
"That's the long bell, Tamiko. Let's go, brother. I will answer your question later," Galya said and it took everything in Tamiko not to stop her and force her to voice what he already knew.
He hated this, he didn't like it one bit and yet as the two friends stood behind the beta's house, and heard the footsteps rushing in their way, clearly for the Grealor Luna, Tamiko knew that this was something he would truly have to pursue later.
Perhaps it was the call of fate, or maybe, just maybe, this was the first of his tests of control. But how long would he keep himself in check?
"Pardon me, Luna. The alpha calls for you," Zakhar, one of Gabe's annoying little friends, said to Galya and Tamiko let out a low warning growl.
He was desperate, yet even in his desperation, his hatred for Gabe and his little band of elites would never go away. At least he was sure that his vengeance would have a good ending, right? Or perhaps it was the process of it all.
"You heard the man, brother. Come alone, let's go see what the chaos is about," Galya said and Zakhar just bowed to Luna, before he made way for her and Tamiko who was scowling and looking like he wanted to smash a few thighs along the way.
He would get to the bottom of what had happened but until then, he would make sure to maximize the opportunity his best friend had given him today.
The pack house was filled with people when the duo went there.
Everyone looked like they were in shock and they were trying to process what had just happened. It wasn't easy to tell what it was, but as Tamiko, Galya, and Zakhar made it through the anxious crowd and made it through, Tamiko couldn't help but smile sinisterly.
He could smell death and he had a feeling that this was one he was familiar with.
He had had wishes and right now, the only thing he could do was hope the goddess that his enemies would fall one by one. Though it would have been better for him to go on and do the murder himself.
Perhaps that time would come, right?
"Why did the long bell ring?" Galya asked when she made it to the pack house. She could see her brother, Judd, and Gabe pacing.
It was an uncommon sight and it was one that many wouldn't ever come across. But as it was, Danny was the pack beta, Gabe was the alpha and Judd was one of the best warriors that Grealor had ever produced.
"There was a breach in the borders. Someone killed a lycan warrior and dumped his body in our borders," Danny began and Taiko looked at him like that had to be the worst of jokes in the whole universe.
No one could ever kill a lycan because Lycans were born to be stronger and better than every creation out there.
Lycans couldn't be pinned down easily. They were the danger that many ran from. So to think that a lycan was dead and within the Grealor borders was outrageous. That was crazy.
"That's impossible. I know you all are strong and all, but none of you have the strength to take on a lycan on your own. It just doesn't make sense that a wolf would take out a lycan.
"Unless you're unhinged enough," Tamiko said, and Galya looked at him with a defeated face. However, they couldn't deny that what Tamiko had said could be true.
But who could want a lycan dead and that too in Grealor?
"Where is the lycan who was killed?" Galya asked and her brother pointed her to the lycan warrior who had been stabbed and battered in a manner so hellish that it was more than obvious that no one could have done that on their own.
"He was killed and dragged to our brothers. Someone really wanted the lycans on our asses," Judd commented as if to tell Galya that this was a very dangerous situation. Then again, didn't she know that already anyway?
"Are you sure it isn't Tamiko? He is unusually stronger than the common wolf and the past few days he has been antsy. I wouldn't be surprised if he snuffed the lycan and left him there to bring the dark king to our side," Zakhar said and Taiko stared at him boredly.
These people were brainless, but then as Tamiko looked at the lycan before them, he couldn't help but feel that he had done something that he had forgotten. He couldn't help but think that there was a possible truth to what Zakhar had claimed but what could they do?
Alpha Ashton was still unconscious and would clearly be out of service for a long while. What could they do to make sure the war didn't come to Grealor?
"If I wanted to kill anyone, I would do it in broad daylight, with witnesses, so everyone knows that it was I, the outcast, who snuffed the life out of that person.
"I could try with you and show you what I mean, given that we already have a proper audience out here," Tamiko said as he walked towards Zakhar, who instantly stepped back.
He didn't want to engage with Tamiko. But only because Igor had promised to reduce Grealor into rubble if they so much as tried to harm a hair on his mate.
"Alpha, sorry to interrupt. But there's a group of lycans headed here. They are led by Lord Sadako, the cruelest of lycan enforcers," a warrior said and Gabe raised a brow at that description.
But then a part of him also knew that this was something that was expected.
Lycans were always the fastest of responders in the event that one of them had fallen and right now, as the sun was slowly going down, it was obvious that Grealor could be in more trouble than they had anticipated.
"Tell everyone to go back to their houses and not to come out no matter what happens and tell the warriors to get ready to defend the pack with their lives," Gabe said sternly.
"You people are paranoid as fuck," Tamiko said just as he got a whiff of a familiar scent. A scent he had interacted with earlier before and instinctively, the young lycan looked at his green amulet in his arm.
Was this what he had meant when he had said that duty was calling?
Oh fuck.
"I will count to two and if the lycan and the alpha are not out here yet, I will start dropping bodies!" Lord Sadako's very angry voice hit the ears of the people in the pack house.
Hell had finally come knocking.