"By the way, I'll be leaving soon," Hizuki announced, his gaze fixed far beyond the horizon. He had lost count of how many times he'd set out on this endless journey, seeking his fated mate. Loyal and steadfast, he had always clung to hope. But lately, a quiet despair had begun to creep into his heart, growing into an urgent, gnawing anxiety.
What if… she's gone? What if… she's no longer in this world, and I'm truly alone? What if…
"Alpha? Is something wrong?" Jushin's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts, bringing him back to the present. Hizuki's inner turmoil must have shown on his face.
"Come to think of it, you look like you haven't had a decent night's sleep," Jushin observed, leaning forward with a rare boldness to scrutinize his Alpha's face.
If it were anyone else, Hizuki wouldn't have tolerated such impertinence. A mere glance from him would have sent them tumbling out of the room—perhaps even off the balcony. But this was Jushin, the boy Hizuki had practically raised. As a child, Jushin had been thrust into Hizuki's care by his own grandmother, who believed the Alpha's strict training would mold the boy into a warrior.
Now a grown man, Jushin's courage was unmatched, though his familiarity with Hizuki bordered on irreverent. Were it not for Hizuki's eternally youthful appearance, Jushin might have felt comfortable calling him father or uncle.
"Nothing," Hizuki shook his head, his voice calm but distant. "I just had a little nightmare," he admitted, the confession causing Jushin's eyes to widen in surprise.
It wasn't unheard of for their kind—at least for those burdened by the curse—to experience nightmares. After all, the thought of losing their powers and becoming mere mortals—creatures they once looked down upon—was nothing short of horrifying. But Hizuki?
"What was it about?" Jushin asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Though he didn't expect an answer, he couldn't help himself—there was only so much nosiness the mighty alpha would tolerate. He braced himself, half-expecting a reprimand for prying.
But instead of chiding him, Hizuki's gaze shifted toward the bamboo fountain in the garden, his expression thoughtful. The rhythmic sound of water seemed to lend him the calm to speak. "I dreamed of her—my mate," he began, his voice quieter than usual. "I couldn't see her face, but I knew it was her."
Jushin straightened in his seat, his ears metaphorically perked as he listened intently. He kept silent, sensing this was one of those rare moments when Hizuki would open up.
"In my dream, she was in danger, and I tried with all my might to save her…" Hizuki's voice wavered, the weight of his words heavy with emotion.
Jushin's breath hitched as he noticed a glint of moisture at the edge of Hizuki's bicolored eyes. The sight of tears—actual tears—shook him to his core. Hizuki, the unshakable alpha, was crying.
"I failed," Hizuki whispered, his voice cracking. "I didn't save her. She was killed right in front of me… just as I found her."
Jushin's mouth opened and closed, struggling to find the right words. He had seen Hizuki's vulnerable side before, but moments like this were exceedingly rare. The last time he'd seen the alpha so distraught was on Hizuki's 150th birthday, when they had visited the forest behind the Cypress Palace to honor the memory of the uncrowned Luna—the woman who had raised Hizuki.
The Beta shifted uncomfortably, his instincts telling him to offer comfort, yet his awe for Hizuki making him hesitant. "Alpha," he finally said softly, "it was only a dream."
Hizuki shook his head, his bicolored eyes darkening with a mix of determination and sorrow. "It felt so real. Too real. I can't dismiss it."
Jushin looked helpless, his hand hesitating mid-air as he considered patting the alpha on the shoulder. But before he could follow through, Hizuki let out a sigh and straightened in his seat, his demeanor shifting back to its usual calm, as if the moment of vulnerability had never occurred.
"I'll be going to France tonight," Hizuki announced, his voice steady once more.
"What? Tonight?" Jushin repeated, his brow furrowed. "Why France?"
"Because in my dream, I saw the Eiffel Tower," Hizuki replied, his gaze distant yet determined. "I feel… if I search there, I might finally find her."
Jushin frowned, his thoughts swirling. He had known Hizuki to be persistent, but there was a desperation in his tone that struck a chord.
Hizuki's eyes softened, as though recalling distant memories. "I've been to France twice in my life. The first time was when I was fifteen, shortly after the Eiffel Tower was built. The second was in the late 1930s, when I had just established my logistics company internationally and thought my mate might be there." He paused, his tone tinged with frustration and weariness. "But I haven't returned since. I've searched so many places—every corner of the world, even remote islands no one speaks of. And yet… she's as elusive as a phantom."
He fell silent, the weight of his words lingering in the air. His bicolored eyes glimmered with the burden of over a century of searching, the dream still haunting him. "More than a century," Hizuki murmured, half to himself. "And all I've ever seen of her is in dreams. But this time, it was different—it was a bad one."
His shoulders tensed, and the determination in his voice hardened. "I can't ignore this feeling, Jushin. I'm really beginning to despair… but if there's even the slightest chance she's there, I have to go."
Jushin didn't argue. How could he, when he saw the fire burning behind Hizuki's calm exterior?
"Don't worry, Alpha. I'll hold the fort," Jushin promised, his voice steady with confidence. "You can rest easy and focus on finding the Luna."
It wasn't the first time Hizuki had entrusted the Beta with the pack's affairs. Jushin was well-versed in the responsibilities of managing the pack, and his capable leadership had earned him respect from all. Besides, the days when packs lived in constant fear of invasions—either from rival packs or outsiders—were long gone.
Thanks to new human laws against trespassing and murder, the pack's territory, legally registered under their name, was protected by more than just the pack's strength. Any foolish outsider who dared to violate their borders would face human authorities before they even encountered the pack.
And as for other wolves? No sane Alpha would dare provoke Hizuki Kagerou. His reputation alone was enough to keep them at bay. He was a force of nature, an Alpha who could single-handedly annihilate any rival pack without so much as calling for reinforcements. Those who knew of him didn't just fear his strength—they respected the calm and calculated ruthlessness that underpinned it.
Jushin straightened his posture, his gaze resolute. "The pack will be safe, Alpha. You have my word."
Hizuki smiled. "Then I'll count on you."