ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Mika ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

I knew that it was only a matter of time before Raven would find me after his...encounter. I expected him to be raging loudly in our mind link with all kind of annoyances but he was suspiciously quiet for some time.

When he did finally arrive back to our room, hand bandaged carefully might I add, his entire being was in a downcast to which I then approached him.

"You knew...why didn't you tell me?" He asked as he allowed his eyes to meet my own and a pang of guilt ran through me.

I already felt bad enough about hiding it in the first place but being confronted about it only made me feel worse. I knew it was my own fault so I just had to accept it.

"It was at Nova's request that we didn't say anything to you" I said.

Raven stared at me for some time before sighing and falling down on my bed in a slump.

"What ever happened to bros before hoes?" He mumbled and I tilted my head.

I will never be able to understand these weird sayings that this child has picked up from hanging around humans, and this one was just beyond my comprehension.

"Did you just call your mate a hoe?" I asked incredulously.

I watched as my brother let out a frustrated sigh as he tangled his fingers through his hair while sitting up properly.

"He's not a hoe...he's just infuriatingly hot" he admitted to which I gave a weary chuckle.

"Is that so...?" I hummed.

When Raven started pacing, that's when I knew that this was bothering him more than he was speaking on. Raven was never one to hold his tongue, it was his trademark to be brash in the face of others so I kept quiet in order to give him the time he may have needed to sort his thoughts out.

Raven finally stopped in his tracks, hands eyeing the bandage on his hand and his lips suddenly turned down.

"I don't get it. He acted as if touching my hand was repulsive. Is the idea of touching me really that bad...?"

Surprised by the words Raven uttered, I found myself springing to his side and grabbing his shoulders.

"No, not at all. I'm sure he's just not being honest with you or himself" I said but that did nothing to soothe Raven.

"But why..." he said once more and that's when I let go of Raven, trying my best to conceal the annoyance that was currently filling me.

"Would you like me to talk with him?" I said, smiling in order to feign innocence but I knew just as well as Raven did that it was just a show.

I did Nova the favor of keeping quiet but to make my brother feel as if he has to doubt himself because of that bastard not being able to express his feelings in a normal way was just something I could and would not accept.

"You're acting polite but I can hear the murderous intent behind your words" Raven said as he patted my shoulder with a shake of his head.

"Hm? What ever do you mean? In all our lives, have I ever been unnecessarily aggressive?" I asked as I crossed my arms.

"...I guess not" Raven said with narrowed eyes and I smiled.

"Exactly. But it will not be my fault if things become...tense" I said.

"It's okay. I can take whatever that jerk dishes out, it's nothing compared to before" Raven said as he made a fist as if showing his strength but I immediately voiced my disagreement.

"I don't want you 'taking' anything. No disrespect, no insults, or whatever else he could do. If you don't like it, say so. Don't hold it in just because he's your mate" I said, poking Raven in the chest.

"Give him hell if you have to" I finished.

Raven's smile was faint but at least it was there and I felt a hell of a lot better when he finally laughed at my words.

"You do realize this is your mate's best friend we're talking about here right?" He said and I shrugged.

"Our connection is irrelevant in this matter. Right now, I'm talking to you as your brother and nothing else" I said.

"It's nice to know you still have my back at the end of the day" Raven said.

"You doubted that I wouldn't?" I asked, feeling somewhat hurt that Raven believed that I wouldn't.

Anyone would wonder how he could think such a thing but I knew why. I would feel the same thing, as if Raven had no longer needed me since he found his mate.

I just thought that he would still know that I'm always going to be around should he ever need me.

"...I'd be lying if I said I didn't, just a little bit" Raven said.

"Bros before hoes, isn't that the term you used?" I asked.

Out of nowhere, Raven went into one of the most hysterical laughing fits I'd ever seen him go through in a long time. His laughter seemed never ending and when it finally did cease, his eyes were watering from laughing so hard.

"Never say that again. It's weird coming from you" he breathed out to which I gave an unsure nod.

"O-Okay...?"

~ * ~

Later on in the day, I had been dragged along by Yulin to help him with the rogue situation because apparently a 'little birdie' told him I was good at strategizing. Which isn't wrong, but I was a bit confused as to why Raven had told him that considering the fact that he doesn't really like Yulin.

"When you do it like this, the problem will have a 99% chance of solving itself" I said after marking the last area of the borders. They were too wide so there was not enough coverage around all areas which led me to the answer that this is what is causing the slips.

Naturally, Yulin was already aware of this problem so as we talked I had eventually come up with a less than ethical idea to draw the rogues into designated areas. I proposed the idea of spreading silver along the border in order to force the rogues to go towards the places I marked on the paper and while I knew of it's harm to our kind, I knew there was a way we could use this weakness as a strength.

"And the 1%?" Yulin said while leaning his hips against the table with arms crossed.

"I can probably come up with about twenty more scenarios to increase the chances of our favor" I said and as if expecting that answer, Yulin smiled fondly at me.

"You really do have a knack for this" He said.

"Yeah...I had to be good at something I guess" I said with a shrug, not fully realizing the underlying message I'd accidentally passed on.

"What do you mean?" Yulin was quick on his feet as usual but I, too, could be just as fast.

"Mm, nothing. Does this work for you?" I said as I capped the marker in my hands.

"It's definitely easier said than done but we can work together to make it happen in a safe manner" he said and I nodded, satisfied with the answer.

"Well, we can pick it up tomorrow. I'll get going for now" I stated to which Yulin frowned.

"Leaving already? I thought it'd be nice to talk after this" He said.

"Uh...talk about what?" I asked, knowing very well what he was implying but I was unsure if I was ready for this conversation.

"Each other. The small talk at dinner is hardly enough to satiate me" he answered and I kept quiet as I contemplated the idea of actually taking a second to get to know who Yulin.

It's a pleasant idea but my own fears held tightly on to me whenever it came to any kind of sharing about myself.

"I want to know who you really are, Mika. So far all I know is this skittish wolf that seems so reluctant to be within five feet of me" Yulin said, eyeing the distance that was between us.

He was on one end of the long table while I made no moves to cross over to that side.

"Skittish...? I wouldn't go that far. Try cautious" I said with narrowed eyes.

Yulin moved across the room, his feet leading him to the sofa that laid a couple feet away from the table and he gestured to the space next to him.

"How about you try sitting with me?" He asked.

Shit, how did I get myself into this? I could have sworn we were just talking about exterminating pests two seconds ago.

Seeing as I made no move to come over to him, Yulin's face grew an expression that I immediately realized I never wanted to see again, especially not because of me or anyone else. His face reminded me of an abandoned puppy, the sadness in his features pulling at my heartstrings and I could practically hear my wolf whining in response.

"Mika, do you really dislike the idea of being next to me?" Yulin question and for some reason, those words seemed very familiar as if I'd heard them before.

"I don't get it. He acted as if touching my hand was repulsive. Is the idea of touching me really that bad...?"

Hearing Yulin's words made me instantly think back to what Raven expressed to me earlier and I now truly understand why he felt like that.

It's natural for mates to cling to one another, physical touch was a huge part in the connection made between mates so for one's mate to not wish to touch them let alone be next to them must be an extremely disheartening thing.

Approaching Yulin, I sat next to him on the sofa, close enough so that our shoulders were just barely touching and I tried my hardest not to react to the tingles that shot through my arm as we made the tiniest bit of a contact.

"You're not repulsive. Please don't say that again" I stated, crossing my arms in an attempt to keep my cool as my heart began to do that annoying irregular beating.

"I think a hug would make me feel even better" Yulin said, hitting me with that sullen puppy look again and I averted my eyes in fear of giving in too quickly.

Who was it again that said this man is a beast? He's more of a lost pup if you ask me...

"This is all I can offer right now" I said firmly and Yulin chuckled.

"It was worth a try" he said.

"What do you want to know?" I said, allowing myself to look back over to Yulin as the coast was now clear.

"Will you answer any question I ask?" Yulin said and I paused.

I could tell that Yulin was testing many waters right now, his intentions being subtle enough that I wasn't upset in any way about it and it's clear that he was just trying to see what I was okay with and what I wasn't okay with.

"...no. But I will try my best to answer the ones I'm comfortable with" I said and thankfully that seemed to work with Yulin as he nodded.

"Alright"

From then on, for every ten questions Yulin asked me, I maybe asked him about two of my own but they stemmed off from his original questions so I guess they don't really count. I do find myself to be an inquisitive person but it didn't feel fair of me to ask Yulin all the questions I had when I outright told him I wouldn't answer all of his so I kept mine to the bare minimum.

"Mika, I think it's your turn for a question. I'm sure there's at least one thing you're truly curious about" Yulin said.

Taking a second, I could feel the hesitation in my throat as I pondered on the question.

"What's your family like...?" I asked quietly, feeling almost ashamed to ask him.

It was a distant question, one that I tried to hold back but my curiosity was too peaked to ignore it. I could only hope that he'd forgive me for not being able to return the information about my own.

"Irina is...headstrong. She gets that from my mother I suppose and mostly only listens to the rules that she's made up about the world in her head. We don't get along too well but I still try my best to be there for her when she allows me to" Once Yulin finished, he had let out a small laugh and I tilted my head.

"This is gonna make me sound like a total mama's boy but she really is my best friend in many ways. With all my heart, I don't think I'd have been able to get this far without her guiding me here. Now all I can do is try to return her many favors" he said.

His family sounds...nice.

I wouldn't say I was envious of him because when I was young, I did receive the love and care that a child deserved, the only thing I felt while listening to Yulin was complete sadness for my own family. I don't know why things had to end up this way, but reconciliation could only happen through the grace of the Moon Goddess herself at this point.

"My father...I don't know much about him but let's just say he wasn't the greatest person in the world" Yulin said.

Well that makes two of us.

"I know it's getting late but I have one more question if that's alright?" Yulin said and I was now wondering what it was.

"Of course" I said.

"You're an alpha, aren't you?" when the words left Yulin's lips, I wasn't surprised.

I'd long given up on hiding that fact, I knew that if Lisa knew then it wouldn't have been long before Yulin caught on as well. Like mother, like son I suppose.

"Does knowing that make such a difference? Nothing will change from me answering that" I said.

"I suppose you're right" Yulin said with a hum.

Thankfully, he dropped his accusation with no problems but then instead decided to opt for staring at me which only made my skin feel hot.

"What's with the sudden staring?" I muttered.

"I really wish to comfort you right now" Yulin answered.

I let out a small scoff.

"What makes you think I need comforting?" I asked.

"I can feel it because your wolf is trying to reach out to my own" Yulin said which made my eyes widen a bit in surprise.

I've gotten so used to suppressing my feelings that I had no idea I was in turn neglecting my wolf. Guilt filled me once again and I could only silently apologize to the being that's been with me all my life.

"So, I take it you'll accept my hug now?" Yulin said, a coy smile on his lips as he finished his sentence.

One moment he's a puppy and the next he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Goddess, you've really given me an interesting mate.

I can take a hint when it's thrown at me, so without much effort, I reached over to embrace Yulin. As our chests pressed against each other, I could feel his heart beating erratically and I became relieved by this.

At least I wasn't the only one going crazy over this.

That refreshing scent of ocean breeze once again hit me and I found myself relaxing little by little. The soothing feeling that followed from Yulin's hand rubbing my back only comforted me more and I found myself pressing into him more.

"I know this is random but I just realized I forgot to ask you. How old are you?" Yulin asked and I decided that this was as good a time as any to break away.

"I'm 26" I said and Yulin's face froze.

"Oh...I was sure I was the older one..." he muttered.

McFuckingScuse Me.

"You're...younger than me?" I asked incredulously as I tried my hardest not to notice how different our bodies were.

He was clearly over six feet, was well built, and his features were very mature looking so how could anyone not think he was on the older side? And just how old do I look to him in order for him to assume that he's the older one?!

"Yeah, I'm 22"

I guess I really got the short end of the stick when it came to alpha genetics...

"I don't mind, in fact, I find this very interesting. Who knew I'd be with an older man? Mother will have quite the laugh when I tell her"

Goddess, are you having a good laugh at this? I hope you are because I'm not.

"I'm surrounded by babies" I muttered.

I looked up only to see Yulin smiling at me once again, his eyes shining with something that I couldn't quite describe.

"Thank you for bearing with my many questions" Yulin said and I just shook my head.

"It's fine" I replied and took a breath before speaking again.

"Someday, I'll tell you more things about me. Just give me some time" I said and Yulin nodded.

"There's no rush, I like to figure things out on my own" he said but whatever he meant by that seemed to be only something he'd know.