ˏˋ°•*⁀➷  Mikaˏˋ°•*⁀➷

After everything that happened a few days ago, my head has begun to preoccupy itself of thoughts I'd ridden myself of years ago.

The ones that told me that it was still possible to salvage what little was left of my pack, the ones that told me that they were all suffering. Hearing it from Alfie made my position no better, all I could do was sit and wonder if I really am doing the right thing in feigning ignorance.

"You've sighed for the tenth time in the past few minutes. I don't believe I'm boring you but I do wonder what's making you so upset" Yulin's voice carried itself over to me and took me away from my plaguing thoughts.

We were once again eating together but I'd long forgotten that I was hungry, my fork and food remaining untouched.

"You're asking even though you're well aware of the reason?" I said and Yulin smiled.

"It's not good to assume what another one is feeling. I'm not a mind reader either" Yulin said.

"Ah, now you aren't" I said with a small laugh.

Yulin seemed to come across as very empathic when it came to sensing my emotions, not only was this likely because of our mate bond that has slowly been growing, but it's also a trait he likely gained from his mother.

He always knew what I was feeling, no matter how hard I tried to hide it. I didn't think of myself as an open book but perhaps I leave myself unguarded because I'm with him.

"Would you like to go outside with me?" Yulin suddenly asked and I raised a brow.

"And go where?" I asked but Yulin shook his head in response.

"Just come with me, will you?" He said and not wasting another second, I nodded.

"Alright"

After finishing dinner, I headed back to my room to quickly get ready but as soon as I went to open my door, Raven appeared at the other side with his hand also reached for the knob.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Where are you going?" Raven countered, giving a supposedly suspicious look but the only suspect here was him.

"Yulin invited me out. Why are you dressed like that?" I asked as I looked at my brother's choice of clothing.

I was never a stickler over how Raven lived his life, as long as whatever he was doing wouldn't harm him, I typically didn't mind him running off and what not. But right now, I'm just very confused as to why my brother is wearing a collared button up shirt with all of the buttons undone.

And did he forget to dry his hair or something?

"I'm on my way to execute phase 2" Raven said.

Ah...he must be going to see Nova.

"Do I want to know about this 'phase 2'?" I asked cautiously and Raven gave me a vague smile.

One that told me nothing but everything at the same time.

"Wish me luck!" He said before passing by me and heading off to wherever it was that he was going to.

"Yeah, good luck..." I muttered as I stepped in the room.

Once I was ready, I left my room and sought out Yulin who was waiting for me by the main entrance

"Ready?" He asked.

"Yes" I said while nodding.

The vast forest that was behind the pack house was apparently our destination, I honestly thought we were going to go out into the city since I haven't really seen much of it but I guess not.

Suddenly, Yulin stopped in his tracks which made me bump into him, an apology escaping me as I did so.

"We need to hold hands going further" Yulin said as he held his hand out and though I was extremely confused, I didn't turn down his request.

His hand was warm as always and though I've gotten used to the tingles that shot through me every time we touched, they still make my heart pound ever so slightly.

"Why do we need to hold hands?" I asked.

"Do you not like it?" Yulin asked and I shook my head.

"No...I'm just curious since you said 'need'" I said.

"I don't really have a reason, I just wanted to hold your hand" Yulin said and I narrowed my eyes at him. It was obvious he was just teasing me and Yulin's laugh confirmed my suspicions.

"That's what I would say if we were going anywhere else but the place we're going to is one that only three people in our entire pack are allowed to go to" Yulin said which made my eyes widen a bit.

"But now once I formally introduce you, it will be four" he said.

Just where in the hell are we going?

We walked on for a few more minutes and I could easily see why we needed to hold hands, despite there being so many trees around us, Yulin seemed to know exactly where he was going as he made turns here and there.

There was one final cluster of trees before something that shimmered caught my eyes and I was immediately in awe as we finally arrived.

This place was completely void of any wild life but the lake that stretched so far out was absolutely gorgeous. The water was so clean that there was no doubt in my mind this water had never been touched by another living being.

The lake was just the first impressive part, what really caught my attention was the few clusters of lights that floated around us. Each were a different color and some of them rushed to Yulin, surrounding him as if greeting him to which he merely smiled at them.

"These guys are the ones that protect this area. It's a sacred place given to us that only my mother, Irina, and I know of. From what I remember, their species are referred to as Wisps" Yulin explained.

I've heard of wisps, but only in stories my mother used to tell me. They were the closest things to friendly spirits we really had in this world, most spirits don't like being around humans and other supernatural creatures but wisps are devoted to Mother Nature and helping her preserve the life she's given.

It's only natural that they're curious about the ones they see roaming about this place.

One of the wisps that floated away from Yulin reminded me of my own eyes, the color being that which resembled a vibrant flame flickering against the night and for some reason, I held my hand out to it.

The small wisp landed on my finger, a surprising hot sensation emanating from it as it did. It stayed for a while and I thought it would flutter away back to the others at any moment but the wisp only continued to float up to my shoulder.

"They only approach the ones they really like. I guess this one favors you" Yulin said and I guess I was delighted by his words.

If a spirit likes me then I suppose that's a good thing.

"You guys, this is Mika. He's my mate" As Yulin finished his sentence, the wisps all started floating about excitedly and I was a bit surprised when they whirled all around me.

I wasn't exactly comfortable with just saying hello to a bunch of glowing lights so I kept my greetings in my head as I looked at each and every one of them.

"How did you guys find this place?" I asked.

"Our pack ancestors became friends with wisps a very long time ago, and since then they've watched over us as if we were their own, providing us protection in their own small ways. My mother told me that she was blessed by them as a child and that it's the reason she's still alive today"

"She was in a horrible accident and a wisp had gave her its own life force so that she could continue living. She's felt indebted ever since and I've only done my part in trying to protect them as well as a thank you to them" Yulin explained, his finger poking at the wisp that was bothering him and he smiled when it ran away.

This surely must be the reason why, despite all the rogue activity, Yulin remained vigilant in protecting this land. Moving was definitely his last solution and now it makes me wonder what would have happened if they really had to abandoned this land.

"This is the reason why we've been fighting so long, it was the one thing I wasn't so willing to leave behind but thanks to you I'm glad that we don't have to" Yulin said and as we locked eyes, my heart once again began to pound for some reason.

Seeing all the sincerity and the other emotion that I'm too shy to admit right now did nothing to settle it down. I've never been looked at so tenderly before, not in the way that Yulin does and it excited me but made me nervous as well.

"I'd like to ask you something" Yulin said and even after hearing his question, I had already decided upon this a few days ago.

This time, no matter what, I'd answer any question he asked.

"Yes?"

"Why did you leave your pack?"

Of course it's that one, but honestly, after being around Yulin long enough, I was more comforted by his presence rather than wary anymore so I didn't necessarily feel as closed off to him.

He's only ever been open with me and it made me feel happy that he's only ever trusted me since our first meeting. It's time I started to put trust in him as well.

"Leave...isn't really the word I'd describe it as. Try more like exiled" I said to which Yulin gained a taken aback expression.

Exiling an alpha was one hell of a thing to do, your crime must be equivalent to that of treason in order for an alpha to be exiled from their own pack. Naturally the majority has to agree on it as well, or else the verdict won't hold.

"It started when my mother passed, the breaking of their bond was immensely hard on my father. His wolf never stopped grieving, even if he tried so hard to act like he was over it. His face remained stiff and every action of his was clear as day to us; he'd lost any kind of empathy he could have held for life in that moment"

"He began to loathe weak people, claiming that weakness kills. If you weren't someone worthy in his eyes, you were better off dead, and he'd never let someone he deemed weak to become alpha. His passage of rite to my siblings and I was a duel to the death. Either kill or be killed, regardless, only one of us would make it out"

"That's how I lost my oldest sister. It was so...disheartening to know that my father could just get rid of us so easily, even if he was hard on us he still loved us. Or maybe he never did, who knows?"

As my tone changed, the wisps only seemed to gather around me more as if to comfort me to which I silently thanked them so that I could continue.

"My second older sister, Clara, took to her own devices as she began to preach that on her 18th birthday, she would become alpha. Despite showing no fear for months and clinging onto the belief she was going to best father, her body visibly trembled when they were face to face on those grounds. I could sense her fear from a mile away and when the fight began..."

"Clara was scared out of her mind and though I don't know where she got the confidence to pretend like she wasn't, it had angered me. How many times would this have to happen before none of us were left?"

"At some point Clara lost her footing and fell, leaving her wide open and before I could even think, I had shifted. I already knew what was going to happen, he was going to kill her right there and then. So I jumped in before he could. I didn't care, at that point, I had lost all respect and love I could have ever had for my father and decided that the only way we'd ever be free was for me to do something"

"I didn't think that something was killing him. By the time I realized he was dead, I couldn't even tell if the cries I'd heard were mine or Raven's"

"I thought everything was over...I really did but I barely had the time to take a breath before Clara was running off and screaming to everyone that I murdered father, shouting that I'd stolen her chance to become alpha and just like that, everything blew up. The council eventually got involved and though there was a trial, I didn't need it to know that no matter what, I'd be deemed guilty"

Everyone knew what it meant to be declared guilty. A death sentence would be handed for killing an alpha and I think the thought of me being dead was exactly what was going through Yulin's head right now.

Yulin's sadness and anger were coming off so strongly that I'm pretty sure he was scaring the wisps with just his aura alone. I couldn't blame him, hearing the pain that your mate went through is a very upsetting thing for wolves but I decided to not let my pain overcome me a long time ago so I had to make sure Yulin wouldn't let this bother him either.

Grabbing his hand, I held it to my face so that he could calm down, even if it was only a little and thankfully it seemed to work as Yulin's hand moved to caress the skin that laid beneath his hand.

We stayed like that for a moment before I decided to finally wrap up my life story.

"The only reason why I wasn't sent to my death was because Raven had pled his heart out to them, begging for my life to be spared. He even revoked his own birthrights just so that I could live" I said, a bitter smile forming on my face.

"So yeah, here we are after it all" I finished awkwardly, not really knowing what else to say about it.

"It doesn't seem to bother you that much anymore" Yulin said.

"What's the point? It won't change anything, all we can do is move on as we have been" I said as I looked to his hand that had removed itself from my face, my wolf clawing within me as if trying to reach back out to him.

"I apologize for making you remember something so painful" Yulin said.

"It's fine...I don't mind because it's you" I said and this seemed to catch Yulin's interest.

"Does this mean I'm special?" He said, a smile on his face and I knew that he was teasing but I could only answer him seriously.

"Yes"

Yulin's expression quickly changed from cheeky to surprised and if I looked close enough, I'm sure I'd see the smallest hints of blush on his cheeks.

Laughing a little, I moved up to poke the cheek that was dusted with a very light pink.

"You being embarrassed for a change is nice" I said.

"Is it?" Yulin asked but it was an absent statement as he eyed my hand just as I was his a few moments ago.

"Yeah, I think anyone would love to see-"

My hand was grabbed and before I knew it, Yulin's warmth had met my own as he pulled me closer and kissed me.

The lips that met mine only had my eyes widening, stunned that this turn of events was suddenly happening. Despite the chill that nipped at my skin due to the cold weather that was approaching, the only thing I could feel was warmth as Yulin's hands cupped my face ever so gently.

Seeing no reason not to, I found myself succumbing to the warmth that was being feverishly fed to me. Moving my lips against Yulin's in response, we suddenly found ourselves lost in one another's embrace.

My first kiss was, how do I say, long? The way Yulin kissed me left me with no doubt he'd been waiting for too long to do this, the way he kept pulling me back in for more as if refusing to ever let go was evidence of this.

I didn't want him to either, even if my heart exploded in my chest right now, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't regret this moment.

Despite it all, everything comes to an end and when Yulin finally did let go of me, I couldn't look him in the eye just yet. My greediness was the reason why, it surprised me as I contemplated about giving him another round but I pulled myself together.

"I could say the same to you" Yulin said as he pressed the pad of his thumb against my lip and I gave a not so serious glare.

"Who said you could do that?" I chided and Yulin chuckled.

"Sorry, I'll be sure to ask next time" He said but not even shortly after, I was once again being pulled in but before our lips met, Yulin stopped himself.

"May I?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes at the sudden jester.

"How unbelievable" I muttered as I moved to close the gap between us once more.

I hadn't even noticed that the wisps had long since disappeared as if giving us privacy, my only thoughts being eaten up by Yulin as we continued to enter this new stage of our bond.