“There” I barked spitting out the deer I had logged in my teeth
“I must admit, for your first time that was really good” Beta Sobong chirped at me, I growled at him, both of us in wolf form
“Just really good?” I questioned
“Well, you were a bit sloppy in some parts, but nothing to be worried about”
“I can’t accept that, anything less than perfection is unacceptable, let’s go again” I barked
“Yes, Sir” he followed behind me into the woods
“I smell it, it’s about three hundred metres away, watch my flank” he nodded, and we sneaked our way to our unsuspecting prey, we settled in the bushes and watched it drink form the watering whole
I gave my beta the signal and he veered right, and I went left, the deer sped to the left, running straight into my trap, he panicked and turned towards the river, I pounced grabbing him with my front legs making us roll down the small hill, he tried to kick me off I dogged his attack and bit into his neck making blood splash everywhere
“Wow, that was quite an improvement” Bata Sobong chirped at me as he ran down to meet us
“It’s still not good enough, again”
“Ozius what is this all about?”
“I have to get her back, but I can't with him standing in my way, he’s too strong, and I can’t lose to him again” he nodded and took the deer back to the Lycan house without saying another word
I went deep into the woods to hone my skills
I walked back to the house with two deer on my back and one in my mouth
“What the hell Ozius? This is insane” Sobong barked at me, I spit the deer out
“I promised the pack a feast remember” I collapsed on the floor from sheer exhaustion, the pack cheered as they enjoyed the feast
“Are you ready?”
“Let’s go to war” I barked
Alicia’s POV
“Where are we?”
“Kyoto”
“Where?” I said with a little bit of whimsy dancing in my words
“Come” he took my hand with a playful smile on his face
I walked out wearing a green leafy kimono with red dotted flowers dancing around a white background toned down by an earthy brown belt that wrapped around my waist and tied into a neat bow on my back
“You, really love to dress me up, don’t you? I smiled up at him as he held me in his arms smiling down at me, he wore a black kimono with white wiggly lines cascaded all around it, it matched mine perfectly
“It’s my favourite thing in the world” I chuckled, and he patted me softly on the lips
“What’s this?” I whispered as we walked into a wooden room beautifully decorated with Japanese calligraphy lining the walls.
“You’ll see” he said kissing the back of my hand, two women walked out wearing traditional Japanese clothing, one sat down and the other laid down the try of equipment and bowed as she walked out, we bowed back, and I just couldn’t wait to see what the hell was going on here.
“Welcome, this is the traditional Japanese tea ceremony” she smiled starting the ritual
“What? No way” I whispered grinning at Alexander, I watched in awe as she performed the ritual, everything was so meticulously and effortlessly done, she looked like she was dancing with her hands
“That was beautiful Alexander, thank you for taking me there, I really enjoyed it” I smiled up at him
“The day is not over yet” he smirked taking my hand in his as we walked through the streets in our beautiful Kimonos
“Oh really, where are you taking me next?”
“It’s a place very dear to me, it’s not far from here actually”
“What makes it special?”
“The woman who raised me stays there” he smiled sombrely
“Raised you?” he nodded
“Sakura used to work at the palace, she’s the reason why I know about this place, she was born here and knows everything about Kyoto, it’s history and traditions, all the stories she told me were all of Kyoto”
“Sounds like she was very important to you”
“She was and in a way she still is”
“What do you mean”
“Well, were going there to not just have a meal with an old friend, but I also want her to meet you”
“And what if she doesn’t like me?”
“She will love you”
“But what if she doesn’t” he chuckled “what?” I questioned him
“I just like that you’re worried about it”
“I’m your mate, it shouldn't surprise you that I’m worried about it” I said avoiding his gaze, he stopped and pulled me into his arms holding me tight, he gave me a kiss on the forehead and whispered in my ear
“Say it again”
“What?”
“The mate stuff, say it again” I chuckled, and my cheeks flushed, I looked up at him
“You’re my mate Alex and I’m yours” he beamed at my words “okay now you’re just being ridiculous, what’s up with you?”
“You called me Alex” he avoided my gaze, looking shyly away “you haven’t called me that since you got your memories back, it’s nice” I shook my head at him and smiled
“Okay puppy, I’ll call you Alex from now on, happy?”
“Well now I think I like puppy more” he pouted
“Ugh” I groaned, breaking the hug, he took my hand, and we continued walking down the narrow streets “let me get this straight, you want me to call you anything accept Alexander, you do know that’s your name right” I mocked
“Everyone calls me Alexander; I want your call to be different” I rolled my eyes
“You’re being a child”
“That’s another one, babe, call me babe”
“I’m not calling you babe”
“Honey?”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous” I laughed; we continued this way until we reached Sakura’s house
“Hello mother, it’s been a while, it’s so nice to see you again”
“Oh, my son, look how you’ve grown” they hugged with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes, the emotions radiating from them, made my eyes start to tear up as well, it was a true reunion of mother and child after not seeing each there for however long it was
“And who is this lovely lady” she smiled at me wiping the tears from her cheek
“This is my love, Alicia” I shot my eyes up at him and smiled; his words made my heart sing
“Welcome to the family Alicia” she pulled me into a hug
“Thank you” I cried
“I hope you’re hungry” she led us through her wood paddled house, with white cloth embroidered in gold flowery patterned linen covering the sliding doors
We sat on the floor in the dining room that opened to her beautiful garden that was lined with assorted coloured flowers and in front of every one of them was a Bonsai tree, I'd never seen one before and now I was looking at what seemed like a hundred of them, a path was illuminated by a narrow white paddled pathway
We sat and ate, and she told me a story of when Alex was still a boy, he brought home a frog that he’d caught at the river, he was so excited to have a pet and when he showed it to her she screamed making the frog jump up landing on her head, we laughed as she told us how she ran around trying to get it off, Alex however did not like all his secrets being revealed
“Come with me” he took my hands and led me down the garden path
“Where are we going?” I chirped, despite how it started, this day turned out to be kind of perfect, it couldn’t get any better
“There is a spot just over that little hill, it’s perfect for viewing the sunset” or maybe it could get just a little bit better
“Sounds perfect, a perfect end to a perfect day” a smile danced on his lips at my words ``what's this?” I gasped seeing a row of red cushions lined up on the grass and a small gazebo decorated in Japanese writing and lanterns, Sakura was already sitting on one of the cushions
Alex held my hand as I sat next to Sakura and he took the seat next to me, stringy music started playing in the background and three women dressed in Kimonos came from behind us dancing with fans in their hands, their faces were painted white with red lips, black eyebrows, and pink cheeks
Their dance told a story of an ancient tradition still held true they moved effortlessly across the small gazebo stage
“What?” I gasped seeing Alex emerge from behind the gazebo joining them on stage, I was so engrossed in their movements that I hadn’t noticed that he was no longer sitting next to me
I laughed as I watched him attempt to dance the way they did, he didn’t do too bad, but it was not good either, one of the ladies handed him a board written in calligraphic Japanese writing, he fell to his knees, his head touched the floor, and he held the board above his head
Sakura put her hand to her mouth and giggled, and so did the three dancers, I was the only one not in the loop, I leaned over to Sakura and whispered, “what does the board say?”
“He’s asking you a question” she giggled again
“What’s the question”
“The question” she nudged me,
“Oh my god, thee question?” she nodded, I stood up and walked to him “Alex, get up”
“He won’t answer until he gets your answer” one of the dancers chirped at me
“Fine, you want my answer, here it is, no” his head shot up, confusion written all over his face
“What?” he barked
“My answer is no”