~Tsuki~

I had my Betas searching up and down the river for a week straight, and still, they found nothing. We had lost Himawari's scent once he entered the water since it was still so weak. I wondered what type of life he had to live to know how to fight like that, with two Alphas in one day, no less. As well as manage to escape the wolves of the Luna, it made me just as worried as it did angry. Standing on the riverside with my arms folded and an emotionless expression, I honestly felt sad. It had been so long since I felt the connection of our imprint. I knew he was alive, but I couldn't tell if he was hurt or not. For ten years, I'd slowly felt our bond wither and wilt like a dying flower, and I dealt with that pain with all the strength Artemis provided me. I never faltered in my resolve, not even to this very day, and finally, it seemed to be paying off.

It was as if air filled my lungs for the first time, like a newborn fresh out of the womb. The faint scent of amber lingered in the air, and I could feel him subconsciously calling for me. I was so happy I almost let a smile grace my lips and tears glaze my eyes, but when I found him, he didn't have a clue who I was, and my heart broke all over again. The closer I got to him, the fear and pain radiating from him were almost too much for me to bear. I watched him tremble at my presence, as if I could actually hurt him—me?!

So I contained myself and repressed the happiness I didn't deserve to feel. It was my fault he was like this after all, and I had accepted my punishment for being a coward long ago. I was just thankful that he wasn't dead, like it had been reported all those years ago. If I hadn't seen him with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed anyone who told me he still walked this earth; not even Artemis herself could've convinced me. When we locked eyes, ten years of tension left my body, and I felt better than I had in all my life. The fog in my head had finally cleared, and all of the lies Yuriko and my mother pumped into me were gone.

He was even more beautifully handsome than I remembered, and the reasons I called him "Himawari" had new meaning. He was no longer the cute little Omega who was scared to speak up when we were kids. He was a grown man, able to outrun five Betas on his own, and he even hit me—me?! I didn't know if I wanted to be impressed or enthralled by the person he'd become, but finding him in such a state—with that filthy rogue Alpha hovering over him, licking him, and hurting him—I felt an excruciatingly painful rage I'd never thought capable wrap its hands around my throat, and I would've killed him if Himawari hadn't been so badly hurt. He needed me more than that Alpha needed to meet death.

The way he clung to me shocked my entire being, and I didn't know how to react until he knocked me back into reality. Even his once weak punches had gotten stronger over time, and once again, I found myself admiring him. He was so afraid of me that he passed out, and I had no choice but to bring him home to treat his wounds. When I noticed some were already healing, I knew our bond had not yet been broken, which meant he still felt something for me, even if he didn't remember me.

When he finally woke up, I could feel how nervous and confused he was. We didn't even get to speak properly because of Yuriko and her bad temper. I had to restrain her, and he managed to slip out of my grasp yet again. I'd always told myself being with a member of the Sol wouldn't be easy, but this was more than even I expected. Yuriko was furious that I still held on to the feelings of my imprint after all these years, but I didn't care. I was done with her manipulating me.

"Still nothing, Alpha. We've been at this for a week straight. I think he might be d—"

The Betas' words were cut short by a simple glance, and he immediately changed the subject. "Uh, have you talked to Yuriko since the incident?" he asked nervously.

"We have nothing to talk about," I said monotonously before walking off.

"Wait, so you're really not going to talk to her?! You've never gone this long before," he said, shocked. "She's really mad at you, y'know."

"I don't care," I said, continuing to walk toward the car.

"Who is that rogue, anyway? Why all this fuss over a wolf from the Sol?" he asked, jogging to keep up with me.

I finally stopped to look into the eyes of my closest Beta, my best friend Juno, before answering him with a still emotionless expression. "He is my mate," I said and continued walking.

"Oh, okay..." he said, nodding his head. "WAIT, WHAT?! Hey!! Akarui, wait up!! You can't just say something like that and then leave!! Explain yourself!! What the hell do you mean he's 'your mate'?!" he said, running after me.

Juno has been my best friend since we were kids, and it also turned out that he was my Beta as well. He was always a dramatic kid with a very big mouth, but he was loyal. He had a slender frame like me, but with a little less muscle. Standing at 6'3" with short silver hair styled with too much product in an upward motion, he had a handsome face with a trimmed silver goatee that was complemented by his obsidian skin, purple eyes, and sharp features. 

We both wore red trench coats with white clothes, and red combat boots. All the nobles of the Luna wore various shades of red, purple, and white clothing. Since our skin was so dark, we typically didn't wear dark clothing like other Luna wolves to set us apart. 

"Exactly what I said," I said, ignoring his dramatics.

"Don't be ridiculous! There's no way a Sol wolf can be mates with a Luna wolf, especially not him. He's just a filthy—"

Before he could finish his sentence, my hand was in a vice grip around his throat, lifting him into the air. "Watch your tongue, Juno," I warned with glowing red eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, Alpha!" he struggled to say, and I released my grip.

"Whoa... did you guys see that? Alpha just punished Juno. If he's getting it, we all better be careful," a random Beta said in the distance, earning a glare from Juno, who was rubbing his neck.

"Hey, Akarui! I didn't mean to offend you, but you have to know how crazy that sounds, right?" he said, catching back up with me, still rubbing his neck.

I sighed heavily, running my hand down my face, feeling guilty for reacting so harshly toward my friend. "No, I overreacted, Juno, and I'm sorry for that. I can understand how it sounds." I looked at his neck and then into his eyes. "I meant what I said, though, and please don't refer to him as just an Omega, a rogue, or any other negative term you're used to saying. He's my mate, and your Luna. There's nothing filthy about him, and it's not his fault he's a rogue. It's mine. So please, just don't talk bad about him. I can't control how I'll react, literally," I said in a serious tone.

"Okay..." he said, shocked to hear me say the word "please." "I'll make sure the others know this. I've never seen you so determined before. It's odd," he said with a smirk, raising his eyebrow at me.

"Shut up," I said, getting into the car.

"Wait, it's not a bad thing! I think it's cute," he chuckled but stopped when he saw me glaring at him once he got in the car with me. "Sorry, Alpha."

"Mm," I hummed, starting the car.

So this is what just a glimpse of him does to me? Makes me choke my best friend only for him to turn around and tell me I'm acting "cute"? I shook my head and let out a light chuckle, earning yet another shocked glance from Juno as I started the car and pulled off. 

"You're going to be trouble, Himawari," I thought to myself.

"Hey, what the hell's going on with you, huh? I haven't seen you laugh in years. Now all of a sudden, pretty boy shows up, and you're smiles and giggles. I'm jealous. You don't even laugh at my jokes, and I tell good jokes," he said, folding his arms, earning another smile from me. He pointed at me in shock. "You're doing it again!!"

"You think he's pretty?" I asked, looking at him, and he flinched nervously.

"I—well, I mean—argh—I don't know how you want me to respond to that. I'm afraid you'll choke me again if I answer!" he said, moving his hands to protect his throat.

I smiled again, and he pointed at me yet again in complete shock. "W-we have to find that Ome—uh—I mean that wolf," he said, smacking his own lips lightly and then looking at me nervously, waiting for a negative reaction. When there was none, he continued, "How do you know him anyway? Why've I never heard anything about this? What kind of best friend are you?!" He leaned closer to me, squinting his already slanted eyes.

"I have," I said plainly as I started to drive back toward the city.

"I think I'd remember if you told me you liked somebody," he scoffed.

"It was a long time ago," I said, and he looked at me confused.

"Yeah, when we were kids," he snorted. His smile faded when he realized the truth in my words. "Wait, you don't mean—no way! THAT was your 'Himawari'?!" he asked, and my silence was his confirmation. "Sunflower, my ass! There's nothing delicate about him! He shot me and kicked me in the face! Hell, he even kicked Yuriko in the face!" he exclaimed, earning another smile from me. "You think that's funny?!"

"Yes," I said, still smiling, and he glared at me.

"You sure he's even an Omega?" he mumbled, and I looked at him. "Ah, I'm not saying it in a disrespectful way; it's just—no Omega I know hits that hard or even shoots a gun. To top it all off, he stood his ground against two Alphas. That's unheard of."

"Mm," I hummed in agreement.

"What about the engagement? Won't Yuriko be upset?" he asked curiously.

"It was never my engagement, so I don't care," I said simply.

"Right... HUH?! What do you mean you don't care?! She'll tell the Prime!" he exclaimed.

"I. Don't. Care," I repeated.

"Well, of course, you don't care! You're not the one who'll get an earful and have to listen to her complain all day! It's going to be me!" he scoffed.

"Then don't listen," I shrugged.

"I can't ignore her!" he exclaimed again.

"Mm," I said, losing interest in the conversation.

"Are you ignoring me?!" he shouted.

"Mm," I said, my mind drifting back to thoughts of my mate.

"Akaruiiii!" he whined.