[KIYOTO]
The crowd of Kiyoto wolves quietened. It wasn't even because of the hatred they had for the man. That was something that would never really change. Maybe it was because the king had said something was bound to change their lives.
They had not been ready for this part of their lives. Not for the king to surrender the plaques to them all like that. Not even for the king not to look at them with kindness as he said the words that none had expected to hear.
But now it was as if it were the most unrealistic moment for them all.
And Luna Park?
Her cruel smile faltered.
Hell, even Lee Tang, who had been ready to talk down to the king, was stunned into silence as his brows twitched at the king's sudden decision. It was not what they had expected, and it was obvious.
And in the silence, Agust continued.
"They will stay in Kiyoto. Without your Alpha's approval or word, no one will be able to cross through. Not even my people," Agust said louder as if he wanted to make sure they heard his declaration loud and clear.
That right there was something so simple yet one that would have so many hearts filled with endless questions. Perhaps that was not what the guest had intended, but it was happening either way.
At the king's words, relief swept through the Kiyoto wolves like something that they had never before seen. Sure, it was not warm relief, but it was something, however reluctant they were.
This was a step towards something.
Honestly, it was probably going to be better than what most of them had in mind, right?
Besides, by now, they all already knew the mad king was dangerous in every way. They knew that the man was not to be trusted with ease, so they knew what to expect regardless of how this turned out.
"How great. A mad man coming to our home to talk if he is doing us all a favor. A man who doesn't even understand loyalty is here teaching us about plaques.
"How interesting, don't you think?" Lee Tang asked, his tone filled with mockery and contempt for the king.
He hated the man; it was no secret.
Perhaps that was why Jiminie didn't even try to stop him. At least for a moment there. It was like the air was crackling with tension, and they all had to think for the betterment of their home.
In the crowd, some people agreed with Lee Tang's perspective.
Warriors who had stood at the frontline, defending their people.
Warriors who had shed their blood just so Kyoto would thrive.
Warriors who had been struck by Helia blades, all because of a king who could contour his own people. And now that same king was here, acting like he was giving them what they deserved.
Peace was what they deserved and needed, and this king never carried peace with him, no matter where he went. Peace was the kind of burden he himself was not sure he was ready to carry.
Yet at this moment, he was promising them even though it felt more like a dark promise than a desire to keep them safe. Maybe the king just needed to leave, didn't he?
"And what happens when the king changes his mind? What will happen to us when he decides to undo the magic in the barrier or even the plaques.
"We will be left out there, bare, and defenseless against the people who have made it clear they want Kiyoto to burn, come to hell or high water. What happens then, your majesty?" Jae Jun asked darkly.
He was always a soft-spoken enforcer for the Alpha.
But even he had questions, if they were going to leave their lives in the hands of the man who endangered them in the first place, the last thing they could be given was honesty, right?
Surely it wasn't too much to ask when there were literal worlds flamed because of Helia. Helia had ruined lives, and they had fucked with Kiyoto too. Maybe if this was answered well, the maw would understand where they stood, right?
And Jiminie…
Gods, he was painstakingly beautiful as he stood there beside the king and Luna. It was as if he were a princess, but his people knew him better, a lethal weapon that spent his entire life protecting Kiyoto.
But also, a weapon that had been betrayed by the same man who had walked right through their gates days ago.
The pack had helplessly watched their alpha unravel because of this same king. They had watched their alpha cry his heart out at his most vulnerable state, begging for the king to come back, and yet for years, the king never came back.
He had stayed away and let Jiminie deal with the grief himself. That was something that the Kiyoto wolves would never forget.
The pain that they felt when they realized that, regardless of what they did or even how they did it, they would never be able to give their Alpha what he had needed at the time.
And the king who could have walked through the grief with Jiminie had left, like a ghost, only whoring himself out in the grand palace of Helia, not respecting that same bond.
The Kiyoto wolves had every right to be apprehensive of the mad king, and no one could blame them for that. Especially when it came to their Jiminie as a subject of discussion.
Their alpha had suffered way too much at the man's hands, and it wasn't fair to let that happen again. Hell, this was not easy, and they had every right to be unsettled about it.
"What do you expect? He is a king, never a saint. The man couldn't even protect his heir years ago. Of course, he will leave if that happens, like he always does," Luna Park said slowly, but everyone heard her.
They knew that the Luna hated the king with all she had and didn't have, but they had also seen what had happened. They had been there. They had watched it happen and tried to defend themselves.
Jiminie tried his best not to flinch at his mother's tone.
Agust though…
The mad king of Helia did not flinch.
He had expected this.
He had known that there would be a day for him.
But standing there and watching Jiminie bear the silent brunt of bringing Agust back to Kiyoto be something else. It was the kind of feeling that cut through so deeply, and it ruined him.
It broke him, seeing his Jiminie that vulnerable.
It had never been his intention. That much Agust could swear on his life. He had never been ready for such but now the truth was out there, and he had to be ready for what happened. And he had to make Jiminie happy.
"Enough," Jimin voiced firmly, however quietly it came.
His voice cut stiffly and sharply through the air like a blade, together cut deeper than the guilt that Agust was feeling right now.
The pack stilled.
They had clearly not expected this.