Hizuki Kagerou crossed the room and stood at the edge of the balcony, his eyes narrowing as he took in the view of Kageoden. It was winter, the biting cold air swirling around him, but it didn't affect him—not in the slightest. His kind was immune to the harshest elements, and the cold that wrapped the world outside held no sway over him. His mind was far too occupied with other matters—matters that required attention, now more than ever.
"Iori," Hizuki called, turning away from the view and walking back into the room. His voice was steady, calm, but his eyes were sharp, betraying the calculating mind at work. "Empty the mansion."
Iori, standing by the door with a solemn expression, nodded, though a flicker of confusion passed through his gaze. "Empty the mansion?" he repeated, his voice laced with uncertainty. "What do you mean, Alpha?"
"Send all the servants to the modern area," Hizuki instructed, his voice never wavering. "Tell them to leave every door unlocked or open, except for my chamber. I don't care about the cold. It won't harm me, and it won't harm the manor either. Just make sure everything is left accessible."
Iori looked puzzled but didn't question his Alpha's order. "Understood," he said, though the slight crease between his brows didn't disappear. He was concerned, but Hizuki's orders were absolute. "Anything else, Alpha?"
Hizuki paused, his eyes narrowing as he thought about the surveillance of the territory. "Iori, are the cameras still functioning?" His voice was casual, as though the question was routine, but it held a layer of something more—a warning, a preparation for something unknown.
Iori didn't hesitate to answer. "The cameras are in place. They cover all angles of the territory."
It was one of the reasons why Shadow Wolf Pack didn't need a lot of guards patrolling. The territory had state of the art surveillance system. They're discreet—almost invisible unless the person knew exactly where to look. They've kept the washrooms and bedrooms private, but every other corner of the estate was under surveillance. This was not only for the pack but because Shadowlane Logistics dealt with extremely valuable items as well. Iori just deemed it better to install the system in the entire domain and Hizuki let him.
Hizuki's lips twitched into a faint smile, though there was no amusement in his eyes. "Install cameras in my room. Immediately."
Iori blinked, clearly startled by the order. "In your room, Alpha?" he asked, his tone laced with surprise. "What are you planning?"
Hizuki's gaze met his, cold and unwavering. "If the Wind Pack is plotting something, I might as well let them. But I need the cameras. Akechi Ookaze won't dare complain if there's proof of whatever happens. Even if I don't care about other tribes, I won't have the Wind Pack accusing me of anything. They have those damned Salutaries, and many wolf clans rely on their healers. I don't want to annihilate the entire Wind Pack and all the other packs who'd side with them unless it's absolutely necessary."
Iori nodded slowly, still processing the Alpha's intentions. "I understand, Alpha."
Hizuki's voice was sharp again, cutting through the tension in the room. "Iori," he said, his expression hardening, "Do you know I'm sure that the Wind Pack can find the manor? They've never set foot outside the modern area but they will come for me."
Iori thought for a moment before speaking. "I'm not sure, Alpha. The territory is vast, and only the most trusted knows the layout. The mansion, though—no one goes near it. So far, I'm sure they'd never set foot out of their designated areas. I'm not confident they would find this place..."
Hizuki sneered, his eyes narrowing with dark amusement. "Oh, but they can find me. Rina Ookaze came to the manor frequently when my mother was pregnant with me. She was supposed to help with the birth, but another did it in the end. I'm sure Rina knows this place better than most."
Iori sighed in resignation, remembering that yes, the old lady indeed came to the manor more than a century ago. Knowing that those people could find the manor, there was no further argument. He would do as Hizuki commanded. "Understood," he said quietly.
As Hizuki sent Iori to execute his instructions, he walked slowly toward the balcony again. The moonlight bathed the land in a soft glow, but Hizuki's mind was sharp, focused on the matter at hand. The Wind Pack's arrival had already been anticipated, and now it was time to send them a message. He closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath.
Without warning, he released a surge of energy—a powerful pulse that rippled through the territory, unmistakable in its force. The energy crackled through the air, reaching the guest house where the Wind Pack had settled. It was a silent declaration of his presence—a message for anyone who might be watching. If they were plotting, they would know he was there, waiting. The time for subtlety was over.
"Well, let them try," Hizuki muttered to himself, his gaze fixed in the distance. "If they're planning something, they better do it now."
He turned away from the balcony and returned to his room, lying down on the futon, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. His wolf, Kagerou, was always there in the background, a constant presence in his mind.
Hizuki, Kagerou's voice rumbled in his mind, calm yet tinged with curiosity. I felt a bit of malice coming from that direction.
Hizuki's eyes closed, his voice a low whisper as he answered. "You're not wrong. Those guests are indeed plotting something."
What are we going to do?
"Nothing," Hizuki replied. "At least for now. We need to have enough reason to strike."
Do we get rid of them as soon as they arrive?
"No. Let's see what they will try to do first."
Two hours passed, and Hizuki's senses remained sharp. He had no need for sleep; his wolf was always vigilant, always aware of every shift in the atmosphere. And tonight, that awareness heightened as the auras of the Wind Pack arrived at the manor.
Hizuki's lips curled into a faint smile. Hizuki, they're outside the door.
I know, Hizuki replied, his voice unwavering. The man and wolf could feel the subtle changes in the air, the shift in energy. He was fully aware of the intruders' approach.
As Hizuki lay still, he could feel a strange presence enter his room. A soft smoke began to seep under the door, and Kagerou was the first to notice it.
"What's that?" Kagerou asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Sleeping medicine. A strong one," Hizuki answered, his tone casual, as though he were unfazed by the intruders' tactics. But the truth was that he was beyond annoyed. Among all the things, they had to come up with this odorless drug he was specifically not okay with.
Huh? Kagerou was taken aback, his thoughts racing. Sleeping medicine? Aren't you sensitive to this?
"Well, too bad for me," Hizuki muttered, his consciousness slipping away as the powerful effects of the medicine took hold. "I guess you'll have to deal with them alone." Even if Hizuki slept, Kagerou could always take over his body, and he's immune to medicine, curses, and spells.
Kagerou growled, frustration seeping into his voice. I told you we should have killed them as soon as they stepped inside, he whined, but there was nothing to be done now. Hizuki's orders had been clear, and Kagerou would follow them—even if it meant dealing with the intruders alone.
As the door creaked open, Kagerou waited, his senses sharp. He was curious to see how far they would go. Then, it hit him. A touch. A strange, unfamiliar sensation against his chest.
Moonlight palm. Someone dared use the mind control method on him.
Kagerou's fury boiled over. How dare this thing try to control him? He had no tolerance for such attempts. When another used what seemed to be an antidote towards him, he took it as a cue to move. He snapped into action, ruthlessly throwing the woman aside with a force that sent her crashing against the wall. The young men with her didn't fare any better; Kagerou dealt with them swiftly, ensuring they wouldn't rise again. Hizuki said that heads would roll and he did it.
But his eyes remained fixed on the woman—the one who had dared to touch him. She wasn't his mate, and yet she had the audacity to claim otherwise.
The woman wiped her tears, voice trembling with desperation. "You should listen to me. I'm your wife."
His eyes narrowed. "Wife? A disgusting thing like you?" Hizuki scoffed. "Never."
With terrifying ease, he grabbed her by the neck, lifting her off the ground. "I won't kill you. It would be troublesome," he said, his voice cold. "But since you like playing mind control so much... I'll let you experience it properly."
Hizuki said he could not kill this woman, but he'd make sure she wished she would rather be dead a million times over. His bicolored eyes shifted, his pupils constricted as if pulling her soul in and he watched in satisfaction as she realized who and what he was.
"No…" she whispered in horror. "No… Primordial wolf…"