With the felines whirlwind through basic pup requirements and all but flaunting her coming of age accomplishments within only months, The Lord of the Western Lands became aware of something monumental. Something he was far too hesitant to admit.
The dog was no better than the wolf.
As she continuously requested his presence and aimed to impress him at every turn, his beast could not help but hum in approval. Unknowingly, she was following the basic instincts of her kind. The need to gain the affections and acceptance of the Alpha.
Again and again, she worked to grab his attention.
Again and again, he refused and fought off her advances.
Oblivious or simply not caring after his blatant disregard, his beast purred in acceptance and desire as she progressed through the training that was expected of her. It seemed that no matter what, instinct would prevail.
Instinct told his beast that she was worthy.
Instinct told those around him that she was worthy of acknowledgment.
Yet, he hesitated.
A feline?
His brother's priestess at that?
One that had only recently mastered her humanoid form? It was shameful to want someone so inexperienced with their kind and their ways.
But the beast wanted nonetheless.
That had become far too apparent as the council meeting came to a close. The Western Lord wondered if the cat could make his day even more difficult at the moment in time. But, as a scroll was handed to him and words were spoken, he realized that he should not have taunted the gods with such an inquiry. Looking down at the item that had been dropped off for him, he snarled. The departure of the council members presented a whole new problem in itself.
A royal seal, and inside it, a request for aid from the council.
Breach of promise?
The nerve of the wolf.
As he seethed at what such a thing meant, the Northern Lord only gave him a knowing look.
"A war over a feline, Sesshoumaru? The council advises you to let her go if she is not yours."
Red bled into his eyes without warning, and briefly, he debated on just how problematic it would be to kill the Fox Lord before him as well as the wolf.
How dare they.
He provided the Northern Alpha with a snarl and narrowed eyes. With dripping poison claws, he began to shred up the scroll without even glancing at it. Turning to the Lord, he raised a brow of defiance.
"Tell me, Haku—how does one steal something that was theirs in the first place?"
But the fox only shrugged and let out a tired sigh as an understanding of the situation set in.
"The wolf prince has stated he has given you three notices without entering your lands. Now, he wishes the council to intervene. He claims that she was marked."
He would.
The fucking wolf.
Why did the breed have to be so damn stubborn? Had it not been enough that he had taken a risk at removing her mark? Had he not given enough warning of his intent when he yanked her away from him filthy claws?
No, apparently not.
"Pack has the first choice." Biting out each word, he couldn't stop the growl that surfaced.
It was the law. The way of their kind. The Alpha had always been known to pick whom their pack members could be mated with. More importantly, they had the first choice if the desire to mate was there. It was one of the many responsibilities of an alpha. If anyone, it had been the wolf that violated their sacred process. He had taken what was not his. As Alpha, he had simply remedied such a ridiculous error. But here was the wolf prince, stubborn to his supposed claim. Sending warning after warning with his royal decree.
"He claims no alpha was present. That she was abandoned." Fighting every ounce of control, Sesshoumaru let images of what he would do the wolf prince enter his mind.
Abandoned?
Not only was the wolf stupid, but apparently, he also had a death wish.
"Let him come and question my honor as Alpha in person."
He knew it was bold.
Maybe even unwise.
But with a dark smile, he also knew that the entire council was aware that the West could outmatch the East even on their worst days. If the prince wished to provoke a war, then whom was he to stop such a request?
He had expected the fox to argue or warn him again of such rash behavior. Instead, he let out a low chuckle.
"Then you have not heard? Your palace is buzzing with your felines escape. I do wonder wherever she could be heading."
Escaped?
What did she think she was doing? Surely she knew that she would be caught the moment he heard of such a thing. Unable to control his annoyance, he let out a low and almost inaudible sigh as he realized the cat was apparently going to need to be chased into submission.
How was it that overseeing and resisting one simple feline was going to be the death of him? First the search for her, then the training, and now the chase? Apparently, felines were far more high maintenance than he initially believed.
For now, he would endure it.
For her.
But the moment he caught her? He would show her the consequences of her actions. After all, if she wanted to claim to be fully grown, then, as alpha, it was only right to show her what consequences came from such a thing.
His beast relished at such a thought.
