A/N:I'm on Covid leave right now and want to relax and write. Naturally, i'm updating the stories. Heads up, I had a fever while writing this part so apologies for mistakes and...the ending of this chapter? . But, I think it will definitely get interesting.

Koga was known by many names and traits.

Prince of wolves.

Ruler of the Eastern Lands.

Stubborn.

Suspicious.

Hell, even sometimes spontaneous.

But he, along with the world had known something else that defined him all too well.

Unmated.

Yet, here he was, sitting in the room with leadership, being proved how wrong he was as his mating mark all but gleamed on the surveillance television in front of the ranks of his own and the tribes of surrounding leadership at this very moment.

A mark that could only mean that he was mated or the mating process had started. Something that, to his knowledge, was far from true.

"That can't be—" the fox beside him murmured.

"Wolf—" a cold voice cut in, more than likely also wanting to know what Koga himself did not know at the moment.

"You were mated?!" A female voice broke out in confusion glancing between the TV and him.

Not able to respond, Koga could only stare at the screen in doubt. No matter how much he tried to calculate how and why such a thing could occur he could not come up with an answer.

There had only been one woman.

Everyone knew it.

Hell, he had been vocal about it to any and all who would listen.

That left two possibilities remaining. Someone had done something behind his back...or this mark was not authentic. But to go behind his back? Without his knowledge? The ceremony for such a thing was passed down from the top two in command next to him. Had Ginta and Hakkaku been able to do such a thing? Surely not. Not when they knew that there had been someone out there that he had already chosen.

Still, there was no other explanation.

For now, he did not know if to be upset or relieved. On one hand, he had been called for an All Hands on Deck by the Council. Understanding the severity of such a thing, he had made haste. Only to show up to such a calling and immediately be put on lockdown. No sooner had such a thing occurred had he understood what the meeting was for.

Preservation of leadership.

Meeting with the rest of the lords, he had quickly summed up the need for such a thing. Someone had infiltrated their ranks. Now, they had to draw them out. So here they were, Lords of all domains along with their mates and kin all on lockdown and their packs entirely on their own.

Normally, he would not have panicked in such a situation. After all, he had told both Ginta and Hakkaku where he had gone. More importantly, he trusted them to take care of their pack. But then, everything changed.

Leadership had been called together in one room and the situation was explained. Everyone had been investigated, and none of the leadership had been compromised. So, that had left their ranks. All of which were exposed. When asked for more information, it had been an old ally that had provided an explanation and further clarification.

Somehow, the location and personnel of the ranks had been infiltrated and information had been released. So much so, that they were able to hone in on the compromised area. As a television turned on, another lord had pointed at the gathering of the packs on the screen. Just like that, his blood ran cold.

There, on the television screen were at least three packs and among them, Ginta and Hakkaku. Without hesitation, Koga saw what was happening. A holy shrine and gathering of their kind had only meant one thing. Ambush. Sure enough, the room watched the surveillance of at least a hundred personnel all gathering. Yet, it wasn't until a monk had shown himself did the room truly begin to panic. "You mean for us to let our people die?! To just find one traitor out of a hundred" One had growled. Another glanced between the television screen and the lords with worry laced in their expression.

"You can integrate all the packs in that group and find them" A fox growled desperately while staring at the tv knowing time was precious. "There is no other way? You would bring death to innocents at the hands of the holy?" The Northern Lord of Japan, another companion he was familiar with, asked while trying to remain calm.

"They will kill them—they are.." and just like that, they watched in horror as the monk revealed his plans. Just like that, Koga felt like a piece of him was breaking. How long had he and his pack been together? How many wars and battles had they made it through? For it to end this way? An uncontrolled growl came out.

"You wish to leave some of my pack to their death then fine, you will let me leave." Briefly, he waited for the lords to acknowledge such a thing.

Instead, the room broke out in a roar of surprise.

"A call of mates?!"

And just like that, his world stopped.

A call of mates was reserved for royalty and leadership.

For such a thing to occur, their second would have to approve the initial contact. Knowing full well the responsibilities that came with such a thing. After all, such a tradition was old as time itself. When a pack was in trouble, the second in command could call for aid from the alpha or their mate. However, such things had to be taught and approved.

There was a call of Alpha and another for A call of mates. Oftentimes, it was used to ensure one or the other did not perish. Yet, the second that was carving out such a symbol on his wrist was none other than Ginta.

With confusion and shock, Koga watched.

Surely Ginta knew that he was not mated? Or, was there something else happening? Without a mate, without an intended, his call would be ignored and the second power would be depleted from a call that went to no one. Instead, the council watched in awe as Ginta shot up with a smile on his face, and his eyes now a shade of blue that Koga only knew one person in the world to have other than his own.

In disbelief, he watched in disblief.

"It's been such a long time. Longer for you perhaps, no?"

The voice that should have belonged to Ginta was instead from one that had plagued all his dreams.

Ginta slowly turned his head and turned back to his pack.

Again, her voice spoke.

"Hakkaku, family protects one another, no? Both of you, take what you need, I'll be fine."

Briefly, he saw the shocked and confused expression on Hakkaku's face. With such an announcement, Ginta nodded his head slowly and turned to the sky.

"Thank you, sis. Anything you can offer."

This time, it was Ginta's voice.

With no hesitation, the voice from his dreams answered without hesitation.

"Take everything."

Just like that, the camera image began to static, and the last thing the council saw before losing connection was what looked like a hue blue barrier coming around the group and a powerful blast that followed. —

As Kagome stirred from her sleep, she noted many things. For one, her head was spinning, and secondly, someone was towering over her.

Strands of silver hair cascaded down to touch her shoulders, and ignoring the soreness of her body, she glanced up.

Silver hair.

Dog ears.

Golden eyes.

"Inu Yasha…?"

But apparently, such a name did not ring any bells for the individual. Instead, the man before her scoffed, narrowed his eyes, and leaned down to allow her a better view.

No, not Inu Yasha.

Similar in the description, but their appearance differed.

Where Inu Yasha had bright silver hair, this individual had a darker shade of silver. His face was narrower, more refined and as she observed him, she noted a much bigger difference.

A tail, unlike anything she had ever seen before.

"How strange to find an unmated priestess projecting a demonic call of mates." The voice spoke quietly while observing her as much as she him. "If you must know, you called for lending of power. While many offered their youki, I figured perhaps you would need actual assistance after such exertion." She blinked and then followed it by furrowing her brows in confusion.

What had happened?

Trying to stand up, she tried to recall what had occurred.

Markings.

Call of aid.

Ginta!

"The wolves! I need to help—" she began and to her frustration, the individual before her simply raised a brow. Almost instantly, she noticed far more similarities between this being and Sesshoumaru than any of her other companions.

"You have provided them with a barrier after ensuring they were healed. They have left."

Left?

Everything was still so foggy, and for the life of her, she did not feel like herself. Had she really been so drained? More importantly, what had happened, and who was this individual? As if reading her thoughts, he extended her his hand and assisted her in standing.

"My name is Yoko Kurama. You aided some members of my pack in the past it seems, and therefore, I wish to return the favor."