The Billionaire Alpha’s Unwanted Mate

Chapter 13

"I need to freshen up and change," Yuuki says, her voice soft but steady. She turns and walks towards her room, her steps measured and purposeful.

Hiroshi bows deeply as she passes, a mixture of relief and respect evident in his posture.

In contrast to the traditional architecture of the rest of the house, her bathroom boasts modern amenities. She indulges in a long, hot bath, allowing the warm water to soothe her aching muscles. After changing into fresh clothes, she collapses onto her bed, exhaustion finally catching up with her.

Sleep claims her instantly, deep and dreamless.

When she wakes up, sunlight is streaming through her windows. Without hesitation, she makes her way to the main hall. She knows Master will be there at this hour – his daily routine has always been very strict.

Sure enough, as she approaches the hall, the familiar scent of green tea wafts through the air. Sliding open the shoji door, she finds her master kneeling at the low table, a steaming cup before him, just as she expected.

Without hesitation, she enters and prostrates herself before him, her forehead touching the wooden floor with a resounding thud. The sound echoes through the quiet hall, causing him to look up from his tea, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Shishō," she begins, her voice steady and resolute, "I humbly request the Rakuin"

His eyes widen in shock and horror. "The Branding Iron?" he exclaims, his usual composure momentarily shaken. "Absolutely not, Yuuki. That’s not even up for discussion. I forbid it!"

She raises her head slightly, her eyes meeting her master's with unwavering determination. "Please, Shishō. I insist."

His face hardens, his voice firm as he repeats, "No, Yuuki. This is not up for discussion."

Master, please," Yuuki implores, her voice thick with emotion. "I've dishonored my family and myself. I've hurt those who love me. This isn't just about punishment-“ and her voice cracks as she’s choked by emotions, “I know you say you don’t care about my destiny and the prophesy, but it still doesn’t change the fact that I have let down those innocent children…"

She takes a deep breath before continuing, her words coming faster now, driven by the intensity of her feelings. "I want the Rakuin not just as punishment, but as a physical reminder. So that my heart will never again be so foolish. I can't guarantee I won't falter again, but with this mark, I'll always remember what's at stake when I'm tempted to stray from my path."

He listens in silence, his face a mask of concern and frustration. When she finishes, he shakes his head firmly. "No, Yuuki. I won't allow it."

In response, she raises her head fully, meeting her master's gaze with steely resolve. "Then I'm afraid you leave me no choice, Shishō. If you won't do this for me, I'll take a silver dagger and carve the mark myself. With my wolf's healing, it will be difficult and painful. But I'll persist, day after day, until the mark is permanent."

The color drains from his face as he imagines the scene she describes. His hand trembles slightly as he sets down his teacup, anger and disbelief warring in his eyes. "You... you're threatening me!" he exclaims, his voice rising uncharacteristically.

She bows her head once more, guilt coloring her tone. "Forgive me, Shishō. That was not my intent."

"I'll forgive you if you drop this foolish idea!" His deep voice booms through the hall, his usual calm demeanor completely shattered.

"I'm sorry, Shishō, but I can't," she replies, her voice soft but unyielding. "My mind is made up."

A tense silence falls over the room as master and disciple face off, neither willing to back down. His eyes bore into her, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt, but find only unwavering determination.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he lets out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging in defeat. He rises to his feet, his movements stiff with suppressed anger. "Fine," he says, his voice tight. "Bring the Reiin and meet me in the artifact room."

As he strides out of the hall, she allows herself a small smile of satisfaction. She quickly makes her way to her room, retrieving the ancient wooden box that houses the Spirit Seal. With the box clutched carefully in her hands, she hurries to the hidden room deep beneath the house.

The artifact room is a marvel of both traditional craftsmanship and modern security. From the outside, it appears to be nothing more than another section of the house's traditional walls. But hidden behind the seemingly ordinary shoji screen is a state-of-the-art safe room, its existence known only to a select few.

As she enters, she's struck once again by the array of weapons and artifacts lining the walls. Each item holds centuries of history and power, a testament to the clan’s long and storied past. Her master stands with his back to her, his gaze fixed on an empty space on one of the shelves.

"Bring it," he says, his voice deep and resonant in the quiet room.

Feeling a pang of guilt at the tension in her master's voice, she moves forward and gently places the box in his outstretched hand. With reverence, her master places the box in the empty space on the shelf.

Yuuki remains behind him, her head bowed in respect and remorse. Her master’s voice cuts through the silence, tinged with a mix of anger and disappointment. "At least you were smart enough to take the lower grade seal. If you had used the high-grade one, you'd be a corpse right now."

His words cause her to lower her head even further, shame coloring her cheeks. Takeshi’s gaze shifts to the side, where a more ornate box sits on a higher shelf. The higher-grade seal, with its intricate carvings and gleaming wood, is a work of art. Its beauty belies its deadly nature – a relic so potent it was rarely used even in the days before the Fading.

Turning away from the shelves, he moves to retrieve a long, poker-like object made of a mysterious material. At its tip is a single kanji character, its lines precise and ominous. Without a word, he moves to the corner of the room where a small fireplace waits. As he builds a fire, Yuuki watches in tense silence, her resolve unwavering despite the gravity of what's to come.

Once the fire is blazing, he places the iron into the flames. Master and disciple stand in silence, watching as the tip of the iron slowly begins to glow with heat. When it reaches a searing orange, he dons a pair of special gloves and grasps the handle, turning to face Yuuki.

His eyes narrow as he studies her face, searching for any sign of fear or hesitation. "You're truly not afraid?" he asks, his voice a mix of concern and challenge.

To his surprise, she responds with a small, determined smile. "No, Master. I'm ready for this."

His scowl deepens, his last hope of deterring her fading away. He then sighs heavy, "Very well," he says, his voice gruff. "You’ve made your choice."

And then after a beat, "Where do you want it?"

Without hesitation, Yuuki extends her left arm, fist clenched. She gestures, "Here. On the back of my hand"

He moves the glowing iron closer, stopping when it's just an inch from her skin. He looks into her eyes one last time, his voice softening slightly. "Last chance Yuuki, are you absolutely certain?"

"Yes, Master," she replies, her voice steady and sure.

With a grave nod, Takeshi steels himself. "Then brace yourself," he warns grimly, then presses the hot iron against the back of her hand.

The nauseating scent of burning flesh fills the air as Yuuki's face pales. She sways slightly but keeps her hand perfectly still. He holds the brand in place for a full ten seconds before lifting it away.

On the back of her hand, angry and raw, is the perfect imprint of the kanji character – a permanent reminder of her vow, her pain, and her determination to never stray from her path again.