Suits and Rogues

Chapter 18

Rakush: idiot

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  Thwack!

  "Damn woman!" Odin cursed as Lyra smacked his head with her Chinese fan while healing the wounds he acquired during his trip to his pack.

  "That's what you get for being stupid." Was the redhead's snarky reply.

  "You're talking to someone who has a high IQ." Odin deadpanned.

  "Oh really? Gosh, how would I know since the rakush in front of me nearly got himself killed for going to the very place that is out to kill him?!" Lyra snapped.

  "Excuse me for attempting to get a weapon that might actually kill him!" Odin snapped back.

  In retaliation, Lyra pinched the tender muscle in his open wound; making him hiss in pain.

  "I told you killing wasn't the best course of action." She scolded.

  "It's the only option left." Odin grumbled.

  "It's not! You can prove your innocence in many other ways."

  "And do you really think any of those will work? You and I both know that werewolves are stubborn creatures so even when the truth is f*cking staring at the right at their dumb faces, they'll still believe lies."

  Lyra rolled her eyes at the stubborn mutt in front of her. "Of course since a certain stubborn werewolf is right in front of me and actually talking." She replied sarcastically.

  Odin could only glare at her in return because both of them knew that she is right and he won't admit it.

  After a few more curses, "accidental" pinches and jabs at the wounds, arguing, and insults later, Odin is finally healed. As he puts on a new shirt, Lyra looks at him with a contemplative look. It does not pass her that her fairies are still uneasy around him. After all, Odin still has that aura around him. The same aura she felt when she went after him to his trip back to his pack.

A few hours ago...

  "Do you really think it's ok for him to go out on his own, my lady?" One of her fairies asked her as they watched Odin disappear in the treelines; his huge figure being enveloped by shadows as if being embraced.

  "He's one tough bastard to kill so he should be fine. But just to be sure, go watch over him." Lyra replied as she sauntered back to her shop - red hair and dress flowing gracefully on the ground as the gold trimmings glint in the light.

  "As you wish, my lady." The fairy replied before she flew after the alpha as pollens fell from her wings.

  Using her magic to re-strengthen the barrier of her shop to keep werewolves away, it wasn't even 5 minutes when her fairy departed but she felt her flew back to where she was in a rush.

  "My lady!" The fairy cried out in panic as she stopped in front of Lyra.

  "What's wrong?"

  "The alpha is headed towards his pack! We should stop him!"

  "Why?" Lyra asked. She sees nothing wrong with Odin going back to his pack since he can easily sneak in or out.

  "Because the pack will kill him!" The fairy exclaimed; making Lyra even more confused.

  "Why would they do that?"

  "Because it's in their nature to kill a banned alpha, my lady! Even if they wouldn't want to do it, they will still do it because it's out of their control!"

  "Are you saying that the bastard went to get himself killed?!" Lyra exclaimed angrily.

  "W-well tha-that's..."

  "That suicidal asshole!" Lyra fumed before snapping her fingers; making her green and red cloak appear before her. Putting it on, she extended her hand outward and her broomstick went flying towards her hand. Getting on, she flew up in the air and headed towards the direction of Odin's pack. The wind caressed her vibrant red hair as she travels through air while she curses Odin for being a careless bastard.

  As if something doesn't want her to rescue him, the wind suddenly felt like it is resisting her advance towards Odin's pack. The sun felt too hot on her skin; almost burning her, and no matter what spell and incantations she uses to combat them; an ethereal force seems to fight back.

  Her broomstick swayed at the tension it is put in; nearly knocking Lyra off. She had no choice but to grasp on the handles tightly and focused her magic on the broom to propel her forward.

  The wind's gentle caress became stinging slaps as she went against nature to get to Odin. The broomstick continues to rock and tremble so Lyra lead it downwards and closer to the canopy of trees in hopes of lessening the effects of nature's onslaught. Sweat beaded her forehead at the effort of her using magic and at the heat of the sun. Sunburns are already forming on her flawless pale skin and the closer she gets to the pack's border, the harder the wind pushes her back.

  In her struggle, she noticed how ethereal forces are at work. Nature is usually a dormant force which acts more like a sleeping and breathing being in which all creatures and mortals peacefully live in. But at the moment, its elements are resisting her from reaching Odin.

  Why? She doesn't know. All she knows is that nature only stirs if there's something bad that's about to happen. And according to ancient scriptures, it usually happens when a war is about to start.

  Upon realizing that she can't win against the forces of nature no matter how powerful she is as a witch, she dropped down to the forest and ran towards the pack border on foot. Her heels scrunch at the dried leaves underneath her; leaving a trail. Nature's onslaught lessened a bit but she knows it will catch up to her soon.

  Using her cloak to shield her from branches, twigs, thorns, and debris, she ran to the border and had to knock some of the guards out in order to get in. But just as she was about to cross the border, a strong barrier pushed her out; making her fly in the air and land 5 feet away.

  "I don't have time for this!" She gritted out as she stood up and used her remaining strength to use a counter spell for the pack border. She almost forgot that pack borders serve as barriers to other creatures and the stronger the alpha is, the stronger is the border's power. It was, after all, designed to mark pack territories and it has been an ancient rule that creatures cannot infiltrate other creatures' territories unless they are non-territorial creatures. The only way a creature can get in is if they are consented to or they have amazing powers that can counter the powers of the border.

  Luckily, Lyra has those powers.

  Letting her magic flow out of her fingers, a burst of soft red and yellow pigments and sequins blasted off of her hands and collided with the barrier. A huge gust of wind bounced off at the force; making her hair flail behind her in beautiful waves.

  The barrier became visible to her - a silvery gray film that matches Odin's eyes.

  'Good. That means he's still the alpha.' She thought but still rushed to open a crack big enough for her to squeeze through. She does not know how long Odin's position will last until his ban from the pack fully sinks in so she has to move fast to prevent any fatalities.

  It took her a great effort to crack the barrier open. By the time the crack's size is big enough for her, her outstretched hands are already trembling, her body is sweating profusely, her legs feel numb and weak, her eyes drooping, and her body feels like it will collapse any moment. Still, she persevered. Odin might be an annoying piece of sh*t but he's the only friend she has. For someone who grew up alone most of the time, even a single friend means the world.

  Squeezing through the barrier's crack, she half dragged, half crawled, half limped, and half sprinted towards the center of the pack. Thankfully, she didn't encounter any other wolves during her journey but the sounds of battle, gunshots, and shouts from ahead still made her worry.

  Gods...she hopes she's not too late.

  The pack house came into view and the noises got louder. As she neared the end of the tree lines, she saw Odin jump out of a window a few stories above the ground. Despite knowing that he's a tough male, her heart still beat faster in nervousness as she watches him fall. She extended her hand outward to cast a spell to catch him but nothing came out. It turns out she already met her limit that day.

  "F*ck!" She cursed as she limped faster towards the falling Odin. Thankfully, he landed safe on his feet even when bullets were being fired at him. He darted away as debris, dust, and a piece of paper flew in the air at his departure. She tried running after him but her legs gave out; making her collapse in a heap on the ground.

  She groaned at the aches in her body and the fatigue she felt. She does not know if she could get back to her shop at that rate so she took a few minutes to rest. Five minutes later, a bit of her strength came back - just enough for her to stand up and walk.

  She weakly headed towards the direction Odin went when suddenly, she felt the startling feeling of a familiar aura. Her heart once again beat faster in nervousness.

  She had sense that same dark aura she felt that is surrounding Odin. The difference is, it's stronger and more prominent. Unlike the aura surrounding Odin, this one feels like prominent presence; the same feeling one gets when someone is near them, whereas Odin's is more like a weak filter that surrounds him.

  Forgetting her original purpose, she followed the presence and gasped upon seeing what's in front of her. A large area near the treeline is in a state of death and decay. The grass, trees, plants, and dirt had gone black. Some are even beginning to crumble and turn to dust like a disastrous fire has consumed the area. Some insects and animals lay dead and in various stages of decay on the ground where the dark aura is coming from.

  With her heart about to jump out of her chest, she cautiously trudged further into the area. The closer she got to the edge of the treeline, the stronger she feels it and with a startling realization, she felt an ethereal essence within the aura.

  There's only one specie that has that essence...

  Lyra's hands trembled as she remembered her conversations with Odin. With a surprised gasp, she realized that the dark aura surrounding Odin only appeared after Odin found his mate.

  Does that mean...Odin's mate is a god?

  A finger snapping in front of her eyes snapped her out of her reminiscence. "You seem tired. Get some rest." Odin's voice cut through the mess in her mind.

  "Uhhh yeah...it's really tiring to argue with you." She joked in which Odin only rolled his eyes at.

  "Says the one who keeps on starting it." Was his reply. "You really should rest. You're paler than usual and your aura is weaker."

  "Oh? Is the big, bad, stubborn, and annoying alpha concerned about me?" She teased.

  "Better than killing you. It's tempting, really." He deadpanned and Lyra chuckled at that.

  "Not if I kill you first."

  "At your state, it would be a pathetic attempt. Rest and maybe you'll have a better chance at it." Was his reply before turning around to leave.

  "Wait!" Lyra suddenly blurted out, her heart pounding in her chest at the sight of him leaving.

  He paused and turned his head to look at her. "What?"

  Lyra hesitated with her words. She wants to ask and say many things but she feels like it will only inconvenience him. She's worried at his next course of action but she also knows that Odin knows what he's doing. No matter how hard and how many times she had tried convincing him not to go through with it, he stayed stubborn.

  After a few minutes of contemplation, she finally said, "Be careful and good luck. You better stay alive, you stubborn mutt. I won't be able to kill you if you're already dead." She teased half-heartedly.

  Odin only stared at her for a full minute before letting out an empty smile.

  "Back at ya." Before he once again, disappeared into the shadows of the trees to start his hunt for the hellhound.