Ever Cynical

Chapter 70- Rintaro and the Oracle

Rintaro POV

I had been at my best friend's pack for two weeks, met most of his pack, and yet, still nothing on the mate front. My kitsune was insistent he or she was here, or someone here knew where he or she was. I was glad it wasn't among the ranked officers or warriors sent to their pack. With all the drama soon to come, I didn't want to take anyone away that they might need. Since my mother was still in charge, and I was the heir, I retained the free time to help them out. My twin brother had stayed behind in Japan helping our mom, anyway. We were pretty equal in ability and personality. Ritsu had been the only difficult one. I did not envy Geoff getting her as a mate.

Now you may be thinking that my brother and I should be looking together since we are twins, and multiples are more likely to share a mate, but he had not felt the urge to come here like I had. Said he had a feeling about the northern island of Hokkaido. Bet you he's mated to a snow-woman. I snorted. Rikuto liked Keiran, but they were not nearly as close as him and I were. I was fine with that. Kier's queen was an amazing, beautiful woman. He'd told me her whole story, and I could just tell she was made to lead.

I might have been the tiniest bit jealous.

I couldn't even bring myself to tease him much about having two male mates in addition to Anais, because just having them at all was something I longed desperately for.

Suddenly, I was approached by a tall woman with white hair and unseeing white eyes. Her skin was as smooth as any twenty-year-old's, but it was clear she had been around for some time. Kieran's mother was with her, their arms looped together. The blind woman reached out and grasped my hand. My fox was immediately alert. Was this... probably a seer? My mate?

Not mate, my kitsune, Ajin, announced. But she knows.

"Boy, I must tell you about your mate." She announced. "The problem is, she is still bound to her first mate, but it is weak. He has nearly destroyed her and their bond with his infidelity. He does not realize he is being punished by the goddess. You must get her away from him before he realizes the bond is broken, or he will kill her. You are her second chance, young kitsune."

"Second chance?" I asked, both upset and intrigued by the information she had just dumped on me. I already wanted to tear the throat out of whoever the hell this first mate was, and I hadn't even met her yet. She clicked her tongue at me.

"Is that really the question you want me to answer?" She intoned, and Cressida laughed.

"This is the Oracle. Choose carefully what you really want to know, dear Rin." She said. She was like a second mother to me. As weird as everyone else found her "feelings," they never bothered me. It was a mistake to alienate those that experienced any form of precognition, even if it was vague and not all that helpful. Hence, we got along great.

"Ah, my apologies, Oracle." I bowed even though she could not see me. Respect, always. My mother's shoe had taught me well as a young boy. Show disrespect, and she was quick to reprimand you with it. I had long teased Ritsu because my mother seemed to be permanently wearing one shoe in her presence. I suppose, in the end, it was the attention. She'd had a complete reversal of attitude since I saw her last.

"Pshh. I didn't exactly introduce myself, now did I?" the Oracle chortled. "Alright, one more try my boy. I can answer two questions about your mate. Choose wisely." I thought for a moment before continuing.

"When will I meet her in person?" I asked, earning a smile, telling me she agreed with my choice.

"You will meet her in about two weeks. Give or take. The next Elder Council Meeting. Insist on guarding Alpha Erik and Luna Jothan. You will see her there with her first mate. It will be difficult." The Oracle spoke in a low, almost sing-song voice. "What's your second question, young kitsune?"

"Will she know it's me? With her partial, even if somewhat broken bond, will it not be hard for her to perceive?" Everything else we could figure out later. Though it was not said aloud, I knew she'd been treated poorly, and likely abused. I would have to be patient and gentle. I would do and be anything she needed me to, of that I was certain.

"She is aware of the bond breaking. You will both scent each other, but neither of you must say so in the presence of the first mate. You must get her away from him. She is important to the Queen." The woman said, then seemed to be done speaking. Cressida shrugged in apology as the woman dragged her to some other poor soul she had a message for. Shaking my head, I wandered to Kieran's office.

When I entered, after knocking of course, both Erik and Kieran looked up at me in question. I made myself a cup of coffee and flopped into the chair in front of Kieran, my mind in a whirl. Erik smirked.

"One of Anais' best ideas ever, hmm? Getting a Keurig." Erik quipped, and Kier giggled. The bear snapped his eyes to him, making my best friend hold up his hands. I looked at him quizzically.

"Ah, my giggle makes my mates... excited? Yeah, something like that. Anyway... what did you need, Rin?" Kier's blunt speech didn't bother me. My parents were still frisky as they ever were, and my mother, though prim and proper outside of our home, had a dirty mouth when it was just family. Must be annoying though, to get so turned on so easily. I'd lived like a monk and never had the inclination to delve into carnal pleasures. I would have a chance with my mate, but otherwise I found s*x to be a topic of little interest.

"I spoke with the Oracle here." I said slowly, and he lifted a brow. "What?"

"Oh, it's just rare for her to come out of her little hermit-y cabin in the deepest part of the pack." He mused.

"Ah, well... I... Does she have help? I mean, she's blind, right?" I was curious.

"Oh, she can see with some kind of special magic, though it's not normal vision. Enough to take care of herself, and even fight should it be necessary."

"Interesting." I suppose I hadn't gotten the feeling that she really needed help, so that made sense.

"So, what did she say that's got you in my office? Not that I mind, but I can tell this is important to you." See, this is why Kieran is my favorite alpha wolf. I doubt most out there would take the time to worry about a kitsune like he did. A few perhaps, but they were typically more invested in their own interests, friend or not.

"When the council asks for your mates to attend the next meeting, she said in about two weeks or so, I need to go with them as a guard." I said anxiously. Erik leaned forward onto his desk, chin on his steepled fingers. I almost laughed because I'd seen Kier do that on numerous occasions.

"Why do you need to accompany us, Rin?" Erik asked. I'd quickly become friends with Kier's mates. They were all excellent individuals. Jothan was harder to get a read on, but he'd been polite and respectful in every interaction. His royal upbringing was reflected in that natural distance he seemed to place between himself and others. Kier and his other mates were breaking him down though, I could tell. I took a deep breath.

"My mate will be there." They both gasped in delight, but I held up a hand. "It's complicated and probably dangerous. My mate is still partially bound to her first mate. I'm her second chance." At their curious looks, I explained all that the Oracle had said. They looked at each other, I guess in some sort of agreement about who they thought she might be.

"Ludolf." They growled in unison.

"As in, King Ludolf? What about him?" I had never asked Mother too much about other council members, just the basics of how to behave, since I often accompanied her. Kieran rolled his eyes.

"He's not a nice wolf. Actually, let me call in Anais." He went silent as he linked his Luna, who entered from the Luna office barely a minute later, Jothan hot on her heels.

Anais POV

Kier called me in, saying that he needed my knowledge in order to help Rintaro. Rin was a great kitsune, so much like my best friend Riyoko. Well, she was his mother, so that made sense. He was officially my godson, but we never really talked about that. When I entered the alpha office, I could tell they were tense. Kier pulled me close and shoved his face in my neck. Oh boy, he always did this when our opponents were mentioned. I patted him and moved away, kissing Erik on the cheek before turning to Rin. Jothan found his way to Erik as he usually did when Kier was needy.

"We have some questions about Ludolf. We're hoping you might know a few things." Kieran said, his entire body tense.

"Sure, if I know, I'm happy to help." I sat on the corner of Kier's desk, knowing he needed me close whenever Ludolf was discussed.

"What do you know about Ludolf's mate?" Kier asked, and I sucked in a breath.

"You mean Queen Gisela?" When I said her name, Rin inhaled sharply and his posture became rigid. Ohhhhh. She was somehow... his? But not Ludolf, so not a multiple mate thing. "Well, he's horrible to her with the betrayal pains alone." Rin stood and began to pace. "Uh..."

"It's okay mo bhanríon, continue." Kier said gently. "He needs to know."

"Well, I only know what I heard within the castle. She has asked to be rejected, but he refuses. Apparently, she tried to reject him when he met her but he... forced her to accept, quite brutally." A growl tore out of Rin. "Are you sure you want me to continue?" At this nod, I took a deep breath of my own. "She hates him. He keeps her practically a prisoner in the castle. You're only going to get her out of there if he's forced to bring her somewhere."

"Thankfully, the council has insisted that leaders bring their mates going forward." Erik piped up.

"Okay, then she'll be there. He values his position and power over most everything else. He won't let her out of his sight though, just in case someone might figure out how he treats her. It's all kinds of illegal." I whispered.

"Rin's coming with me and Jothan in two weeks, and Rin will be with our security." Erik said, smiling kindly at our friend.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come and help?" I said, which spurred hearty growls out of both Erik and Kieran. Okay, fine! For Goddess' sake they could just reply calmly.

"No way." They said at the same time. Rin popped a brow at them.

"Aren't you two a little too in sync?" He quipped, and we all laughed. Thankfully, it wasn't the hornifying kind.