Ever Cynical

Chapter 40- Rude Little Ritsu

Kieran POV

I've never blushed so hard as I did at Ekezeic's words. I was no prude, but I'd met Mirgadok, and I could not help but wonder which of the two massively muscular men, you know, typically was in charge. It was Anais' turn to giggle, and her look told me she knew exactly what I was thinking. I sighed. As if such things were important right now! I smelled Geoff at the door, and another that smelled similar to Lady Hijikata, but mostly the orange blossom note. When the door opened, I found myself looking at what appeared to be a carbon copy of her mother.

She has smooth, pale skin and Asian features with wide dark brown eyes and inky black hair. It hung straight down to her bum in two braids, and she was barely 5'3" to Geoff's 6'4". I saw Anais shake her head out of the corner of my eye, and I knew she was warning me not to giggle again. The girl was lithe and muscular, and where she differed from her mother was in her mode of dress. Riyoko was always in a kimono or yukata, depending on the season, but this girl was in black tactical gear. Black tank, black fitted cargo pants, black boots and belt, finished off with a black military-style jacket. She even had... knives (seriously?!) that were strapped everywhere. Her expression was fierce and Geoff looked lost.

Oh boy. Please tell me she did not reject my Beta. She glanced over Anais, sniffed as her eyes wandered over the rest of us, then crossed her arms as Geoff walked over to the love seat where Anais sat, and handed her a bottle of juice. He remained standing next to his Luna. Things did not look promising on this little kit's side. Kits were what Kitsune called their babies, and based on her mutinous and unreasonable expression, this girl was little more than a child, maturity wise.

"You called, Okaasan?" The younger kitsune said, an edge to her tone. An edge that I did not like nor appreciate. She was a guest in my pack, and while most of the time I thought of myself as a pretty chill guy, neither me not Ri'dubh took well to blatant disrespect. "I still don't see why we are here with these... wolves to begin with." She said with a disgusted shiver. Riyoko snapped the fan she carried perpetually open and glared at her daughter over it.

Listen, as elegant a lady Riyoko is, I would never, ever challenge her. If you found yourself as her opponent, you had done serious and unequivocal wrong. Probably deserved whatever beating she laid on you. Her integrity was world-famous among supernaturals.

"You, child, are out of line. This is the true royal pack. Additionally, you have insulted those I consider my truest of friends." She turned to me. "Alpha Kieran of the Immortals." She intoned graciously, ignoring her daughter's gasp as she bowed to me. "I beg you forgive my daughter Ritsu, and will completely accept with no repercussions should your royal Beta reject their bond." She waited for me to tell her to rise. Geoff looked beside himself while I was frozen. There was no way I could make this call on his behalf. I would never take away his mate, if he wanted her.

Anais put her hand on his to comfort him, and Ritsu snarled. Riyoko, done waiting and knowing I was shocked by all of this anyway, spun to her daughter. "You, ungrateful girl, DO NOT get to snarl at him or his Luna for offering comfort when you are being a nasty bigot." She hissed.

"But Mother, he-" Ritsu seemed unable to take her eyes from where Anais' hand still sat on Geoff's. How ridiculous, Ana was his Luna for goddess' sake! It was her job to comfort him. Riyoko must have felt the same. The fan snapped closed as the Kitsune queen moved in, just inches from her defiant daughter.

I had great respect for Riyoko, but I could not lie and say that I felt the same for her daughter. What a conundrum. Ekezeic was observing from the side, and he did not look at all pleased with the sassy little fox. I could see his skin rippling with the effort to keep his beast form at bay. Must be weird for it to be instinct only, rather than a spirit that you could communicate with. At least I could reason with my wolf, most of the time. His transformation seemed equal parts deliberate and emotional.

This girl best be careful lest she find herself facing him personally. There is no question at all who would win that fight.

"YOU basically rejected him, didn't you? That boy has never felt the pain you already gave him before. He's been waiting at least one hundred fifty years for his mate, I guarantee it. Pathetic. I don't know where I went wrong raising you. If his Luna, who, by the way, is literally my best friend on this planet, wants to comfort him and her own mate is fine with it, how dare you do or say anything?" Riyoko raged. Tears formed in Ritsu's eyes. I cleared my throat, getting her attention.

"Ritsu is it?"I addressed the girl, who glared at me with what looked pretty damn close to hatred. This girl was chosen to be our Beta female? For the first time, I was questioning the moon goddess' decisions. I let Ri'dubh forward, releasing just a bit of our aura. "I don't care who you are or where you're from, you will not disrespect me, my Luna, or my team. Period." I could feel my canines dripping with aggression as they slipped out. "You will apologize to everyone in this room. I will leave it up to Geoff as to whether he rejects you or not, but trust me, you have not made a good first impression." I turned to Riyoko. "Is this your heir, Lady Hijikata?" I growled out. Riyoko smiled, clearly appreciating my display and that fact that it made her daughter tremble in fear.

I wasn't one to roll out my aura very often, but I was well aware that it outclassed many high-ranking supernaturals, even before I'd mated Ana.

"Hardly, Alpha King. Her elder brother, Rintaro, whom I believe you are great friends with, is my heir." She said sardonically, nodding to me. I pulled my aura back and Ri'dubh retreated. He'd made his point, though whether this defiant brat had actually taken it seriously or not was another matter entirely.

"Ah yes, Rintaro and I are indeed, great friends. I consider him my best friend, actually, outside of my pack. Maybe even at all. I am so thankful that he is going to lead your people because someone this... inflexible and rude... would get you into wars, I'm afraid." I said politely but firmly, my inference clear. I then completely ignored Ritsu. "Has he managed to find his mate yet? I had not had a chance to call him to share my own good news."

"He has not, but perhaps I should send him here after I leave. If his sister has a mate among the Immortals, perhaps his is here as well." She grinned. I knew he had been waiting nearly as long as I had to find his mate, and he'd been feeling more and more lonely as each year passed. Rin deserved a wonderful mate, just like my Ana.

"Mother!" Ritsu shrieked. "You can't possibly want Rintaro to breed with these awful creatures!" Ritsu burst out, her disgust clear. At that, Anais had clearly had enough. She'd finished her juice, and her eyes were glowing amethyst. I decided to let my Luna show this hellion who was awful in this equation. Claire would make sure their pups were safe, and even with a shift this early, my mate was combat ready. I grinned, ready to watch the show.

Ritsu really had no idea what she was in for.

Anais POV

Oh, no she didn't. She did not just call an entire race awful. Not just Immortals but all wolves. I knew a lot of good wolves. Were there bad ones, hell yes, but it was completely unacceptable to simply write off an entire set of races because they were different. I was not having it. The orange juice had revived my energy, and I was taking this into my own hands. Apparently, the babies had given me a little bit of a low blood sugar, already! I knew Geoff wanted her. He would not be in such pain if not. This meant that I could not simply kick her out of my pack. But teach her a lesson in humility, I would. I patted Geoff's shoulder as I stood, Claire on the surface.

I would do my best to help him keep his mate, but there was only so much I could do.

"Little girl." I snarled, making sure she understood it was a threat. "I know you understand the concept of respect, having been raised by my dearest friend Riyoko. You. Will. Submit. Now." I roared, my full aura released. Everyone but Kieran kneeled, with Ritsu's face practically touching the floor under the weight of it. She still fought, trying to keep her head up. I leaned down, my canines extended as a loud growl ripped from my chest, vibrating the windows. "I am nine hundred and twenty-four years old, fledgling. You know that means I am older than your own mother and queen. On top of that, I am the queen of Immortals. You WILL show me the respect I am owed now. If not, I am taking you outside and kicking your ass." Ritsu's eyes were wide as she looked to her mother, who sighed.

My poor friend, how difficult it must have been to raise someone that didn't understand the most basic principles of discipline and respect. We had both been trained by elite warriors that absolutely required it. Rightfully so, but then again, so did my people and every person in this room.

"Ritsu, does it really take you so much to respect others?" Riyoko groaned, still under the weight of my aura. Her eyes met mine, tears in her eyes. "As much as I don't want to say it's necessary, I'm afraid there is only one way, Anais." I nodded, released my aura and grabbed Ritsu's arm. Ekezeic grinned as he moved back to standing. They all trailed after me as I dragged a struggling Ristu out the front door. I dragged her all the way to the training grounds, cutting through the woods to make the walk shorter.

The whole walk Ritsu tried to get away, hitting, kicking, even trying to bite and scratch, but of course, I'm impervious to damage. She resorted to trying her blades, which did nothing. I think she was truly expecting to get away from me using such lame attempts. By the time we reached the training grounds she was weeping in frustration and anger, shivering under my deadly violet gaze.

Claire was right there with me, ready to punish this kit.

"Anything you wanna say before we get started, fledgling?" I growled, cracking my knuckles and taking a fighting stance.