"I'll send Noriko to Daiki's house." Tatsuki informs me with a bow before stepping out of the room.

Leila is helping Daiki bandage his arm in white gauze.

"How long does it usually take you to heal ?" She asks.

See ? I'm not the only one who doesn't know !

"The healing process is triggered by pain, so I have to concentrate on it and force my body to heal. I'll be alright, dont worry." He explains as he stands up and walks with us down the building.

"Do you want me to brake a few more bones to speed things up ?" I offer with a smirk.

"I think I'll do fine on my own." He groans.

Behind us Takeshi is wearily observing us. I think he didn't like my little mojo.

'It's beyond me how they can be so judgmental when they are freaking light bulbs themselves.'

"Where did you pick up that trick though ? I never heard of anything like this before." Daiki inquires.

"A magician never reveals his secrets." I shrug and he looks at me intrigued.

"I didn't know werewolves could use magic."

"How do you think we turn into big giant wolves ?"

"No, I mean spells and the likes."

They can't.

"Do you want to bet on how long you can sustain my little trick next time I come ?" I try to change the subject as we step outside into the warm air of the city.

"No thank you, I'm not suicidal. And seeing as the match went on for more than five minutes and you didn't even flinch once I think you went easy on us before."

"What can I say, I didn't want to crush these big yakuza's hearts." I smile innocently.

"Well my ego is bruised."

"You'll live." I roll my eyes.

"I should have gone with the alpha." Daiki sighs. "I didn't have enough intel on him so I didn't take the risk. Trust me I won't make the same mistake twice. You are officially on my black list, lady."

"Now I am offended."

We get back to the household in record times and come face to face with a fuming Nate. Apparently he doesn't like being kept on the dark.

"What happened ?" He asks anxiously before we even get the time to take off our shoes.

His eyes roam from one to the other, resting on Daiki's wounded arm and then flying to my unscathed body.

"I won, they have to do whatever I say." I inform him and Xavier joining us. "Which starts first with Daiki shaving his hair."

"Wow ! Let's calm down. I never agreed to anything like that."

"Alright, I know how much you love your hair. Dyeing it green will be enough."

"Not a chance." He laughs.

"Can somebody please tell me what happened !" Nate growls exasperated.

"I told you, I won." I say crossing my arms defensively on my chest.

"Then, it means they'll help us ?" Xavier inquires his face white and expressionless.

"You people are seriously putting a damper on my day. I should have left you home." I sigh.

"Yes, the Kitsune clan has agreed to join the ranks of your coalition. However there is one condition and Hope already agreed." Daiki explains and Nate doesn't wait to glare at me.

"Oh come on, it's not a big deal, we just have to take their next leader with us for a while." I roll my eyes.

"Are you kidding me ?" Nate hisses.

"What's wrong with that now ?" I groan.

"Do you realize what would happen if something went wrong during this trip and their leader was killed ? How disastrous that would be ? Not only would they leave the coalition but we might as well train for a war too !" He barks angrily.

"I'm sorry, were any of you three injured since we left your pack ? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure you were all fine while I was busting my balls to make sure everything worked out !"

'Language !' My wolf hisses but I ignore her.

I'm pissed. More than pissed. I'm enraged. Who does he think he is ? How does he get to say I'm putting someone in danger ? If she can't fend for herself then I can't see her becoming the next leader. And I certainly don't need to be reprimanded by a pup who never left his pack.

Hell, I didn't ask him to come ! I remember vividly asking he stay there and leave me alone.

'Hope, calm down.' Leila whispers soothingly patting my back.

It doesn't help.

"If you're not satisfied with the way I handle thing you can leave. As I told you before we don't need you here." I bite seething.

Hurt flashes through his eyes but I don't care. I'm tired. I'm stressed and he's not helping me. Just the fact that he is here is tiring me. I have to watch everything I do or say and that's exhausting. I just want to be able to breathe again, be myself. Now I feel like I need to put on a mask.

Nate sighs loudly and brings his hands over his face rubbing them forcefully on it. The silence is thick with tension and nobody dares to talk.

"Look, I'm sorry." He starts to apologize. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just think you should have talked to us before deciding anything. I know that we owe you a lot. That's only thanks to you if the other packs agreed to the damn coalition. And that the vampires joined too. Trust me, I am beyond frustrated that I couldn't do anything on my own." He stops talking and I look at the floor while my anger slowly subsides.

'He's perfect.' My wolf sighs in wonder and I scoff.

"I'm sorry to intrude." A small voice clears her throat behind us and everyone turns around.

A young woman with mesmerizing blue hair and purple eyes even deeper than Tatsuki's is waiting patiently beside the door. She bows to us and stands back to smile confidently at us.

"My name is Nakamura Noriko, it's an honor to meet you. I'll be in your care." She says and bows again.

I don't wait and walk to her.

"Can you fight ?"

"Of course." She smirks.

"Use electricity ?"

"That's a given."

"Are you afraid to die ?"

"That won't happen." She affirms strongly.

"Good." I nod and walk back into the house to gather my bags.

I just want to leave already. The sooner I finish this little trip, the faster I can get rid of them all.

We spend a few more hours with Daiki and his men, going over the terms of the alliance before going back to the plane. The flight is silent with a few polite discussions here and there.

We don't stay long in Africa because, to our stupor, most of the tribes there were annihilated. I didn't think there would be so many casualties. The shamans living there weren't strong enough against their opponents. They can control animals and use magic and spells but I believe they weren't prepared for what came their way. They most likely were surprised and killed before they could summon the lions and elephants living around their borders or even use eagles to warn the others. Moreover most of the spells they know are ones to summon rain and to talk to the souls of their ancestors but that's not really effective against beasts who want to harm you. Dead people can't protect you. Leila desperately wants to stay and help, absolutely horrified by the damages done but I convince her to stick with us. On the other hand Noriko observes gravely the situation, a frown on her face the entire time, clearly affected by the helplessness of these people. Xavier stays quiet too, somber as we ride through the desert.

The only small village we find agrees to help us and as we explain to them what happened to the others offer to go look for any surviving tribes as they are nomad people themselves and would move around anyway. Nate immediately offers to send some of his man to protect them. Before we leave I give the tribe's chief one of my old books I had Leila bring me. It is filled with defensive spells and a few offensive ones and they are grateful for the gift.

Sooner than we thought we arrive in the south of France. As the taxi stops in front of the villa facing the Mediterranean sea hidden between the rocks my breath catches in my throat. I feel a little dizzy. The red of the old bricks, the green wide maple tree on the side of the garden, the small gate painted white and the cramped rocky steps behind it leading down to the creak grip at my heart and the ache is almost insufferable.

I don't want to be here.

I close my eyes and breathe in the air, the smell of the grass and the old wood, the salt in the water. If I concentrate hard enough I can almost hear the laugh of the blond little boy, I can almost see his toothy grin and shining eyes. I want to run away as fast as I can.

With trembling hands I walk to the side of the house and into the garden while the others takes the bags out of the trunk and follow Leila inside. The wind sweeps the swing under the old tree. I take slow steps to reach it and run my fingers over the small markings on the trunk. With shaky breaths I sit and look out at the sea. The agitated waters push the boats farther away and the sun high in the sky shines brightly on the surface, glinting of thousand colors.

I can hear them talk inside but I don't want to move.

"I need to go to the hospital to take care of some paperwork, I'll be back by night fall." Leila tells them.

I sigh and stand up to join them. They are standing in the large living room facing the sea with its big bay windows. The interior is more modern than it used to be though Leila kept a lot of the old wooden furniture. She looks up at me with worry in her eyes.

"Are you going to be okay ?" She asks.

"I'm fine." I nod frenetically, even I can tell I'm lying.

My voice is strained and broken, just like I feel inside.

"I'll show them around. Don't worry."

"I'll be quick." She insists and almost runs to the door.

"This is a nice house." Xavier compliments.

"Leila has good taste." I smile tiredly.

"This is Leila's house ?" Nate frowns.

"Of course. Whose did you think it was ?" I ask surprised.

His eyes shoot nervously to the left and I follow the movement. I freeze.

What the...

I feel my blood leave my face.

'Hope calm down.' My wolf tries to reassure me.

How do you want me to calm down when he's there ! He's everywhere ! I almost scream as my heart beats fast, it's as if I feel it break to small pieces in my chest.

"Let me show you to your rooms." My voice cracks and I turn around in the opposite direction to walk up the stairs.

I point at the three bedrooms on the right and they each chose one. In my hurry to flee the room I forgot my bags. With no energy left in me I go back down stairs to grab them. I can't stop myself and before I know it I'm in front of the dark cabinet made of pine. My eyes water as I look straight into the brown chocolate eyes of a thirty-years-old Liam proudly standing beside a young woman, a loving hand on her big belly. On another in black and white his ten-years-old version smiles wickedly at the camera and on yet another one we are both running to an invisible finish line, laughing brightly.

It's funny how time makes you forget and yet at the same time you can still remember every detail of an event you hadn't thought of in centuries.

I think memories are cruel. Yes, they are beautiful and non-tangible proof of our past but they are also a reminder of a better time. A time you can never reach again, teasing you as it's gone. A time you so desperately want to go back to, if only to do the same thing again, act the same way and just bask on the happiness you felt at that moment. A moment when your lungs fill with air and your muscles burn as you run toward your goal, a moment when your hand briefly feels the small kick of your child to be born, a fleeting moment when your face splits into a dazzling smile as happiness invades your whole being.

I put the picture back in its place my eyes stuck to it. I can't look away, almost afraid they'll disappear if I do.

"Who is it ?" Nate whispers behind me and I close my eyes.

"Some kid who lived around here." I lie and it breaks my heart.

"When was it taken ?"

"Halloween party a few years ago."

How else can I explain the clothes. I mean, I'm wearing an old dress with a corset, the tons of layers and everything.

"Hmm. What's his name ?"

"I don't want to talk about it." I whimper.

It's personal. My secret. My treasure. It belongs only to me.

"Hey guys do you know if there is anything to eat ?" Noriko inquires as she jumps down the stairs.

I take this opportunity to change the subject.

"Let's look in the kitchen, I'm sure she stuffed her fridge." I tell her and walk with her to the counter of the kitchen.

I look quickly into the fridge and the cupboards and indeed Leila had someone fill them with food. We all start to make sandwiches in silence.

"Who are we going to see now ?" Noriko asks after a while taking a huge bite of her bread filled with tomatoes, ham, cheese and salad.

"Actually, I would like to try talking to the mermaids." I answers and she chokes on her food.

I can't help the smile reaching my lips.

"Mermaids ? Next you'll tell me the tooth fairy is real too." Nate bursts out laughing and rolling his eyes.

"Of course she is. She just stopped working with wolves when some of them kept taking out their teeth on purpose knowing they would grow back."

'I wonder where they got the idea.'

I just put the thought out there, she paid with gold at the time.

"Right and Santa Klaus climbs up the chimneys every year to bring the kids their presents."

"Not anymore." I breathe through gritted teeth and his eyes grow wide.

'Not since Christmas 1932 when he didn't bring you the tiara your asked for you mean.'

The old man had it coming. I warned him enough.

'And here I thought he brought presents to children.' My wolf laughs.

They all look at me like I'm crazy and I roll my eyes

"I never heard about mermaids being real either." Xavier starts the conversation again.

"That's because they usually stay under water. There are not a lot of them and with the humans invading their lands more and more they started hiding farther down the depths of the oceans."

"Then how are we supposed to make contact with them ?"

"Like every other species some of them want to live among the humans. It so happens that one in particular is a bartender down in the city."

"What are they like ?" Noriko hurries to ask.

"Under the sea they have the tail of a fish like the drawings and general ideas show, their palms have a thin skin between each finger making them faster when they swim. Their skin also turns a little translucent too. But on the grounds they are like everyone else. Though they usually have handsome features. The tales of sailors lost at sea, hypnotized by their beauty and songs don't come from nowhere."

"You mean they really drowned them ?" She asks her eyes shining with interest.

"Well, there were some accidents"

'Nothing to do with you at all.'

Shush !

'That's absolutely not because you-'

La la la la ! I'm not listening.

"Then how are we going to convince them to help us ? Can they even help ?" Xavier demands.

"Oh, they are really strong and have many deadly weapons."

"Still, how will we convince them ?"

"We have to offer them something they really want."

"And what would it be ?" He asks with a brow raised.

"I'm not sure yet."

'Are you seriously that stubborn that you won't give it to them ?'

They don't remember it even exist anymore, they don't need it.

'You are unbelievable.'

I can offer them some tuna or something.

'...'

Alright, alright !

'That's bett-'

I'll give them some steaks and pearls.

'... I don't know what to say anymore. You're beyond saving.'

Or, I could invite them to a party. I know they wanted to come last time in Ibiza.

'Do you really think they care about that ?'

What then ? A pony ? Oh ! I know ! some solar cream for their skin !

'I think they have enough of that in their water already thanks to the humans.'

"Sorry I'm so late, there was an emergency and I had to stay. Some kid decided it was a brilliant idea to ride a bike on the roof of an old house." Leila apologizes as she enters the room her hands full of papers putting our banter to an end.

I want to meet that kid.

*****

Hello everyone, Nate here. So. Well, I... The thing is Man this is hard.

Come on dude. We don't have all day. If you don't hurry up, they'll just leave.

But...I mean...

Do you want me to say it for you ?

No. I can do it.The author, for unknown

He's going to be a jerk, a jackass, a stubborn brat, a dimwit, an ass...

I think they got the point.

The thing is, he doesn't want you guys to hate him.

Exactly ! I mean this isn't even my fault. The author made me do it ! I swear !

Hey ! We're talking about me right now !

Who cares I'm more important.

Sure.WILL YOU STOP WITH THE SUBTEXTS ! I'm not jealous ! No I'm NOT! Just trying to clean up the mess you are about to make !

WITTLE ?! That's it ! I am not making a tantrum ! You'll see ! I don't care if I have to climb up mountains and fight your knights and dragons ! The walls from you castle won't protect you from me !

Alright, alright ! That's enough you two. Well I guess this is all for today ! Thank you so much for reading my story ! We'll see you soon !