[AGUST]
The next few hours were hectic for Agust even as he tried to focus on his brother's scent. He needed to know if Chang Zhu had managed to infiltrate Kiyoto, because if that was so, then the border was the most useless thing that he was setting up.
Of course, he couldn't say that to Jiminie, seeing as the wolves had taken a bit relaxed attitude about their current state, but he knew that there was something amiss.
He had tried to shake it off, but the presence he was feeling was certainly that of his brother, which made Agust wonder if it was his brother who had set up the Lycans against Kiyoto in the guise of King Agust.
The brothers shared more features than many could ever tell apart. The scar that ran down Agust's left face was also on Chang Zhu's face. It was something that his brother had done in solidarity with him, back when his father was being a dick to Agust.
Now that he thought back to that time, Agust wished that the fates had been kinder to both him and his Erasthai, because otherwise this was a kind of hell that no one was ready for just yet.
"This is way better than I imagined," Jiminie marveled at the magical barrier that stood between Helia and Kiyoto. Just like Agust had promised, he had created three plaques too, with Jiminie and his blood.
One was for So Hee and Jiminie's wolves could have the remaining two. It made more sense to Agust that way, and he had truly kept his word. But even that didn't make it any easier for him to shake his brother's presence.
It was haunting him, and he wasn't sure if this was something Jiminie would appreciate. Deciding against telling Jiminie, Agust watched as his Erasthai marveled at the new setup.
It was so pretty and composed, it was almost like this was their new normal. Perhaps it was because no matter what happened or even how it happened, someone would have to do the honors of the hard work.
"I suppose you like it?" Agust asked as he started hopefully at Jiminie. He wasn't sure if this was truly what Jiminie had been hoping for, and a part of him was scared of figuring out the possibility that Jiminie despised the border.
But then there were so many smiles around them and a renewed sense of security in Kiyoto. The plaques had probably had a lot to do with that, other than the thickened borders of Kiyoto.
It was like home was finally getting to feel like home, even though there were so many things that scared the hell out of the wolves still. They would figure out a way. They were the Kiyoto wolves, weren't they?
"Like? This is awesome!" Jiminie cheered as he hugged Agust tightly, mumbling a ton of thank yous and you did it for me-s. It was a sight that warmed Agust's heart, and in that moment, the king chose to focus on his happy Erasthai.
He knew that this was not going to be easy for Jiminie, given that Jiminie had to come along with him now. There was more waiting for them beyond the newly created borders.
The Kiyoto wolves could handle themselves, because at the end of the day, no matter what they tried to do, Jiminie was the king's consort. They could try to buy time and act like that wasn't their truth, too, but they wouldn't be able to outrun the reality that stares right at them.
Eventually, they would have to let the man go, and then would have to live their lives that didn't have Jiminie with them, at least not directly.
"You deserve it," Agust said as he looked at his Erasthai, his eyes softening for the wolf who had won his heart for the longest time. He could only hope that at the end of the day, all of this would truly be worth it.
That was his only wish because war was waiting for both of them in Helia.
"Come with me," Jiminie said and Agust wondered what it was that his Erasthai was up to this time.
"Wh…"
"You'll see," Jiminie insisted, and sheepishly, Agust followed him. He knew that there was not much he could do about all of this at the moment because no matter what the outcome was, he would follow Jiminie everywhere.
Perhaps Hee was a little too trusting of the leader of the pack that had just been attacked by his people. Maybe he was hoping for the impossible, but wasn't he allowed to hope regardless?
At the end of the day, he was just but a man who needed his Erasthai, no matter how crazy that seemed at the moment. Agust followed Jiminie into the pack house and then to the alpha's office, the one place he couldn't even remember stepping foot into.
It was kinda crazy how much time had passed since the last time he had come to Kiyoto and abandoned Jiminie. It was something that didn't make the king feel any better about himself, but he knew that at times, there was only so much that he could do.
This right here was not the best way for him, but trust had to have had something about it.
"Jiminie—" Luna Park spoke when Jiminie walked in, tugging Agust beside him. The woman was a known Agust hater so it wasn't surprising for them that she had spoken first.
Inside the room were the alpha's Beta – Lee Tang, the enforcer – Jae Jun, and Luna Park, wearing nothing like a smile on her face. Maybe it was because even after everything, she was still skeptical about Agust.
"Jieun-ah. I see you're well," Agust said, not caring to be nicer to the woman. He still harbored resentment for the woman who had hurt his Erasthai. He hated that she had been an enabler back when she could have saved Jiminie.
She was his mother, and yet the woman had been nothing like a mother. It was a truth that still made Agust want to wring her neck to this day.
Maybe it was crazy, what he was holding onto, but when it came to Jiminie, there was never going to come a day when Agust compromised. He had tried that once, and his Erasthai had paid the price for it.
This was never going to happen again.
"Ming Xiao Zhu, I see you're still as psychotic as always," Luna Park said, matching the king's tone.
"Easy, both of you. I called you here because of what is happening. I agreed to go with Xiao Xiao if he set up the borders. And that leaves you in charge, mother. There are a lot of things that could happen back here—
"...But then I can't keep running away from my mate bond. Eventually, it will all catch up to me, and there won't be much we can all do. Now play nice," Jiminie said, and Agust rolled his eyes at Luna Park, making Jiminie sigh.
He knew that this was not going to be easy for them, but they had to be kinder to each other. They were all aware of what this meant and how hard things could be, but perhaps a few squabbles here and there would be alright, no?
"Fine. But she doesn't sit next to me," Agust said.
"I'll sit on your lap," Jiminie said.
Agust stilled.