Destined {𝕄𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕌ℕ𝔾}

Chapter Thirty-Nine

PRESENT DAY

Changbin approached his new Alpha hesitantly. His fists were curled and his mouth set in an apprehensive frown. Jisung turned to face him just as he came to a halt in front of him.

"Alpha," he began, noting the way Jisung cringed at the name. "I didn't want to bother you about this yesterday, but–"

Jisung smiled tensely. "I know. I'm sorry it took so long. We're leaving tonight." Changbin blinked at him in bewilderment. Jisung's eyes grew cloudy and serious. "We're going to get him back. I'm not... I'm not going to let him do to Felix what he did to my dad." The other wolf nodded with a bowed head.

He couldn't deny the worry that ate at him; he felt almost guilty. It had been a hard time for Jisung, but all he could think about was his own Mate.

"I'm going to make slight modifications to the team." He nodded and took a deep breath. He smiled again before he turned around and continued on his way down the hall, presumably to his study.

Changbin sighed and ran a hand through his hair; it must have been difficult, to become Alpha so suddenly and quickly. He bit his lip; it had already been several days since he'd last heard from Felix.

I'm coming, Lix.

~#~#~#~#~#~

Jisung stood up from his chair when everybody he'd called to his office arrived; only his most trusted were there. After what had happened to Dongwook... he didn't know who he could trust. He didn't know who was secretly in league with his enemies.

He wanted to think that all of his members were loyal – he truly did, but blind faith would kill him like it had killed his father if he let it. He couldn't die – not until he'd gotten revenge for his father, at least.

"I've changed the team," he announced the moment the door was closed, though he kept his voice low. He noted the way their eyebrows furrowed and he sighed, running a hand through his hair as he walked around his desk and leaned against it.

"Last time, they weren't expecting us. They'll be expecting a large team coming to rescue Felix – or, well, attempt to. That's what they'll be looking out for. And with what happened to... to Alpha Dongwook, I need people I trust here, too." He sighed again, closing his eyes; a headache was already settling in.

"It's no secret a vast majority of our pack wants me out, doesn't think I'm worthy," a grimace twisted his features, "which is why Hyunjin, you and Seungmin will be staying here." His beta's eyes widened.

"But Jisung! I'm your beta! I... I'm supposed to come with you and watch your back–"

"I need you here; I know you can keep everybody in check while I'm gone." He did not miss the way his friend's fists curled and his jaw clenched. "I'm not... hell, I'm not insulting your strength or your capability. I'm asking you to stay here because I trust you more than I trust anyone else." He knew Hyunjin would not understand unless he wanted to.

"Yes, Alpha." A lump formed in Jisung's throat again. Stop it. He pushed his thoughts away; he couldn't afford to be weak, not now. He had to act like an Alpha – not some weak little boy.

"Seungmin, I need you to find a way to deactivate the runes around the perimeter. Or, at least, find out anything you can about that." Seungmin nodded.

"Changbin, Jeongin and Minho, you guys are coming with me." The human's eyebrows quirked up in surprise.

Seungmin's eyebrows, however, scrunched together. "Why? I mean, no offence, but they're looking for him; why would you bring him into the lion's den?"

Jisung shook his head. "We'll keep him hidden; Jeongin, when we get close to the Crimson Castle, you'll have to cast an invisibility spell on him and only him; they wouldn't believe it if I just took another wolf with me, you need to be plainly visible. The chances are they'll underestimate your strength; we'll use that to our advantage."

His eyes surveyed his friends. "And if push comes to shove, we can use him as a bartering tool – of course, we won't actually hand him over. Jeongin, you and Changbin will protect Minho if we end up having to reveal him." They nodded, and he turned to the rest of his party.

"They'll most likely want to exchange him for Felix, probably guessing those are our intentions. So they'll have to bring Felix out to prove he's alive. When that happens, I'll grab him. With my... new form," he grimaced again, "I'll be able to take on more of them if they attack."

It was a rushed plan, but it was better than no plan.

"We leave the moment the moon comes out; we'll stay in human form, and take human modes of transportation. We have to draw the least amount of attention to ourselves. Hyunjin, try to keep the fact that we left confidential for as long as possible. The further we are when the rest finds out, the better."

Hyunjin nodded silently. "Alright, you have a couple of hours – get ready."

Everybody left the room – all but Minho. Jisung couldn't help the soft smile that crept onto his face. The human came over to stand beside him, and they remained in silence for several moments.

Finally, Minho looked up at him. "Are you okay?" Jisung's eyes widened as he turned to face him.

He continued to stare for a little while longer before he turned to look at the ceiling, expression soft and sad. "Nobody's asked me that. I'm supposed to be, you know, as the Alpha."

Minho snorted softly before he shook his head and turned his body towards him. "I'm not asking about the Alpha – I don't really know what that even means, I'm just a simple human. I'm asking if Han Jisung is okay."

Tears welled in the wolf's eyes and he blinked furiously, hoping to clear them away. His voice was meek and strained, quivering almost embarrassingly as he spoke. "If I'm honest with you," he paused, taking a deep breath to even his voice, "no." Despite his best efforts, his voice still cracked.

It felt good, to get it off his chest, to let someone in through the façade, see behind the mask. A crooked, strained laugh escaped him. "There were so many things... I wanted to do with him. I always held back." Almost as though a dam had broken, a wave of despair rushed over him again. Tears continued to well in his eyes no matter how hard he tried to blink them away.

Minho grabbed his hand, and although it was comforting, it still did not ease the pain in his chest; he wished it would. He had hoped it would.

His words caught in his throat, and his eyes drifted back towards the ground. Thankfully Minho didn't press him for details, and they just remained in silence; he was done talking about it. For today, at least.

A knock on the door jolted him out of his thoughts. "Come in," he called, to which the door quickly opened and Grand Wizard Moonsoo walked in.

"Ah, Minho. I had a feeling you'd be here. There is something... important I must tell you both before you leave."

A/N: I'm trying to do something called the "pantser outline", to see if I can get a bit more organized with my stories but still keep the fun of it intact, so I'm gonna try it out for a really short story/novella I'm planning on writing in a couple of months ;)

Q: What's the worst hairstyle you've ever had?

A: *winces* wellll it would have to be in grade eight, when I had short hair down to just below my chin and these awful highlights that were platinum blonde in my dirty blonde hair (I think the exact shade is caramel blonde??? idek my hair is whack), that were literally just stripes across my hair. And then this year my friend finally admitted to me that I looked like a zebra, which I do think is quite accurate.

Lots of love,

~Junnie