Finding You, Again
Us 29 - Cute Day and Assignment

"God!!! What's going on?"

Blackmoon turned bright.

Hundreds of small colored lights, arranged threading on the roadside trees, thus forming beautiful strands of light. While the snow is white on the ground, it reflects a colorful soft rainbow.

The atmosphere along the way pack, as if holding a festival. Not only are the lights striking, shop buildings, settlements, even hospitals are also decorated with various colorful ribbons, statues and hanging lanterns.

I could only gape at the beautiful and cheerful sight before me.

"We're going to have two big Lui celebrations, the wedding and also the Alpha coronation. Of course they wanted to celebrate as much as possible" Myra said from her seat in front of me.

Me and Duke looked out the car window almost unblinkingly.

"I didn't know Alpha's coronation was this festive!" Said the Duke still with eyes looking out.

Duke had never attended the Alpha coronation, as his father was appointed Alpha long before he was born.

Myra told me yesterday, when I asked her how her rapture was processed in detail. Duke could not give a satisfactory answer when I asked him.

"Hmmm, I think they're a little more excited than usual. After all, their new Zhena was a human. That's never happened"

Myra again expressed her opinion, which even made my stomach uncomfortable because of fear and nervousness.

Everything started to feel real as my wedding day approached. I won't back down, but that doesn't mean I don't feel scared.

I can't imagine my life as Zhena. I never dreamed of having citizens to govern, much less they were not human.

Myra and Duke repeatedly assured me, it won't be a problem, and they will continue to be by my side to help. I was relieved and happy to hear the promise, but at a time like this, the worry that I would mess things up, rose in my heart.

My left hand suddenly felt a comfortable warm, Duke's hand grasped it gently.

Does he know I'm worried?

The duke said nothing, but his grasp gave me more composure than Myra's word of comfort.

Drttt!.....

The Duke's phone lying on the table vibrated indicating an incoming call.

"Yes!" answer with a flat face.

Whoever called him must be on serious business, because a few minutes later, Duke's face looked tense.

"Of course!" he said again responding.

"I understand, I'll call once everything's ready!" And then he ended the conversation.

His eyes now became unfocused from thinking about something, until when the car we were riding stopped in front of Manor. His face immediately turned ordinary and pulled me down.

"Antar Lui to his room and let him rest!" Myra said to the Duke, who was answered with a snort by him.

I knew my face had turned red, as Myra threw a mischievous smile as she walked in.

"El, we need to talk. Call Roan and also call uncle Rex!" Duke turned his eyes to El who had just appeared after parking the car. El nodded and passed.

"You like the view?" duke asked as he pointed around the Manor which was also full of charming decorations.

In the courtyard of Manor now stood a beautiful ice wolf statue. The downed wolf while looking at the little wolf children surrounded its feet. The statue was equipped with a dim lamp that perfected it.

"Yes.it's so beautiful!"

I looked at the statue and around it. In contrast to the atmosphere on the streets, lights and also fabrics that decorate the Manor, dominated by soft pastel white and blue. I think the decorations inside the Manor are more for the wedding.

"How about we go around?" proposed the Duke, looking at me expectantly.

"Eh.. Aren't you going to talk to El?" I was wondering, she wanted to meet Roanna too.

"Don't worry, they will wait for me" he said lightly, as he walked out the Manor gate without any guilt.

I don't think this is a good idea. Roan will be angry. But Duke doesn't care about the risk.

He looked to the right and to the left before finally pulling me towards the left of Manor and walking down the rocky path that had been cleared of snow.

"Do you need a coat again? The temperature of the air will be even lower" Duke began to open the mantle he was wearing just to look reasonable, and snuck it at me.

Only a thin turtleneck sweater remained on his body. But it was not a problem for him, he did not look cold.

"Thanks" I said with slightly trembling lips.

The perfect snow always comes with biting air, but I still love it. And my hand, now wrapped in gloves and Duke's hands, gave me a pleasant warmth.

The cold won't bother me tonight.

The unusual sight of the pack, immediately robbed most of our attention. I looked at the ice sculptures of various shapes scattered around every corner. All kinds of animals, humans with various poses as well as trees and plants, are all made of ice.

I asked Duke about some things that caught my attention. And the Duke explained it with pleasure. Several times he laughed because I couldn't help but be enthusiastic and kept exclaiming in awe at the sight I saw.

We walked down the pack road that was still crowded with people passing by, because the night and cold air were not a problem for them at all.

All the citizens who passed by us, bowing their heads saluted the Duke, and he would reply to them with a friendly, but authoritative little nod.

I'm increasingly aware that Duke was indeed born for this.

He received all the respect without feeling awkward, then returned to talk casually explaining all the things I saw. It's just amazing!

Reminds me of Oscar, talking about business and managing a company is as easy as turning a palm. They are both very similar in this regard.

"Ah--I wanted to ask you one thing, I heard a little from Oscar, but I became curious now" said Duke, looking at me full of probes.

"What about?"

"Zenobia Terence, Oscar said you saved her from someone" Duke explained, without blinking.

"Oh. That's a little bit of Duke's exaggeration, I just bought it. I had no idea what I was doing would be a drama worth discussing" I was a little embarrassed to remember that reckless act.

"Bought? You bought it?" Duke exclaims.

Other than being curious, I could see a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

Wait up! Why is he so interested in this matter? Is she.--? That's not possible.

"Are you jealous?" I asked in jokes and smiles.

"Of course!!" the Duke quickly replied without hesitation, leaving me at a loss for words.

I tried to tease her, but why would I feel embarrassed and flushed?

"That's not a thing Duke deserves to be jealous of"

I then recounted the events of the party that ended in chaos. Duke nodded in understanding, his feelings read clearly on the look of his face which was now starting to cheer up again.

"You're right, I don't need to be jealous" he broke up with a big smile.

He's really cute!! inner, worship.

How could his mood change drastically just because of such a strange story?

Duke left me for a while to walk into a building that looked like a diner, with tables lined up and chairs full of people eating. Before long he came out carrying a steaming drink in a paper cup.

I smell a delicious hot chocolate.

I smiled happily at the glass and took a slow breath of its aroma. Warm and fun.

"You never get tired of chocolate" said Duke, with a small smile raising the glass in his hand to his mouth.

"And you never get tired of black coffee" I said, smelling the aroma of ground coffee from his glass.

The duke chuckled softly, but then frowned looking in the direction across the street. A little boy with long black hair ran towards us with a big smile.

"Scion...!!" his shouts stopped his steps in front of the Duke and looked at him while raising his head.

"Mada?!" said the Duke, after a few seconds of thought.

The girl nodded excitedly. "Where's your mom? Are you running from him again?"

Duke crouched down to align Mada's gaze, as the little girl continued to look up.

Once again he nodded answering Duke's question, smilingly showing off his missing front teeth one. Duke chuckled amusedly at Mada's reply.

"You know this sweet girl?" my question, while crouching beside the Duke.

"Yes, we've met" Duke replied, as he ruffled Mada's black hair.

I'm not surprised, because this girl is so sweet.

Suddenly he pointed at me.

"Is he our new Zhena Scion?" ask her in a plain tone.

"You're right Mada" replied the Duke.

The little girl turned her eyes to me. She looked at me carefully, then showed off her toothless smile at me.

I caught it and immediately smiled at the cute face.

"My mother said, Our new Zhena is very beautiful" she said with sparkling eyes.

"Just your mother said? Then what do you think?" Duke asked while glancing at me ignorantly.

I gave Duke a meaningless elbow - my elbow felt like it was crashing against a wall- beside his stomach.

"Beautiful, her hair is beautiful" she replied as she looked at my head with cheerful glowing eyes.

That innocent answer made me smile again, he must be curious about the color of my hair, because almost all the pack residents have very dark black or brown hair like El.

I bowed my head in front of her face "Do you want to touch her?" my many.

A excited nod and her little helping hand came up as an answer. While giggling happily, she stroked my hair.

"It's very subtle" exclaimed Mada.

"I am!!"..... "Me!!" suddenly a few cheerful little screams came from behind me.

Without me realizing it, a bunch of little kids already swarmed us.

Not only them, some adults were also standing in groups, looking at us - mostly at me - curiously.

I began to panic without knowing what to do.

"Hmmm......" The duke muttered for a while beside me, then stood up and clapped his hands into the air.

"What if you guys line up neatly? I'll let you stroke Zhena's pretty blonde hair, and after that you can ask Mrs for a glass of warm maple* milk. Beatrice. Tell him Scion's gonna pay" said Duke, pointing to the tavern where he got me chocolates.

Cheer up directly. The little legs began to line up neatly in front of me. They all looked at me with excited eyes. I laughed when I saw all that.

I didn't expect Duke to have the skills to handle a child. I cannot communicate with them myself.

The strange queue began to diminish rapidly. One by one they touched my hair slowly while laughing.

One of the children gave me a flower made of ice sculpture and he touched it without gloves!

I smiled with envy when I saw that, my hands would be numb if I touched the ice directly.

Duke's estimate was not wrong, the air temperature again decreased.

Duke left me for a while to the tavern. And then came back while holding Mada who was already holding a steaming paper glass. Some of the children had already gone out and ran back to the houses around the tavern.

"We have to drive her home, her house is a little bit away from here" said the Duke, pointing towards Mada.

Innocent affection made my heart melt full of haru.

"Where is the school in this pack?" my many.

With the number of children I saw earlier, it is only natural that this pack also has a school.

"On the west side of the forest. I'll take you there sometime" Duke pointed west of the pack.

"But the school is not very big. The number of children in this pack has never been much, due to the slower rate of werewolf births than in humans. The kids you saw earlier were more or less all elementary school students" he explained.

"Oh really? But there were only seven or six children just now" I cried in surprise. "Yes..There were only about 20 other children of varying ages there. And that's already a decent amount" he added.

I nodded in understanding. Recalling Oscar's explanation that the number of inhumane will never match that of a human, and he was right of course. If I ever see Oscar again, I have to ask him where he can get all that knowledge from.

We arrived in front of a small house that was also decorated with many lights. The Duke knocked on the door slowly.

"Just a second!" The voice coming from within. Mada started knocking on the door impatiently.

"I said a minute!" there was a resentful tone and the door swung open.

"Aghhhhh.....!" a startled scream and a pale face greeted us.

"You have to get rid of the habit of yelling when you see me"

The Duke responded to the screams calmly, very contrary to the attitude of Mother Mada.

I think a sudden meeting with nobles will indeed make any creature panic, not least inhumane.

"Sc..A scion? What's up?" Ibu Mada asked.

"Mommy!!"

Mada answered the question with a shrill cry, running to his mother's feet.

"Mada...!! Why are you outside? You should be in bed!" Shouts dumbfounded.

"We met him near Mrs' shop. Beatrice" explained Duke.

"I'm sorry for bothering you Scion, I should have watched her more closely" Mother Mada lowered her head deeply.

"Don't think about Lyla. He's a sweet boy" said the Duke, smiling little at Mada who was now sagging at his mother's feet.

"Thank you, Scion, Zhena" said Mada's mother, who turned out to be Lyla, turning to look at me.

"Eh..." I misbehaved to receive the call, my status has not officially become Zhena here. I was finally only able to nod politely in return.

"We'll excuse us" Duke said his farewell as he waved at Mada.

I waved at him too, who was in excited wave back with his little hand.

"By the way, I completely agree with your opinion, our new Zhena is so beautiful!" duke exclaimed from the side of the road, after turning to look towards the astonished Lyla.

"Duke!!" I called out to warn him.

How could he say that now? The duke laughed out loud looking at the panicked face I displayed.

I glanced shyly at Lyla who was now laughing loosely, wiping away the anxiety on her face.

I smiled blush while nodding, then ran after the fast-walking Duke avoiding my pinch.

---------- *0o0*----------------

"Good Night" I whispered in Bee's ear, as I gently kissed her forehead.

"Night" Bee's face flushed red as she said that. I don't think he's used to kissing. Bee then closed the door quietly.

His face looked a little disappointed when I said I was leaving for a few days. But he accepted without protesting further.

I have to ask Mom to comfort her so she doesn't get sad after this. She was already quite nervous about the wedding, at least she couldn't be more agitated about my departure.

I opened the door to my study, which contained Roan, El and Mom. They were waiting for me of course.

Roan immediately let out an irritated sigh "You dated Lui while you kept us waiting!" the protest, which I immediately ignored.

El opens the laptop on the table and connects it to Uncle Rex.

"Abel asked me for help" I explained without opening, as soon as Uncle Rex's face appeared on the screen.

All faces became alert.

"Soliciting what?" Mom asked worriedly.

The last time Abel asked for help, I had to put a vampire in the pack anytime soon.

"He wanted me to find information about Crispin's men" I said flatly.

"No!!!" Mom who exclaimed.

"Oh. yes!!' Excited cries came from Roan.

"Where?" El started to hunch.

"Lavrentiya, Russia" I replied.

The last news that they attacked the Black Forest was certainly true, and now they were moving eastward, getting closer to Canada.

It doesn't take a genius brain to know where they're going next.

"What about your wedding? We have prepared everything!" Mom's face was still filled with panic, she did not agree with my departure.

"I'll be back before Mom's rehearsal, don't worry" I swung my hand at El, asking her to prepare for the trip.

El worked quickly typing something on another laptop that did not contain the face of Uncle Rex. "We can fly tomorrow morning from Quebec, departing from here before dawn" he said.

I'm nodding.

"You're gonna do it any good?" Uncle Rex asked. I nodded, "Me and El!"

"No!!!!! You can't leave me here" Roan roared furiously, not accepting my decision.

"I have to leave you here, Roan, and you know why. You're the nearest Alpha blood owner after me" I snapped impatiently.

"Don't say such a thing!" Mom protested with a trembling voice.

"I'm just thinking about everything that's going to happen Mom, I don't mean to worry you" I said.

Breaking into a lunatic vampire lair is dangerous, I don't blame Mom if she's worried. This is also the reason why I didn't say my purpose clearly to Bee earlier.

"Two flight tickets for tomorrow are ready" El said in front of his laptop.

Roan was still an angry face, but he locked his mouth tightly to understand my decision. I typed a message to Alva with a bit of laziness. I've had it a few times this month. I hope he doesn't poison me with the potion after this.

"I will prepare your needs. Are you sure you're not gonna use Monath's plane? "

I shook my head in response to Uncle Rex's question. "Well, I'll see you at the airport tomorrow" he said, ending a video call.

I'm using a commercial plane to stay undetected.

Egon would easily plant someone to oversee Monath's flight movements, but with a commercial plane, I would cover my tracks perfectly. This is also why I took a commercial plane to London yesterday.

With a frown and without saying goodbye, Roan exited the room accompanied by a door slam.

"Rest" I said to El. He nodded then closed the laptop. "Good Night!" he said, closing the door slowly.

Mom still didn't move from her seat. I sat next to him

"Mom, I know this is dangerous, but someone has to see how powerful they are before we can fight Mom. And Abel had already lost over ten Hunters before this. I was the most appropriate choice for this task" I explained slowly.

"But they're so powerful Duke" Mom looked at me tearfully.

Mom is a living witness as Crispin, Egon and Dad fight. He knew exactly how powerful they were. Mom was also seriously injured during the attack.

"I'm not going to deliberately fight with them Mom. I just came there to see"

I will work hard so as not to get carried away with my emotions and start the fight. Mom let out a sigh of despair, aware that my decision would not change.

"I have to do it Mom, if we want to win this war" I insisted.

"Be careful" Mom finally looked at me with a faint smile.

I nodded excitedly and kissed her cheek at a glance. I'm heading for the door.

"Where are you going to sleep?" ask Mom sharply.

"In the guest room of course" I said as I lowered my head avoiding Mom's eyes.

"Hehh. and you think I won't know? All this time you sneaked into Lui's room in the middle of the night" Mom's eyes narrowed at my obvious lie.

"Yes, and I'll do it again" I cried, smiling knots and exiting the room, without waiting for Mom's scolding.

"Duke!!!" Mom's voice cried out from behind the door.

But I ran up the stairs to my room. At the door I paused for a moment, listening to the voice from within. Bee's breathing sounded heavy and orderly, a sign that she had been sounding well.

Slowly I opened the door.

Bee curled up in her thick blanket with her eyes tightly closed. I smiled with satisfaction to see it.

I sneak here almost every night. I did nothing but sleep on the couch and hear his regular breathing as a lullaby.

Actually, I always felt there was less.

I'm happy, so happy that Bee's willing to marry me. But I'm a little unwilling, if in the end, Bee doesn't remember the memories of our three years together.

I know Bee sincerely loves me, his attitude and behavior are exactly the same as when we were together.

His laughter, his smile, his frown, his face, everything was the same. But it's different too.

Bee's sense of habituation is very different. He felt like he had known me less than a month ago. It's only natural that sometimes he's still awkward when he faces me.

This sometimes makes me still miss the figure of Bee who used to be, even though he was right in front of me.

Right now, I should always refrain from making her suspicious. And sometimes I start to feel tired because I always have to take care of what I say when we talk.

But I dare not complain. Because of our togetherness, I have built up with great difficulty. I will not give up just because I am tired .

If it is possible, I also want to forget those lost memories.

But of course it's impossible.

The memories that now torment me are everything to me.

A very precious memory to me.

Memories of a girl who loved me so much.

Memories of how for the first time we found love.