A replacement?

"Sir, please-"

"No, I will drive." Luthien says, cutting the driver.

The driver gasps, shaking his head as he holds the handle tight. "Please, I won't." Luthien grits his teeth, "I am telling you-"

"I promise, I won't report a word." The driver says, desperate to tag along, "Please, I need to be there for you, wherever it is. Last time you returned injured too." He adds, Luthien sighs, "It's not necessary that I need to get injured."

The driver looks away, still adamant, "I know, but still, I must protect you, please let me." 

Luthien huffs but sighs, "Then, this is our secret, Vis." 

Vis chuckles, nodding his head as he opens the backseat, "Be seated, we have somewhere to be." He adds, grinning and Luthien chuckles, "Dare you open your mouth, I will kill you."

"Yes, boss." Vis chuckles, walking around the car as he gets inside the driver's seat, "Where to?" 

Luthien looks at him, "To the hill, behind the dam."

Vis frowns but nonetheless stays silent as he starts the car, driving through the traffic.

After an hour, Vis stops, "Where to now? We are at the base." 

Luthien looks away from his phone and looks out, stretching. He walks out, Vis widens his eyes, following out, "I will be going for a while, stay here." 

Vis gasps, "But, I want to come along."

Luthien shakes his head, "If something happens, I will howl. Until then, stay here." 

Vis frowns, "Can I just not tag along?"

"I doubt I will come across anyone or anything… I am just looking for something." Luthien says, putting on his coat, Vis sighs in dejection and nods, pulling out a taser gun from his pocket, "Then, at least keep this with you." 

Luthien widens his eyes, "Since when did you carry such a thing?"

"Since the last time you got attacked, I am worried sick." Vis huffs, crossing his arms, acting annoyed at his dismissal. 

Luthien chuckles, putting the taser gun inside his pocket, "Anyway, thanks for this. And don't worry, I am still capable." 

Vis looks at him, concerned, "But, what is it you are looking for?" 

Luthien looks at him still and undeterred, "Um."

"Your core?" Vis adds, hesitant.

Luthien nods, "I hope to, one of the few things." He chuckles, patting Vis on his head, huffing. Vis pulls his hand away, "I am no kid, restrain such gestures, boss."

Chuckling Luthien pinches his cheeks, "You're quite young, it seems justified."

Vis groans, "Come on, it's just five years!"

Luthien chuckles, "You are still young, don't try to put yourself before danger, I treat you like little brother."

"See, more reason for me to protect you!" Vis retorts back, Luthien shakes his head, "Stubborn." 

Vis pouts, "Okay then, stay inside the car. Don't come out unless necessary." Luthien says, pushing Vis towards the car, "I will be back in an hour or so." He adds.

Vis nods, obeying him as he settles inside the car, "Boss, be careful."

Luthien nods, walking up into the forest. Vis found his eyes following Luthien until he disappeared from his sight. Vis sighs, leaning onto his car as he takes his phone out, playing a game to pass the time.

Luthien sighs, his eyes everywhere as he slowly makes his way along the forest, across trees, as if his legs were already leading him through to the place his mind was so focused on, having ventured through here a few times, even more.

He stiffens, halting as his eyes squint, sniffing, he looks around, feeling eyes on him, he scoffs but doesn't move, when he senses no movement, like always, he walks again, his ear catching the sound of the water flowing.

A small smile clouds his face, which he omits, clearing his throat, and he finds his feet dragging him away from his said destination towards the sound, the river echoing louder as he inches closer, and he closes his eyes.

"Fuck, it alway gets me." Luthien mumbles, opening his eyes and taking in a deep breath.

Perhaps, the only best memory he could admit from this place, one he keeps longing for.

He approaches the river, kneeling as he plays with the water, smiling a little, and his head shoots up, his leg dragging him towards a tree to which he chuckles, "I must have...really lost it." He sits down, leaning against the tree.

"Why does she not remember?" He mumbles to himself, his arm slowly tracing the grass as he leans against the tree, "But what difference would it make?" He sighs, sitting up, messing his hair, "This is crazy."

He hears a twig snap, he grows stiff, alert as he sits still, 'I will catch you today.' He thinks, concentrating on the noise, neither far nor up close. 

'Come on.' He prays, wanting a movement, indicating it's up close, but he growls, impatient. He stands up and, acting oblivious, walks back, but before passing through the bush, he swiftly turns around, his hand flying inside the bush as a yelp is heard.

"Caught you." He growls, pulling up but frowning as he sees Vis. "Seriously?" 

He pushes Vis down, letting go as he walks towards the river, cursing under his breath, kicking a few stones in annoyance. "I-I… am sorry, I didn't mean to get caught-"

"You still don't regret following? But apologize for being caught?" Luthien huffs, pushing his hair back, pissed but trying to compose himself. 

Vis hangs his head low, being too conscious of Luthien wandering alone in the forest. Vis couldn't keep still when he threw his phone aside and walked out, running until he stopped nearby him, slowly following at a distance to let him have his privacy, unfortunately, he did get caught.

"You could have got hurt, you know?" Luthien mumbles, again sitting down by the tree, closing his eyes shut as he remains troubled with the fact that today would be a useless wandering, like all this time.

"I… It's ok with me." Vis mumbles, sitting before Luthien while Luthien peeks out of his right eye, raising a brow, "Like hell, it is okay."

"You are our future, boss. I am bound to serve you in any way." Vis says, Luthien closes his eye again, heaving a sigh. "You don't know that, an alpha without Luna? Who wants?" He says, grim and expressionless.

"No. You are wrong, you can always get a mate." Vis says, Luthien scoffs, "Kid, just because you know everything doesn't mean…" Luthien opens his eyes, "That's everything to it, you saw what elders showed you."

Vis frowns, "But you almost had a mate… You can again." 

Luthien chuckles, "It's not easy, forging bond."

Vis pouts, "I mean… maybe. I hope I can find my mate, real mate." 

Luthien smiles, "You are of age and growing mature, it won't be that long."

"What if I also can't find-" Vis presses his lip in a thin line, chuckling awkwardly, "Ignore that."

Luthien shakes his head, looking at the river, "Should I help you look for it? Did you lose it around here?" Vis says, hesitant, Luthien shakes his head, no.

"Don't mind it, my core… probably someone is using it." Luthien huffs, "The one who stole." He grits his teeth, clenching his fist. "But why would they steal? I mean… a core is responsive to the owner or… a mate." 

Upon that, Luthien felt a stab in his heart, he looked away, jaw clenching as he felt his eyes grow heavy, not wanting the kid to see him a mess, he stood up, "Go back, I want to stay by myself for a while." Luthien says, gulping.

Vis widens his eyes, "Boss…"

"Go and wait for me, okay?" He asks, walking towards the edge of the river, taking in a shaky breath, "Boss?" Vis mumbles, startled yet confused, "Um… okay." He adds, looking down, feeling guilty for ruining his mood.

"I will be close." Vis adds, taking in Luthien's silence and slowly walks back, Luthien finds his lips trembling as he kneels down by the edge, looking at his reflection, watching a drop of tear roll down his eyes.

"I will not… forget." Luthien chokes on his tears, panting as he clenches his fist, "She will pay… I will avenge each one of them." He punches hard on the ground, again and again, yelling as he lets out. 

"I will…" He pants, wiping his tears with the sleeve of his shirt, sniffing, he looks up at the sky, "Moon Goddess, please… give me a sign. That she is wrong, lied to me."

"Please,… my mate is alive, right?"

He pleads, his voice barely a mumble as he begs his Moon Goddess to hear him, the words he has been replaying everytime for years now.

"It's unfair… or just kill me too." He huffs, looking away.

"Why make me suffer… all by myself?" He adds, looking down, but a face surfaces in his mind, he gulps, "What are you trying to do, Moon Goddess?" He sniffs, wiping his tears, "A human?"

He scoffs, "A replacement?"

He stands up, shaking his head. "No, I don't want it…though, it's difficult."

He looks up again, "I will prove you wrong too, Moon Goddess, I will find my mate, even if it's a body, I will."

And he walks back, following the same path he took before, wiping his face dry on his way down, not wanting to let Vis see him crying mess. He silently gets inside the car, Vis steals a glance, gulping, he starts the car.

Driving back to the city, "To the office?" 

Luthien nods, looking out and staying silent.