Koga

When the elders of the village had first informed Koga of his 'fate', he had felt a searing-white anger course through his veins. Not so much that he was told he was to marry, but more so the fact that his marriage was arranged. Not getting a say in whom he was to spend the rest of his eternity with was a slap to the face of his pride, a pride that was as fiery and unyielding as the sun itself. But as the days passed, and he found himself unable to escape the whispers and expectant gazes, Koga thought that maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Sure, it was to a Northern tribe member, but it could be worse. He could be marrying a human, a mere mortal with no understanding of the true nature of the world and the battles that raged within it. But this... this was different. The woman, he had heard, was not just any wolf demon. She had the spirit of a warrior, and that was something he could respect.

Koga took it upon himself to venture out of the Eastern territory and head North to officially meet his arranged mate. He was escorted by Ginta and Hakkaku, as they trekked through the dense and eerie forest. But no fear plagued Koga's heart or mind - he was born for the thrill of the wild, the challenge of the unknown. The three of them were silent, their breaths the only sound piercing the solitude of nature surrounding them. Each step he took was filled with anticipation and a hint of skepticism.

Would he truly find a partner that could match his fiery spirit? Or would it be a cold, political union that would only serve to further burden his already heavy mantle of responsibility?

The thought made his teeth grit; though Koga wasn't exactly a romantic, the idea of being bound to someone forever and their relationship being lack luster was akin to a slow and painful death to him. He liked the thrill of the chase, the challenge of winning someone over. But alas, he was born to lead and uphold the alliances of his people, not to follow the whims of his heart.

Finally after a days travel, Koga and his trusted warriors were standing at the gates of the Northern Tribe's village. The wooden barricade was sturdy, a clear sign that the inhabitants valued their safety and privacy. The smell of cooking fires and the distant sound of laughter wafted through the air, hinting at a community getting by despite the constant shadow of conflict. Part of Koga wanted to turn around and run; to not look back and claim his rightful place as an untamed alpha, free from the chains of marriage.

But his responsibilities tugged at his conscience, and he knew that no matter what he nor this woman could escape the fate that had been placed upon them. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, his hand gripping the handle of his sword. The guards at the gate eyed him suspiciously before recognizing the fur that marked him as a wolf demon of the Eastern lands. They nodded in respect and allowed him, Ginta, and Hakkaku entry.

Inside, Koga's blue eyes scanned the village. It was well kept -small- but still managing to thrive despite the decreasing numbers that he unfortunately knew all too well about. His barefeet strolled across the ground as onlookers stopped to whisper about the Eastern Alpha that had arrived.

The guards led Koga to the main house, where he was to meet the woman who would soon be his wife. His heart was racing like a pack of wolves during a full moon, and his palms felt sticky with nervousness. This wasn't characteristic for the usually confident and stoic alpha, but even he couldn't ignore the gravity of this moment. Ginta and Hakkaku remained outside, giving him a nod of encouragement that he returned with a gritted smile.

Once the doors slid closed, Koga looked towards the front of the room where he saw the back of a woman. He couldn't see her face, however, her presence was palpable, like the air before a storm. She was dressed in a kimono, her hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. The woman didn't turn around immediately, so Koga slowly approached and cleared his throat gruffly.

"Erm, I'm Koga," he announced, his voice sounding slightly less certain than he had intended. "Your... your future... husband."

Smooth.

But what the fuck else was he was supposed to say? Surely, she knew why he was here. The awkward silence was almost deafening as Koga moved beside her - keeping a good distance before kneeling down and averting his gaze in respect. The air was thick with tension and the faint scent of incense burning in the background did nothing to ease his nerves.

'Well comeon lady, say something!' Koga thought, his patience wearing as thin as a thread. But the woman remained silent, her posture unyielding and proud. The wolf-demon's jaw clenched tightly as he waited for her response, his hand tapping against the handle of his sword in an agitated rhythm.