CHAPTER THREE
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It has been several days since the warriors returned triumphantly. Tonight, the chief of the Akleri is hosting a grand feast to celebrate his sons, Eren and Aston, on their victory. The moon is full outside, and the sound of laughter and merriment can be heard throughout the castle and the entire village.Rene paces nervously. Everyone is so busy, and there couldn't be a better opportunity.
This tiny room where his mother lies smells strongly like sickness and stale herbs.Rene has already gathered their belongings, which only consist of a few rags they wear as clothes.
"Mother, there's no time left!"
"No, I won't leave. We will get caught, and you will be hurt again," Vera's eyes glitter with tears as she stares at Rene, who is still limping from the bruises he has suffered from the other servants.
Rene sighs exasperatedly, he has been trying to convince his mother that this isn't a scheme that will land them punishment.
It's real, they are going to escape."
"Don't you want to leave this place and start everything afresh with me? I hear there are good healers outside who can even treat your illness; you are just waiting for death if you continue to remain here," Rene voices softly, his heart wrenching with sadness; over the years, he has watched his mother become a poor reflection of the beauty she used to be.
Her skin is packed with wrinkles from the years of affliction; only her hazel eyes, which are identical to Rene's, remain.
Rene grasps her cold frail hands, gradually warming them with his, "No need to be afraid, they are all too busy to notice us, the princess is willing to help us leave, we may not live a good life, but it will be better than what we have here,"
"I trust you; I just don't trust any child of that woman; evil always tries to hide their true nature!" Vera's eyes flash deeply with the resentment that she has held over the years.
She has always known that the chief's late wife is the culprit to her poisonous health. When Vera had been forced to become the Chief's concubine, the Lady Chief, who was known for being vengeful had punished her brutally for something Vera did not even have a choice in.
After the birth of her baby, the Chief also completely abandoned her, despising and blaming her for contaminating his pure lineage of Alphas with an abomination.
Seeing the sheer desperation in Rene's eyes, she sighs and nods slowly.
"Alright... I'll go,"
A relieved smile brightens Rene's face; he turns immediately to Soral, who has been standing in a corner.
"I will go to the Princess now, take my mother and belongings and wait for me outside the castle gates, I will return shortly with the money,"
Rene had not been able to bear to think of leaving his only friend behind; they had grown up and suffered so many hardships together. Soral has skills and knowledge about herbs, he will be able to survive on his own once they leave this place.
"Please, be careful," he and Soral exchange a look that lasts for several seconds, and they both nod as if to wish themselves good luck.
Rene hastily makes his way to the Princess's chambers, but two guards stop him from entering inside.
"The Princess s_summoned me," He lies, but he knows fully well that Kyra will see him.
The door of the Princess's chamber suddenly opens, but it is not Kyra who Rene's gaze meets.
Javier, Kyra's fiance commands the guards to allow Rene inside.
Rene had not expected to meet Javier instead of Kyra; he stands uneasily inside Kyra's chambers; he has a solid reason for being nervous at Javier's presence.
"Why do you want to see the Princess?" Javier breaks the silence, and Rene's lips are tightened shut.
"I believe she is attending the feast, you have to come back tomorrow to see her,"Did Kyra forget about their plan? Panic strikes Rene hard like a hammer, anxiety crawls starkly on his face and he is not aware of the fact that Javier has moved so close until Rene is suddenly pulled in a tight embrace.
"I just came back from the war, are you not even the slightest bit happy to see me?"
A low gasp of panic escapes Rene's mouth, but Javier's arms only tighten around him.
"I miss you, Rene,"
Rene's heart and brain are blaring with apprehension. He starts to struggle against the Alpha's grip, but their differences in strengths are not to be compared.
"Let me go!" Rene hisses disgustedly; this is not normal; he may be an Omega, but a male regardless!
This is the way of barbarians.
Rene despises the fact that even though Javier is engaged to the Princess, he still tries to harass him at every given opportunity.
"What do you think will happen if the Princess sees you like this? You have more to lose if she calls off the wedding!"
"I don't care. The Chief had arranged our marriage, so I had no choice but to accept her; I have no feelings for her; I love you, Rene,"
Why does Javier always say these disgusting things?
"I protect you from other males who want you, shouldn't you thank me by submitting yourself to me? Everyone would have had a piece of your ass by now!"
Rene starts to panic when he smells Javier's pheromones in the air, the Alpha is aroused and leering at him like fresh meat.
He cannot continue to waste time here; he has to look for Kyra.
Soral and his mother must be waiting for him."Javier, let me go!" Rene's request is ignored by Javier who suddenly brushes his finger into Rene's golden strands, his eyes blazing with infatuation.
"Since I assisted in capturing the barbarian, the chief will grant me a wish; I plan to ask for you and your mother's freedom as a reward... And in return, you will let me have you!"
"I don't want you doing anything for me, and since you're already the princess's mate; you should be faithful to her!"
Almost Miraculous when Rene pushes hard with all of his strength , he manages to slip free from Javier's grip.
Unfortunately, it's already too late. Kyra, who has silently entered the chambers, has seen the embrace. She overheard the conversation, too, and her heart pulses with jealousy.
Her fiance has been in the war for so long that he's starting to behave like those savages from the Dahome clan, lusting after a fellow male!
Kyra has watched many incidents like this, green with envy, Javier always seems to beg for even the slightest form of response from Rene.She is aware of Javier's twisted obsession with Rene but chooses not to believe that a great warrior like Javier would want to tarnish his image and achievements.
Their laws forbid same-sex relationships.
It is evil.
Javier will lose his status if found.
To prevent Javier from thirsting after Rene is the main reason she wants to send Rene far away.
She wants Javier only for herself and she has made so much effort to earn his attention. Still, he won't love her, he is only interested in what she can give to him.
This unrequited love makes her envious of Rene, and envy turns to jealousy and jealousy to hate.' He not only resembles his mother, even though he is a male, it doesn't stop him from being a bewitching slut like her!' Kyra thinks angrily, her nails clawing deeply into her palms.
All this while they have been engaged, Javier has never looked at her with this affection, this longing burning right now in his eyes.
Her heart is crushed, and so is her pride.
Kyra is even more disgusted to smell Javier's arousal; he is lusting after Rene; it's so sickening!
She cannot endure this foolishness any longer, her heart throbs with a vengeance; forget about helping Rene; she wants to teach him a lesson. Since he didn't learn what happened to whores who seduce the other's husbands from his mother, she will gladly remind him.
* *CHAPTER FOUR **Rene searches everywhere for Kyra, and after a long while, he finally finds her outside the castle. Kyra is gazing at the full moon; the soft breeze blows gently on her hair.Rene approaches her, relief pulsing through his blood and he completely misses the hardness in Kyra's gaze." I've been looking for you. I even went to your chamber, but__" He halts, not willing to talk about his unpleasant experience with Javier. "We are already prepared to leave, what's left is the money,""You won't need it anymore,""What? Why? " The sudden coldness he senses from Kyra snatches his throat with anxiety in a death grip. Is she going back on her promise?Kyra's eyes glisten with hidden contempt as she cups Rene's chin softly, leaning closer to whisper."I have to tell you this, something terrible happened Rene__ your mother and your friend were caught by the guards, and they didn't succeed in leaving the gates,"The blood drains from Rene's face, "N_no," He croaks, horror s
CHAPTER FIVE**Rene is escorted to the royal kitchen by several guards, his blood rises with trepidation when Hugo hands him the tray containing food meant for the prisoner. "You better hold it well," Hugo, the servant head, sneers when the tray nearly slips from Rene's shaky hands. The rumours have spread amongst the slaves of how Rene had planned to escape with his mother. Hugo thinks that the punishment is too light; flogging the scums to death or drowning them in boiling water had been the punishment for slaves who tried to escape the clan in the past."I wish that I could be there to watch you get ravished by that monster." Hugo smirks at Rene who shoots him with a glare, forgetting their status for a moment. "I want to see the princess just once!" Rene pleads with the guards, but they don't pay him any mind.Kyra may be his only hope if he can beg her more to help persuade the Chief__"Leave us, I want to speak to him alone," Kyra enters the kitchen, and the guards, cooks,
CHAPTER SIX**Javier rushes through the castle hallway; the gossip from the servants has already reached his ears. Without money and an ailing mother, how did Rene think it would be easy to escape or even survive outside?Javier cannot dispel the worried feeling and guilt that Perhaps Rene had made this hasty decision because of his constant pestering. Did his advances scare the boy into trying to leave the castle?As Javier bursts into the long hallway which will lead him to the Chief's chambers, he is stopped by Princess Kyra, his fiancee; she stands in front of him, a smile gracing her soft features. "I was just on my way to you; there are some things I would like us to discuss""Out of my way!" Javier grits impatiently,"Our marriage is only several days from today, can we not at least respect each other?"Javier usually isn't this cold to her, but right now he has more pressing issues that cannot wait. "Not now, let's discuss later"He sidesteps Kyra, but her voice follows a
CHAPTER SEVEN**Rene wants to cry, he wants to scream, but his throat feels patched and he can only stare In terror and complete aghast. Isn't this barbarian's ankles supposed to be chained to the wall? Then, moving so close to the door should have been impossible.If this Alpha can easily cut off the chains around his wrists and ankles and move freely, then has he only been pretending to be restrained__? Escaping should be easy for him.The few thoughts in Rene's head scatter like a gust of wind when the chains rattle against the dungeon floor and a strong beefy arm snatches around his waist, pulling him against a solid chest. Rene's heart skips a beat when the captive's hot breath brushes against his ears.The heat emanating from the barbarian's skin where he touches Rene makes his flesh burn."Did you not drug me so that I will rut with you?" Lyrien growls with cold rage mixed with thick lust that oozes straight from his groin. His feral fangs are drawn in a savage snarl, and h
CHAPTER EIGHT ** Lyrien's thrusts grow more frenzied. Brutal. Merciless. His hot engorged cock slams cruelly into Rene's ass hole with a primal intensity. Three days.It has been three days and three nights since Rene is trapped in this mindless rut. His body has already been fucked over... And over again. This brute has knotted him countless times.Rene's eyes flutter open briefly, then close again, and a strangled pitiful whimper squeezes out of his torn throat. His broken nails clench against the dungeon floor, and he weakly attempts to crawl away from the Alpha. Rene's mind is a haze of pain and pleasure, his body has been stretched beyond its limits.Lyrien growls in warning, his arm encircling Rene's waist to yank him to meet his hard thrust. Rene cries out from the sheer brutality of each thrust.His mind recoils in horror, wondering how long he has been trapped beneath this Alpha's body, but still, his body continues to respond, to writhe and twist beneath this brute's
CHAPTER NINE**Javier has devoted his life to being one of the protectors of his clan ever since he was a young fourteen-year-old male. He has served his clan loyally for fifteen years, becoming one of the best warriors and rising steadfastly in ranks.His father, who used to be the right-hand warrior to the Chief, had died during one of the numerous battles with the Dahome, and Javier has been trained since his childhood to take over his father's place. His position, serving the Chief directly will be official once he gets married to the princess. Gaining power and fame is important, it is what everyone told him. He had tried to let go of his emotions and not allow love and lust to rule him, marrying Princess Kyra will elevate his status and make him one of the most respected male, but as the days to their nuptial ceremony draws closer, Javier finds that he is more and more exceedingly unhappy. He wants Rene. Most days, the need makes his body throb achingly. Damn the Clan rule
CHAPTER TEN**"D_Dead?" Rene chokes. He shakes his head rapidly in denial even as red, hot, grievous tears start to burn in his eyes. "She died a__ peaceful death," Kyra soothes; if only Rene knew that she had been waiting impatiently for him to regain consciousness only so she could deliver this piece of news to him herself. Vera had not gone peacefully. The wretched woman cried bitterly, begging Kyra to allow her to see her child just once. Kyra had gladly informed Vera about what Rene was doing at that moment, being forced to rut with a barbarian. Vera's frail heart had not been able to withstand what her son was going through. It was not the cold, what killed her was the heartbreak. Kyra had been irked when Javier had released Rene from the dungeon, delivering this piece of news can be said to be her means of payback.Rene's brain is still deeply fried in denial, "No, no, she can't die!"Grief and sorrow shivers down his spine, creating goosebumps on his skin. "My mother c
CHAPTER ELEVEN **"Rene!" Rene's head tilts up when Kyra walks into the tattered room, the tiny cramped storage room his mother used to stay. Kyra halts, the putrid stench of decay and stale herbs is too strong for her to move further. Nausea trickles down her throat; She is revolted and disgusted by how Rene can sit comfortably on the moist, mouldy floor.' Well, he is just as filthy as this dirty room, this place suits him just fine," She thinks to herself dismally and continues to stand by the door."You shouldn't have provoked Father openly; what were you thinking, talking back disrespectfully like that?"Rene doesn't respond; he has several cracked ribs, and his arms are twisted abnormally from Aston's beating; strangely enough, it doesn't feel as painful as it looks. Rene wonders if it has anything to do with the mark on his neck. "Disrespectful? My mother died because of them, you want me to say nothing?""You could have died, I barely managed to save you the last time!"R
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR**"What are you doing, omega!"Vidarr's dark eyes latch onto Soral's panicked ones as fierce as they can be, and embarrassment spreads through Soral with such fury that his cheeks redden. Caught in the act, Soral is too stunned to speak. His eyes unwillingly fall downward again,, and his lip drops open in an alarmed shriek when the massive organ which is pointing towards the roof continues to jerkrhythmicallyly, the tip oozing out pearly fluids. "I'm . . . I'm sorry!" Soral's lips wobble as he clenches them to fight back tears. "I didn't mean to make it a-abnormal""Abnormal?" Vidarr scoffs, the intense look is replaced by something different. . . A strangely dark emotion that Soral cannot read and yet he squirms uncomfortably beneath the scorching heat of it. "Indeed, you've made it abnormal, omega" Vidarr's amused gaze watches his omega's face intently, and surprise flares through him when Soral dramatically turns even more crimson; his large honeycomb eye
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE * * A sound jerks Soral awake. It is a groan. His captor's groan. Soral sits up and turns to look at the barbarian who is lying beside him. Vidarr's severe breathing and the fire cackling are the only sounds in the room. His body is shaking vigorously, and he is mumbling in his sleep; the guttural sounds that escape his parted lips closely remind Soral of a wounded wild creature. The barbarian continues to toss and turn, while Soral watches with conflicted emotions. His captor is having a nightmare. Should he wake him? Sweat makes Vidarr's skin glisten, his murmurs grow louder, and Soral can almost make out what he is saying. "Rhona__No__Rhona, Please__ Please don't!" He gasps, his brows are tightened, and moistness gathers around his eyes. Soral feels as though it isn't just about the physical pain. So, this dominant Alpha can be vulnerable too? He is not the savage warrior at this moment, this powerful man looks deeply haunted. Soral finds
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO * * “What?” Rene's breath shudders out of him, he can only gape openly at Lyrien. Lyrien’s hand slowly lifts, shaking as it traces Rene's cheek and the tears running down his face like a pure crystal stream. His thumb brushes over the moist as his dark eyes trace Rene's features, as though committing his face to memory. “I already decided that when you wake up, I'm going to let you freely choose whatever you want to, I won't interfere with your life anymore." Free? Rene's stunned expression is replaced by a misty rage that floods through his eyes. He smacks off Lyrien's hand from his face, as a sharp pang of acrid resentment courses through him. "You won't let me die and wither. . .?" Rene sneers, temper rising again, and exertion causes his heart to beat even faster until black spots swim around his eyes, but he refuses to faint. "You are going to let me go. Such nice words!" He hisses, a hysterical laughter bubbles from his dry parched throat. "Is
CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE * * Black. Blur Black. . . Then, blur again. He blinks weakly to clear the haze in his vision and then his brows twitch slightly, his mind growing foggy with confusion. It takes no more than a second for the memories to attack, all of it, each painful piece, stabbing his numb heart and forcing it to skip a beat. Disbelief . . . Disappointment. . . Anger Why? Isn't he supposed to be . . .dead? He doesn't feel any physical pain, his body is numb, yet his heart pounds uncontrollably with dismay. The familiar surroundings of the large tent propels Rene to shut his eyes, willing the once merciful darkness to return. He had been on the brink of sliding away. . . On the edge of oblivion, and he had been ready. So why does this cruel fate decide to give him a second chance? Rene shudders from a mild tingling sensation that travels across his neck and down to his spine. Something is wrong. Within him, Rene cannot place it, yet he feels as though s
CHAPTER SEVENTY * * The wolf jumps in the air, its canines bared viciously, preparing to feast on its frightened prey. Soral's eyes shut close, anticipating the pain of being shredded apart. His teeth sink hard against his bottom lip. A second blows past like a soft wind. No pain comes. Maybe he is already dead? A loud crashing sound jerks his eyes open. Shocked and too numb to react, he can only stare at the sight in front of him. It takes several seconds for him to realize that he is not imagining things. Vidarr. He is present in the flesh! Soral watches with a mixture of fascination and morbid shock as Vidarr struggles with the large black wolf on the ground for a few moments, grasping the beast by its thick neck. "Watch out!" Soral lets out a blood-curdling shriek when another wolf jumps high in the air to attack Vidarr. The Alpha and the wolves continue to struggle, and Soral doesn't think he will stand a chance against these scary creatures. Soral wants to ru
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE**Soral jerks awake from the dreadful dream.He exhales raggedly, the nightmare felt so real, where the Dahome barbaric leader had gotten to Rene and wrecked havoc on the small village. Thankfully, it has only been a dream. The morning starts slowly, and Soral grudgingly watches the Alpha move about. Some minutes later, Soral is served the meal, which consists of dried fruits, smoked meat and some vegetables. He meets Vidarr's watchful gaze and instantly looks away, shuddering inwardly. Soral has no appetite, but he also has no wish to upset his captor, he does not want a repeat of what happened. His face flushes deeply with memory, it had been nearly impossible to fall asleep. Those long torturous hours during which was forced to be so close to the barbarian, and the way those muscular arms of his had drapes possessively around his waist all night long.Soral nibbles the food slowly, fully conscious of the opposite eyes searing into him. Just as the night b
CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT **Lyrien burst into the tent, his heart racing with a mix of fear and urgency. His eyes lock on Rene's restless form instantly. His face is contorted into a grimace of pain, perspiration drenching his pale skin; as he turns wildly on the bed, Amala and a maid struggle to hold him down. The sound of his ravaged breathing and the cracking sound of burning incense permeates the air. "Get away, no don't touch it, it hurts!" Rene screams again, shoving Amala with his flailing hands just as Lyrien join them in two hurried strides."He won't allow me to touch the wound on his neck..." Amala says helplessly.Lyrien's eyes narrow at Rene, who appears to be in another shuddering episode of pain. The yellow and green inflammation on his neck is already worse than it was a few hours ago, and the infection has begun to spread all across the whole area of his neck."If it spreads to his chest. His heart may stop beating. . . " Amala says, "At this point, it's up to his wil
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN * * Lyrien knows that some of his warriors do not agree with his choice of camping in the middle of nowhere, but when it comes to what's important, Lyrien cannot risk his mate's life by travelling in his critical state. He has already informed Haesir to lead most of their troop back to their settlement. Lyrien's hand reaches to touch the already-healed spot on his forehead where Rene had attacked him with the bowl, and he scoffs, his lips twitching slightly. His omega has been the one who escaped with the enemy and even tried to sever their bond. Yet, he still behaves with a brazen lack of guilt, acting with an air of innocence which Lyrien finds unconvincing. Those wide hazel orbs which have been pleading with him only a moment ago and willing to do anything to appease him are now shrouded with a stubborn hate-filled glint. . . "You burned down half of the world just to search for him. You finally got him, yet, you don't seem any better," Haesir remarks,
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX * * They ride for what seems like hours with the burning village behind them. Rene's thighs are numb, his butt sore, the muscular arms wrapped around him is too tight, crushing his ribs. His whole body aches and his throat feels scratched from dehydration. He feels particularly weak, the wound in his neck throbbing slowly. Yet, no complaints leave his mouth. Words are not needed, it's unlikely that the Brute will listen to him anyway. His tired eyes flutter close as his head falls limp against his captive's broad chest. The moment his omega's head collapses on his chest, Lyrien feels the burning hotness of his skin. "Rene!" Two fingers tap Rene's chin. No response comes. "We take a break, set the camp!" Lyrien orders the warrior to halt. He scoops Rene's unconscious form in his arms and jumps down from the horse, for the first time, he notices Rene's red flushed skin, his teeth chattering with cold despite the scorching heat of the midday sun. The