CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT**Over the next couple of weeks, Rene's health slowly returns under the care of Amala.After that first night, he woke up only a handful of times. When he did, it wasn’t for very long, and he didn’t speak. Oftentimes, he would just stare blankly into space and cry grievously.Kai came to visit frequently, and today, even Haesir accompanies him; Rene looks behind them, and his expression becomes sullen with disappointment.Lyrien still hasn't come to see him. Not even once. Rene has been unconscious but he knows this.Kai, seeing Rene's depressed eyes, shares a conflicted glance with Haesir. "Lyrien was badly poisoned during the fight, I'm sure he doesn't want to worsen your situation by coming here,"Rene's face remains blank, unmoved by Kai's words. Kai sighs aloud, watching Rene suffer in despair consumes his mind with sorrow, not knowing how to pull Rene out of this dark state is eating his heart alive. Rene closes his eyes again and Kai pats his cold hand
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE * * Several days ago, beneath the angry sky that grumbles ominously, Lyrien had passed the judgment to Horden. Alive but severely wounded, Horden was chained to the large pillar at the centre of the clan, completely surrounded by warriors who must bear witness according to the laws. "You exiled me for an omega of the enemy clan... I merely wanted justice, I don't regret it!" Horden spitted out the blood to Lyrien's feet. "I see," Lyrien said in an emotionally detached voice, there was an almost absent glint in his eyes, a blank remote stare as though his mind was elsewhere. Without further warning, he smashed the dagger into the soft flesh of Horden's nape and twisted cruelly. Horden jerked against the chains holding him up, his screams of pain echoing in the air even as the darkened grey clouds above thundered with a cry that led to the heavy downpour of rain. Lyrien yanked the dagger out swiftly, blood rushing to the surface and spilling down Horden's
CHAPTER FIFTY **Rene bites his lip, uncertainty filtering across his face. He has been standing outside Lyrien's hut for a few minutes and just like the night before, he is too anxious to enter. He can hear Lyrien's voice, not just his, Yara's too.Rene pushes the door open without knocking. “Lyr—” His words cut off immediately, and his mouth drops open in shock as his eyes trail down to their stark nakedness.His eyes shift from Yara to Lyrien's, and a wave of queasiness washes over him. Rene flees outside, slamming the door shut. His eyes burn hotly with tears, a dull ache twirling in his chest. He hadn't been able to get any sleep after not talking to Lyrien, he had been a coward last night and had decided to try again early this morning. Sudden anger courses through him.Rene's spine stiffens like steel, anger flushing through his cheeks as he turns back around and barges into the hut once again, but at the same time, Lyrien drags it open, his tall frame blocking Rene's pat
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE**"You need to give him some space and allow him to come back to you on his own, he lost the child and then caught you cheating, honestly you deserve to be miserable,"Lyrien scowls deeply at the omega glaring up at him, his ears are already filled with Kai's consistent jabs, but from what he has seen so far, Rene has no intent of forgiving. . . Or forgetting. Rene has bluntly refused to communicate with him and Lyrien has no choice but to seek help from Kai to know Rene's thoughts, but the omega is not helping at all. "Don't expect him to return to you willingly. If it was Rene who had sex with another male, would you be so lenient on him?" Kai scoffs at Lyrien's murderous expression. The mere thought of Rene with another male is enough to make Lyrien want to kill the imaginary lover that would dare touch his mate."I did not call you here to utter nonsenses. If you cannot help, then seal your mouth!" Irritation gets the better of Lyrien and Haesir drags his m
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO**Lyrien recoils, his eyes filling with dreadful ice. Pregnant. Yara's words burn through Rene's ears like a harsh slap; it snaps him back to reality. Lyrien certainly didn't waste much time to get this female with his child!"You are lying!" The surge of anger that Lyrien feels is tempered by a growing sense of unease gnawing and seizing him as he gazes at Rene, who seems to have withdrawn into himself; the golden flecks in his eyes are now dim with hurtful tears. Rene perceives the whiff of Yara's scent as a Beta; she didn't possess a phenomenal scent before, but now, he can perceive the faint smell of it. A scent very similar to Lyrien's. One that cannot be mistaken."It's true, you can ask the healer to test my pheromones, I'm pregnant with your child. I cannot lie to you about something as serious as this!" Yara says fervently, and then she beams with a triumphant smile, her palms cradling her belly. "This calls for a celebration, it's the goddess's bless
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE**It's been too fucking long.The fierce craving takes hold of his senses, leaving him with intense lust and as his glazed gaze roams Rene's tempting features, a pool of saliva gathers in Lyrien's mouth from his drooling canines. His breaths becomes more laboured, gasping out in uncontrolled pants. His mate shouldn't look so eatable, or one day Lyrien fears he may just swallow him up. The fresh scent of panic and fearful pheromones oozing from his omega causes Lyrien's cock to jerk, spurting more fluid. With a savage snarl, he yanks Rene's arms. "Hold me tight, calm down the beast that is about to claim you or I won't be able to control myself. I will fuck you into oblivion," He throatily rasps. Rene finds himself holding tightly onto Lyrien, even though he strongly knows it will do nothing. Lyrien doesn't enter Rene; instead, he pulls the cover above them and then buries his face into Rene's neck, his arousal from his now-turned purplish cock continuing to
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR * * "Lyrien?” Haesir takes a quick intake of breath, watching his cousin's broad back as he crouches against the mud, the trees, dead wood and branches surrounding them. For the first time, Haesir looks doubtful, uncertain about how to speak the words aloud, but then again, he is certain that Lyrien already knows it, too. Yet the warrior has not spoken a word since dawn and now, it's nearly dusk. "Looks like your mate left intentionally," Lyrien's back muscle stiffens, and his brow knits into a brooding stare; the imprints of horseshoes on the soil end in this particular spot, the rest of it completely washed by the rain. Slowly, he turns and meets Haesir's gaze, he looks ready to kill. His eyes are bloodshot and red at the rim, and several wet strands of hair have fallen across his face, giving him the semblance of a deadly predator even as he blows out chill air through his nostril. Without a word, Lyrien climbs and fastens his horse, leaving the group
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE * * A MONTH AND HALF LATER Sighing tiredly, Rene swipes the back of his arm against the sweat on his brow, as he glares against the sun. “Why must you be so hot?” He mutters to himself. It is a particularly hot day. The sun is bright and shining down on them all, and the few times they are lucky enough to feel a breeze, it is still warm, not soothing at all. “It's not that bad, I think you both are already used to living near the ocean," Tyr replies. "Look, I already got my basket filled with herbs, we should leave before you catch a heat stroke again, you know you get sick easily," Rene turns at the sound of Soral's voice, and his lips pucker in a pout. "I'm not that fragile!" He grumbles but Soral merely snorts in disbelief. Rene's empty herb basket is proof that his presence is only to offer emotional support. The trio walk down to the foot of the mountains, and the small village comes into view; they enter the shabby tiny hut which has become their ho
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