The journey out of Cloverdale was not so stressful. Luca did not worry so much because his mate ‘behaved’. The omega was glued to him at all times, which brought peace to his heart. But that was before they entered a small town in the neighboring kingdom. Arlen was back to his old tricks in no time, and Luca had to keep him on a leash. The town ran on a curfew due to frequent paranormal attacks, which affected their livelihoods. Arlen and Luca decided to dine outside their place of rest. Unfortunately, Luca could not stand the eyes following his omega. And the waiter was too chatty for his liking. “Let’s eat elsewhere.” Luca stood up out of the blue. “Huh? But the food just arrived.” “It’s not to my liking,” Luca insisted. He paid for what they ordered and then took his bride away. Arlen, hungry and tired, was a ticking time bomb when his mate forced them out of other joints in a similar fashion. If Arlen laughed at anyone’s harmless compliment, Luca would lose his appetite.
Ingram There were unsettling things happening in the shadows. Things that soon became clear to General Zariah after being attacked herself. Going to the King without concrete proof would worsen her image and relationship with another member of the Braddock family, so she continued her investigation discreetly. Zariah trusted the elite beastmen she had trained in the past. But now she began to feel that their loyalty had been compromised. “The Crown Prince left the capital days ago, and none of you thought it wise to inform me?” She sat in the throne room, supporting her head with her knuckles, trying to conceal her anger. “We assumed the General was already aware of this,” said the guard under query. “And you’re sure he left with Reed?” Zariah was baffled as to when these two became close. When the Prince returned, he swore nothing but hatred for Reed and his group. “Send word to the men at the border. No one grants the Prince passage.” Zariah said. While the soldiers acted on
Julius let go of Arlen after the deed was done. For a period the omega could not lift his head. He could not bring himself to look at the disappointment and the shock breathing on his husband's face. Arlen didn’t have the leisure to think of why Julius would betray him like this or how he was able to use pheromones. All that mattered was Luca’s broken gaze. But Julius was not done. He showed what he was capable of, casting a spell of death. A dark smoke would seep into the room rapidly, wanting to steal Luca’s air. In the blackness were bodiless spirits, whispering at their Master's command. Immediately it surrounds Luca, the sound of his fortified blade pierces through. Luca was fighting air in a room and he did so amidst this turmoil inflicted upon him. "That's enough,” a groggy and tired voice called the darkness to order. With a heave, Arlen absorbed the fog, clearing it out in seconds. What Luca witnessed afterwards was his mate’s dull pupils glowing red. It was t
When Arlen found the strength to open his eyes, there was a familiar face beside him and a warm towel over his forehead. As a tear ran down his face, a handkerchief quickly dabbed it dry. Arlen had fallen into a deep sleep for days. He had no idea what day or time it was."Master Arlen. My Arlen." Julius' voice was as Arlen remembered it, understanding and full of concern. But this was not his Julius. His friend would not hurt him this way. Another teardrop rolled down Arlen's cheek. Soon, the handkerchief became soaked and was replaced by a thumb."I know you're hurt and confused, but I did what I must to stop you from making more mistakes," Julius said.Arlen turned his head to the side, just peering at his servant. Occasionally, the tears would fall, but he said nothing."You mean everything to me, Arlen, which is why I must protect you." Julius lowered his eyes briefly. He suddenly smiled out of the blue, beaming with newfound excitement. "Do you know where we are, Arlen? Can you
IngramArlen was woken by the birds chirping outside. The cotton blankets slid off his chest as he sat up. His face was pale, but the headache and fever were gone. Arlen climbed out of bed, walking toward the huge window. He recognized his surroundings by the pavilion outside and the garden surrounding it.All these years, he believed he had forgotten what his old room looked like. Arlen was confused. Why would Julius bring him to Ingram if he had a hand in his uncle's disappearance? Nonetheless, he had to be careful of the beta."You're awake?" Julius walked up to him and bowed respectfully. "You're still not going to talk to me?"Arlen: "...""Arlen, this behaviour toward me is so unfair. Do you have any idea how much I suffered thinking that you were dead?" Julius ranted bitterly. He had waited too long to have this moment stolen by thoughts of Luca Beaumont. "I did what you wanted; I acted in your place at the expense of my life. You abandoned me when you could have come home. Di
IngramArlen sat in bed, his legs crossed in the lotus position. There was little he could do to minimize his suffering.Every day, Julius came around to help him get ready. Although Arlen did not allow him to supervise bath times like before, he couldn't stop his friend from choosing clothes or combing his hair. It was his little way of being considerate towards his beloved friend.Arlen had too much time on his hands to reflect on how unlucky he had been in this lifetime. The question of whether he would be himself again hung in the air. Tired, the omega searched for his spirit weapon to empty his mind with darkness.There was something about sad songs that comforted the broken... It persuaded the mind to treat heartache like a normal phenomenon. That it was okay to be upset. Arlen fell on old odes to cover this pain burrowing into his heart.Arlen’s P.O.V.Can I go back to the day we met? Is it possible to take a trip to the day you took me? I should have made it impossible to catc
It was a brand new day. The sky was clear, and the wind was favourable. It seemed like nothing could go wrong... except it did.A flock of dark birds blotted out the sun with their feathers and shrill noises. They spread throughout the Kingdoms of Slora, feasting on the cruel and the innocent. The scene frightened many into their rooms and shops, but when the sun set, the real terror began. Corpses crawled out of their tombs, awakened by a sinister command. And their goal was to destroy any signs of life.It was the highest scale of necromancy Slora had ever witnessed since Pandora's reign. Hell had been unleashed.Cloverdale saw the likes of beasts and unclean spirits chasing people in broad daylight. At the same time, Sutcliffe was plagued by soul-snatching demons. Damaris had their hands full; floods caused by sea monsters wreaked havoc. Many people were lost. Nowhere was safe, nowhere at all.A distress signal was sent to all the great kingdoms and clans. Soon, many of the smaller
Coverdale. The second prince of the Ajax clan agreed to meet Rufus at a secret place in town. He never imagined that Luca would be there as well. "What!" David did not want to jump into the fire. "Going to Ingram? But why me? Isn't Luca the man Arlen admires?" "His Royal Highness here dumped your friend the second he learned the truth. Isn't Arlen your best friend? Stop cowering and come with us," Rufus said, visibly scowling at Luca. He would have made the journey to Ingram alone if it were up to him. It was Ari who insisted that he take Luca along. Thus the need for a third wheel- to ensure he did not commit murder on the way there. "How dare you!" David built up the courage to slap Luca on the back. Luca let it slide. These days, it had become the norm for people to hit him because of his mate. "David Conri Ajax, are you coming or not?" Rufus was impatient. "I...I have to tell Zavian first." David chuckled nervously. "Your brother will alert the others," Luca object
Axel barged into his father’s tent as the troops waited for orders to march. “Father, perhaps you should reconsider this war. I spoke to Lady Maren… It seems Luca is already in Ingram.” Theoden adjusted his outer robe. “And she knows this because?” “Luca came to her. He was with Rufus Loughty and David. We can’t proceed without considering their safety.” “You’re mistaken. This gives us even more reason to take down Ingram.” “Father, I beg you, let’s approach this with caution. What if my brother was right and the real culprit wasn’t Arlen? If the other kingdoms lose their heirs, all of this will have been for nothing.” “I forbid you from mentioning this to Zavian. Claude’s son has always been a rebel at heart-it’s not my concern if he gets caught in the fire.” “And Luca? Are you going to doom him as well?” “Think of the people who have died because King Caesar and his son are still alive! Your brother has been brainwashed, Axel. Once that family is dead, we’ll finally be
"Master David, your brother must be very proud of you," Zariah said, clearly impressed by David's wittiness. David chuckled. "Haha, thank you, General, but my brother thinks I’m a wimp." Zariah smiled at the alpha. "Clearly, he’s blind. Stick close to me for the time being. You might learn something new." Her eyes lingered on David for a moment before shifting to the couple in the room. "Arlen," she began, "You will help the citizens hide and use the dead to steer those armies as planned, but not away from the main city. Instead, toward it, closer to Kraken Mountain. If we can get through to the kings, we can offer them the real criminal who burned down their towns to appease them." Arlen’s heart clenched. "What?" Zariah continued as if she hadn’t noticed his distress. "Your father is meeting with the council as we speak. He’s waiting for me to give the final word because he trusts me, as you should. This is my decision. While your ghouls draw the armies towards the coastal
Arlen had summoned only Zariah to his quarters, but she arrived accompanied by Rufus, David, and Nathan. "They wanted to help," Zariah shrugged casually. Arlen glanced at the people now gathered around his table, silently calculating how to keep them safe when the time came. "This is insane, Arlen. You'll be outnumbered," Zariah said, shaking her head. Arlen met her gaze steadily. "The aim is to save as many lives as possible. By the time the clans reach the main city, I’ll have hidden our people. I need two-thirds of our men to make sure my father and uncle are well protected." "And then what?" Zariah asked sharply. "You’re setting us up to fail here." "With all due respect, General, let him finish," Luca interjected, squeezing Arlen's hand. The quiet gesture conveyed his unwavering support. Even if Luca didn’t fully agree with Arlen’s methods, he had no intention of abandoning him. Zariah exhaled silently, her arms folded as she studied the pair. With a slight nod, she
KelletTheoden sat among the circle of leaders, listening to their strategies for the upcoming war when the news arrived. Ingram's border was falling apart. The announcement shifted their battle plan entirely. Instead of laying siege to a fortified city, they would be strolling in with minimal resistance."I hear there are mortals within the walls. Do we evacuate them and deal with the undead?" someone asked.Theoden’s voice was firm. "No. Every man and creature within that place is no ally of ours. They are foes. We must wipe them out.""Are you certain about that?" Zavian interjected, raising a brow. "Wouldn’t it be wiser to focus on the main target - capture the nation as a whole, rather than burning it to the ground? Cut off the head, and the body will fall."Theoden’s gaze sharpened. "King Zavian, the first time we marched against Ingram, we underestimated its strength - its people. That misstep cost us dearly. And while we succeeded in bringing down Pandora, here we are again, c
"I didn’t do anything, Uncle. They left on their own," Arlen mumbled, pouting. Claude sighed heavily, the little one’s stubbornness wearing him thin. This wasn’t the first time Arlen had driven servants away - he had a habit of summoning ghouls to torment them. Just days ago, the previous batch of servants was found in a ditch full of rotting animals. Now, the castle staff lived in fear of the young prince, who acted as though every abandonment was their fault. Queen Basma was the only one capable of reining Arlen in. She had tried reasoning with him but her influence was fleeting; sooner or later, the next set of servants would meet unfortunate fates. One day, Claude returned home with a boy about a year older than Arlen. Julius had been rescued from a group of human traffickers. Julius was a broken soul. His body shrank away from the slightest touch. He spoke to no one and preferred hiding in corners to lying in a bed. It was clear he had endured unimaginable trauma. Claud
By the time Reed realized he had been used- again- it was too late. Julius gently set him on a shabby bed of hay, crouching beside him with an expression of childlike curiosity. "Are you feeling better?" he asked, patting Reed’s head."What happened? What time is it?" Reed groaned, pressing a hand to his throbbing temple. He tried to get up but found his legs numb and unwilling."Wait, don’t try to move. You're still recovering," Julius said, pressing him back down."How could I sleep so deeply? My men… the carriage…" Reed’s voice was dazed, his words scattered.Julius dismissed Reed’s fragmented concerns, believing him to be rambling. "It’s alright, Owen. This will be the last time I take your energy, I promise." He leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss across Reed’s lips.Reed’s brow furrowed as he pulled away. "What did you do, Julius?"Julius’ smile faded. "What are you implying?""What did you need my energy for?"Julius’ face hardened. "If you must know, I collapsed the fog at the b
"Did you miss me?" Arlen asked as Luca thrust into him for what felt like the hundredth time."Every hour, every minute… every second," Luca replied, voice thick with longing."Then kiss me harder. Show me the depth of your despair," Arlen cooed.Luca held Arlen close as if he could disappear at any moment. The memory felt lucid, almost unreal. It was harder for him not to bury himself deeper. It was in an alpha's nature to bite and knot his cherished omega, and Luca was nearly numb with excitement as Arlen wrapped around him like a vine, making desperate, teasing sounds that ignited every instinct within him."Arlen, if we keep going like this, I might fall into a rut.""That's not... fair," Arlen murmured between breaths.Luca lifted his gaze to meet Arlen’s. "Is this not to your liking?""No, that's not what I meant. I have to claim you, Luca.” Arlen averted his eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What if you woke up and changed your mind?"With a steady rhythm, Luca pressed g
Arlen led David to the guest quarters, leaving him in the care of capable servants. He then continued along a different path, Luca close behind. Every now and then, Arlen glanced back with a smile, ensuring that Luca stayed close. As they neared a large compound, Luca presumed the inevitable meeting with his father-in-law was approaching. He braced himself. It was unlikely to be a pleasant encounter given their family history, but it had to happen. The structures of this place felt different from the cold, mechanical landscape of Damaris. The statues here were immense, fearsome, and far removed from the serene ones back home. Guards stood at every corner, their expressions stern and lacking any warmth. For Luca, walking side by side with ‘the’ Arlen Braddock still felt surreal, and yet his heart was overwhelmed with love. When they entered a large room, the doors shut behind them with a quiet snap. Luca turned at the sound, only to notice a faint blue hue glowing over the ex
For a moment, Arlen studied Luca’s face as if caught in a daydream, focusing on all the features he longed to touch- his eyes, ears, cheeks, lips. Luca, however, stood motionless, like an old tree rooted in place.But Arlen dropped to his knees. Luca clenched his fists as he struggled to find a way to redeem himself. The sight of Arlen touching his feet, as though a lowly servant, made Luca feel like the monster Rufus had always claimed he was. It was a sharp reminder of the blind hatred he’d harboured for over a decade before their paths had crossed. “I should’ve told you the truth. I tried, but…” Arlen’s voice was frail. Somehow he couldn’t shake the fear that Luca had come to end his life. His heart sank further when Luca hesitantly pulled his feet away. However, Luca had other other plans. Arlen watched, confused, as the alpha knelt, lowering himself until their eyes were level. His breath caught when Luca’s forehead dipped to touch the hem of his robe. “Forgive me, Your Highn