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
"You! Stop right there! Guards!" Zariah's voice boomed in the atmosphere as she pursued the intruder.Arlen took a detour toward the main hall, fending off the warriors blocking his path with the sway of his hand. His target was the rooftop. He could easily slip away that way. But Zariah was prepared for such an alternative and worked up an attack that nearly severed Arlen's head.It didn't end there. The omega was chased through several channels and doorways to make sure he stayed on the ground.Amid the chase, Zariah stopped. Aiming at the intruder's heels, she held her blade by the sharp tip and flung it like a dart."Argh!" Arlen came tumbling down in an instant. Luckily, he still had a foot."Who sent you, and how did you get into this place unnoticed?" Zariah took her time, her voice calm yet domineering. "A flower?" She tilted her head with a slight smirk on her cheek. That could only spell doom for Arlen.The omega swallowed his spit, "I- I'm just a lowly servant," he said."A
Julius walked in briskly, wearing his heart on his sleeve. "Sorry for the delay. I had a small setback," he said.Arlen was painting behind a desk. He dropped the brush and approached his friend. “Jules, were you crying?” Arlen tilted his head, concerned as he reached for Julius' mildly swollen face.“Do not touch me!” Julius jerked away, eyes wide with scorn. But he blinked, returning to his lovable state. Julius walked forward, willingly resting his cheek in the omega's palm. He sighed. “Forgive me, Arlen. I've been on edge these days. I can't help it.”“No, forgive me. I have burdened your mind far too long. It's bound to take a toll on you. I promise to end your suffering soon. Did you find out anything about Uncle?" Arlen asked."No. Unfortunately, there have been few leads, but my men are working hard," Julius said. He briefly glanced over the painting but did not comment. He did not have the soundness to argue about the man brightly shaded on the canvas."If you're having troub
"Wow, he must really hate you, Luca," David said, observing Julius' reception towards them."At least now we have something in common," Rufus muttered. Their foe paused his feeding and turned towards them, wearing a stern expression.Julius tilted his head at the third person. "And you are?""David Ajax, at your service," David curtsied. "Arlen said many good things about you while studying at Wayde Bourne. Uhhh- he mentioned many times that the three of us would have been terrific friends, and I believe that," Master Ajax chuckled nervously."Is that so?" The walking corpses gathered as Julius levitated in the air. "Then you're on the wrong side of the fence, friend. Why don't you join me?""Tch! I would gladly use this useless person as a catapult to knock your head off. But I choose not to waste my energy on a mere servant," Rufus interrupted."Rufus Loughty." Julius did not hide or shiver in fright as he had back at Candor. "I am no longer your servant. I never was, to begin with.
The first encounter with Julius taught Rufus not to underestimate the beta. It was a miracle that Moon acted in their favour, causing Julius to retreat. Perhaps Moon realized that Julius was not its rightful owner.Putting that behind them, the trio made it to Kellet by nightfall. For Luca, this place was a minefield of memories. He had never felt so nostalgic for a quarrel that involved catching a stubborn prisoner.When they camped in the forest, Luca wandered off to search for the borders of the forbidden lands. So many firsts had happened in those mountains, and he dreaded losing them forever. Luca found the barrier, hiding his sorrow behind a stoic face. This was where he had first laid eyes on the Prince of Ingram. Where he first raised his sword against him.David approached to steer him back on track. "Is His Highness alright?" he asked.A faint smile touched Luca's lips. Arlen was fond of addressing him that way. "Do you think Arlen will forgive me for being weak? He tried to
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
Naturally, Rufus and the others followed the royal family closely after the celebrations with the people, but they couldn’t get too near due to the barricades of soldiers. Seeing this, Rufus suggested an alternative. “We need to separate my uncle from that imposter.” David: "But how do we do that? There are so many guards around that jerk. Did you notice he’s gotten taller since the last time we fought him? And his voice-“ "Focus, David!" Rufus snapped. Luca cut in, “Rufus, go after the King. Leave the imposter to me.” Rufus nodded at the logic. The King would recognize him easily. “In that case, go with David. Nathan and I will follow the King.” *** Zariah took Arlen under her wing after the main event, leading him to mingle with their subjects. Believing there was no danger, Caesar did not object. Arlen wore a solemn expression as the celebrations continued. Earlier, his speech had lightened the atmosphere, making the people feel important and remembered. They laughed and c
Arlen approached his father’s study. Caesar was obsessed with having his wife’s ghost roaming about, but when Arlen mentioned someone else as the source of his troubles, Caesar listened."Son, be honest with me. Why is that slave still alive?""He’s not a slave, Father. He’s my best friend, someone I consider a soulmate.""Well, what about your mate? Do you dote on this Julius more than them?""Not that kind of soulmate. Julius and I share a bond that even I can’t break- the kind that would make him do anything for me without hesitation.""Like trying to kill your uncle? Do you think he would’ve stopped there?""He wasn’t himself," Arlen said with a sunken voice."Then maybe you don’t know this Julius as well as you think you do.""You’re not listening to me. I exploited my best friend’s loyalty. I recklessly tainted his soul with demons. He tricked you because I made him that way.""And you still haven’t learned your lesson. You cannot put one man- a beta, above Ingram." Caesar shook
Arlen sat under the pavilion with Zariah, working on his speech for the upcoming festival."That’s terrible, toss it out. You can add this line to the last one... Come on, kid, didn’t you learn anything from me?" Zariah’s tone was firm."This isn’t like dealing with omegas, Aunt," Arlen sighed, already bored with his first duty as Prince."Of course it is! The people need to believe you're committed to your role. You’re an omega- hasn’t anyone ever said something that made you feel special?" It turned out Zariah’s nagging could be worse than Basma’s."How would I know? My mate... he barely says anything sweet. He’s the stiffest alpha you’ll ever meet.” “Worse than your father?” “Far worse!” Arlen stressed. “Half the time, he said I was trouble. On lucky days he expressed how much he wanted to keep me by his side." Arlen blurted, then paused, realizing he might never hear Luca say those words again. "But I can’t say that to my subjects."Arlen refused to reveal the identity of his ch
Reed could not accept reality. A new Arlen Braddock had replaced the one he knew. He was astonished that this was the servant his person nearly killed him for losing.As a high-ranking warrior, the men guarding Julius' cell allowed him to pass without questions.Reed's hands went around the metallic bars. "Is it true?" His usually gentle voice sounded scratchy. Sitting on the floor at the far end, Julius answered without looking at him, patiently drawing secret symbols. "I am not my master," he said."Then who are you?""It would be best if you were disgusted by me," Julius chuckled under his breath."I meant what I said. Even if you were not a noble, I'd still stand by you." Reed pulled on the bars, stating to whom his allegiance belonged. That did surprise Julius. He looked at the alpha, and a laugh burst out of him. "Hahahaha, did I bewitch you too much?"Reed unlocked the prison door and entered, his footsteps heavy and hasty. "Can you look into my soul and tell me what we had was
Julius tried the same trick on Arlen twice, using pheromones borrowed from his special pet, but it failed. Arlen's mind had grown stronger. "Master Arlen, I-" He gasped, peering around for the weapon he dropped. He gathered himself and quickly dashed for it, but Moon intentionally rolled away, making his attempt useless.'I'll distract him. Run, you fool!' Sephire screamed, right before leaving Zariah's body.“Sephire, don’t!” Julius watched in horror as his guardian opposed his maker.Sephire, unbothered by the consequences, did not hold back. Arlen caught her by the neck. "There is nowhere to run," he said, sinking his hand into her skin.Julius felt the impact of losing one of his demons. He slumped in a corner, trying to salvage his last strength. Even then, he could not take his eyes off Sephire. For once he got a better glimpse of the woman whispering into his ears. Her maniacally soothing voice was befitting of her frame. Despite the scales covering half of her face, Julius sa