Chapter 80: What Is He?
Rhydian;
"Rhyidan..."
The voice slips into the void in my mind, and I let out a breath.
Why does this voice sound so familiar?
"It’s Igma. You need to wake up!"
"Igma? What... what’s going on?"
"Alpha Li... Your mother put you under a Moon command. Hurry. You need to break away from it!" Her voice replies with clear urgency, and my heart skips a beat.
I strain a bit, but no matter what I do, I can not open my eyes or move.
"Rhydian!" My cousin’s voice calls in urgency, and I try harder, but nothing works.
"Ngh... It’s not working. I can’t... I can’t wake up..."
"You have to try! Crap, I can’t maintain this link for long... You need to wake up, cousin. Your omega is at the Beta’s wing. Alpha Liandria assigned six Betas to ’correct’ him. He needs you!!"
My eyes snap open as Igma’s words settle in my mind, and she gasps in shock as I sit up.
"I thought you couldn’t wake up!?" She questions in shock as she rubs her forehead, while I probably bumped into her as I sat up, but I have no time for her right now.
I throw the duvet off myself and get off the bed.
"How long ago was he taken??" I demand with a hoarse voice, and she sighs as Alana rushes to her and helps her off the floor.
"About 5 minutes." They chorus, and my eyes widen.
I turn to the door, and Igma’s voice follows.
"Be careful. There are guards stationed outside to stop you."
I ignore her words nonetheless and run for the door. It’s not like any of them can stop me. Elián needs me.
"Guards!!! Catch him, he’s woken up!!" Igma suddenly screams behind me, and my brows knot... but only for a second.
I understand what she’s doing. She doesn’t want it to be obvious that she’s the one who woke me up.
I turn to her with gratitude burning inside me, and she secretly shoos me away with her hands.
"Don’t let him get away, Alpha Liandria will have our heads!!" She yells again, and this time I pull the door open, ready to take down anyone who tries to get in my way.
*********
Elián;
It hurts...
My entire body is sore, and my head is throbbing.
I can’t... I can’t think straight. I can’t... I can’t remember anything.
Wait... I’m no longer chained?
Why’s there blood on my hands?
And... And these men... why are they all suddenly lying all over the ground?
They were going to... They just changed their minds and decided to sleep?
I can... I can vaguely remember them screaming... in pain... but... why?
The door suddenly bursts open, and when I look up, I let out a breath of relief, and tears flood my eyes.
"Elián?" He calls slowly as he looks around the room, and I can not stop my sobs as my vision blurs with tears.
"Alpha Rhydian..." I croak as I try to run to him, but my legs fail me.
I start plummeting to the ground, and the last thing I see is Rhydian catching me just in time.
"What happened?" He questions, but the pounding in my head intensifies.
"I...I don’t know..."
********
Rhydian;
The silence by the time I get to the room shakes me to my bones.
I’m not too late, am I?? No!! I won’t forgive myself!
Knowing the door will be locked from inside, I kick it down with all my strength, and as the door falls off its hinges, I pause at the sight before me.
There are Betas scattered all over the floor. One is on the bed, and the other five sprawled recklessly on the ground.
I look up, and my throat dries up when I see Elian standing in the corner of the room. He’s naked...has chains dangling from his wrists, and is covered in blood I can only hope isn’t his own.
I freeze when I see his eyes, and my mind goes blank. They’re white. Pure white with no trace of the red pupils I’ve grown to know so well. Now... there’s just a glow that chills me to the bone.
What... why... why are his eyes like that? And... is it just me, or his hair looks... longer...
"Elian?" I call in fear, and just like that, his eyes return to normal. His red pupils settle on me, and a shaky wail escapes him.
A terrified sound that breaks through my confusion and crushes my heart.
"Alpha Rhydian..." He cries as he tries to move towards me, but his legs buckle under him.
I rush to him and catch him before he hits the ground.
As soon as I hold him, he clings to me like his life depends on me, and sobs rack him as he shudders uncontrollably in my arms.
I can not help but look at the motionless men in the room and question upon questions form in my mind.
"What happened?" I whisper in worry, and he sniffles.
"I... I don’t know..." He whispers, and I stare at the pool of blood under one of the men.
"Please... please take me away from here. I... I don’t want to stay here..." He cries weakly as his eyes flutter shut, and my heart drops.
He needs a physician!
I take off my robe and wrap him in it before lifting him in my arms and dashing out of the room.
I need to get him checked. I need to be sure he’s in perfect health and those bastards didn’t touch him.
As I run down the corridor, one thought claws at me.
Elian isn’t responsible for that scene... is he?
And if... if Elián did this... then what exactly is he?
********
Igma💙;
"Let me see. Did it bruise?" Alana says as she helps me sit on the bed and pulls my hand away from my head.
She gently touches where Rhydian accidentally head butted me, and I shut my eyes as I silently memorise her delicate touch.
"Does it hurt?"She questions, and I open my eyes.
Our gaze lock, and I feel my wolf leap inside me as I stare into her pretty eyes.
"No," I reply simply, and I see a small shade of tint her cheeks, causing her freckles to become more noticeable against her flawless skin.
I stare at her in silence, and she slowly pulls away.
"Th... Thank you for helping me..." She mumbles as she begins to back away, and I know she’s planning to run away again.
"There are better ways to thank me," I speak as I stand up, and her eyes widen slightly while her adorable rabbit ears perk up in alarm.
"B...But you said you were helping because you like Omegas..." She stutters in panic as she gets closer to the wall behind her, and I follow steadily.
I’m not going to have her run away from me again.
"I do like Omegas," I say with a nod.
"I’m just saying if you want to show me gratitude, there’s a better way to do it," I add, and finally, her back hits the wall.
I see the panic in her face as her ears droop and lie flat, pointing backwards against her hair.
"H...How do you want me to... to thank you?" She replies as she presses herself harder against the wall, and although I can tell that she’s scared, I can not deny how adorable she is.
I take my hand up to her wavy hair, and she watches my hand closely as her chest rises and falls.
"I’ll think of something. But for now, we’ll see as you owe me a debt." I reply as I play with a small braid I find in her hair, and she gulps.
"A... a debt?" She questions, and I nod with a smile.
Her lips part as she stares at me in silence, and because of her fear, her mask slips. Her scent hits me, and I freeze.
She smells divine!!
Like... Like blueberries... wait... there’s a hint of vanilla too. And something... creamy... milky and warm.
Unable to stop myself, I take a step closer to her and bury my nose in the curve of her neck.
She yelps and tries to move away, but I plant my hand on the wall beside her and wrap the other around her waist as I take a deep breath to fill my lungs with the heavenly scent of her.
Fuck... My body’s reacting to her. I’ve... I’ve never felt this way before... What is this feeling...?
"Mark her!!"
My wolf screams in my head, and although I am beyond tempted to do so, I will not mark her without her consent.
"Is... is this about me biting you the other day? I... I’m really sorry. I... I panicked, and I... I wasn’t thinking. I... Please, I don’t want any trouble. I’m sorry, Alpha Igma. I..." She begins to ramble as she desperately tries to push me away.
I can sense that she’s desperately trying to mask her scent, but her fear isn’t letting her.
I slowly pull away from her, and my eyes study the stunning, trembling young lady before me.
"Want me to forgive you?" I question, and she nods desperately, causing me to smile.
"Then I’ll have to bite you. Make us even." I reply, and she blinks at me. Stunned.
"Do you agree?" I push and she swallows.
She looks like she’s weighing the odds, and finally she sighs.
She holds out her hand and pulls up her sleeve while shutting her eyes tight in anticipation of pain, and I smile.
I never said I wanted to bite her arm. I grab her by the wrist and pull her to me.
Before she gets the chance to react, my lips crash against hers, and satisfaction floods me in no merciful waves as her delicate lips dance with mine.
She gasps into the kiss, but I’m not done.
I don’t know if it is the mate bond, or her flawless beauty... but I want more.
For a girl who’s always excelled at self-control... this delicate mate of mine is going to prove to be my biggest test ever.