Chapter 81: Not Your Son
Rhydian;
"How is he?" I question. Unable to stop pacing as the physician examines Elián, who is still unconscious.
"I’m almost done, Alpha." He replies, and I let out a long breath.
He soon gets off the bed where he was sitting beside Elián, and I stop pacing as he faces me.
"Well, I’m glad to inform you that none of the blood on him is his. I’ve checked him thoroughly and there’s no wound, cut or scar on him... That is, except for the bruises left on his wrists from the chain shackles."
"And... and... did they... I mean, was he..." I begin, and sensing my plight, the physician speaks.
"No, Alpha. From what I can see... things didn’t go that far. He remains a virgin." He replies, and I freeze.
"Virgin?" I repeat in shock, and the physician nods slowly.
I look back at Elian, and my mind gets torn. He’s a virgin?? How... With looks like his, and such a chaotic energy... he’s a virgin??
How??
"To be honest, he’s very lucky you got there in time. Had you not gotten those Betas off him, he would have suffered severely both mentally and physically. To keep it simple, he could have died. His body is currently too weak." The physician says, and my heart drops into my stomach.
"Wh...what?"
"Alpha Rhydian, this boy may not look like it, but he is in a rather delicate state. From my inspections, I see that he’s still recovering from something. Probably he suffered a brutal beating a while back? I noticed while examining his abdomen that there’s a bit of internal bleeding. He probably didn’t treat himself after whatever incident caused it. We need to fix that before it becomes a problem." He replies, and my jaw drops.
My mind instantly travels back to the day I ordered my men to beat him up. Guilt coats my tongue like a bitter potion, and I look away from him, ashamed.
"But he was examined after the incident. The physician never said anything about internal bleeding." I note, and he nods.
"It’s very easy to miss. A minimal nick. I could only spot it because some time has passed. When he’s ready, I can perform the surgery on him to seal up the wound." He replies, and I nod.
"Can I speak freely, Alpha?" The middle-aged man questions, and I nod.
"You seem to care a lot for this boy. If you truly do, take him away from here. As long as Alpha Liandria is around... I’m afraid this is just the first of many attacks he will suffer at her hands." He says, and something snaps inside me.
"I won’t let that happen!"
"You were only able to save him this time by a miracle. How will you make certain our Luna doesn’t try to hurt him again?" He replies, and I pause.
I wasn’t even the one who saved him. I was helpless and useless the whole time. If something happens next time and I can’t help...
*******
Alpha Liandria;
I take a deep breath as I stare at my trembling hand. I hold on to it with my stable hand before looking out of my window.
In the silence of my bedroom, I can already feel my anger growing.
That boy... he escaped. And not only that, all those men were killed in the process. As each life was taken, I felt it here. One annoying thing about being Luna is whenever any of my pack members die... I feel it.
Today was supposed to be a good day. I was supposed to have gotten the hurdle in Rhydian’s path out.
Nothing went as planned, and it’s infuriating!! How could Rhydian go to save him!? How could he kill his own people for that boy!?
This is worse than I imagined.
If I had my way, I would simply use the moon command to order him to impregnate Bram.
But the moon goddess is still punishing me for using the moon command on my own blood earlier today.
My eyes dart back at my shaking hand.
If I give him such a command under the influence of the goddess’s authority, I fear the consequences that would follow for me.
"Luna, Alpha Rhydian is currently on his way to your chambers. And he does not look happy."
My aide speaks in my head through a mind link, and I hide my hand under my sleeves before turning to the door, awaiting my over-pampered son.
The door bursts open, and sure enough, Rhydian barges in with his eyes shooting daggers.
"How could you!?" He screams at me as soon as his eyes land on me, and I stare at the young man in silence.
"What is wrong with you, Mother!? Aren’t women supposed to be compassionate beings!? Why are you so cruel, bitter and selfish!?" He yells further, and his words take me aback.
He’s never spoken to me like this before. Not once. And now??
I sigh before walking over to him.
I gently brush his hair off his forehead and smile at him.
"Honey, you never used to question me before. I need you to know that whatever I do, I do for your own good." I reply, and he brushes my hand away.
"By setting six Betas to assault my Omega!? How’s that in my best interest!?" He demands, and I roll my eyes before turning away from him.
"That vile boy has no manners. He’s loud, uncultured, barbaric and not fit for you. I was only trying to discipline him. Wouldn’t you like it better if he were better behaved and did whatever you wanted him to?" I question, and I’m met with silence, then I turn to him.
"Omegas are audacious creatures. They often forget their place. It’s our duty as Alpha to remind them of it. I only wanted to shake him up a little so you could mould him however you want. He may not have liked it at first, but with time, he would. You didn’t have to kill your own men for him." I add as I gently caress his face, and he stares at me in silence for a few seconds.
Then he scoffs.
He pushes my hand away as he slowly steps back.
"I don’t know why I expect any good from you." He says, and I raise a brow.
"I spent my formative years with you, and instead of seeing you for what you are, I keep giving myself hope that somehow there’s good somewhere in that darkness you call a heart." He adds, and I roll my eyes.
"Rhydian, I am strict and ambitious. What’s wrong with having my priorities set straight? As the heir to the throne, it’s something you should be doing if you..."
"You’re not ambitious, you’re just evil! Maybe that’s why Father never has time for you! You probably disgust him! Who would blame him, though? You’re the worst of all his partners!" He rages, and my eyes widen.
My hand moves before I can stop it as a sharp smack lands across his face.
He stays frozen with his face thrown in the direction of the slap, and I swallow.
"Watch your tongue!" I yell at him.
"Have you forgotten before whom you stand?!" I add as anger shakes me to the core.
How dare he talk to me like that? How dare he say that!?
"I’m the best partner Wilhelm married! I’m the only Alpha he’s married to. Have you forgotten!? l I gave that fool perfection! The perfect wife... the perfect heir... The perfect family! And still he chose filthy Omegas over me! I have no flaws, so how dare you speak to me like that!?" I scream with anger, flooding every ounce of me, and tears instantly fill my eyes.
"Get out." I spit as I struggle to keep it together, but Rhydian doesn’t move.
"I said, leave my sight!" I grow and he huffs before walking closer to me and pointing a finger, daringly at me.
"I will say this now, and I will only say it once, so listen closely, Liandria Ashfang." He begins, and my eyes widen.
"Elián is mine. He. Belongs. To. Me and my brothers. Not you, or any petty games you have planned. The next time you try to hurt him, I will forget that you’re my father’s wife." He adds, and my mouth falls open.
"I’m your mother!" I rage as I slap his pointed finger away, but he sneers at me.
"You’re my Father’s wife! You’re not a mother. You’ve never been. I’ve been an asset to you all my life. I obeyed you. Did everything you asked me to do, no matter how horrible, because I thought it would make you love me eventually. But I’m tired. I can’t keep defending you. I can’t keep turning a blind eye to your actions. You are crude, malicious, and selfish. I do not associate with such... evil."
My heart stops in my chest as I stare at the young man in front of me, who has suddenly become a stranger.
How... How could he change so much? Since when did...
He’s never acted like this before. I know he dislikes a lot of the things I do, but he’s never admitted it before.. He’s never been this vocal.
I’m getting all this... because I tried to hurt one omega??
I’ve hurt many before, and he never reacted this way. What’s so special about this one?
"Rhydian... my dear, you don’t mean that," I whisper as I try to move closer to him, but he scoffs and steps away from me.
"I do. Listen, you’re my Father’s wife. I’m respecting you because of that. But don’t forget that it’s an Alpha’s job to protect his Omega. If you breathe wrongly in Elian’s direction again. I’ll give the Omegas of this kingdom something to celebrate." He replies, and my jaw drops.
I watch him walk over to the door, and he stops. My heart leaps.
Does he feel bad? Is he going to apologise?
"And Liandria?" He calls as he turns to look at me, and I raise a brow.
"Do not make the mistake of calling this a bluff. If you push me, I will show you just how much of your cruelty you passed to me." He adds, and I watch in awe as he opens the door and walks out without even bothering to shut it.
I stare at the open door, frozen as his words replay in my head.
What... happened to Rhydian??
What has that... boy done to change him so much!?
Not only did omegas take my husband... now one is going to take my son from me??
No! I won’t allow it!!