Caelan Moonfang
The arena never recovered from the chaos, and neither did I. The word "mate" spread like a contagious flu; gasps and murmurs rippled through.
Eligible alphas cursed, high-class nobles snorted, and he… he remained kneeling as if nothing bothered him, but his eyes stayed on mine longer than they should have on garbage.
My hands trembled against my armrest, and I hated how he noticed it… How he noticed every weakness with no effort. I wanted to scream, stand up, tell him to fuck off, but the alpha voice that once commanded thousands of armies was gone… I was nothing but a shell.
By my side, Vegas stood too dumbfounded to speak. Everything else was a blur. It all just happened too fast: the calling off of the ceremony and the nasty glances passed too quickly.
In no time, we stood before the king and his council, and like a slap to my face, he announced me the omega's official mate candidate… He might as well have added "wife" to it.
But that wasn't the end. I was to stay with him until the next full moon, and my brother said nothing to object. Like an obedient child, he stood by the side and accepted every word without a blink.
The hallway was massive. Guards and maids stared; their eyes never left us. And Vegas… He was gone. Without a word. Without me.
Prince Rain led the way to his private wing, not the guest quarters or political housing, as I had hoped. For a second, I watched the bewildered servants stare at him, shocked and unable to move.
This time, Rain stepped backward and held my chair.
"I can take care of myself," he pushed me in slowly, despite my protest.
One of the servants stepped forward.
"Should… we prepare the guest chamber, Your Highness?"
"No," Rain answered without hesitation. My fist tightened.
Before I could say another word, seven presences joined us, their pheromones on the loose as they pressed it down everyone's throats. Rain's grip on my chair tightened.
"Brother…" a cruel laugh came from behind. Rain didn't answer, not at first. He pushed me fully inside what I guessed to be his chamber, then turned me toward the door where seven figures hung like hovering spirits.
"Isn't it inappropriate for you to share a bed with him?" the youngest of them asked, but I could tell his tone carried more than curiosity.
"Oh, come on, Victor. Even if they share a bed, what good will it bring? I mean, our little Rain wouldn't be getting pregnant anytime soon." Loud laughter rippled through the room.
"Are you here to give me your blessings or supervise our sleeping arrangements?" Rain's voice was cold… colder than when he snapped at Vegas.
"Rain, don't think for a second that because you have found a mate, you've suddenly grown powerful; you are nothing but something beneath our feet," Prince Rhett roared. He was twenty-five, and we knew each other beyond casual words.
"He is nothing but a disgrace." Another snarled.
"I expected better, Rain. Even if you wanted to rebel, at least you should have chosen someone who can actually protect you," Marcus, the first of the king's sons, added.
"He is not a weakling," Rain barked.
"Oh yeah? Then let him stand… let him walk… let him protect you." Without another word, Marcus lunged forward. His actions were too quick. He grabbed Rain by the hand and tossed him toward the wall. He bumped and then collapsed to the floor.
"This…" Marcus stepped forward and picked his chin. "This has only begun. If by the next moon you do not dispose of this rejection… You will understand what cruelty smells like."
With those words, they walked away.
The servants rushed to their prince. They helped him up, dusted off his clothes, and checked his bruised forehead.
"It isn't too late," I said.
"Reject me now and…"
"And it won't go away. They will just hand me over to some power-hungry bully."
"And isn't that better than someone who can't protect you?"
"I can protect myself," Rain roared.
"Yeah… and still, the bruise from this morning is yet to heal." Rain's hand instantly went up to check.
"Look, I am nothing. Yes, I used to be feared; I commanded respect. But now… I am not. I am a dethroned ruler. I will do you no good."
There was a long pause. Then he stepped closer.
"Never," he stormed away.
If time was torment, it was now.
The servants went ahead, making adjustments within the chambers, and I… rolled myself to the balcony. The cold air did nothing to soothe the chaos within me. Time whined, and soon darkness covered the kingdom. Still, there was no sign of my brother.
If the thought of being used as a pawn was painful, then being discarded like trash by the same person I had given my life for was heart-crushing.
From behind, he approached; the bond announced his presence before his face.
"It's time to sleep," he whispered, then went ahead to pull my chair. Even if I protested, he wouldn't listen, so I didn't waste my breath. The freshness of wild lily perfumed the room, his scent stronger than before, so much so that it made my wolf stir, eager to sniff him.
He stopped before the bed, then reached forward. My hand quickly held his. Rain froze, then his lips stretched into a smirk as he leaned closer.
"What… scared I will touch?" he slurred, every word making my body react in ways I dared not accept.
"Don't touch me just because you can."
Rain did not back away. Not even after I left his hand. Rather, the little devil leaned in even closer, close enough for me to taste his scent on my tongue. His hand slowly settled on my inactive legs.
"I know he's up…"
My breath hitched.
" I feel it, and he wants me."
Those words were enough to toss him to the ground.
"Keep your distance," I growled sternly.
"Whatever," he shrugged and climbed to his side of the bed.
The bed was low, much to my advantage. Slowly, I pushed myself up and landed on the bed. Sleep didn't come easily, but he slept like a baby, his face toward me, breathing evenly, loose strands of hair falling on his face, lips slightly parted. With his mouth shut… he looked cuter.
I don't know how long. I just watched him sleep.
"You're reckless." I sighed tiredly.
"You're worth it," Rain murmured.
In that moment, I wished the earth would open up and swallow me as those green orbs opened, having no one but me, whole in them.