A few moments ago…
Eician watched with wide eyes as he saw the side of his lover he knew existed but had never seen.
Almost immediately upon leaving the house, the alpha came across a single man, a bandit by the look of the mismatched armoured and dirty appearance.
Dyllen snarled as he swung his sword with such force and precision that he cut the man down in one blow. The alpha stood there for a moment, head moving as he scanned the battlefield and his entire being radiated power.
It was a confidence in his movements, a surety in each step, combined with a steely aura of determination and cold anger.
It was as breathtaking as it was scary.
Eician found that he didn’t fear Dyllen, not now that he knew the man underneath, but right in that moment, covered in the blood of the man he killed, his alpha was intimidating.
The omega looked to the side to see the three kids with him watchin
The would-be assailant tumbled to the ground, taken completely by surprise, and Dyllenwasted no time in ending his life.Eiciangasped as he watched in horror, turning away at the last minute.The sound of the man being run through turning his stomach and he heard Skyewhimper in distress, no doubt feeling the same. Linusrushed past him in a blur of movement to scoop up his mate in his arms.Turning, Eicianfound himself face to face with Dyllen’s chest before he was also scooped up in a fiercely protective hug, his feet leaving the ground. He didn’t even remember dropping the dagger but nothing remained in his hands, he realized.“I’m okay,” he whispered, sounding as strangled as he felt.He patted Dyllenon the back but the alpha seemed reluctant to loosen his hold. It was comforting to be so close to his alpha after their harrowing event, and he knew Dyllenwo
Thank fuck no one else was around because Dyllensounded like nothing but a prepubescent teen, voice breaking on every other word.Why the fuck was this so hard when Eicianhad already given his fucking answer?“I, uh…” he tried to continue but was distracted by his lover.Eician’s eyes were wide but a huge grin slowly took over his face. He looked positively radiant in that moment and he grabbed Dyllenby the shoulders, tipping his toes and aggressively pulling him in for a kiss.The passion startled Dyllenbut he returned the kiss with equal vigour. His omega’s small body pressed up against his as their lips clashed together and Dyllenpulled him in even closer.Eician’s scent enveloped him like a drug, the smell a mixture of need and want.“I love you,” Dyllenwhispered against Eician’s lips, not wanting to pull apart from his mate.T
Months passed…Dyllengroaned as Linusstormed into their bedroom looking wild-eyed and panicked.The darkness invading the room where the flickering candlelight of Linus’s lantern didn’t reach gave him an idea how late it still was.He certainly felt like he hadn’t gotten the chance to sleep at all. Beside him, Eicianmirrored the groan but neither of them dallied as they sat up.They knew the reason for Linus’s sudden visit.“She’s coming!” he exclaimed, a slight note of hysteria in hisusually quiet and nonchalantvoice.Dyllenwould have found it funny if he hadn’t been assigned the duty of keeping the other alpha in check while Eicianhelped Skyebring their daughter into the world.Between the two omegas with their Healing Sight, they had determined the baby’s gender early on, allowing them to
Skye wiped at his nose as the wagon he was hitching a ride on entered through the giant city gates.It had been so long since he had been home that he had forgotten the stink caused by so many people living in such close proximity.Four years in the countryside and small, poor villages would do that, he supposed. The omega shuddered as they rolled forward through the throngs of people, the wheels clacking on the uneven cobblestone street.It was busier than he remembered, but then, he was no longer used to so many people in one place. The rickety wagon came to a stop outside a familiar building and he hopped off, his small satchel in hand, thanking the driver.The beta farmer waved at him in farewell and his fare having already been paid, left without further ado. No doubt he had better things to do than babysit some unknown omega.Skye's nose twitched in protest as another wave of unwashed bodies assaulted his senses. Attempting to ignore it, he turned his attention to the building
The half- peeled potato rolled across the room unnoticed.“What?" Skye whispered, uncomprehending.“That's where all the money came from. It must have been a lot because they don't seem worried about money at all. Mom was furious when she found out. I think Dad agreed without saying anything to her. I'm not sure of the details. They won't say anything when they know I'm around."She lapsed into silence and Skye stayed frozen in place, trying to process the information.It made a horrible kind of sense.The way his mother acted, the way she flinched over the extra supplies, the sad looks she cast at him.She knew he had returned only to be given away to some alpha. She was a huge believer in love too, an arranged bonding must have shocked her.“So, all the repairs and the stocked cupboards..." he trailed off, unsure how to feel.It was too much, too fast, and he couldn't wrap his head around it.“The dowry we were given has saved many lives and will save countless more," a deep voice s
The day of reckoning came a week after his return to his home city of Ilaridge.In the early hours of the evening, a carriage pulled up in front of their humble abode after a message came the night before.His mother and sister had spent their morning scrubbing him within an inch of his life so he would leave a good first impression.Skye gathered up his new clothing and what few possessions he wanted to take with him before leaving his family behind.He didn't know what to expect, none of them did.The King had been close-lipped about what his own son planned and for all he knew, he could just as well find a station in the palace and get to see his family on the morrow as he could leave to never return.It was all up to his mate and his whims.Arranged matings weren't unusual even amongst the common folk but his family had been formed on love.His mother was a big advocate of free-will and ‘trusting in your heart’ kind of thing.A strange sort of calm had settled over Skye in the wee
Linus suppressed a sigh as he strode through the lavish halls of his family home.The walls were hung with grand tapestries and glittering vases sat in every nook and cranny. It was a far cry from his preferred haunts of dark taverns and the cold beauty of a night out under the stars.Still, you couldn't help who you were born to and he couldn't deny using his privilege over the years.The youngest son of the King was a prestigious position. Also, as boring as it was stifling.Linus would have renounced his claim to the throne years ago if his father had allowed it, he had three siblings in line in front of him to keep the line going. He was the backup of a backup.The King had refused to allow him to cast off his family ties, but it had its perks. It had allowed him the best tutors throughout his childhood without the pressure to conform to the rules.No one had foreseen him forming a mercenary band, but he discreetly took care of the crown’s dirty work so no one said anything in the
Pushing the door open to his favorite inn, Linus pushed off his tenseness like shrugging off a coat.The back tables were taken up by his men and their very presence soothed him.Scoundrels the lot of them but he trusted them with his life. He knew they had his back no matter what happened. Sitting amongst them was the only time he truly relaxed and after the shock he had received, he needed that.“Boss!" his third in command, Brite, called out as he waved him over.The yellow haired man’s grin faltered as he spotted the two trailing after him and Linus could almost feel the alpha’s attention on the omega.“Omega?" Dyllen, his second in command, questioned. “Is there something you need to tell us, Boss?"The mood of the table changed from relaxed and joking to alert in a moment but Linus waved them off.“My Uncle Keigo," he said waving to the jovial alpha following him before moving his attention to the omega, “And my arranged mate, Skye."The omega in question stared around the table