05: Trauma Bonding

Two days in Embermoon pack and it was glaring that they were being held hostage.

Alpha Ethan couldn't possibly and didn't care about Evren's feelings or emotions.

He had given a simple command.

Get married and make an heir. The omega mate could be kept as a concubine.

In those two days, Evren was treated like royalty which often extended to Eira.

He had been studying the pack, not because he was interested in it, but to find a way to escape with Eira. If he were alone, he would have gone berserk on all of them but he had Eira's safety to consider.

Speaking of Eira, the small female's heat had started and she was cuddled up in their room, making a nest of her and his clothing. She had reluctantly let him out of bed when he begged her, telling her he just wanted to get food for her.

By the time he left the room though, she was completely swallowed by the warm beddings.

Evren made his way to the pack kitchen, her scent lingering on him like borrowed warmth.

He strolled in, hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, chest very much bare. The warmth of the fireplace enveloped him immediately.

Servants bowed instantly as the Alpha heir passed through.

Once in the large kitchen, he found it very busy, probably preparing for the Alpha's dinner.

"Tina," he called out.

"Alpha heir," the head maid replied immediately.

"I need some food, about three varieties, not too spicy please."

"Yes Alpha heir."

Tina didn't need to ask more. Everyone in the pack house knew the Alpha heir's mate was in heat. She iimmediately turned to the cooks and began giving orders.

Evren heard things like warm, whip, roast, marinate.

As he went to the fridge to get water, more words were being thrown around.

"You can bake the bread now."

"Don't steam the vegetables now."

"No, please peel that potato skin."

"Who is carving the roast chicken?"

"Is the sauce ready?"

He was chugging down water when he noticed the servants bowing again.

A male almost as bulky as him stepped inside. The first thing you would notice were the freckles scattered all over his very red face and he looked to be about the same age as Evren. His breath fogged as he breathed, even though he was clothed heavily in an overall black coat that reached his boots.

His hands were in his pockets and he grinned when he saw Evren.

The man waved and walked over to Evren. Evren wrinkled his nose and spoke before thinking.

"You reek of blood."

The man nodded as he grinned. "Sorry, I did wash my hands but I do admit sixty seven kills at once would leave a bad smell."

Impressive, Evren almost said but he nodded instead.

The man extended his hand towards Evren. "I'm Holden, your future commander. Nice to meet you."

Evren eyed him, looking him over before his gaze dropped to the crevices of his fingernails.

They were stained with blood.

Evren spoke. "Next time, wash your claws before turning back to human. You'll smell less." Then he shook his hand.

"Why, thank you?" Holden smiled wider, then his mouth formed an O. "Is that your mate I smell all over you? Have you chosen your Luna yet? You have two options, you know. Let me give you a break down."

He continued before Evren could even turn him down.

"There's Liana Darkwood and there's Irene Forrest. Both bloodlines are high nobles. You know one of the few families who established us around a thousand years ago. They are extremely proud which extends to your possible mates. Two important things. Liana doesn't like you, Irene does but both are willing to take you to raise their lineage. The Moonreign bloodline is very precious, you know."

"I'm not interested." Evren finally said.

"Because of the abandonment and your mother's death?"

A frying pot caught fire, breaking their discussion and Tina was quick to whack the cook on the head.

Holden shrugged. "I get it. Your situation is not as bad as Leander's though. He watched his mother die and his father blamed him for it. He suffered so much and was punished for the littlest of things. Some of the scars on his body are from his father and to make matters worse, his mate is a male. An omega male, I'm sure you know how slim the chances are of Omega males having children. But Leander is stuck on Ivar just like you're stuck on yours."

"You might want to mention how your own father abandoned you because your mother died during your birth," a voice said from the kitchen entrance.

"Oh!" Holden chirped, turning to the door as Evren looked past him.

"Leander!" Holden shouted.

Leander was... Beautiful.

Beautifully masculine. Evren had never seen muted green eyes look so good on anyone.

He was dressed just as heavily as Holden but looked slimmer in his outfit and about a feet shorter.

Leander looked at Evren. "His father hated him. Still does."

"Look at us, already trauma bonding." Holden sighed.

Then, he continued. "Leander is your beta,'" then turned to Leander. "And no, that's not his scent. It's his mate."

"The omega?" Leander asked.

"The omega," Holden confirmed.

"I'm going to go now," Evren said as he began to walk away.

"You know if you refuse to take the throne, your uncle is going to kill us all." Holden said calmly.

Evren paused and turned back with a frown. Leander immediately hit Holden. "He's going to kill us now if he hears. Fuck, are you stupid? People are everywhere."

Evren looked between them before he turned and left.

When Evren returned to the room, Eira was still sleeping so he dressed properly, putting on a T-shirt this time, then went back to the kitchen.

He needed to understand what 'kill us all' meant. He needed to know if the killing included him or Eira or both of them.

When he returned, Leander was talking to a servant and Holden was resting against the kitchen table, watching Leander with something that looked like scrutiny.

Holden noticed Evren watching and smiled.

Evren wasted no time calling them over.

Later, seated in Holden's quarters, Evren demanded an explanation.

Both men simply smiled.

Then Leander spoke. "Everyone knows how much he has always wanted to be the Alpha. They're twins. They would have been co-Alphas but something happened that made the Alpha at the time, your grandfather strip him of the title."

Holden continued. "Your stepmother lost all her pups in a 'freak accident'." He made air quotes. "Four boys and two girls."

"Everyone knows who did it," Leander added, "but no one dares to say it. Especially because your father would never believe it. Your uncle is his commander so he trusts him deeply."

Evren sighed. "I don't care for all this, why does it affect me? Will me not even taking the throne stop the killing from happening?"

"No," Holden shook his head. "Your father will force you on the throne if he has to. You're still alive because he didn't think your father would look for you or that you'll take the throne."

"This doesn't make any sense." Evren muttered.

"Basically," Leander began.

"Your uncle is a tyrant." Holden finished and Leander threw him a look before turning to Evren.

"He just has a grudge because your uncle stole the title from his father," then turned to Holden. "WHO HE HATES."

Evren leaned back, head swimming.

Just what had he gotten himself into?