Chapter 10
Julian shuddered when he heard a knock on his door. Was it Rafael? he wondered.
Maybe it was Rafael's mom. She had said she was bringing clothes for him earlier.
"It's me, Julian."
It was Rafael's voice, loud and clear.
"Come in," Julian shouted back immediately. It wouldn't do to make Rafael wait.
Rafael came in slowly. He had probably changed because he looked different. He was wearing a dark blue shirt with black trousers.
The material of the clothes looked very soft and comfortable. Julian looked at him.
Rafael was the typical Alpha and then some.
He was so tall, Julian's head was probably at his shoulder.
When he entered the room, he fixed his purple irises on Julian. A few moments passed in silence.
Awkwardness permeated the space between them.
They were soulmates ordained by the goddess herself, but now…
They were just two people who barely knew each other.
"How are you… settling in, Julian?" Rafael asked, his voice soft.
Nobody had bothered being gentle to Julian for a long time.
It made his heart ache in a nice way.
"I…" Julian began, then trailed off like an idiot.
"It's nice. Thank you for being so kind to me," he completed the sentence.
"Don't thank me," Rafael said. "I've only done what is my duty to do."
No. Julian shook his head. Rafael might not know, but he had done far more than that.
There was silence again. When they were alone like this, there was this feeling like something was missing. Something off in this bond between them.
"I just… I think," Julian started to talk. He wanted to tell Rafael the truth, that he was probably the cause of their bond being all weird.
"Rafael, I have something to tell you. Honestly, I think I should have told you this before, but I… I was scared. I am scared, because if you know—"
"Julian," Rafael said, silencing him. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me anything now. We'll get to know each other and—"
"No, you don't understand. I am the cause of this. Of our bond being all weird. Rafael… I am an Omega."
Julian said the last part of the sentence.
Rafael looked at him in shock.
Julian lowered his head. He'd said it.
He waited for Rafael to curse at him with disgust.
"How can that be?" Rafael asked.
Julian sighed.
"The pack didn't always treat me like… you know," he started.
"It started during our Presentation Ceremony. I shifted, and then it was pretty obvious. Nobody was happy with that," Julian finished.
He remembered that day… the day everything went to hell.
"I understand," Julian said as he looked at Rafael's conflicted face. "I understand any decision you make… even if you take me back. It was magical enough meeting you."
Julian took in a deep breath. Anything that happened, Julian would take it, even if the rest of him shattered upon hearing Rafael's next words.
"Or maybe don't take me back. I'd rather be a rogue."
Rafael stayed silent and immobile. Julian could not read his expression. His anxiety began to rise. He felt compelled to fill in the silence…
"You could let me go. You don't even have to drop me off. I could just leave…"
Julian stopped when he saw Rafael raise a hand, as if to tell him to stop.
He swallowed, awaiting judgment.
****
Viktor had one last thing to do before they set out. He descended down the stairs that led to the underground dungeon of his castle.
Inside, he removed the chain around his neck. Its pendant was a gleaming silver key. He used it to open the door.
He entered the dark space.
The only illumination inside it was a small glowing flower, protected by glass.
Viktor sighed when he saw it.
The flower had only one once-white petal. The rest were a black, wilted mess.
Viktor reached out and touched the glass.
The witch's voice echoed in his mind.
"I hope you'll enjoy this gift, Lord Viktor. To watch as your life force withers away. Serves you right, you cold-hearted bastard, for being unable to love me."
This flower, with petals white and pure… symbol of his punishment for having a heart unable to love.
He remembered Wren's words earlier:
"Maybe it has pleased the night to give the Lord a mate."
Wren was wrong. If he had been unable to love her, he would never be able to love anyone else.
Only one petal remained. He had only a year to live.
Maybe, finally, in the Afterworld, when they were reunited, he would finally be able to love her.
He turned his back to the flower and left the room.
He went outside the castle, where Wren was already waiting beside the carriages.
"My lord," Wren bowed low when he saw Viktor.
"Took you long enough," Belmor interjected. "We'll be late."
Viktor saw him leaning on his own carriage.
"We can leave now, Lord Belmor," Viktor replied evenly.
It seemed Belmor had forgotten the sour ending of their last meeting.
"Or we could wait, and be late. That would sure irritate those wolves. I've done my research. The main Alpha leader is one called Alpha Rafael. I've forgotten his last name. That's the one to anger. Maybe we even kill him."
"Maybe," Viktor replied nonchalantly before entering his carriage and shutting the door.