CHAPTER 24: LOSS

"You must be tired of living," Prince Kael said as he stepped into the small cabin that was supposedly the Omega’s house. If it could even be called that. He sneered. It was far more fitting to call it a shed meant for farm animals.

Ignoring his brother’s warning to stay out of this matter, he had come here with one purpose alone—to take the Omega to the Ruins and use her blood to gain entry and override the ancient magic guarding the place. That was all. But instead, he had stumbled onto this scene.

Of course, he had heard the faint sounds of the little Omega’s struggle even before he arrived, but he hadn’t been certain whether they were genuine or just part of some pathetic game. It wouldn’t have been the first time someone tried to act the helpless damsel in distress in front of him, hoping to lure him in and gain his favor.

But the moment he stepped inside and saw Alpha Soier’s son—hands clawing at his own clothes as well as those of the underage Omega—any amusement vanished. The scene was clear enough. This wasn’t a game.

The boy actually had the audacity to break the law right under their noses? In his presence?

Kael’s lips curved into a cold smile as he let the words slip out, wondering aloud if the pup truly had a death wish. His voice carried easily through the cramped room, sharp enough to cut the tension. He watched as the young Alpha’s head jerked back, eyes narrowing into a glare.

And then he saw the exact moment recognition dawned—the flicker of realization in the boy’s face as it registered who had interrupted him.

Alec’s glare wavered when he finally recognized who stood in the doorway. His posture shifted almost instantly, shoulders pulling back, chin lowering in a quick display of surrender and reverence. The arrogance that had been there only a moment ago melted into something far more cautious. He straightened his rumpled clothes as best he could, covering his naked self and a nervous smile tugging at his lips.

"Prince Kael. Don’t misunderstand. I was only playing with my girlfriend."

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly at the word as he looked at the still whimpering Omega on the bed. "Playing?" His tone was flat, but there was a thread of mockery in it. He took a slow step forward, boots creaking on the warped wooden floor.

"You like to play, Alec?" Kael continued in a low voice, the faintest trace of a smile touched his mouth. "Wonderful. Why not come play with me first... and then we’ll see how much you enjoy your games."

Alec’s throat bobbed as he felt a premonition of something bad about to happen. "Your Highness, I didn’t—"

But, he didn’t get to finish.

The air itself seemed to change, thickening as if the cabin walls were closing in. The pressure came without warning, a crushing, invisible weight that pressed down on Alec’s shoulders and spine. His knees buckled instantly, slamming into the floorboards with a dull thud.

Kael hadn’t moved beyond that single step, yet the oppressive force rolling off him was suffocating. It was as if the very air carried his dominance, bending reality to his will.

Alec gasped, head lowering under the sheer magnitude of it, muscles trembling as he tried to remain upright. "P-Prince... Kael..." The words were barely a rasp. His voice broke, strained by the pressure constricting his chest and throat.

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver.

"Please...please...control... your... power..." Alec choked, but the sound was faint, fading quickly into nothing. His body quivered under the unrelenting weight, his hands clawing at the floor as though he could anchor himself there. But it was useless.

His limbs gave way entirely, and in the next instant, his body slumped to the side, eyes rolling back as consciousness slipped away.

Kael didn’t spare him more than a glance. The boy lay there like a discarded puppet, stripped of any semblance of dignity or control.

The prince exhaled softly, as though dismissing an insect, before turning his attention to the Omega.

She hadn’t moved.

Her gaze was unfocused, fixed somewhere far beyond the confines of the cabin. Her breathing was shallow, almost soundless, and though her body remained tense, there was no sign that she was aware of what had just happened. Even the fall of Alec to the floor had not drawn her from whatever place her mind had fled to.

Kael’s eyes lingered on her for a moment. The delicate line of her shoulders, the way her arms curled in against her body, the faint tremor running through her-it spoke of a retreat so complete that the world around her had ceased to exist.

He was almost shocked at the difference in the little Omega from yesterday. This one was not defiant. She seemed to have accepted her fate, laying there with a sense of detachment. But Kael knew better than to shatter that fragile detachment too quickly.

Without a word, he stepped closer. The floor creaked under his boots, but she didn’t flinch.

He crouched slightly, bringing himself to her level. His hand settled gently on the crown of her head. His fingers threaded briefly through her hair, a single, careful motion.

The contact was light, deliberate. A grounding touch.

She blinked once, but her eyes still didn’t seem to focus on him.

Kael’s expression didn’t change. He reached to the side, taking the woolen blanket from the chair and draped it over her shoulders, letting the fabric fall loosely to cover her exposed skin and then he stepped back.

TO any outsider, Prince Kael would have looked calm. But only those who knew the man well, would be able to read the rage that currently surrounded him...

Still without speaking, Kael straightened. One hand reached down to the unconscious pup sprawled across the floor. His grip closed easily around the back of Alec’s collar, hauling him up with a single, effortless pull.

The boy’s head lolled forward, his weight insignificant in Kael’s grasp.

He glanced back at the Omega once more. She hadn’t moved. Her gaze had drifted toward the wall, and it was as if the blanket had been placed on a statue.

Kael said nothing.

He turned, dragging Alec behind him like the animal he was.. The boy’s boots scraped across the floorboards, leaving faint scuff marks that joined the many already there.

The door groaned as Kael pushed it open. A gust of night air slipped inside, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Outside, the ground was uneven, the grass tall and unkempt.

He stepped out, the door swinging shut behind him with a muted thud.

The cool air was a relief after the stifling heat of the cabin. Kael didn’t slow his pace as he moved across the clearing, Alec’s limp form trailing behind like an afterthought.

Somewhere to the east, the faint sound of running water could be heard and that is where Kael was going. They needed blood to enter the Ruins. Alec Soier’s blood would be perfect. And once that was done... Kael gave a cold smile. Alec Soier liked taking a**, did he? He’ll make sure that he learnt just how fun being taken in the ass forcefully was...