CHAPTER 15: RETURNING THE FAVOR (II)

The words rang like a strike of thunder.

Ares’ body seized. His breath caught hard in his throat, then ripped out of him in a guttural grunt as agony tore through his chest. His knees buckled, his hand clutching at his ribs as if they were splintering from within. Sweat broke across his brow in an instant, his teeth bared as he doubled over, fighting against the raw tearing pain.

"Alpha!" Nikki cried, panic twisting her voice. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands flying to his shoulders, trying to steady him, her eyes wide with alarm.

Rhea stood above him, her shadow long and steady. Her expression was calm, almost too calm, as she watched him writhe. "That," she said evenly, "is what she felt when you rejected her. Only worse for you, I imagine — since you have a wolf to share the pain. She didn’t.

"You evil witch!" Nikki screamed, her voice shrill and trembling with rage. She started to lunge forward, but Rhea’s cold glare froze her mid-motion. The whip flashed in her memory, the sting of it on her skin, and her body betrayed her — her feet locked to the floor.

Eberhard bent at Ares’ side, his hands fluttering as he tried to steady the Alpha. His eyes flicked up at Rhea, burning with loathing, but beneath the fury sat a flicker of satisfaction that he could not entirely smother. Good. Finally, the bond was severed both ways. Now nothing stood in the way of his daughter claiming the Alpha.

"What are you standing there for?" Eberhard snapped, his voice harsh as he glared at Ellie. "Help us take the Alpha to his suite!".

Ellie hesitated, his hands twitching at his sides as if they wanted to move but refused to. His eyes flicked from the doubled-over Alpha, groaning and slick with sweat, to Rhea, who still stood tall and unshaken.

He swallowed hard, then turned toward her. "Do you... remember my quarter?"

Rhea’s eyes shifted to him, her expression unreadable. After a beat, she gave a slow nod.

Without another word, Ellie dug into his pocket, pulled out a brass key, and pressed it into her hand. "Move your things inside," he said firmly. "We’re siblings now, aren’t we? We should stay together... as siblings."

Rhea blinked at the key resting in her palm, her brows lifting in brief confusion. But then, a smile broke across her lips — sharp, amused, almost delighted. She closed her fingers around the key like it was a prize.

"What are you doing, still standing there like an idiot?" Eberhard snapped, his voice jagged with impatience.

Ellie turned his head slowly, his calm voice grating against Eberhard’s fury. "Calm down will you. I’m coming already. Besides the pain won’t kill him. After all, a wolf-less omega endured the same." His words carried a quiet edge, a reminder that made Rhea’s smile widen.

At last, he moved, slipping an arm under Ares’ weight and helping haul him upright. The Alpha groaned, his breath ragged, sweat dripping down his temple. Together with Eberhard, they dragged him forward.

"You’ll pay for this," Nikki spat at Rhea as she rushed after them, her voice sharp with venom.

Rhea only tilted her head, watching them go.

Seraphine and her daughters narrowed their eyes, their glares sharp as daggers. Rhea answered their fury with a sudden "BOOM!" from her lips, mocking and loud. The three women shrieked and bolted for the door.

Rhea burst into laughter, rich and unrestrained, her head thrown back. When the sound died down, she glanced at the key in her hand again. Her smile softened, curling with satisfaction. Finally, a better place to rest — no more horse-stall shack they thought fit for an omega.

She hummed a tune under her breath, twirling the key between her fingers, and strolled out of the room without even bothering to close the door behind her.

*******

Ellie and Eberhard shouldered Ares’ weight between them, his boots dragging as they made their way through the empty corridors. Nikki trailed close behind, her pace quick, eyes locked on the Alpha’s trembling form.

At the suite doors, Seraphine and her daughters tried to follow suit. Nikki spun on her heel, blocking their path with a sharp glare. "What do you think you’re doing?"

The three women exchanged uneasy glances, their words tangling into a nervous stammer.

"Stay out," Nikki snapped. "You need to watch over that bitch," she ordered, her voice hard as steel.

With curt nods, they turned back the way they came. Nikki shut the heavy black door firmly behind her.

Inside, Ellie and Eberhard half-dragged, half-lifted Ares to the bed and dropped him onto the thick black mattress. The Alpha let out a guttural groan, his body arching as pain ripped through him. His hand clawed at his shirt, fabric tearing beneath his fingers until it split open. His chest heaved, muscles slick with sweat, every line of his body shuddering.

The room was almost entirely black. Heavy velvet curtains darkened the windows, obsidian tiles stretched across the floor, and a polished onyx desk reflected the Alpha’s writhing body. The couches, sleek leather and midnight-dark, completed the oppressive setting.

Ellie and Eberhard stood at the foot of the bed, both tense, neither moving, uncertain of what help they could offer.

Nikki broke from the doorway, rushing to the Alpha’s side. She leaned over him, hands fluttering across his chest and face, frantic. "Ares — please, stay with me. It’s all right, you’ll be fine. Just breathe, I’m here. I won’t leave you, I swear. You’re stronger than this, hold on, my love, just hold on." Her words tumbled out in a rush, a desperate litany to soothe the man writhing beneath her touch.

Ellie’s brow arched at her display, his eyes narrowing slightly. Did she just call the Alpha her love?

Eberhard cleared his throat, the sound thick and low. "We should give them space." His gaze flicked once to Ellie before returning to the bed. "Nikki will watch over him... and take care of him."