CHAPTER 99: I’VE MISSED HIM

Koda;

"You what!?" The question rips out of me like an explosion, and the boy jerks in fright.

"Listen. I can explain. It’s not what you think..." Rhydian begins, but I hold a finger up to stop him.

"You. Leave us. Now." I order the boy, pointing at the door, and he looks up at Rhydian. Like my words mean nothing, and only Rhydian can tell him what to do.

I look over at Father in shock to be sure he’s seeing what I’m seeing, and Father sighs.

He’s keeping quiet because he knows it’s best I handle this. If Father should open his mouth regarding this matter, the little twerp is going to wish he had listened when I asked nicely.

"You heard him, leave!" Rhydian scolds, and the boy jerks again before scrambling away from us and towards the door. Thankfully taking the suffocating scent of his pheromones with him.

I turn back to Rhydian and cross my arms over my chest.

"Start talking," I order, and he swallows.

"I have no relationship with the boy. I only made him my omega so Mother wouldn’t hurt him. She’s hurt him before, and I was tired of seeing innocent people suffer, so I claimed him as mine so she wouldn’t touch him anymore. " He replies, and my brows crease.

"Elián being yours didn’t stop her from trying to get him raped. But claiming this boy to be yours would protect him from her?" I question in honest confusion, and Rhydian lets out a breath.

"No... I mean... yes. I mean, this was after I stood up to her, and she agreed not to hurt anything that’s mine." He replies, and my brows knot.

"Sounds like you were played," I reply, and he looks up at me like I have no idea what I’m saying.

"I wasn’t played. You have no idea what the boy has been through at my Mother’s hands. She wanted him to breed pure-breed Alpha babies for me. That’s why she ruined his life like that. This is the only way I can pay him back. What would you have done in my shoes?" He snaps, and I stare at him in silence.

Rhydian has always been too softhearted. No matter how tough he acts, he has the softest heart I know. However... was this softness... or stupidity?

He can call it whatever he wants, but something just doesn’t sit right about Alpha Liandria and that boy. I can feel it. There’s a deeper ploy to this.

But then again, I can’t jump to conclusions.

"You could have sent word to me. I could have given my verdict that he be free of her tyranny. You did not have to claim him. You do know I will not accept him as a part of our family, right?" Father finally interjects, and Rhydian blinks at Father.

"I don’t care which of you gives me an heir first. That’s for you boys to decide, but I must approve of who would give me my grandchildren, and my heirs certainly will not come from a womb crafted out of an experiment." Father adds, and Rhydian looks away.

"I know that, Father. I do not plan to have that kind of relationship with him." Rhydian replies, and I can’t stop the questions growing in my mind.

"Is Elián aware of this?" I question and Rhydian’s express falls.

Guilt colours his face, and I clench my fists. I have a feeling I won’t like where this is heading.

"Yes. He’s aware." He replies, and my jaw tenses.

"How did he react?" I inquire further, and Rhydian looks away with his hair hiding the shame on his face.

"Not very well. He’s quite upset about it." He replies, and I roll my eyes in exasperation as I throw my hands into the air.

Of course, he would be upset.

Was he expecting Elián to celebrate this madness??

"Okay. Enough of that. We came here for a reason, and we need to get to it." Father interrupts before walking over to the head of the room.

He climbs the stairs and sits on the throne while Rhydian and I stare up at him.

"Didn’t you come here to punish Mother for her crimes?" Rhydian questions, and Father crosses his legs as he stares at us.

"That’s a minor reason for our visit. I came here to investigate the issue myself. You’ve taken way too long to give me any report, and Koda is here to take Elián to Gravemaw." Father replies, and Rhydian’s head snaps in my direction.

"What!? Why? Elián is doing just fine here?" He complains, and Father sighs.

"Almost getting gang raped and being replaced by his Alpha isn’t quite the definition of doing just fine... is it, Rhydian?" Father retorts, and Rhyian turns to me with his mouth agape as if expecting me to side with him after all the rubbish I’ve just heard and witnessed.

"I didn’t replace him, Father! And why should Elián go to Koda’s home town!? Is there a case he has to go and investigate there as well?" Rhydian snaps in a surprisingly defensive tone, and then it dawns on me.

A couple of things must have changed over the past few days. Rhydian wants Elian to stay and is even being protective of him... that’s new. Very... new.

"I’m sending him there for his safety," Father simply replies and Rhydian’s brows knot.

"Safety... from what?" He questions, and Father looks at me. A silent plea that I explain what’s going on to Rhydian.

"An attempt was made on Elián’s life. His room was set on fire. Only 20% of it was salvageable. The attacker sealed every exit; they thought Elián was inside." I explain, and Rhydian’s face falls.

"Wh...what?" He mutters in shock, and I nod.

"We don’t know who it is, and we don’t know why. But they’re after Elián. And this is not the best place for him to be if there truly is a target on his back. We need to move him somewhere more secure. At least till we are sure that it’s safe for him to come back home." I conclude, and Father speaks again.

"Cassia is the only one I can trust with his safety right now. She will certainly look after him, and no one would dare infiltrate Gravemaw. Here... danger always hovers like moths to a flame ." He says, and Rhydian stares between us in silence.

"But who could be after Elián’s life? And... why?" He mutters, and I shrug.

"That... I do not know. All I know is that I need to get him to Gravemaw as quietly and quickly as possible." I reply, and silence falls upon the hall again.

"Can I come with?" Rhydian suddenly questions, and my eyes widen.

Huh!?

"No. It’ll be too suspicious. We don’t need that kind of attention. You’ll stay here to help me with the investigations." Father interrupts, and I let out a breath. Grateful for his interference.

It would be awkward having Rhydian at my hometown with me. A wolf amongst bears. Mother wouldn’t mind... but I will.

The cultural disparity and the fact that none of us have ever visited each other’s homes before... Why start now??

"Besides, I think the boy needs a break from anything that would remind him of this place," Father adds, and I nod softly in agreement.

I have so many questions about why Father is suddenly so protective of Elián. But I know asking won’t give me the answers I seek, so I’ll just watch.

Observe silently and get my answer in the end. Like I always do.

"Where is the boy? If we want them at Gravemaw by nightfall, they should be on their way." Father then says, and Rhydian sighs.

"He should be in his room..." Rhydian replies, and I nod.

"I’ll go to him," I reply with a bow and turn around, leaving Father and Rhydian alone in the hall.

I need to see how Elian is doing with my own eyes.

****

"Is he feeling okay? Why didn’t he come out when he heard we’re around?" I question Alana as she leads the way to Elián’s room, and she hesitates.

"I... I don’t know, Alpha. He’s not in a very good mood and told me he wanted to rest. I think he’s sleeping." She replies as we get to a door, and my brows crease.

"Sleeping? Didn’t he sleep last night?" I question, and she shrugs.

"I don’t think he did." She responds sincerely, and I let out a breath before opening the door.

I step in and my nostrils are welcomed by the delectable scent of moon flowers. Moon flowers, and honey... the usual mintiness to his scent is gone. Probably because he’s fast asleep and currently so... vulnerable. His minty walls aren’t up.

How I’ve missed this scent. The estate doesn’t smell the same without him. I’ve missed his chaos.

The sound of soft snores grabs my attention, and my eyes don’t leave the young lad sprawled over the bed with one of his legs dangling off the edge.

I smile as I walk over to the bed and sit beside him. He has beads of sweat on his forehead, and I gently wipe them off. Causing him to stir in his sleep.

He moans and rolls onto his side, and my smile grows.

I didn’t realise how much I missed him till now.

But as I watch him sleep, I can’t shake off the fear of who might try to take him from me...

Who would try to hurt him? And why?