CHAPTER 208: _NOW THAT’S TEAMWORK!

Elian’s POV

*****

"Elian..." Lucian was the one who spoke this time as Elian’s heat symptoms flared. "Are you... Are you going through heat?"

Dread surged through Elian, who then clutched his stomach as a sharp warmth, almost molten, seeped deep into his core. His pheromones swirled out of him and he could feel the beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.

"You haven’t had a cycle in over twenty days." Kyren grabbed his wrist, keeping his voice low.

His crimson eyes glinted with possessive protectiveness. Like he wanted to shield Elian from the rest of the world

"Psst." Aurora made a sound from the other side of the high table, forcing all of them to turn their heads to her.

She had a practised smile as she whispered. "Did I hear you guys say Elian is going through another heat cycle?"

"What?" Axel nearly raised his voice when he caught on, his tone brimming with alarm.

[Aw, would you look at that? They’re all banding up like one little family because of you.]

Well... Technically they were family.

Before Elian’s mind could sidetrack into the complexities of the family dynamics among his mates and the Stormborn family, Luna Queen Elowen rose to her feet.

The Luna Queen had a warm smile, clapping once before booming with a sharp voice that instantly brought silence.

"Alright, everyone! Let’s kick off tonight with the first dance!" She chirped excitedly. "Grab your partners and head on out to the dance floor. The night is still young and trust me when I say... There are a lot of things to anticipate."

With that, soft music played through the event hall, the golden lights dimming slightly to match the vibe.

Elian’s chest rose and fell with each heavy breath as he tried regulating his body heat.

[Okay, my previous diagnostics were correct. Your next cycle was supposed to hit three days from now at least. But due to the Bond Resonance skill and the proximity of your mates to you—]

’I get it. I get it!’ Elian cut the system off with a mental snarl as his head spun. ’I–I need to get away from here before—’

"Does anyone happen to have a heat suppression pill?" Axel asked, getting on his feet and adjusting his golden outfit while people below the stage got off their seats and trooped toward the dance floor.

"No one?" He frowned, arching a brow at Elian. "I could’ve sworn you had one with you which you never explained where you got it from."

Right... He bought that one from the system.

One problem with that though—

"I must’ve lost it in the Dark Lands after one scuffle too many." Elian rasped, subconsciously leaning closer to Kyren when the heat in his stomach grew worse. "Gods above, my insides are melting."

Lucian, who was also sitting beside Elian blinked at him hesitantly through all this.

He seemed lost. Disoriented. Confused perhaps?

Elian couldn’t help but notice this from the corner of his eyes while Kyren tried grounding him with his hand clasped around his wrist.

’People are already looking our way, little flame.’ The Rogue king’s voice slipped into his mind, calm. ’Do you remain sitting here or should I lead you out?’

Elian’s lips parted while his mind reeled.

Seemingly out of nowhere, his groin began to ache. But when his eyes fell on his pants... He found out why.

He... he was rock hard!

’I can’t leave yet.’ Elian responded to Kyren’s expression, crossing his legs while his face heated up with embarrassment. ’I’ll... I’ll just—’

"Is anything wrong here?" The Alpha king walked to them just then alongside his wife.

Both of them had suspicion in their eyes, their gaze flicking from Elian to the others.

[Host’s pheromones are still slightly under control so wolves around can’t pick up the scent... Yet. Do you want to purchase a heat suppression pill?]

He currently has one thousand and fifty Ascension points. One heat suppression pill costs fifty points.

Elian’s brows knitted into such a deep frown that a vein throbbed on his forehead.

’What if I need the points for something more important?’

[More important than your dignity? A mana core is only 1000 points, meaning you’ll still have enough for it and a pill.]

’Only?’ Elian repeated the word like he was being mocked. ’After all the stupid missions I had to complete to get them?’

Gods, this was getting nowhere.

Besides, Lucian was going to be by his side throughout tonight due to the scrutiny of the Northern wolves council.

How does he explain getting a heat suppression pill out of nowhere?

"Nothing wrong, father." Lucian got to his feet, turning to face his father.

His lips curled slightly. "We’re simply all catching up."

Arian frowned, glancing at his wife who only shrugged cluelessly.

"Catching up? Here and right now?" The Alpha king didn’t seem convinced, squinting at Elian all of a sudden.

The latter’s heart jumped into his throat, his body shaking with anxiety under the Alpha king’s sharp gaze.

Until—

"It’s not like we had a lot of time to catch up, Dad." Aurora got up, her hands on her waist. "Especially after all we discovered earlier today. Won’t getting along be beneficial to avoid drama?"

Arian’s expression soured at the mention of "all they discovered earlier today".

All of them at the high table knew what Aurora was referencing easily.

"Ahem." Elowen cleared her throat before the tension could swallow them, placing her hands on her husband’s shoulder. "You kids shouldn’t have too much fun then. Your father and I are off to the dance floor to open the traditional moon walk."

[Hehe... If only she knew how ironic that’ll sound to people on a certain blue planet.]

As always, Elian didn’t understand what the fuck the system was talking about.

"Pretty sure I’m older than you." Kyren pointed out with a dry chuckle causing Elowen to giggle softly as well.

"Oh, Lord Kyren." The Luna Queen called that name with way too much... Fondness?

Or was the heat making Elian imagine things?

"Whatever you guys do," Arian raised a finger, his voice low. "Make sure you avoid drama at all costs. Elders from all factions in this Empire are in attendance and watching this event like hawks waiting for—"

"You don’t need to preach politics to us, father." Lucian cut him off with boredom. "Just go. You and Mom have fun out there."

He waved at them while Elowen grabbed Arian’s hand, nodding. "Oh, we will darling."

The Alpha king’s jaw was still tense but he didn’t say anything more, following his wife as she led him down the stairs and through an open path away from the crowd of people.

"Now that was teamwork." Axel blurted with a laugh. "What do we do about Elian now?"

His golden eyes settled on him. Everyone else seemed lost on what to do, leaving them in an awkward silence that further made Elian feel like he was being babysat.

But soon enough, Kyren took the lead, grabbing Elian’s hand firmly. The latter gasped softly as the Rogue king helped him to his feet.

"I recall overhearing something about the Northern wolves council needing to see Elian with the Alpha Prince," Kyren remarked casually as he handed Elian over to Lucian.

Lucian took his hand gently, his silver eyes softening when their gazes locked.

"Keep the facade up while Aurora goes to get a pill," Kyren muttered. "I would’ve searched for one myself but... People will get suspicious if I just leave."

Elian frowned at that.

Since when does Kyren care about the suspicions of others?

"I guess I’m going pill hunting." Aurora sighed. "Oh, well. I’ll get a drink for myself on the way out."

She mumbled that last sentence to herself as she walked down the steps.

"We need to stick at Elian’s side at all times." Kyren turned to Axel and Lucian. "In a hall filled with thousands, there are bound to be a few assholes who won’t be able to control themselves around his pheromones."

Elian’s heart thudded heavily against his chest as he glanced between Lucian and Axel, the former keeping his grip on him and pulling him closer to his body.

"We understand, Lord Kyren." Axel nodded and so did Lucian.

[Isn’t this a beautiful sight? They’re actually working together because of you.]

Elian’s heart fluttered, but he couldn’t even afford to feel warm. His legs were shaky, and merely standing made his eyes woozy, like he was on drugs.

"I’ll take Elian to the dance floor," Lucian suggested, sounding a little too hyped at the idea.

Kyren seemed hesitant at first, his eyes gleaming with a cold light when his gaze fell on Lucian’s proximity to Elian.

But he swallowed his possessiveness, smirking. "It’s going to be a long night..."

With that, the four of them walked down the steps, Elian moving between the Rogue king and Lucian while Axel led the way like a sentinel.

Tonight definitely had more surprises in store for them.