17

Victor woke up to Robin looking wide-eyed at him. 

"I think someone is outside the tent," Robin said, clutching his arm in a death grip. 

Victor was groggy from sleep, he had dragged Robin inside the tent last night, restrained him in his embrace, and fallen asleep. It had been the best sleep of his life, with the smell of his mate surrounding him. If Robin hadn't wiggled on his crotch he would have fallen asleep sooner but the boy had tortured him for a whole hour before finally surrendering and going to sleep. 

Victor became alert when he heard the rustling too. He sat up and leaned to the opening of the tent.

"No! Don't!" Robin whispered, pulling him back. "What if it's one of those?"

"What?" Victor asked.

"Neanderman. Those monstrous beings that eat humans."

Victor had no idea what Robin was talking about. He didn't know what kind of stories he had been told in the palace but Victor wasn't going to rectify him.

"I'll just take a peak."

"What if it sees you?" Robin whispered in panic.

"If it is whatever you say it is then he would eat us anyway. Better if I see what we are fighting against," Victor said before opening the tent to a slit and peeking outside. It was a wild horse, sniffing around the tent in curiosity. Victor should have eased Robin's fears but how could he lose such an opportunity to mess with him? He hid the satisfaction and turned to Robin.

"Shh…" Victor shushed, placing a finger on his lips. "It's that. Neanderthal man."

"Neanderman," Robin corrected, his voice shaky with fear. "Did it see you?"

Victor shook his head. He opened his arm and motioned Robin to hug him. "We should stay still."

Robin scurried in his arms and placed his head on his chest, stuck to his body like glue. Victor would have felt sorry for scaring him like this if he wasn't enjoying the feel of his soft body against his chest. 

"What does it look like?" Robin asked.

"Ah..big teeth."

Robin gasped. "Why do you look so calm? I am freaking out right now."

"I can take him down," Victor said, puffing his chest.

"No, you can't. Don't even try. It will tear you apart."

"You underestimate my capabilities. I have fought against hundreds of men all at once."

"I don't want to take the risk," Robin mumbled, circling his hands around Victor's chest and squeezing him close 

"Robin," Victor said, pulling his head up, "I will keep you safe. Always. You don't need to fear anything."

"Thank you," Robin said with so much conviction it twisted Victor's heart. He wanted to give his mate the world, and keeping him safe went without saying. Robin was his responsibility now. And he would make sure Robin never has to fear anything ever again. 

Once the horse was gone from their campsite RObin and Victor got out of the tent. 

They assembled their things and started their journey to Manu again. Robin was able to match Victor's pace this time. 

They reached Dhasur's territory by the afternoon. They walked along the forest for a few more hours and reached Manu by evening. Manu had a great nightlife. It was basically the tourist capital of Dhasur. People from all over the world come to visit Manu, especially during the winter season. Ever since the war, the number of tourists had gone down but it did not take away the life of the small town. 

Robin looked fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the town. The people were nothing like the Capital City. Their clothes, their style, the way Omegas and Alphas openly walked on the roads holding hands. He knew Capital City was much more conservative, petriachy ran deep in its veins. It hadn't let go of the ancient ways of conducting themselves. The thought that King Marcella would turn his country the same infuriated Victor. 

They walked along the stone-paved roads surrounded by tall colorful buildings on both sides. Small shops sold various kinds of things. Robin would be surprised to know a lot of these businesses were run by women and omegas. Alphas usually took up physically challenging jobs such as construction, and military. 

Robin paused before one of the beautifully decorated shops. He looked wide-eyed at the collection of watches on display.

"You look mesmerized," Victor stated. 

"This place is beautiful," Robin said transfixed. "This business is owned by an omega."

"Our laws have never prevented them from owning businesses. Although I am not sure it's going to be the same after your father introduces new laws."

"Omegas can own lands?" Robin asked, shocked. It didn't go unnoticed by Victor that Robin had ignored the comment about his father.

Victor shook his head. "You thought they couldn't?"

"It's an Alpha's duty to take care of the property," Robin said.

"An omega is just as capable of taking care of a property as an Alpha," Victor said. "Come on, we are here." 

They walked across a poppy field coming to a stop in front of a big house. His family had owned many properties around Dhasur, this was one of them. The two-story house was meant as a vacation home for his family. It had a beautiful house front, glass walls, and a backside facing the ocean. As kids, he and his siblings love spending time together with his parents in this house. This was their happy place and now this was their refuge.

Victor rang the bell of the wooden door. A small girl opened the door a few seconds later. An omega stood behind her who was frozen in place at his sight. 

"Victor uncle," the little girl screamed, hugging his leg. Victor picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. He was amazed by the little girl's memory. He had left when she was a tiny thing, only three years old. 

"You have gotten so big, mama," Victor said in an animated voice.

"Is it really you?" the omega asked in amazement.

"Who else?" Victor said.

"Oh my god!," the omega chanted.

"Stop freaking out, Kyle. Come hug me," Victor said, opening his arms.

He hugged Kyle tightly, savoring the fact that he still had some of his family left. 

"You really are alive," said his younger brother Arthur as he came to the living room and hugged him tight as well. The sight of Arthur constricted his heart at the reminder of another brother he had lost. Jonathan was Arthur's twin and Victor had always prided himself on telling them apart easily but to outsiders they were indistinguishable. 

"How have you been?" Victor asked his brother.

"Great now that you are back," he said. "Who is this beautiful omega?" Arthur asked, tilting his head to look at Robin.

"Keep your claws away from my mate, Arthur," Victor growled. He knew Arthur. The guy was a hopeless flirt, not that Robin would fall for his charms but one could never be more cautious. 

"Oh lord, you found a mate?" the omega exclaimed.

"You have got it right, like always," Victor said, smiling. "This is my brother's mate Kyle," Victor said, turning to Robin. 

"And this is his daughter, Nina," Victor said, ruffling the little girl's hair.

"Won't you introduce me, brother?" Arthur asked teasingly, circling an arm around his shoulder and smirking at his mate. 

"This is my overbearing brother Arthur," Victor said. Arthur took Robin's hand and kissed it. Victor growled in warning. He knew his brother was doing it to piss him off like always but it did nothing to lessen the jealous streak that went through his body. His response only made Arthur chuckle harder.

"Where is Rody and Caroline?" Victor asked.

"Rody is in rut. They have been in their room since yesterday," Kyle answered.

"Ask them to come out. I am sure they can spare a few seconds of their precious time to meet me," Victor said.

"I will call them," Kyle said, going upstairs. Robin took his time looking around the house while Victor took his brother aside. 

"How has everything been?"

"We are coping. Sometimes it gets fucking depressing. We are cooped up here. I can't go back to work. Rody and Caroline need their own space for how horny they are all the time. I think Caroline is dealing with her loss by fucking her husband's brain out. And Kyle…well…he is drowning in his sorrow. The house is in a mess. I am tired of holding it all together. I was praying for you to come back sooner."

"Thank you for taking care of everyone," Victor said. "And I am sorry you had to go through this all alone." 

"Victor!" a growl came from upstairs. Victor looked up to see his youngest brother Rody come down. Rody hugged him, his eyes brimming with tears. Caroline came down a few seconds later, a wide smile playing on his lips. She looked much better than Victor had last seen her. He didn't think she would ever recover from what she had gone through but it's true…time heals all. 

"This is my mate," Victor introduced Robin to his brother and sister-in-law.

"You have got a mate?" Rody exclaimed. "I would have never expected."

"Hi, I am Rody and that is my mate Caroline," he said, shaking Robin's hands.

"Hi," Robin said to Caroline. 

"Caroline," Victor greeted. "How have you been?"

"Good," She said with a forced smile like she was trying to convince herself that she was doing fine.

She didn't hug Victor which was expected, Rody was in rut and he wouldn't want to see his wife touch another man. But she looked happy to see Victor.

They sat down in the living room while Rody brought all of them coffee. He looked twitchy. Caroline had to keep rubbing his back while sitting close to him.

"You two can go if it's uncomfortable," Victor said, turning to Rody. 

"We are fine. You have come home after so long. I would like to spend some time with you first."

"Where are you from, Robin?" Arthur asked, turning the conversation to Robin.

"I am from Capital City," Robin answered.

Victor wished he had given his family a heads-up about Robin's identity. 

"The land of the tyrant himself," Arthur commented. "How did you two meet?"

"We will talk about this later," Victor said, standing up. He couldn't put his mate in such an awkward situation. He knew his brother. He would not make it easy on Robin if he knew who he was. 

"I am King Marcella's son," Robin blurted out. "I thought you should know before you let me stay at your house."

Arthur's expression hardened as Victor expected. He did not take the news well at all. 

"That must be quite the bad luck, brother," Arthur gritted.

"Arthur!" Victor growled. He knew the anger he harbored against Marcella Dynasty and everyone who belonged to them. Victor was the same at one point but time had doused some of his anger. Arthur had it worse though. He had lost his twin brother. His other half. 

"If I were you I would have rejected him," Arthur snapped.

"Stay quiet, Arthur," Rody said. "You two go and take some rest. You must be tired."

Victor saw Kyle's eyes water as he stood up and left the living room. Arthur's eyes tracked him across the living room before coming back to Robin again. 

"I saw him smile after such a long time, you made him cry again," Arthur said behind gritted teeth.

"Why did she leave?" Robin asked. Victor looked at Robin guiltily, he didn't know how to make this more comfortable for him. 

"His husband was killed by your father's troops. Not to mention your father had our sister and our parents assassinated in their sleep," Arthur barked out.

Robin placed a hand on his mouth, looking wide at Victor. He had kept the grisly details of his family's murder a secret. It was hard for him to recount the past. 

"I am sorry," Robin mumbled. "I didn't know."

"Your apology is not good enough," Arthur erupted. "It's not going to bring them back."

"Get yourself together!" Victor yelled, standing between Robin and him. "I am not going to tolerate such behavior towards my mate."

"Rody, do we need to find another place to live?" Victor asked, turning to Rody, he knew talking to Arthur was pointless. Caroline was equally upset by Robin's identity. And Robin didn't yet know what his father had taken from the two of them. He needed to listen it from Rody if he wanted them gone.

"You two can stay. We have lots of rooms empty," Rody said. "Caroline, go show them their room."

"Come on, let's take a walk outside," Rody said, turning to Arthur pulling him to the back of the house.

"I am fine. I don't need to see your erection before I go to sleep," Arthur snapped, pulling his hand away as he walked off. Caroline chuckled and asked Victor to follow her upstairs.

Caroline showed them their room at the end of the hallway.

"Will we sleep in the same room?" Robin asked, looking panicked.

"No, I will sleep separately. This is your room," Victor said, trying to ease his fear.

Caroline looked at the two of them in confusion.

"I mean we could probably sleep together," Robin said, looking at the floor, biting his lips shyly. 

"We will sleep on the same bed eventually, make no mistake, but I need you to settle down first. Make yourself at home."

"You two haven't slept together yet?" Caroline asked, looking surprised.

"No, not yet," Victor answered.

"Okay," Carolina said, hiding her curiosity. Victor could tell she wanted to ask more. "I will show you your room then. Come with me."

Victor nodded. "Can you give us a minute?"

Carolina nodded and left the room.

"Are you alright?" Victor asked, taking Robin's face in his hands.

"I am fine," Robin said, even though he didn't sound so good. He wished he could ease Robin's worries. He wanted his family to accept Robin, and he knew they would accept him eventually, it was only a matter of time. 

"Ignore Arthur. He doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut," Victor said. 

Robin gulped down when he looked up; he was barely holding the hurt behind those eyes. "His anger is valid. I can't imagine losing my brother, sister, and parents in such a short time."

Victor didn't know how he got so lucky. Any other guy would have been angry at him for putting him in such a situation. Not his Robin though. His mate was too considerate for his own good. "Thanks for being so understanding," Victor said, kissing his forehead. "Go get freshen up then take some rest. I will call you for dinner."