24

Trigger Warning: Graphic Description of Childbirth Trauma and Child Loss.

***

Robin was trying to make sense of the whole situation with Victor. He came out of the house and decided to spend some time alone at the beach. Sitting before the wide ocean gave him the clarity to think things through. 

"What do we have here?" Arthur's mocking words brought Robin out of his head. A shirtless Arthur stood before him, a surfboard under his arm, the shorts riding dangerously low. Robin's eyes traveled up his body to land on the awful red lollipop he was swirling around his mouth, tinting his lips red. The bad boy persona he had going on infuriated Robin. He didn't know what it was about the youngest Thrall brother that made Robin grit his teeth with annoyance. It didn't help that the guy was built like a swimming athlete with the face of a handsome devil like all the Thrall brothers. Fuck the Thrall brothers, Robin thought. 

"Get lost, Arthur," Robin growled.

"I thought demeaning Alphas was restricted to my eldest brother, I guess I was wrong." 

"Why would I demean Victor?"

"I don't know," Arthur shrugged. "It's just what I saw. The Alpha King of Dhasur on his knees while you looked down at him like he was some inferior creature."

"How do you know that? Were you peeking at us like a creep?" Robin spat.

"I didn't have to peek. Apartantly my brother was pathetic enough to do it out in the open where every passerby could see him."

"You don't know the context. You have no idea what happened."

"I don't need to know what happened. I know when I see an overentitled person."

Robin rolled his eyes at Arthur's assessment. He did not have patience for this. He stood up, and showed Arthur his middle finger before walking away.

There was a weird tension between Victor and Robin during dinner. Robin could tell Victor wanted to talk. Set things right between the two of them but Robin wasn't ready to listen to him yet. Robin put effort into not meeting his gaze. He didn't want to see the sadness on his face and lose his resolve to make him suffer. He wasn't ready to forgive him just yet. 

Caroline and Rody had made dinner and it was delicious, taking away some of Robin's anger. The way the two of them were always joined at the hips made him envious of the love they shared. No hidden agenda, no manipulation, no ulterior motives. It was simple and beautiful. 

Later that night after Robin helped Caroline clean the dishes, both of them sat by the pool, their feet in the cold water as they enjoyed ice cream.

"Initiation, really?" Caroline asked after Victor told her all about how Victor and he had met. "I wish we had initiation in our country. Who wouldn't want to lose virginity to a handsome Alpha," Caroline winked.

Robin's face heated. Their custom was absurd now that he thought about it.

"My first time was fucking messy. We both didn't know what we were doing," Caroline giggled. 

"Was it with Rody?" 

Caroline nodded.

"How did you and Rody meet?" Robin asked, feeling curious.

Caroline looked off in the distance, her eyes glazed over. "We were childhood friends."

"Really? I thought you were his employee." Robin asked all ears now. 

"Yeah, that too. Business partners actually. He opened a restaurant and wanted me to manage it," Caroline said excitedly. "But before that we went to the same school. We basically grew up together."

"Who fell first?"

"Him," Caroline said with a big smile. "I was far more mature than him. I wanted to date older guys but he wouldn't leave my side. At first, I thought he was being a protective friend so I tried to ignore him and started dating an older Alpha. Rody did not take it well. He fought with that Alpha and injured him pretty badly. I stopped talking to him after that until he went through his first rut a year later."

"What happened then?" 

"He was sent to the nurse's office when his pheromones started affecting the omegas in our class. He was given suppressants but he was wreaking havoc in the nurse's office. He demanded to see me. I had to step in and calm him down."

"Did you have sex with him on his rut?" Robin asked, eyes wide with horror. He knew how Alphas got when in rut. Losing your virginity with an Alpha in rut was unimaginable. 

"No. Although I did kind of give him a handjob. I mean he was in a pretty bad condition. His parents were on their way but I couldn't see him in pain. He didn't come to school for two days after that. He was a different person when he did come. He had the most incredible growth spurt I have ever seen. He grew almost six inches tall. Anyway, he confessed his love to me and asked me to stop seeing other Alphas if I wanted to see them alive."

"That's romantic in a problematic kind of way," Robin said. It was like one of those romance novels Robin used to read sneakily. "How long have you been together?"

"We have been together a long time but we got married eight months before the invasion."

The word 'invasion' brought the reminder that Caroline had to go through the consequences of the war as well. "Did you lose someone during the war?" Robin asked with dread.

All light went out of Caroline's eyes. "Victor didn't tell you?" she asked.

"Tell me what?" Robin probed.

Caroline gulped. "I know why he didn't tell you. It's the same reason no one talks about it in this family. It's a bit traumatic for all of us."

Robin could feel a pit form in his stomach. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

"No, you should know. You are part of the family after all. Weirdly, I haven't talked about it with anyone. Everyone knew in the family so there was no need. Maybe telling you the whole thing will bring a new perspective to my trauma."

"Who did you lose, Caroline?" 

"Rody and I got married because I got pregnant."

Robin's eyes darted to Caroline's stomach instinctively. Of course, she didn't have a child that Robin knew of and it could only mean one thing.

"Rody's parents, his teenage sister, Rody and I were the only people in the palace the night your father invaded it. Jonathan and Kyle lived separately, Arthur also had his own place, Victor was living at the Military base. We didn't expect the attack when it happened, our guards weren't ready. While they killed Rody's parents and sister, they took the two of us to their base camp. I was nine months pregnant. Marcella's soldiers manhandled me which caused me to fall on my stomach. I broke my water and went to labor." 

Robin didn't like where this was going.

"The King had both of us bound to a chain on the floor. Rody begged him to take me to a doctor. He begged at your father's feet," Caroline gulped. "He begged for hours, I don't even remember for how long. I think the king left after some time but Rody kept yelling at the guards to take me to a doctor but no one listened. I don't have a memory of the pain I endured but I remember everything that happened afterwards. I was in labor almost the whole day. I knew I had to push the baby out or it would die. I just knew it. He had been without amniotic fluid for way too long. So I gave it all my might, I put everything into pushing my baby out and he did come out," Caroline sobbed. "He came out all blue and lifeless. I picked him up, he was still warm when I did. I tried to breathe air into his mouth, fill his little lungs with oxygen but life did not return to him. No matter how much I tried to push on his tiny chest, how much life I tried to breathe in him, he did not come back. Rody tried as well. We took turns for hours. He had gone cold and stiff by the end of it. It was Rody who pulled me away, and asked me to give up." Caroline wiped her tear-stained face. "Harold Marcella came back when I was trying to revive my baby. And I remember the words he said. It echoes in my head all the time. I can't get the words out of my mind. I don't think I can ever get it out."

"What did he say?" 

Caroline looked straight at Robin. "Let this be the message to your future king. Tell him if he sends his representative to my court to meddle with my ways of running my kingdom, I will come and invade his country. He thinks he can sway my people into going against my rule. I will show him how I do things around here."

Robin felt nauseous as he continued to listen.

"He instructed his guards to send us back. We came home to our remaining family with a dead baby. I think Rody took it worse than me. He was a different man in the following year. It took us a lot of effort to come out of that trauma. I don't think we can ever get over it. The memory haunts us every day but we are trying to be happier."

Robin squeezed Caroline's palm. "

"I want that man to die a painful death. I am sorry if he is your father but a father can't do what he did."

Robin hugged Caroline, squeezing his eyes shut to stop the imagery of Caroline's words created. He thought it wasn't possible to hate his father anymore but he was wrong.

After Caroline retired to her room, Robin went to Victor. He knocked on his closed door with a desperation he didn't think he was capable of. When Victor opened Robin put his whole body into the hug. Throwing himself in his arms.

"I will help you," Robin said, sobbing into Victor's chest. "I will help you fight this war. I will help you defeat my father."

Victor pulled him away and looked at him. "What happened? Why are you crying?" Victor asked, his face laced with worry. 

Robin shook his head, too overwhelmed to talk. "I didn't know my father could be so cruel. What he did to Caroline…I wouldn't wish such an atrocity on my worst enemy."

Victor sighed. "She told you?"

Robin nodded. 

Victor pulled him back into a deep hug. "I can't forget the day my brother and Caroline showed up with their dead baby all wrapped up in Rody's t-shirt, clutched to Caroline's chest. Her clothes were soaked with blood, she was in a dire condition. Her uterus had ruptured, and she had lost a lot of blood. But it wasn't the physical pain that broke her, it was the pain of losing her child. It broke all of us. I live with the guilt of not being able to save my family members but my biggest guilt is not being able to save that little baby. I wish I had done better. Maybe I shouldn't have sent Lawrence to attend that conference at your father's court three years ago. I thought I could show them how a free country works…but Harold Marcella took it as an attack on his authority."

"Tell me how I can help and I will," Robin mumbled.

Victor kissed the top of his head. "I'm sorry for making you feel used. I truly didn't mean it. It was awful of me."

"I don't care anymore. I would have done the same if someone did this to my family."

"No, Robin," Victor said, taking his face and making him look up. "It wasn't right what I did."

"I forgive you, okay? Let's focus on what's more important."

"Nothing is more important to me than you," Victor said, kissing him on the lips. "Let's go to sleep. I need you by my side."

"Me too," Robin mewled. 

Victor picked him up and took him to his bed. 

Chapter 24

"What are you girls talking about?" Arthur hollered before sitting beside Caroline, dipping his toes in water like the two of them.

"I am going to my room, he gives me a headache," Caroline said, standing up and leaving.

Robin swayed his legs, feeling awkward beside Arthur.

"Everything good between you and my brother?" Arthur asked.

Robin looked at him, not sure if he should trust him. "I am still pissed at him."

"Why? I know he can act high and mighty sometimes but he is a good man."

"Why are you trying to make things better between us? I thought you hated me." Robin said.,

"I do hate you. I hate that you are Harold's blood. But I love my brother and I know he is hurting. He loves you a lot."

"Well, if he loved me he wouldn't have tried to push me away every chance he got," Robin huffed.

Arthur scooted closer. "He thinks he can be a bigger man by keeping away from you. He has a savior complex. Jonathan had one as well, see where that got him?"

Robin didn't know how Arthur could talk so casually about his brother's death but he guessed Arthur's personality was such. He didn't look like a man who showed his emotions a lot.

"I can fix it," Arthur said.

"Fix what?" Robin asked with a frown.

"The thing between you and my brother," Arthur said with a smirk.

"How will you do that?"

"How will I do that you ask," Arthur said, leaning forward, his face only inches away from Robin's as Authur placed a finger under Robin's chin and raised his head.

"Don't look but Victor is sitting across the pool, watching us," Arthus whispered. Robin's knee-jerk reaction was to look in that direction but Arthur grabbed his face and prevented him from doing so.

"Are you trying to make him jealous?" Robin asked.

"Maybe," Arthur chuckled. His lips almost touched Robin's. 

"It's not going to work. He knows you are doing this to get a reaction out of him."

"If my brother wasn't smitten in love he would have known my act but the thing is…" Arthur didn't get to finish his sentence before a sudden push splashed him in the pool.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Victor yelled at his brother.

Arthur wiped his face and pretended to look puzzled. "I was just about to show Robin what a great kisser I am."

"Keep your filthy hands away from my mate or I will break them, I swear to god," Victor roared.

"I will but someone has to give the poor man company. It's not my fault that you suck at it," Arthur yelled.

Robin wished Arthur would stop. He was afraid all this taunting would push Victor over the edge and he would do something drastic like get into the water and drown his own brother. But Arthur's words seemed to hit a nerve. Victor looked almost guilty. 

Victor took Robin's wrist and pulled him towards the house.

"Where are you taking me?" Robin asked.

"To your room," Victor answered without looking back.

"But I wanted to get some fresh air," Robin protested.

"I will take you to the beach tomorrow," Victor said.

Victor locked Robin's room once they got inside. He turned to Robin, his eyes intense as he asked, "Are you still mad at me?"

"Why does it matter?" Robin said, defensively. 

"Because I am going to apologize, Robin. I am going to apologize real well."