Betrayal

When Soren turned to face Zale again, he felt a shiver run down his spine. Soren was always frightened by Zale's disturbed expression that was currently plastered on his face. 

No. Instead of being afraid for himself, he is afraid for Zale. His face trembled and his eyes darkened, indicating that his conscience was slipping away from him.

Zale and Soren had an odd connection. You cannot refer to them as friends because they have never identified themselves as such. Despite being far apart in emotions, they can't be separated. For the sake of Zale's sanity, which was far too fragile, they had to remain always attached to one another.

In most aspects, they're alike yet so different. Soren practically has been with Zale from the moment he was born when his omega mother died moments after giving birth to him. They grew up together in the same house yet the environment was different for both of them. Soren has seen Zale cry every day, got beaten for rebelling against his father, dragged around in the training field by other trainers who were twice his age and size, and watched him harm other animals and shifters. 

And then one day finally, he offered himself to Zale as per his father's order. 

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH THIS WIDOW!!" Zale screamed, he pants and he couldn't help but tremble. His messed-up mind made it impossible for him to let Soren leave with anyone, he always made assumptions that one day Soren will leave him because of how messed up he is. 

Tomas flinched in fear and his kid kept on crying. The servants wanted to flee away and hide but restrain themselves; this is nothing new for them but they still feel frightened anywhere near Zale. He's like a ticking bomb; no one knows when and where he'll explode. 

"Calm down Master Zale!" Frank rushes forward to try to calm him down.

Zale's head beeps with loud sharp noises, making him dizzy, as if he had been hit by a big hammer. He no longer appears to be aware of his surroundings. He looked up in search of that intoxicating scent that works like a spell and cures his dizziness, but what made his feet heavy and his breath hitch in his throat was Soren's most fearful expression, what he's scared of the most. 

Zale blinked twice to clear his head and confirm that he was seeing correctly. That he does.

He could see Soren's disappointment on his face. Soren is dissatisfied with him.

'How could he be disappointed in you for a mere omega when he's at fault? How could he be still standing there instead of running to you to provide his scent.' Zale heard the voices of his dark conscience which appears whenever he's weak or feeling nervous. 

The voice is like a negative energy that dominates his mind and nerves and makes it complicated to produce any thoughts. 

He trembled uncontrollably, he could hear the thumping of his own heart as well the voice inside his head provoking him. 

"Zale calm down and don't listen to him." His wolf Sura tried but Zale wasn't in the position to understand anything. 

'No, don't listen to him; instead, listen to me. It's all thanks to that filthy omega who wanted to take Soren away from you.' Zale pant profusely, the desire to kill and be drenched in their blood too strong for him to bear. 'You must kill that omega and his child. They've arrived to steal Soren. You must kill them.' 

Zale huffs, 'Yes I must kill–!"

"ZALE!" 

Soren's spine-chilling voice caught Zale's attention which snapped him back to reality. He looked up to see Soren standing in front of him, his face a few inches away. All he could do was stare at the face in front of him.

Soren grips his arm with his hands and squeezes them tightly, hushing all those noisy voices inside Zale's head, as if scared of Soren.

"Do you not want to eat dinner? It's getting late." Soren said in a casual tone. Zale could smell Soren's scent from this close, which made him feel a little better. He blinks befuddled, unable to comprehend what has just happened.

He stared into Soren's eyes and all he saw was the concern and nothing else. There was no disappointment in them, only worry. 

'W-What just happened?' Zale still couldn't understand what was real and what was not. Was he hallucinating or was his mind playing pranks on him? 

Zale abruptly looked around but found everything in its rightful places. Frank was warmly looking at them with a silly smile, the servants were standing in their place and, 

There was no Tomas who would steal Soren away like what Zale was afraid of.

However, he was there just seconds ago. He himself saw Tomas with his own eyes, how could his eyes betray him like that? And the broken plate scattered on the ground, proving the fact he wasn't simply imagining things but why everyone was acting like the pieces of plate weren't there. And Soren, he was smiling so sweetly at them and-

"Zale?" Soren called out again, patting Zale's shoulder to snap him back to sanity. "What are you so lost about? Are you really not hungry? Come on, get back to your dinner."

Zale noticed Soren dumbfoundedly staring at him. In fear that Soren would think that he was psycho, Zale decided to let go as always. He doesn't have much of a choice as always, he can't have Soren thinking that he's some kind of freak. 

There are incidents like these which made him doubt himself whether he's really a freak or a monster that he has heard ever since he was born who ate his own mother at birth. 

"Y-Yes..ahem yes, dinner! Let's have dinner?" He lets out, frowning, he titled his head like a lost child as if waiting for Soren to explain everything to him as always. It was times like this when Soren couldn't help but felt pity for him. 

'I'm sorry, please forgive me.' Soren said in his head. It hurts him to see Zale this weak and lost. 

"Yes, sit down now." Soren helped the lost wolf to settle back on his chair. Zale obediently takes his seat. 

They only took a few bites while Soren focused his entire attention on Zale rather than his food. He scrutinises every move he makes.

Frank began to speak for the nth time, but was interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Soren looked at Frank asking if they were expecting someone at this hour. He cast a glance at Zale, who was lost in his own thoughts while nibbling on his food, so Soren stands up to inspect the doors himself.

"NO!" Zale cried out as soon as Soren got up. He glared at Soren. "You sit, uncle Frank will go."

Frank agreed quickly in fear of raging his master again. "Yes! Yes, you should finish your food, I'll go and check. It must be the plumber I called in the afternoon." 

As they got back to their dinner, Frank returned with a tall man dressed in a blue suit. Frank seemed nervous.  

Looking upon the man no one gets a good feeling. Just from his arrival, the surroundings turned cold. Wearing a dark blue jacket with a white shirt under it and a blue tie with golden dots on it. His smudgy pale face screams a notorious aura around him. Suddenly the dining room feels more cold and fresh. 

"Soren, this is-" Before Frank could introduce him, the cold beauty decided to stick in and introduce himself. 

"Wow, I didn't expect this warm welcome, dinner and all." The man cheerfully said, walking towards the dinner table. Soren's eyes narrowed in suspicion. While, Zale glared at the unknown personality but he sure smells a familiar and disgusting scent on him. 

"Hello and good evening everyone." He smiles politely and his charming smile sure is bewitching but Zale still looks at him like he's some kind of a disgusting creature. "Me?" He bends a little and points at himself with both hands. "Avalon, a doctor who has spent his whole life treating people. Your father Mr. Shilister sent me here to treat his one and only son Zale. Now, may I please know, who is Zale?"

Soren and Zale both stared flabbergastedly at him. when after a few minutes no one understands anything and says, Zale yells. 

"What the hell are you talking about?" Zale snarled at him, his face reddening in anger. He is enraged at the mention of his father, Alpha shilister. "Get out! I don't need a doctor like you! I'm perfectly alright." 

The environment suddenly turned dark, and Zale felt a burning feeling inside his chest. He looked at Soren expecting that he would tell him to leave the house after telling him that he was fine. However, he felt his eyes burning when Soren remained silent. The shock of betrayal was too heavy to bear.

When Soren couldn't meet his eyes, Zale accused, "So, you know it already. Well, how did I forget that you're a loyal dog of Shilister?"

"No! I swear I didn't know anything about it." Soren denied the accusation. He appeared equally perplexed as Zale. 

"Then tell him to fuck off!!" Zale yelled angrily at the top of his lungs. Soren remained silent; he couldn't tell someone Shilister had sent to leave because he couldn't go against him. He doesn't have the power to do so. Zale laughed as he saw him helpless and silent. "Your silence says everything. You, too, think I'm nothing more than an untamed freak, don't you?"

"I don't think so." Soren stated emphatically. "And you're aware of it, so don't make a big deal out of nothing. And I believe it is preferable if a doctor is present. Better to be safe than sorry."

'What on earth are you talking about?' Zale thought to himself. So he was correct, Soren thinks like everyone else.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but could you please tell me where I'll be staying?" Avalon intervenes in the heating debate. "I'm exhausted because it's been a long journey. You could continue after that." Soren and Zale look at him as he laughs awkwardly. He snorted hard and flicked his nose. "Why is there such a weak and feeble smell in the air? And what's the deal with the broken plate on the ground?"

Soren's eyes widened in shock and horror. His face palmed himself mentally. Zale slowly approaches Soren after becoming suspicious of his expression.

"What the hell is happening here?" Zale inquired infuriatingly. 

"Zale, listen to me. There's a reason behind-"

However, before he could explain and clear the misunderstanding, everyone hears the fainting cries of baby June whose father tried his best to calm him down while hiding behind the wall attached to the dining room and living room. 

The servants changed glances but remained silent. And this time, no one could fool the wolf. 

"Again." Zale pants. "You did it once again. Every time you do something like this to test me, I always assume it's the last time. You won't experiment on me to give Shilister your fucking report, but you never fail to surprise me, Soren." Zale chuckled without a sense of humour.

Zale, exhausted from being manipulated, decided to leave for his room. However, Soren stopped him by standing in front of him, believing that he was attempting to harm Tomas and June.

"You're not going anywhere near them." Soren firmly announced looking straight into Zale's eyes. 

This made Zale's anger to cross every line. 

Seeing the worry for them, Zale couldn't restrain his anger and grabbed Soren's neck.