The Divide Between Worlds

The air smelled different here.

Soren peeked through a small gap in the carriage's side, his fingers gripping the edge as his sharp eyes took in the world beyond.

What he saw made his stomach twist.

The streets were unpaved, thick with mud and filth. Vendors sat behind crude wooden stalls, their eyes hollow with exhaustion as they hawked their wares. Children, barefoot and grimy, ran through the streets, their laughter hollow against the backdrop of decay.

His gaze landed on a woman—an alpha.

She sat slumped against the wall of a crumbling building, her hair unkempt, her skin tanned and rough. Her shoulders sagged under the pressures of what seemed like several lifetimes of hardship.

She looked like she had lived through seven wars and lost each one.

The other omegas in the carriage noticed her too. A heavy silence settled over them.

Hilda turned to Soren, her expression one of quiet devastation. Her fingers clutched the fabric of her dress tightly, as if grounding herself.

Soren swallowed hard. Could they really go through with this? These people were already suffering, would taking away their resources make them any different from the enemy?

He forced himself to look away. It didn't matter. The mission had already begun.

The carriage rolled forward, and soon the scenery began to shift.

The streets grew cleaner. The air smelled fresher. Lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see. The dirt roads gave way to paved paths, and grand estates stood tall in the distance, their white walls gleaming under the sun.

It was like stepping into another world.

Soren's chest felt tight. Is this what the wealthier parts of my own country look like?

He had never been allowed to go far beyond his home. Always locked behind towering gates, surrounded by cold luxury.

And now he was here.

In enemy land.

Possibly doomed to die here without ever knowing the truth about his own home.

The farms came into view. Vast fields of golden wheat and lush crops. It was the kind of sight he had only seen in agricultural books when Cassius, his friend and tutor, had taught him about growing his own food.

He barely had time to process it before they arrived at their destination.

A sprawling estate.

The carriage creaked to a stop in front of a large manor, its high walls and marble pillars a very large difference compared to the village they had passed. The moment the carriage's canvas was yanked back, a pair of sharp eyes met Soren's.

An old man.

An alpha.

His lined face twisted into a pleased smile. "Fresh goods," he muttered with a nod.

His gaze flickered across the omegas before settling on Hilda and Lance.

"This one and that one," he said, motioning toward them. "Take them to the breeding farms."

Hilda's breath hitched. She turned sharply to Soren, eyes wide, pleading.

Lance, usually unshaken, looked frozen. His strong frame, which could have easily been mistaken for an alpha's, trembled slightly.

Soren clenched his fists. He wanted to say something. Do something. But if he spoke for one, what about the other?

It was better if they at least had each other.

The old man continued his inspection. He pointed to two other omegas. "Transport these two in the next schedule."

Then his finger landed on Soren.

"This one," he said. "Take him to the main house."

Soren stiffened. What, Why was he alone?

The uncertainty made his nerves tighten, but before he could react, rough hands grabbed his arms and dragged him toward the entrance.

The moment he stepped inside, his senses were overwhelmed.

The thick scent of alphas filled the air, strong, unfiltered and oppressive.

His eyes landed on two men lounging in the sitting area. Their relaxed postures did nothing to soften the menace in their sharp gazes. Beside them, a woman sat with an amused smirk, watching him as if he were a trapped rabbit.

The goon beside him barely paid them any mind as he gestured toward the woman. "Take him to his room."

Room?

The woman stood, brushing nonexistent dust off her pristine dress. "Come along now."

Soren didn't move at first, but a sharp tug at his wrist forced him forward.

The so-called "room" was hardly what he expected.

Three other omegas were inside.

They were dressed elegantly, their attire similar to royal attendants. But their postures were tense. Their eyes, dark with resignation.

Soren said nothing.

He immediately walked to the window and tried to pry it open.

A firm voice cut through the room. "Don't waste your energy."

Soren turned.

One of the omegas, a tall one with striking green eyes, watched him with crossed arms. "It won't budge. And if you break it, they'll know within a minute. Punishment will follow."

Soren's heart pounded. What have I gotten myself into?

His eyes darted between them. "Why are you here?"

One of them, a soft-spoken omega with delicate features, hesitated before answering. "Our job…" he murmured. "…is to please the master's guests."

Soren's stomach dropped.

The way he said please made Soren's skin crawl.

He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "What do you mean by 'please'?"

The soft-spoken omega met his gaze, then looked away.

"…Whatever alphas want to do to omegas."

The words sent a chill through Soren's bones.

Before he could respond, another omega, one with sharp, knowing eyes, sighed. "They're going to clean you first. Then you'll be given an injection."

Soren frowned. "Injection?"

"To prevent pregnancy."

His blood ran cold.

His thoughts spiralled to the alphas he had seen in the lounge. The two men.

Panic surged in his chest. "What about them?"

"They're leaving soon," one of the omegas reassured him. "We already took care of them."

Soren's shoulders sagged slightly in relief, but the reprieve was short-lived.

He needed to get out of here.

He needed to find the others.

But right now...

Right now, he was trapped.