What Do We Call The Devil's Mother?

The woman stood there casually, but something about her presence made Soren's skin prickle. She wasn't large, but she didn't need to be, her posture alone demanded attention. A scar ran from her cheek, slashing across her lip down to her chin, a mark that should make her look terribly scary, but she was the most beautiful-looking person.

Her cold, assessing gaze locked onto Drake, who immediately let go of Soren's hand. But to Soren, he didn't do it fast enough.

Soren's lip curled in a silent snarl and before he could open his mouth, Kieran shot him a warning look. Not now.

Drake cleared his throat, hesitating before turning to Kieran with a stiff bow. "I apologize, I didn't realize he was yours," he said.

Kieran said nothing.

Drake took that as his cue to leave, retreating in quick strides.

Soren moved to follow, but the woman stepped into his path. "Where do you think you're going?" 

Soren met her gaze, shoulders squared. "To bed."

She tilted her head slightly, as if analyzing him. Then her attention shifted to Kieran, eyes narrowing.

"Why is he in military uniform?"

Kieran didn't respond.

She took a step closer. "I asked you a question."

A muscle in Kieran's jaw twitched. "…Mother, please. I'm a soldier. I'm in the middle of a war."

Her expression remained unreadable. "And before that, you are a man. A Dain."

Without warning, she reached for Soren, and he stiffened, but instead of striking him like how he expects the savage alphas, she gently pulled his hair back, tying it neatly. Her touch was surprisingly light, almost delicate. 

"You're being childish," she told Kieran, not looking away from Soren.

Kieran's jaw tensed further, his lips pressing into a thin line as if biting back words.

She finally let go of Soren's hair and stepped back. "Did the old lady not tell you what your role was when she bought you?"

Soren swallowed. His voice was softer when he answered, "She told me I was to be bred."

"Exactly, and not only that, you are to be his bride." Her tone was calm, but her eyes remained threateningly on Kieran.

Kieran exhaled sharply. "Mother, you've travelled across two countries. You should rest."

"I didn't come here to rest." She folded her arms. "The old woman called me. Told me to prepare for the ceremony. It's what she did for me and now she wants me to do it for your precious doll." A pained smirk played at her lips. "I think she's trying to avenge her son."

Kieran's composure cracked. His voice dropped, dangerously controlled. "Do not talk about my father like that. And the only omega to ever become Commander."

She waved a dismissive hand, unimpressed. "A father that you despised."

Soren stared at them, stunned. Kieran's father was an omega?

He had questions, so many, but he read the room and decided to shelve them for another time. Instead, he took a step back. "May I be excused? I had a long day and tomorrow will be even longer."

Kieran nodded. "Go."

His mother said nothing. She only watched as he left.

_________

Sleep had been a distant dream. How could Soren rest when his heart pounded against his ribs, his mind replaying every interaction from the night before?

Still, when morning came, Soren was up before the sun, falling into routine with the other omegas. They lined up, jogging lightly to the training grounds. The air had a sharp bite to it now, winter was fast approaching.

As they passed the alphas, Soren noticed something was different. The usual banter was gone. The atmosphere was tense. The Alphas' eyes darted as if watching their back. 

Soren hoped they would just do their training and avoid training with Alphas today.

Captain Blake wasted no time. He pushed them through brutal drills, sprinting through the mud with heavy sacks over their shoulders, jumping obstacles, rolling under low beams. It was brutal, but many of the omegas had now grown used to it.

"So they weren't lying when they said the omegas had become little soldiers." A tall, broad-shouldered alpha stood with his arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. On his uniform was the insignia of the Red Division. Captain Gareth.

Blake ignored him, barking commands at the omegas.

Gareth stepped forward, speaking louder. "They're just going to die on the battlefield."

Blake scoffed. "They don't need to win fights. They need to survive them."

Gareth let out a low chuckle. "Then let's see how well they can do that. If they can't, maybe they should go and wash dishes, bathe and look pretty for us while we're here." He turned, calling over one of his own. "Weakest soldier here. Let's see if any of your omegas can take him down, he'll go hand combat, they can choose a weapon."

A ripple of unease spread through the omegas. Some stood defiant. Others, less so. Riven, as usual, looked completely uninterested.

Blake hesitated watching each and every one of his omega soldiers. He was about to call Riven in but then with an amused smile, his eyes landed on Soren.

Soren shook his head. No.

Blake called his name anyway.

Riven chuckled, slapping Soren's back as he passed. "Damn. You must have pissed off some god in your past life."

Soren shot Riven a look as he stepped forward, reaching for the nearest weapon. A pocket knife.

Gareth laughed. "What are you gonna do with that small thing?"

Soren didn't answer. He focused, steadying his breath. He wasn't the strongest, but he had at least, become a bit fast and thanks to Blake his knife skills had improved. 

"Vale, remember what I taught you. Fail and you'll be gravely injured." Blake said to Soren. Reminding the omega that he wasn't up against his camp buddies, he was up against an animal, an animal that could even kill him.

His opponent lunged.

Soren dodged, barely. A powerful kick nearly clipped his face. He stumbled but caught himself just in time.

The alpha aimed low, trying to sweep his legs. Soren mirrored the motion, dropping lower and grabbing the alpha's leg. He slashed, the knife grazing fabric but not flesh.

When the Alpha pulled his leg back, Soren rolled back, but this time, the alpha was faster, his foot connected with Soren's jaw. A metallic taste exploded in his mouth and he saw stars dance at the back of his eyes.

Cheers erupted.

"Get the fuck up, Soren!" Riven's voice cut through the noise.

The omegas joined in, voices rising in unison.

Kieran and his mother appeared at the edge of the battlefield. Watching.

The alpha swung again. Soren caught his arm under his armpit, locking it in. Before the alpha could react, he drove the knife into the soft flesh of his inner arm. Then, just as fast, he jumped back.

Silence.

Blake's voice rang out. "Commander, if he doesn't get medical attention, he'll bleed out."

Confusion spread through the Red Division. Some didn't understand. But the Black Division knew.

A deep enough stab to the inner arm? He'd be unconscious in less than twenty seconds.

Mrs. Dain raised an eyebrow at Kieran. "You didn't train him that well in such a short time, did you?"

"You assume correctly. Soren could already use a knife when he arrived. He's weak in strength, but he knows how to fight." He hesitated before adding, "Blake just… sharpened what was already there. Especially after..."

He stopped himself from saying more. From admitting that the omegas had been sent on a mission into enemy territory. His mother would lose her mind.

They turned and walked away from the training fields.

Soren exhaled slowly. He had made a mistake. He should have let the alpha win. Now, every Red Division soldier was glaring at him.

Captain Gareth's voice boomed with quiet anger. "Anyone who can't beat an omega should die, he'll be useless on the battlefield."

Quietly, Riven and Cherry carried the Alpha onto the shoulders. Gareth glared at the two omegas.

"Oh, don't mind us, just making up space so we can continue with our training without running into dead bodies," Cherry said with a smile, but the corner of his lip twitched uncontrollably.

__________________

Later that afternoon, Soren sat under a tree, the spot where he used to tell Hilda stories.

Kieran's mother approached.

He stood immediately, saluting her.

She arched a brow. "You're not a soldier. You're my son's bride."

Soren said nothing.

She studied him. "You have good skills. I know my grandkids will be in good hands."

Soren's stomach turned. "What do you mean?"

Her smile was cold. "I don't like repeating myself. You know why you're here."

She took a step closer.

"You can give us an heir…" Her voice dropped. "Or you can join me on the battlefield. It's better than me killing you myself. Because I doubt Kieran would ever touch anyone else with you alive."