O1uwapelumi

Synopsis:
In a world where Alphas rule with absolute power, Alpha Caidren Thorne stands above them all—a warlord feared for his cruelty, a ruler whose hands are stained with the blood of both enemies and kin. His lands are harsh, his rule even harsher, and his name alone is enough to strike terror into the hearts of those who hear it.

But there is a darker truth hidden beneath his legend.

Every Omega sent to him has perished.

No one knows why. No one dares to ask. Some whisper that his presence alone is enough to snuff out their fragile lives, that no Omega can withstand his brutality. Others say that he is cursed, doomed to be alone forever. But Caidren does not care. He has never let anyone close—not a mate, not a lover, not even his own people. His heart is stone, and his hands are weapons.

When the noble House Velmire is forced to offer him an Omega, they do not send their treasured daughter. Instead, they send Elias—an adopted outcast, a boy without a place in their world. Elias has spent his life alone, unwanted, and now, he is being sent to a fate worse than death.

And when he arrives at the Bloodfang Stronghold, he is welcomed by a scene of horror.

A man clothed in black can be seen writhing in agony. Blood soaking the ground. And standing above it all, delivering judgment with cold precision, is Alpha Caidren.

Elias’ fear takes root instantly. This man is no savior. He is death itself.

Caidren barely acknowledges him, dismissing him with a single glance. Another Omega. Another life that will soon disappear.

But Elias does not die.

Days pass. Then weeks. And for the first time, an Omega survives.

Elias is not weak. He is not fragile. He is not like the others. And against every instinct, every warning, Caidren begins to take notice.

What starts as indifference turns to fascination. What was once just another burden soon becomes something the Alpha refuses to let go of.

For the first time in his life, Caidren is afraid—not of war, not of death, but of the one thing he never thought he could have.

And when enemies rise and threaten to take Elias away, Caidren will burn the world to keep his Omega safe.

scarred by the Alpher, claimed by his touch.

Elias remained still for a long time after the shadow disappeared. His heart beat steadily, controlled, even as his mind raced. He had spent years perfecting the art of appearing unaware, of seeming fragile, lost, and easily ignored. It was a skill that had kept him alive, but now it felt like a noose tightening around his neck.

For the first time since arriving, he felt completely trapped.

He could feel the weight of the Alpha's attention, the scrutiny of the soldiers, and now, someone lurking outside his window in the dead of night. There were too many watching eyes, and Elias was running out of places to hide.

Slowly, he shifted his fingers, flexing them against the fabric of his sheets. If his master were here, he would scold him for allowing himself to feel unsettled. Fear is useless unless it sharpens your instincts. That had been one of the first lessons drilled into him.

He forced his breathing to steady and began breaking the situation down logically.

First, the failed assassination attempt. Someone wanted him dead, but they had underestimated him. Whoever had sent the assassins hadn't considered the possibility that he would fight back—or survive.

Second, his adoptive parents' sudden visit. They weren't here to check on him. They had wanted to see something. To confirm something. His father's sharp gaze, his mother's false concern—what had they been looking for?

The way he had watched Elias. The way he had called his name for the first time. It had been deliberate, a test, and Elias had reacted.

He knew better than to assume it meant anything beyond that. The Alpha was a warrior, a leader, and a man who had no reason to concern himself with a fragile Omega.

And that meant Elias had already failed at remaining invisible.

He sighed through his nose, feeling frustration simmer beneath his skin. He was getting too distracted. The flicker of something unfamiliar—something he refused to name—had crept in when the Alpha said his name, and that was dangerous.

But nice was a luxury he couldn't afford.

Elias sat up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that might alert the guards outside. If someone had been watching him, he needed to assume they would return. And if they did, he needed to be ready.

He rose from the bed, silent as a shadow, and moved toward the small table in the corner of his room. His fingers traced the wooden surface, searching. The soldiers had stripped his room of anything that could be used as a weapon, but there were always alternatives.

The edge of the table was slightly rougher, unfinished, as if the wood had splintered over time. He ran his fingers along the grain, pressing just enough to feel the sharpness of an uneven edge. It wasn't much, but it was something.

He glanced toward the window again. No movement.

Still, Elias knew better than to let his guard down.

He returned to the bed, this time lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. His mind was too restless for sleep, but he closed his eyes anyway, forcing his body to relax. If he looked calm, weak, unaware—it would only make it easier to catch his next uninvited guest off guard.

As the camp outside continued to settle into the silence of night, Elias made a quiet vow to himself.

The next time someone came for him, he wouldn't just survive.

chapter 49: ready enough