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.

The Alpha stood over the table, his fingers tracing along the edge of a battle map, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He replayed every moment of Elias's visit, every flicker of movement the Omega had tried to suppress.

The hesitation when he was told to accompany him.

The careful way he had measured his words.

The twitch of his fingers—small, but deliberate.

Elias had been calculating every move, every response.

The Alpha leaned against the table, tapping his fingers absently.

It wasn't fear that held Elias back. No, fear made people stammer, made their eyes dart wildly, made them shrink in on themselves. Elias, despite all his efforts, had done none of that.

And the Alpha was certain now—Elias had done this before.

This wasn't the performance of someone who had just learned how to hide. This was the act of someone who had lived with the weight of deception for years. It was ingrained in him, a survival instinct honed to perfection.

The Alpha had seen many kinds of deception in his lifetime. Some lied out of cowardice, hoping to escape responsibility. Others lied out of greed, looking for ways to manipulate their way to power.

There was no ambition in his eyes. No desperation to rise above his station. If anything, he seemed determined to stay unnoticed, to shrink into the shadows rather than step into the light.

That was what made him so fascinating.

The Alpha exhaled slowly, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful.

He had expected to deal with a fragile Omega, one that would either cower before him or attempt to win his favor through obedience. Instead, he had been given something much more intriguing.

The door opened behind him, and one of his officers stepped in, pausing before speaking when he noticed the Alpha's thoughtful expression.

"Everything is prepared for the patrol, Alpha," the officer reported.

The Alpha nodded but didn't turn around. "And the Omega?"

"He returned to his quarters without incident. The guards reported nothing unusual."

Of course they didn't. Elias was too skilled to be caught slipping so easily.

"Good," the Alpha murmured. He straightened and finally turned to face the officer. "Double the men on the northern perimeter. If anyone is lurking in the shadows, I want them found before they get another chance."

As the man turned to leave, the Alpha added, "And make sure the Omega's room is watched at all times."

The officer hesitated. "You believe there will be another attempt on his life?"

The Alpha's smirk returned, though this time it was more of a knowing grin. "No."

Then why…? The officer didn't ask the question aloud, but the Alpha could see the confusion in his stance.

"I just want to see how he reacts to being watched," the Alpha said lazily. "After all, it's always interesting to see how a person behaves when they know they're under scrutiny."

The officer frowned but nodded. "I'll make the arrangements."

As the door closed again, the Alpha turned back to his maps, but his mind was no longer on battle strategy.

Because for the first time in a long while, he had found something unexpected.

An opponent who didn't even know he was playing.

And the Alpha was going to enjoy every second of it.

chapter 54: let's play