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 cold water did little to douse the fire simmering beneath his skin.

Allowing himself even a second of distraction—especially over something as insignificant as an Omega—was unacceptable.

He had spent years mastering control. Not just of his body, but of his thoughts, his instincts, his every reaction.

That name alone sent something foreign and unwelcomed rippling through him.

The Alpha braced his hands against the wall, water dripping from his hair, sliding down his skin in icy trails. His breath was steady, measured.

He had been around Omegas before. Countless times. They were nothing to him—weak, forgettable, burdensome creatures who barely deserved to exist in his world.

And yet, Elias did not fit the mold.

He was not fragile in the way others were. He moved differently, spoke differently. There was something about him that didn't belong in an Omega's body.

The Alpha exhaled sharply, turning off the water. He stepped out of the washroom, ignoring the lingering tension coiled beneath his skin.

It was a momentary lapse, nothing more.

Elias was still a mystery, and mysteries had only two outcomes—

And yet, even as he dressed, preparing to return to his duties, the thought refused to settle.

Because for the first time in his life—

He wasn't certain which option he wanted more.

Meanwhile, in the quiet of his own room, Elias sat cross-legged on the floor, fingers absently tracing the fabric of his sleeve.

The Alpha had dismissed him easily enough. But Elias knew better.

There had been something in his gaze.

For the first time, the Alpha had reacted.

Elias leaned back against the wall, exhaling slowly. He had to be careful.

Because the Alpha was still watching.

He might just figure out the truth Elias had spent years trying to bury.

chapter 76: cautious