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 fortress pulsed with quiet tension, the kind that settled into the cracks of stone walls and seeped into every breath Elias took.

He remained seated on the edge of his bed, staring at the single candle burning low beside him. Shadows flickered across the walls, twisting and curling like unseen whispers.

Elias knew better than to mistake curiosity for mercy. The Alpha wasn't a man who left loose ends, and yet… he had.

Which meant Elias wasn't a loose end.

He exhaled slowly, pressing his fingertips together. His body ached—not from wounds, but from restraint. Every muscle remembered the moment his knife had cut through the air, the perfect calculations his body had made before his mind had time to process them.

A remnant of training he had sworn to abandon.

The sound of approaching footsteps outside his door made Elias sit straighter, adjusting his expression just enough to look fragile. Vulnerable.

The heavy iron door groaned open, and a soldier stepped inside.

Elias kept his face carefully unreadable. He hesitated—just for a beat—before rising slowly, as if he were afraid. His hands brushed against his tunic, a small, nervous gesture meant to solidify the image.

The soldier sneered, grabbing his arm. "Move."

He was led through the dim corridors, the damp scent of stone and old metal lingering in the air. The deeper they went, the quieter the fortress became.

And then, finally, the doors to the Alpha's chambers loomed before him.

A slow, deliberate voice answered from within.

The door swung open, revealing the Alpha sitting in a high-backed chair near the hearth, one leg crossed over the other, fingers steepled beneath his chin. The firelight cast sharp shadows across his face, accentuating the quiet intensity in his gaze.

The Alpha's expression remained unreadable. "Leave us."

The soldier hesitated—then bowed slightly before retreating, the heavy door closing behind him.

The Alpha's eyes dragged over him, assessing, calculating. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Tell me," he murmured, his voice laced with something unreadable. "Who taught you?"

Elias kept his expression blank. "I don't know what you mean."

A slow smirk. The Alpha's gaze darkened with something almost amused. "You can pretend all you want. But I know."

Elias swallowed, shifting his weight just enough to appear uneasy. "I've never been trained."

The Alpha rose from his seat, crossing the room with measured steps until he was close—too close.

He forced himself to look up, to let his eyes widen just enough to look uncertain.

The Alpha reached out—slow, deliberate—and brushed a single finger beneath Elias's chin. The touch was light. Barely there.

A predator waiting for his prey to flinch.

The Alpha's lips curled. "Lies," he murmured.

Elias inhaled shakily, letting his shoulders hunch. "I… I don't know what you want from me."

The Alpha tilted his head. "That's the wrong question."

The Alpha leaned in, his breath warm against Elias's cheek. "You should be asking what I'm going to do with you."

Because in that moment, he knew—

The Alpha wasn't planning to kill him.

No, the Alpha wanted something more.

chapter 84: A Game of Shadows