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 regretted letting his mask slip the moment it happened.

Elias tried to recover, tried to let his body curl inward as if shame had crashed over him. But the Alpha's grip tightened just enough to stop him. Not a threat. Not a demand.

The weight of that knowledge settled between them, thick and unshakable.

"I—" Elias started, but the Alpha's smirk deepened, his thumb brushing over Elias's pulse point again, slow and deliberate.

One word. A command as sharp as a blade.

Elias closed his mouth. He had to. Anything he said now would only make it worse.

The Alpha studied him for a long moment, as if deciding what to do next. Then—slowly—he let go.

Elias forced himself not to sway as the absence of that touch sent a strange, unsteady feeling through him. He had spent years avoiding direct attention, slipping through life unnoticed.

But the Alpha was watching him now.

The man turned, his movements unhurried, confident. He poured himself a drink from a decanter on the side table, swirling the liquid lazily before speaking.

"You've been trained," he said. Not a question. A fact.

Elias lowered his gaze, keeping his posture small. "No."

A quiet chuckle. "Lying to me won't end well for you."

Because he didn't know what else to say.

The Alpha didn't press. He sipped his drink, his eyes still pinned to Elias like he was an interesting puzzle—one he intended to solve piece by piece.

Finally, he set the glass down. "You'll stay in the west wing from now on."

Elias's stomach turned. That wasn't where the other Omegas were kept. That was closer to him.

The Alpha smirked at his hesitation. "Don't worry," he said smoothly. "You won't be alone. I'll have guards watching you."

It wasn't a physical one, but it was a cage nonetheless.

Elias swallowed hard, nodding. He had no choice but to obey. Not yet.

The Alpha seemed satisfied with that. He stepped forward again, but this time, he didn't touch Elias. He just leaned in close, his voice dropping into something quieter.

"I'll enjoy seeing how long you can keep pretending."

Elias kept his breathing steady. He didn't react.

And that, somehow, made the Alpha grin.

Elias turned sharply, walking toward the door, forcing himself to move as if he wasn't fleeing.

But as soon as he stepped out into the corridor, he exhaled shakily.

And Elias wasn't sure if he was still winning.

chapter 87: The price of being seen