Champ's POV
"Where are they? Why aren't they here yet?" I muttered, growing impatient.
"Maybe they're dead," Deux said in an eerily calm tone.
"Deux!" I snapped, shooting him a glare.
"I highly doubt they got out of there alive. My father has probably captured them by now, and—"
(Honk!)
Deux froze mid-sentence, and our heads snapped toward the road.
A car was hurtling toward us at a terrifying speed, plowing through everything in its path. Shrubs, saplings—nothing was spared. The damn vehicle was mowing down the scenery like a lunatic in a demolition derby!
"Unbelievable!" Deux seethed. "This is exactly why I never wanted that insect to touch my car!"
"Well, too late now!" I smirked. "At least they managed to escape with it. And you thought they were dead, huh?"
Deux scoffed in irritation, clearly still fuming over Jiggs' reckless driving.
Within seconds, the car screeched to a halt right in front of us.
The driver's side window rolled down, revealing Jiggs' grinning face.
"Champ!" he greeted triumphantly. "We made it! And look—my passengers are super relaxed in the back!"
I leaned in to check, only to find the four beta males clinging to each other for dear life. Their expressions screamed trauma, as if their souls had left their bodies somewhere along the ride.
"W-We're okay, Master Champ..." Marsh wheezed, though he looked anything but.
"I can see that," I chuckled.
"No time for chit-chat," Deux interrupted, still scowling. "Talk on the road if you must. We need to leave before they catch up."
"Alright, alright," I sighed, turning to the trembling group. "Come on, help me get grumpy Grandpa Deux inside. His highness is still a little stiff in the legs."
With much effort (and Deux grumbling the entire time), we managed to load him into the car.
Once we were all seated...
"Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" Jiggs asked, flashing a devilish grin.
"Drive properly, or I'll make sure you never drive again," I warned, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Relax, Champ! Jiggs has everything under control!" Jiggs declared. "Now hold on tight!"
The engine roared to life like a beast out of hell, and before I could even blink—
VROOOOM!
The car shot forward with such force that we were all thrown against our seats!
Anything within arm's reach—we grabbed it for survival. Any moment now, I was expecting my life to flash before my eyes.
Except for Deux.
While the rest of us were on the brink of meeting our ancestors, Deux sat there, completely unbothered, with an expression of mild annoyance.
"Deux! Aren't you even a little nervous?!" I shouted over the deafening wind.
"If anything, this is still too slow," he replied nonchalantly.
"TOO SLOW?!"
"Guess I should speed up then!" Jiggs grinned and slammed his foot down on the gas.
"JIGGS, NO!"
We were now blazing down the highway, the city shrinking behind us. The car wobbled dangerously as Jiggs weaved through the road like a maniac on a sugar rush.
"Jiggs! The goal is to escape, not to die in a fiery wreck!" I yelled.
But with the windows down and the wind howling past, it was impossible to hear each other.
"What was that, Champ?" Jiggs shouted back. "Can't hear you over the wind! Want me to turn on some music?"
"Ugh!" I groaned in frustration.
And just like that—
Blaring rock music filled the car.
Jiggs was now fully in his element, head-banging like he was on stage at a concert.
"Slow down, Jiggs! For the love of everything holy!" I pleaded.
"Huh? You want me to turn it up? Alright!"
The music blasted even louder.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
I gave up and turned to Deux, who was still completely unfazed. His face was relaxed as he gazed out the window, as if he were enjoying a peaceful countryside drive.
"You're really okay with this, huh?!" I hollered.
Without a word, Deux reached over, grabbed my head, and gently pushed it onto his shoulder.
"Just shut up and relax, Champ," he said coolly. "This is still peaceful to me."
I blinked in disbelief. "I swear... Even you and Jiggs don't like each other, you share the same defective brain."
Deux did not answer and tried to keep my mouth shut by covering it with his hand!
The four beta males, who had been dead silent throughout this entire ordeal, suddenly reacted. I glanced at them—only to catch them gawking at my current position, wide-eyed like they had just witnessed something scandalous.
"No side comments. Got it?" I deadpanned.
They all nodded frantically.
"Can I make a comment?" Jiggs piped up.
"SHUT UP AND DRIVE!" I snapped.
With a deep breath, I surrendered to my fate. There was no stopping Jiggs, and clearly, Deux wasn't going to help.
What else could I do?
At least we were still alive.
For now.
Well... unless Jiggs decided to kill us all first.
...
...
...
Apparently, I had dozed off.
For nearly three hours.
And I wasn't the only one. The entire car had gone eerily silent, meaning everyone else must have passed out from exhaustion too, well except for Jiggs.
When I finally stirred awake, I noticed that the car was moving at a much calmer pace than before. The terrifying, high-speed death ride was over.
I glanced out the window and blinked in confusion.
We were nowhere near civilization anymore.
Gone were the towering buildings and bustling streets—we were now surrounded by vast plains stretching endlessly in every direction. Mountains loomed in the distance, the ocean glimmered under the afternoon sun, and dense forests lined the horizon.
Where the hell were we?
My gaze shifted to Jiggs, who was still behind the wheel, hands steady on the steering wheel as if he hadn't been driving non-stop for hours.
"Jiggs, you good?" I asked.
"Yup!" he replied cheerfully.
"You're not sleepy?"
"Not at all! While you guys were off in dreamland, I found Deux's coffee stash. Saved my life, man."
I exhaled in relief but still felt a little guilty. "Are you tired of driving? Do you want to switch?"
"Want to die?" Jiggs shot back playfully. "You don't even know how to drive."
"Exactly. That's why I asked."
"Relax, I'm just joking," he chuckled before sighing.
"How much farther?" I asked.
"According to the map, about two more hours."
"Well, at least we're getting close." I stretched and then turned back to him. "By the way, Jiggs... how the hell did you even manage to steal Deux's car?"
Jiggs grinned smugly. "Come on, Champ. Have a little faith in me. It's me—the great Jiggs!"
"Yeah, yeah, but seriously. How?"
"Well, let's see... First, we snuck around to the back of Deux's estate, then we broke into a storage house—"
"Skip to the part where you actually got the car," I interrupted impatiently.
Jiggs paused dramatically, dragging out the suspense.
"You're gonna be shocked when I tell you this..."
"Just tell me already!"
"Ugh, you're so loud," Deux groaned from his seat.
"Sorry," I whispered before leaning closer to Jiggs. "Okay, spill."
Jiggs lowered his voice. "Silver helped us escape."
I stiffened. Jiggs wasn't joking—his usual teasing expression was gone.
"Silver? He helped you? Are you sure you weren't hallucinating?"
"That's what I thought at first! I was convinced he was leading us straight into a trap. But instead of turning us in, he covered for us and made sure we got away. Buuut now I officially owe him. And knowing Silver, I am not ready to face him!" Jiggs shuddered dramatically.
"Weird... Could he be planning something?" I mused.
"You can never read Silver's mind," Deux suddenly interjected, staring out the window, deep in thought. "His motives are impossible to predict. If he let you escape, it means he's confused about something. And when Silver is confused, it means something big is happening."
"Confused? About what?"
Deux didn't answer immediately. Instead, he exhaled. "Silver plays mind games because he enjoys them. But when he's uncertain, that playful nature disappears. That's when he becomes unpredictable."
I frowned. "Well, whatever the reason, we made it out. That's all that matters."
"Actually..." Jiggs trailed off, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. "When we were at the Alpha King's estate... I found Doctor Henry."
My blood ran cold. "What?"
Jiggs nodded. "The Alpha King took him. He's at the estate right now."
My eyes darted to Deux. "Your father—"
"I don't know anymore, Champ," Deux said quietly, rubbing his temples. "I don't know what he's thinking."
Jiggs continued, his tone unusually serious. "I overheard part of their conversation. At first, I thought it was—uh—some weird roleplay, because the Alpha King was really pushing for some... uh... 'appreciation' from Doctor Henry like forcing him to look at his damn hunky muscles—"
"Jiggs!" I snapped.
"Okay, okay! But seriously, at first, it sounded like he wanted Doctor Henry to admire him. But then I figured out the real reason." Jiggs hesitated before saying, "The Alpha King is sick. Really sick. And he wants Doctor Henry to find a cure."
Deux's eyes darkened. "My father... is sick?"
"You didn't know?" I asked.
"No... He never said anything."
Deux's brows furrowed as realization dawned on him. "That's why he kept saying he was running out of time. He wants me to take over as Alpha King before it's too late."
Jiggs clapped his hands. "Boom! So why don't you just say yes, Master Deux? Just go back, say 'Sorry, Dad!' and bam! You're the new Alpha King! Mission complete!"
Silence.
Deux didn't laugh. Didn't even crack a smile.
"...Even if I become Alpha King, my father will still control everything from behind the scenes," he said coldly. "I would just be a puppet with a crown."
Jiggs raised an eyebrow. "Sooo... do we just wait for him to die, then?"
"Jiggs!" I hissed, elbowing him. "Have some respect! I may hate the Alpha King, but he's still Deux's father!"
Deux sighed. "My father has done terrible things. I saw him murder my older brother when I was just a child. He tormented Champ's Omega mother. And those are just the things I know about." His gaze darkened. "And yet... he's still my father. He raised me. He kept me alive. I owe him for that, at least."
Jiggs blinked. "So you don't want him dead?"
Deux stared out the window, his expression unreadable. "...I don't know."
Then he turned to me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "Champ... do you want him dead? Would his death bring you peace?"
Our eyes met, and for a moment, the entire car felt heavy with unspoken emotions.
"I don't want anyone to die, Deux," I said, voice firm. "I just want the wrong things to be made right. I want justice where it's due. I want peace—a world where no one has to suffer or die just to satisfy someone else's greed."
A small, almost imperceptible smile flickered across Deux's lips. He nodded.
"That's why I was right to love you," he murmured softly and caressed my right cheek.
And then—
Gagging noises.
I turned to find Jiggs fake vomiting into his hands.
"Jiggs!" I growled.
"Sorry, sorry! It's just—ew! Master Deux being all cheesy? I feel sick!" Jiggs cackled.
"Do you want me to kill you right now?" Deux threatened.
Jiggs immediately zipped his lips and sat up straight. "...Jiggs is now preparing for silent mode."
I buried my face in my hands.
How were we ever supposed to live peacefully together like this?!
"Oh, right! Champ, I found something that might be useful to you," Jiggs suddenly said, breaking the comfortable silence.
I turned to him, intrigued. "What is it?"
"When we raided the storeroom in the Alpha King's estate, I came across a very peculiar history book about our world, Aurivelle. But this wasn't just any history book you'd find in a dusty library. No, this one revealed something completely different—it claimed that the first rulers of this world were Omega males."
My heart skipped a beat. "Uncle Henry was right...! He once told me he had read something similar. He believed that people like me—Omega males—were the original rulers of this land!"
Jiggs grinned. "I'll give it to you, don't worry. Buuuut I'm reading it first! Just one night, okay? Then it's yours!" He laughed.
I rolled my eyes, but before I could say anything, Jiggs continued, "Oh! And there was something else in that book. It said that the first kingdom ruled by Omega males was Veydith..."
I froze. "Veydith... my territory."
Jiggs leaned forward, voice dropping slightly. "If you ask me, Champ, I think the so-called 'hidden treasures' buried in Veydith aren't just any riches. They could be the lost treasures of the Omega male rulers. If we manage to uncover them, we'd have solid proof that Omega males were once the rightful leaders of this world."
I swallowed hard. "That... would change everything."
"Right?!" Jiggs practically vibrated with excitement.
"But... I can't focus on that right now," I admitted. "Not while this chaos is still unfolding. Maybe once everything has settled..."
Jiggs pouted dramatically. "Aww, but just imagine it—Omega King Champ! Sounds badass, doesn't it?"
"Omega King..." I whispered, testing the words on my tongue.
Before I could process it further, I caught Deux smirking at me from the side.
"Are you ready to have an heir, my Omega King?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"Deux!" I gasped, face heating up instantly.
And just as I feared—Jiggs heard everything.
"Ohhh?" He wiggled his eyebrows. "Should I start prepping for a baby shower? I call dibs on godfather!"
I groaned. "Jiggs, shut up."
"No, no, hear me out! You guys can do whatever once all this trouble is over! But I do want to witness how an Omega male and an Alpha male, y'know... make it happen. Can I watch you guys do your intercourse?"
"JIGGS!"
I nearly lunged at him in frustration, but he simply threw his hands up in surrender, laughing. "Alright, alright! Jiggs is silent again."
I huffed and turned away, glaring out the window—only to freeze when I felt warmth against my stomach.
Slowly, I looked down.
Deux's hand was resting on my abdomen.
And he was stroking it like I already have a baby inside my tummy!
I snapped my gaze to him, but he was still casually staring out the window, looking completely unbothered.
Then, in the softest voice, he murmured, "I can't wait to have our baby."
My brain short-circuited. My face burned. I had no idea what to do, how to react—
And then, disaster struck.
I made the mistake of looking at the rearview mirror.
Jiggs was staring right at us.
Not just staring.
Observing.
Studying.
Analyzing.
"Jiggs!" I yelled. "STOP WATCHING US!"
He snapped his head forward, hands gripping the wheel, but I could hear his suppressed laughter.
"Sorry! Sorry! It's just—this is all new to me! Two dudes in love, and one of them gets pregnant?! That's next-level entertainment! I want to see you with big tummy, Champ!"
"UGH!" I groaned, burying my face in my hands, dying of embarrassment.
Jiggs cackled, Deux smirked, and I seriously considered throwing myself out of the moving car.
How the hell am I supposed to survive this insanity?!
...
...
...
"EVERYBODY, WAKE UP!"
Jiggs' sudden shout jolted us all awake, our groggy minds struggling to register what was happening.
I blinked rapidly, adjusting to the light as my surroundings came into focus. It felt like we had just woken up from a hundred-year slumber.
"Are we finally here, Jiggs?" Daryl asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Yup!" Jiggs grinned as he stretched his arms. "Finally! I can rest!"
"Thanks for driving, Jiggs," I said with a small smile, patting his shoulder.
One by one, we stepped out of the car. I immediately turned to help Deux, watching closely as he attempted to move his legs.
He took a cautious step. Then another.
He was walking—still wobbly, but definitely improving.
"See? You're fine now!" I said, stepping back. "You don't need me to support you anymore."
Deux immediately grabbed my arm. "No. My legs still hurt. You have to support me."
I rolled my eyes. "Ugh! You're so dramatic."
Jiggs grinned. "Need me to help, Master Deux?"
"I'm healed," Deux deadpanned, instantly walking faster to put distance between them—even if he was still limping.
"Buy you just said—" Jiggs pouted. "Wow. Look at that. He'd rather suffer than let me help."
I shook my head. "You guys are so weird."
Ignoring their antics, I turned my attention to our surroundings. "Uncle Henry said there's supposed to be someone living here who can help us hide. But... I don't see any sign of a house."
"Yeah, Master Champ. It just looks like a forest," Gem said, glancing around.
"There are trees, and I see a waterfall over there where we could bathe," Daryl added.
"But no sign of people," Martin muttered.
"Jiggs, are you sure we're in the right place?" I asked.
"Huh? Of course!" Jiggs huffed, pulling out the map. "This is exactly where Doctor Henry's coordinates led us!"
"But he did say it was a hidden place, didn't he?" Deux reminded us.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sniffed the air.
I followed his lead, hoping to pick up the scent of anyone nearby.
Jiggs watched us curiously. "So, what's the verdict, sniffing team? Any traces of life?"
Deux frowned. "Nothing."
I sighed. "Same here."
"Yeah, I got nothing too." Jiggs sniffed dramatically. "Oh wait! I don't have your keen sense of scent! Haha!"
We continued scanning the area when Jiggs suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Aha!" He exclaimed. "If we can't see a house, that means it's hidden in a way that blends into the environment!"
"Like what?" I asked.
Jiggs grinned. "We need to look for something that seems not too obvious to be noticed—something so mundane that no one would suspect a house is behind it."
I nodded. "Then we need to search the area."
"WAIT! No need to wander around like idiots—I have a drone!" Jiggs declared, pulling a sleek black drone from his bag.
Within minutes, he had it set up and soaring through the air. We all gathered around, watching the live feed on his phone.
The footage revealed dense trees, scattered wildlife, and the glistening waterfall—but no structures, no paths, no signs of human habitation.
"See? Just a forest," I muttered.
"Wait, wait, wait—there!" Jiggs suddenly shouted.
I squinted at the screen. "...Where? I don't see a house."
"Not a house," Jiggs corrected, his voice growing excited. "Burnt wood."
I straightened. "Burnt wood?"
"Exactly!" Jiggs grinned.
"Someone made a fire here recently. Which means—" Deux added.
"There's someone nearby!" Jiggs shouted triumphantly, literally dancing in excitement.
And then—
The drone feed cut out.
Jiggs' eyes widened. "...My drone baby!"
"That wasn't an accident," Deux said darkly, his posture stiffening. "Something—or someone—took it down."
I took a deep breath. "Then they know we're here. But if Uncle Henry was right, then whoever did that is the person meant to help us. But now, maybe they think we are an enemy because of the drone."
I started walking toward the stream ahead of us, my mind racing.
And then—
I felt something shift under my foot.
A slight pull.
(Swoosh!)
"Champ! To your right!" Deux shouted.
I turned just in time to see a sharpened wooden stake flying straight toward me.
I dodged, but my momentum threw me off balance—
SPLASH!
I crashed into the stream, completely drenched.
"Ugh!" I groaned, spitting out water. "Just great!"
Deux limped toward me, concern flashing in his eyes. "It was a trap."
Reaching out, he offered me his hand. I grabbed it, letting him pull me up.
Then, before I could react, he started tugging at my soaked shirt.
"Deux! What are you doing?" I yelped.
"Your clothes are wet. I'll get you a dry one," he said casually, already pulling off his own jacket. "Take it off."
I hesitated, but I was freezing. Reluctantly, I peeled off my wet shirt. Deux immediately wrapped his thick jacket around me.
It smelled like him.
I felt my face heat up.
Then, I noticed the others had gone completely silent.
Too silent.
Slowly, I turned my head.
The five beta males were staring at us. Hard.
And whispering.
I glared at them. They immediately averted their gazes, suddenly very interested in the sky.
Jiggs cleared his throat. "Wow. Look at those stars!"
Martin nodded. "Yeah! So... uh... sparkly!"
"Guys, it's morning," I deadpanned.
I could hear Jiggs trying to hold in his laughter.
"Don't be shy, Champ," Deux murmured, tilting his head. "Why does it bother you?"
I exhaled. "Because... they keep teasing me!" I whispered back, flustered.
Deux smirked. "Let them. Jiggs is just jealous that no one protects or takes care of him."
"Ohhh, you two are so cute, taking care of each other!" Jiggs chimed in loudly.
Deux's smirk vanished. His gaze snapped to Jiggs, eyes narrowing dangerously.
Jiggs immediately turned around, pretending to admire the scenery. "Yup! Totally minding my own business now!"
I sighed, tugging Deux's jacket tighter around myself.
Honestly... how was I ever going to survive this group?!
"Anyway, it's a good thing you dodged that, Champ," Deux said, his tone serious. "Judging by the placement of that trap, I think it was meant to keep intruders away from whoever Doctor Henry mentioned. That means... we must be close to them."
"If that's the case, how do we find them?" I asked. "Whoever it is probably already knows we're here, thanks to Jiggs' drone."
(SPLAT!)
A loud, wet sound interrupted me.
Then—
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Jiggs let out a horrified scream, staring at his thigh. A brown, suspicious-looking splatter was smeared across it.
He cautiously reached out and touched it. Then, in the worst decision of his life, he sniffed it.
Instant regret.
"OH MY GOD—IT'S POOP!" Jiggs howled, gagging as he frantically wiped his hands on the grass.
We barely had time to process that disaster before—
(SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!)
It started raining poop!
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" I shrieked, dodging projectiles of flying feces.
"WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?!" Jiggs yelled.
"WHO CARES? GET TO THE CAR!" Deux ordered. "JIGGS, STAY OUTSIDE!"
"WHY ONLY ME?!" Jiggs practically sobbed.
"YOU SMELL! YOU'RE CONTAMINATED!" Deux snapped.
"TOO BAD! I'M GETTING IN!" Jiggs yelled, diving into the car as more poop rained down around us.
With no other choice, we all scrambled inside, slamming the doors shut.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET IN!" Deux fumed, pinching his nose shut.
Jiggs grinned sheepishly. "Through thick and thin, we stink... I mean we stick together!"
"Ugh!" I groaned, covering my nose. "Who's even throwing this?!"
Deux peeked out the window cautiously. "Looks like they've stopped."
"Wait..." Jiggs frowned, suddenly pointing at something outside. "I don't think it's a who—I think it's a what."
We all turned toward where he was looking.
And then—
We saw them.
A group of 10 monkeys stood exactly where we had been, clutching fistfuls of—you guessed it—poop.
Deux's eye twitched. "Are you telling me... we just got attacked by monkeys?"
"Why would they throw poop at us?!" I asked, bewildered.
"They're probably defending their territory," Deux muttered.
"Great. So how are we supposed to find the person Uncle Henry mentioned when we can't even get past a bunch of hostile, poop-flinging monkeys?" I groaned.
Deux clenched his jaw. "If I could move properly, I would have slaughtered those monkeys already."
"Maybe this is just their nature," I reasoned. "But we have to figure out how to get past them. Do we just... wait for them to leave?"
"That could take forever," Deux sighed.
"Jiggs, do you have anything in your bag that we could use to scare them off?" I asked hopefully.
Jiggs shook his head. "Nope..." Then, suddenly, his eyes widened.
He froze for a second—then dug through his bag like a man possessed.
Deux eyed him. "Whatever you're grabbing, it better be useful."
Jiggs grinned. "Oh, trust me—it is."
With a dramatic flourish, he pulled out—
"Bananas?" I blinked.
Then it hit me.
"WAIT. OF COURSE! They love bananas! Why do you even have that?!"
"Hehe! My Omega mom packed it for me before I left home. Turns out, it's saving our lives!" Jiggs beamed.
Deux smirked. "Since you have the bananas, you go out there. Also, you stink and we need fresh air."
"Wait, WHY ME?!" Jiggs shrieked.
"Because you look like them," Deux deadpanned. "They'll think you're family."
Jiggs gasped. "Ouch."
But after a deep breath, he steeled himself.
Clutching his bananas, he cautiously stepped out of the car.
The monkeys immediately turned toward him.
"Hello, my dear brethren..." Jiggs said way too dramatically. "I come in peace. And I bear gifts."
He took slow, careful steps, the banana hidden behind his back.
For a moment, it looked like he was making progress—
(SPLAT!)
Jiggs took a direct hit. To the face.
"ACCCCCK! OH GOD, WHY?!"
We all wanted to laugh—but at the same time, we couldn't not pity him.
Yet, despite being covered in poop, Jiggs remained determined.
With a deep breath, he dropped to his knees and dramatically presented his peace offering.
"My monkey brothers! I bring you the finest delicacy—gourmet, hand-picked from the finest grocery store! A token of unity, a symbol of friendship and love!"
The monkeys paused.
One of them cautiously approached, sniffed the banana—then grabbed it and took a bite.
Jiggs grinned. "See? Delicious, isn't it?"
The other monkeys watched.
Then, seeing that it was safe (and tasty), they all swarmed him.
From inside the car, we held our breath, watching the scene unfold.
Had Jiggs... actually tamed them?
"If you guys want more bananas, just head to the grocery store!" Jiggs joked with a wide grin.
Deux sighed, rubbing his temples. "Your friend, Champ... I don't even know what to say anymore."
"At least he managed to tame them," I pointed out.
After finishing their feast, the monkeys suddenly turned and left.
But instead of disappearing into the trees, they headed straight for the waterfall nearby and slipped behind it.
I frowned. "Wait... does that mean there's a passage behind the waterfall?"
"There's only one way to find out," Deux said, his tone serious. "Let's follow them."
We quickly got out of the car and approached Jiggs.
"Amazing, right?" Jiggs grinned, stretching his arms wide for a hug.
I immediately pushed him back. "No! Take a bath first! You stink!"
"Awww, come on! This is nature! You gotta embrace it!" He dramatically flung his arms open as if welcoming the filth on his body.
"Anyway, let's go. We're following the monkeys," I said, shaking my head.
As we approached the waterfall, we noticed something strange—just behind the cascading water, a narrow passage was barely visible.
"I was right," Deux muttered. "There's a hidden path here. That explains why we couldn't see any houses—the person we're looking for must be living inside the waterfall."
We were about to step in when—
(WHOOSH!)
An arrow pierced the ground just inches in front of us.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Jiggs wailed. "First traps, then poop, and now arrows?! DOCTOR HENRY WANTS US DEAD!"
Before we could react, a figure emerged from the other side of the waterfall.
A woman.
She had short, jet-black hair and wore clothes woven from rattan and other natural materials. In her hands—an intricately crafted bow, aimed directly at us.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" she demanded, voice sharp, fingers poised to fire at any moment.
I quickly raised my hands. "W-Wait! Please, we mean no harm!" I said, carefully choosing my words. "We're just looking for a place to hide. My name is Champ. I'm the son of Voder and Alaric."
The woman's eyes widened.
Her grip on the bow loosened slightly.
I continued, speaking gently, "I don't mean to intrude, but Uncle Henry told us that we could seek shelter here while escaping from the Alpha King."
At the mention of Henry's name, her expression darkened.
"Henry...? And that pathetic excuse of an Alpha King—Theron?!" she spat, her voice laced with venom.
I glanced at Deux, trying to gauge his reaction.
His face remained blank, but there was tension in his posture. His eyes, however, were locked onto the woman, deep in thought.
What was going through his mind?
The woman took a deep breath, lowering her bow.
But just when I thought we were in the clear—
She raised it again.
"CHAMP! WHAT THE HELL?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING AGAIN?!" Jiggs sobbed.
"You were sent here by that fraud of an Alpha King to assassinate me, weren't you?" she accused. "And you dare use Champ's name to lure me?"
"Wait! We're not lying!" I protested, frantically searching for proof. My eyes landed on the ring on my finger.
"This! Look at this!" I held up my hand. "This ring was given to me by my Alpha Father, Voder! It belonged to my Omega Mother, Alaric!"
Her eyes locked onto the ring.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then—
She lowered the bow again.
We all exhaled in relief.
But—
SHE RAISED IT AGAIN!
"CHAMP, I SWEAR TO EVERYTHING HOLY, SHE'S JUST PLAYING WITH US!" Jiggs cried, looking ready to collapse.
And then—
She started laughing.
Deux frowned. "Has she lost her mind?" he muttered in irritation.
I elbowed him. "Shut up before she hears you!"
The woman finally composed herself. "That ring is a proof enough for me to believe you. Alright. I'll allow you to pass through the waterfall."
We all sighed in relief.
"Except him," she added, pointing the bow straight at Jiggs.
Jiggs' jaw dropped. "ME?! AGAIN?! WHAT IS THIS CURSED LIFE?!"
"You are covered with the monkey poop," she said bluntly. "Wash yourself before stepping into my home."
Jiggs blinked. Then, realization dawned on him.
"...Oh. That's it?!" he grinned. "No problem!"
Poor Jiggs.
Hahaha!
...
...
...
We were finally inside, and what we saw left us in awe.
The place wasn't just a cave—it was a home. A carefully hidden sanctuary, concealed behind the waterfall. No one would ever suspect someone was living here.
And, of course, the monkeys were here too.
Specifically, they were all over Jiggs.
The little creatures clung to him, picking through his hair as if searching for bugs, digging into his ears, poking his nose—and even his belly button!
"CHAMP! HELP ME! I'M DROWNING!" Jiggs wailed, flailing his arms.
We all ignored him.
Honestly, the monkeys seemed to really like him. Maybe they thought he was one of them.
But right now, my focus was on the woman standing before us.
"I am Kali," she introduced herself. "A Beta Female."
That explained it.
"No wonder we couldn't catch any scent from you," I said.
Kali studied me for a moment before tilting her head. "If I'm not mistaken... you're an Alpha male just like your father, Champ?"
I smiled and shook my head.
"Like my mother, I am an Omega male," I answered.
"Master Champ... you're an Omega?" Marsh asked, his voice filled with surprise.
"We had no idea!" Gem exclaimed, eyes wide in shock.
"Seriously?! That explains why you're so kind! You're nothing like the usual Alpha leaders!" Martin added, grinning.
"Wow! You're really an Omega male? That's amazing!" Daryl chimed in, his face lighting up in excitement.
I hesitated, rubbing the back of my neck. "I never really got the chance to tell you guys... I'm sorry. So much has happened lately. But... are you disappointed in me?"
"Disappointed?" Marsh repeated, looking confused.
"Absolutely not!" Gem declared. "In fact, we're even prouder knowing that our leader is an Omega male—and a fearless one at that!"
I blinked, feeling warmth spread in my chest. "Thank you... I honestly thought you wouldn't accept it."
"Actually," Daryl said thoughtfully, "we always had a feeling there was something different about you. The way you led, the way you treated people... but now, it all makes sense!"
"Which is why," Martin added enthusiastically, "we're more determined than ever to be the best followers you could ever have, Master Champ!"
I looked at them—at their proud, unwavering smiles—and felt a deep sense of gratitude.
I wasn't just accepted.
I was celebrated.
At that moment, I saw something shift in Kali's eyes. She suddenly stepped forward and embraced me tightly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Seeing you and knowing you are an Omega male and how you treat your friends reminds me so much of Alaric."
I softened, returning the hug. "I understand."
She pulled back slightly, placing her hands on my shoulders. "It brings me joy to see Alaric's son alive and thriving... and to know that, like him, you are an Omega male."
Her expression darkened slightly. "But why have you come here? What's happening? Does that fraud of an Alpha King know about you, Champ? Is that why you're in hiding?"
I hesitated. "I don't know if he knows my identity yet... but he's searching for me. Because I stole his son."
Kali's eyes widened. "Stole...? You mean to kill him?" she asked. "Good! Death is the only answer for what that monster and his bloodline have done!"
"...No," Deux spoke for the first time. His voice was calm yet firm. "Champ took me to love me."
Kali's head snapped toward Deux, and the warmth in her face vanished instantly.
"Deux..." I murmured cautiously.
He met her gaze without flinching. "I am the son of the so-called 'fraudulent Alpha King'—the one Champ 'stole' away. Not to kill, but because we chose to love each other."
Kali's expression darkened.
With a swift movement, she pulled out a blade from her clothing—
And pressed it against Deux's throat.
"WAIT!" I shouted, stepping between them. "Please, Kali, let me explain! There's no need for violence!"
"The son of Theron must be killed!" she hissed. "His bloodline must be wiped out!"
"Kali, please," I pleaded. "Deux isn't like his father! He's different!"
"How do you know he hasn't already manipulated you?!" she accused. And then—she turned the blade toward me.
"Kali!" I gasped.
"You could have been brainwashed! Maybe you're here on Theron's orders to kill me!"
"This is what happens when you spend too much time alone and with the monkeys," Deux said dryly, crossing his arms. "Everyone starts looking like an enemy."
"Kali, I swear, Deux had nothing to do with this! I am the one the Alpha King is hunting! Deux chose to help me escape!" I explained desperately.
Kali's eyes narrowed. "Help you?"
"Yes!" I nodded. "Because Deux..."
I hesitated before pulling down the collar of my jacket, revealing the mark on my neck.
Kali's eyes widened in horror. "An Alpha's mark..."
Then, with fury, she turned back to Deux—her blade once again raised.
"So that's what you were after!" she spat. "You marked an Omega male like Champ to claim him! To make yourself stronger—just like your father!"
Deux didn't even blink. He merely shook his head with a sigh.
"Kali, no!" I cried. "That's not it!"
"Then explain!" she demanded.
I took a deep breath. "We love each other, Kali. Deux is here to protect me from his father. And I... I am here to protect him, too."
Kali's hands trembled. Slowly, the blade slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.
"Love... such a big word."
She took a step back, inhaling sharply.
"Champ..." Her voice was softer now, filled with disbelief. "But why him? Why someone from Theron's bloodline? The very man who tormented your parents?"
"Because Deux has nothing to do with it," I said firmly. "He is not his father. And he is risking everything to help me—to help save my mother."
Kali's gaze flickered toward Deux. Her posture stiffened as uncertainty crept into her features.
"But..." she whispered.
Deux finally spoke again, his voice steady.
"I am not my father," he said, looking straight into her eyes. "My only purpose in life is to cherish and protect Champ. Nothing more. I have no interest in my father's reign, nor his bloodthirsty ambitions. I stand apart from him."
Kali exhaled shakily and turned away.
"I can never forgive your father," she admitted. "And I won't pretend it's easy for me to trust you... not after everything that's happened."
I bit my lip. "Kali, what did happen?"
She tensed.
"I don't know anything about it," I continued. "Please, tell me—what really happened between my parents? And why do you call the Alpha King a fraud?"
Kali was silent for a long moment.
Then, at last, she turned back to us.
"Listen closely," she said.
"I will tell you the story of Voder and Alaric... and the truth about the so-called Alpha King."
...
...
...
End of Chapter 30