Jiggs' POV
"What kingdom even is this?" I muttered, eyes wide as I stared out at the vast, eerie expanse sprawled before us. We were at the very edge of Aurivelle—the edge of our world, and apparently, it wasn't an edge at all.
"There's only one way to find out," Silver said, grinning like he was auditioning to be a villain in someone else's nightmare.
"No. NO. You are not suggesting we actually go there? Into that place?" I could already feel my internal organs filing for resignation.
"How else are you going to answer your question if we don't?" he snapped, rolling his eyes.
"I don't know! A long-distance telescope? A divine prophecy? Literally anything but walking into that death trap? Also—we're standing at the top of a CLIFF! One wrong move and we're a pair of human meatballs!"
"I could just push you," he offered so casually that I truly believe he meant it.
Because of course, he is Silver. He'll do it wholeheartedly!
So, like a parasite in survival mode, I latched onto him like a koala with abandonment issues.
"Tch! Get off!" he grunted, trying to shove me off.
"No! You're absolutely going to push me!"
"Fine, I won't push you," he muttered. "Look, it actually seems walkable. The ground's slanted. We can just walk down slowly."
I peeked over the edge, still clinging to him like duct tape on a leaky pipe. To my surprise, he was right—the slope was steep but manageable if we were careful.
"Okay, yeah. That looks doable," I said, nodding with a little relief.
Silver didn't answer.
I turned around.
He was smiling at me.
Too sweetly.
I smiled back nervously.
"You go first," he said—and without even blinking, he SHOVED me.
Like a sack of screaming potatoes, I went tumbling down the slope, limbs flailing, dignity evaporating.
"SILVER! YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME!"
And what did he do?
He ran after me, laughing, like some hellspawn on his day off, delighted at my very public near-death experience.
By the time we reached the bottom, I was a dizzy, dirt-covered mess with grass in places grass should never be. I lay on the ground, staring up at the sky, contemplating every life choice I had ever made.
Silver stood above me, arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently.
"That's it? You're dizzy from that little roll?"
"Little roll? I think my spine relocated to my kneecaps," I wheezed.
He scoffed. "You're still alive, so you're fine."
"Oh, how very reassuring! Thanks! Shall I crawl into my grave now or later?" I spat.
"Quit whining."
Then he did something I didn't expect—he hoisted me up...
And threw me over his back like I was a sack of potatoes headed to market.
"Silver?" I blinked.
"You should be grateful," he grunted. "I figured if you died, I'd lose my pet dog."
"I'M NOT A DOG! I HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS!" I cried.
"Shut it," he snapped. "You should feel honored—you're the first creature I've ever carried like this."
"Wow. Lucky me. I'll tell my children—oh wait! I CAN'T HAVE CHILDREN IF I DIE!"
Before I could even fight back, we both froze. Something rustled in the thick underbrush nearby.
"What was that?!" I shrieked, clutching his shoulders like a toddler in a haunted house.
"Shhh! Quiet," he whispered.
(SNIFF.)
He sniffed the air like a bloodhound in leather.
The bushes to our right twitched. Silver crouched slightly, waiting.
Then—BAM!
A TIGER LEAPT OUT.
And what did Silver do?
He kicked it.
Square in the face.
The tiger went flying like a furry cannonball into the trees.
I. Was. Speechless.
"Just a tiger," he muttered, dusting off his hands like he had just dealt with a slightly aggressive cat.
"JUST a tiger?!" I screamed. "It tried to eat us!"
He didn't answer. Just kept walking with me still draped over him like a fashionably terrified scarf.
"You're... heavier than you look," he commented.
"That's because Champ feeds me real food!" I shouted. "And now that I'm with you, I'll be forced to eat dirt and whatever raw nightmare beasts we find!"
"I'm not cooking," he said flatly. "You're the Beta. My loyal house-dog. You cook."
"I AM NOT YOUR CANINE CHEF!"
Why did I leave Champ? I regret everything. I am filled with a thousand regrets and zero survival instincts.
But here I am.
This is my life now.
Jiggs, the once proud Beta a.k.a. Mysterious Man, now the human backpack of an unhinged Sigma with a kick strong enough to launch wildlife into orbit.
How will I start a family now?
What about my future children?
My grandkids?
Oh god... what if he eats them too?
...
So there I was, being piggybacked like a spoiled toddler through a forest that smelled like ancient moss and unwashed nightmares, while checking my phone for some form of salvation.
Still nothing.
The map app was blank. Completely blank.
"This place doesn't exist," I muttered, glaring at my screen. "It's not even registered. Not even as a dangerous restricted area! What kind of cursed GPS void is this?"
Meanwhile, Silver—walking like a smug jungle predator with me on his back—was sniffing around like he was auditioning to join the canine unit.
"Do you always do that?" I asked. "Sniffing the air like a paranoid bloodhound with a superiority complex?"
"I'm checking if any Alpha males are nearby," he replied calmly, eyes still darting around.
"Oh. Good idea. So we can avoid them."
"Who said anything about avoiding?" he said, cracking that disturbingly enthusiastic grin of his. "I'll throw you at them as bait. Then I'll strike while they're distracted."
"...You're a sociopath," I said flatly.
"And you're a convenient projectile," he shot back.
I sighed, shaking my head. "Still, I can't wrap my head around this place. I know the geography of Aurivelle inside and out. But this... this whole region? It's like it's been wiped from every map. Or hidden on purpose. Like we stumbled into a secret kingdom or—"
"Too loud," Silver interrupted with a scowl. "If you don't shut up, I'll grind your face into the soil until your mouth becomes a flower bed."
I. Went. Silent.
Instantly.
Because let's be honest: if there's anyone unhinged enough to actually do that, it's Silver. I've seen this man roundhouse kick a tiger into a tree. Demolish everything in his path with the tank, and many more! I am not testing his patience over botany-based threats.
So I did the only logical thing.
I clung to him in silence like an emotionally fragile backpack and prayed to the universe that I wouldn't be used as a living booby trap.
...
I stayed completely silent the rest of the way, clinging to Silver's back like a cowardly backpack with trust issues. And thank the heavens I did—because we finally emerged from the thick, spine-tingling forest and saw it—The city.
Silver set me down, and we both stood there, staring.
"I-It looks... developed," I stammered, eyes wide. "Like, way more developed than ours. This place looks like it could build a spaceship out of soup cans."
Silver didn't say a word.
Instead, his eyes closed and he started sniffing again like some budget werewolf tracking prey. What was this? His sixth sniff of the day?
"There's a blend of scents," he muttered. "But the dominant one is... Omega."
"Omega females, maybe?" I suggested hopefully.
His eyes opened like a predator sensing something... off. "Only one way to find out. You walk first."
"Why me?!"
"Because pet dogs always go first," he said smugly.
"I AM NOT A DOG!"
But who was walking in front of him, grumbling like a wet dog? Yep. Me.
Honestly, if he slapped a leash on me at that moment, I wouldn't even be surprised.
Eventually, we reached the outskirts of the city—and both of us came to a dead stop.
We were dumbstruck.
The place looked like someone mashed up a sci-fi utopia with an art museum. Everything was high-tech, futuristic, and ridiculously clean. Floating orbs buzzed through the air, carrying lights. Giant neon signs glowed in foreign alphabets. Streets paved in glowing stones hummed beneath our feet.
"Did we time travel?" I whispered. "Are we... in the future?"
(SNIFF!)
Silver sniffed again, then frowned deeply. "My instincts are screaming at me. The scent of Omegas is overpowering. Too overpowering."
"And that's... bad?" I asked. "Come on, Omegas aren't exactly the type to punch us in the face and eat our livers like you. Shouldn't you be happy we're not surrounded by angry Alpha males or SIGMA males with superiority complexes?"
Still, we walked deeper into the city.
Everything looked planned. The buildings had architectural precision that made me feel like my entire life was just a crayon drawing. Intricate metalwork, glass that changed color with the sky, lush gardens growing out of walls, holograms fluttering like butterflies—it was disturbingly beautiful.
"This place screams Omega," I mused. "Maybe it's an Omega-run civilization? That would explain the plants and the flair. Maybe Alphas are rare here?"
Silver sighed, scanning the eerily empty streets.
"I don't see a single person," he said. "But I can smell them. Everywhere."
"Maybe it's curfew?" I offered. "They might have some strict rule about being indoors at night. You know, bedtime laws or something. That's a thing, right?"
And honestly? It was weird.
The city glowed like it was ready for a party—bright lights, flickering signs, sleek restaurants, and fancy bars—but not a single soul in sight.
As we walked, I spotted something up ahead.
And my stomach did a full somersault.
"Silver... are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I whispered, pointing at the massive billboard looming over us like a god watching its favorite soap opera.
"I'm not blind," he grunted.
I gulped and turned to him slowly. "What... kind of place is this?"
He didn't answer. Just stared at the billboard.
A billboard the size of a house. Glowing red with bold, ominous text:
"Welcome to the Kingdom of Verilios, where power once taken by force... shall now be harvested for revenge."
My lips went dry.
And beneath the text?
Images.
Disturbing images.
Alpha males—collared, shackled, submissive. Forced to serve. Kneeling before robed Omega figures like broken animals. Their eyes hollow. Their strength stolen.
And the Omegas? Elegant, powerful, controlling. The oppressors. The dominators. The ones holding the leash.
My knees buckled.
"Silver... I think we stumbled into a place where everything's the opposite of what we know! Maybe we are in a parallel universe! Maybe the wall we just entered was a portal to another dimension and now here we are!" I whispered. "Maybe we should leave. Before someone sees us."
"No," Silver said, voice low and intense. "I want to uncover the truth about this place."
"Silver! What if they catch you?! What if they turn you into a pet?!" I cried. "I know you are a Sigma male but you are also the same as an Alpha!"
"They won't," he growled. "I'll kill them before they even try."
Fantastic. We were officially in Omega-topia evil lair and this guy's first instinct was murder.
"Why, Silver?! Why can't you just be contented?! We made it here alive—we should've just turned around and gone back to Aurivelle! Why do you have to poke the cursed hornet nest!?"
And yet there I was... following the most terrifying man I knew... deeper into the kingdom where Omegas ruled and Alphas were property.
This is how horror movies start. Except I don't even get to die dramatically—I'll probably end up as a show dog in some Omega fashion parade!
...
Just a few moments later, we heard footsteps.
Silver didn't even flinch—he yanked me by the collar and dragged me into a narrow alleyway.
"Hide," he muttered, pressing us against the wall.
We peered out together, and then... they started appearing.
People.
More specifically—men.
Tall. Pale. Smooth skin. Toned but not bulky. And their faces—soft, delicate, almost angelic. Beautiful in a way that made you question your own reflection. Honestly, they all looked like variations of Champ if he spent every day in a skincare ad.
"Don't tell me... they're—" I whispered.
"Omega males," Silver replied grimly.
I blinked. "Wait, wait, wait. So they're not rare here? Does this mean they've been hiding—living—in this secret civilization all along?"
Silver side-eyed me. "Don't ask me. We arrived here at the same time, genius."
We kept watching.
Earlier, the streets had been completely empty—but now? Now it was like someone had rung a bell. People were flooding out of buildings, walking like clockwork. It wasn't chaotic—it was... synchronized. Creepy, cult-like synchronized.
A cult of beautiful Omega males.
And then—
"Look! There are females, too," I whispered.
"Omega females," Silver murmured.
"So... it's true? They're free here?" I said, squinting. "But where are the Alpha males? Are they kept somewhere?"
No one answered.
Because what came next?
Shook me to my soul.
A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone stepped aside.
An Omega male walked calmly down the center of the street, and the others literally made space for him like he was royalty.
He wore a long crimson red robe trimmed in silver threads, elegant and regal. He looked like a high priest or political leader—back straight, chin raised, aura practically radiating authority.
And behind him—
"Oh my—Silver! Look!" I hissed, grabbing his arm.
"Don't squeeze me," he snapped under his breath.
"No, look—is that an Alpha male?!"
Silver narrowed his eyes. "Definitely. I can smell it."
But what shook me wasn't just who the Alpha male was—it was how he looked.
He was barely dressed.
He wore only leather straps crossing over his chest like decorative restraints, and a collar around his neck that looked nothing like jewelry. A thick, metallic band with blinking lights and etched markings.
And on his face?
Metal cover on his mouth, and near his eyes… horse blinders.
Yes—actual, black, side-flap blinders attached to a headpiece, just like those worn by carriage horses. They were designed to limit peripheral vision—to keep the Alpha focused on the path ahead, unresponsive to distractions.
"Is this a fashion show or a hostage parade?" I muttered.
And it got worse.
The Alpha was wearing short, tight leather shorts—barely covering anything. And below that...
"Silver... am I seeing that right? Is that... is that thing on his manhood—" I choked.
"It's some kind of device," Silver whispered darkly. "Specifically designed for Alpha males."
Attached to the Alpha's groin was a chastity lock—metallic, secure, and downright inhumane. It was a cage. An actual miniature prison. Around that area.
A tiny metal shell, maybe two inches long, squeezing the Alpha's manhood into limp submission. It was so small that it had to be forcibly compressing it—like it was meant to shrink and shame the very thing Alphas took pride in.
My soul screamed.
"I knew Alphas were built... impressively," I muttered, traumatized, "but that? That cage is smaller than a shot glass! How is 'it' fitting in there?! Wouldn't it hurt? I feel like scratching my balls already just by looking at it! What kind of dystopian wizardry is this?!"
Then it hit me.
"Silver—this is why you smell so many Omegas here! The Alpha males can't breed them! They've been mechanically neutered!"
"We are not quite sure yet."
Silver stayed quiet, jaw tight.
This place wasn't just disturbing—it was twisted. The roles were reversed completely. Here, Omegas were the dominant force. And Alpha males?
Treated like livestock.
"Silver," I said, my voice shaky, "They treat Alpha males like... like animals here. This isn't just imbalance—it's straight-up cruel! I mean, sure, we don't exactly worship Alpha males back home but they are dominant, but this? This is next-level oppression! It's sick!"
Silver's eyes narrowed. "One thing's clear, the Omega males in this place... are dangerous."
And that was the moment I realized—
We weren't just lost.
We were deep inside enemy territory.
And if they found out Silver was a Sigma male just like an Alpha?
They'd cage him next.
And me?
I'd probably end up as the Omega royal court jester. Or worse... the fashion stylist for chastity cages.
We kept watching from our cramped little alley, peering at the regal-looking Omega male as he walked like a royal peacock, with that poor Alpha male trailing behind him like a well-trained dog.
And not just any dog—a chastity-caged, blindfolded, fashionably restrained one.
(SNIFF!)
The Omega male suddenly stopped mid-stride.
His eyes narrowed.
"Oh no," I whispered, already panicking. "Silver, I think he smelled you!"
"Shut up," Silver growled, instantly slapping a hand over my mouth like I was a malfunctioning car alarm.
"Cinnamon..." the Omega male murmured, eyes scanning the air like a predator catching a whiff of prey.
I froze. My heart? It was tap dancing in my chest. My brain? Screaming in seventeen languages. My soul? Already halfway out my body!
I turned to Silver, who was just calmly observing everything, eyes sharp and calculating like he wasn't two seconds away from becoming an exotic BDSM display pet.
Meanwhile, I was ready to yeet myself into the bushes.
Then the Omega male spoke again, his voice calm but commanding. "Alpha, do you smell cinnamon?"
The Alpha male, obedient and silent, nodded once.
And then...
The Omega started walking straight toward us.
I yanked Silver's hand off my mouth. "We need to run. Now!" I hissed, tugging on his arm like a desperate squirrel trying to drag a boulder.
But did he move?
Of course not.
He just stood there like a statue forged from sarcasm and menace.
The Omega male kept approaching.
Closer.
Closer.
I was halfway through planning my funeral when suddenly—salvation!
An Omega female stepped in front of him.
She was stunning, sure—but with that sharp look in her eyes and that strict blue robe, she wasn't your usual soft-spoken Omega flower. She had the energy of a school principal mixed with a battle-hardened general.
"The Omega King, Nihilex, summons you," she said coldly.
And just like that, the Omega male turned around and left with her.
I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding for the last 18 years.
"Close call," I muttered. "We were one cinnamon-scented breeze away from being turned into pet projects."
But what really haunted me wasn't the encounter—it was the implications.
"The Omega King?" I whispered, still shaken. "So the one running this whole place isn't just an Omega male... but THE Omega male. But not like the Omegas we know—gentle, kind, slightly melodramatic. No. This guy's probably ruthless. Powerful. A total tyrant. Maybe like King Theron but Omega male version of him!"
Silver nodded, his expression unreadable. "That would explain everything."
The street cleared again, and the strange tension in the air faded. We locked eyes—his deadly serious, mine full of existential dread.
I glanced at him, then looked back out into the city. "Silver... what if they catch you? Will they put you in one of those little cages too? What if they think you're just another Alpha? You think your manhood can handle the 2 inches chastity cage?"
My voice dropped to a whisper. "Will I... outrank you?"
The horror.
But wait. Wait a minute.
"Silver, I haven't seen a single Beta here. Not one," I said, slowly realizing something deeply unsettling. "Just Omegas and Alphas. Could it be that... Betas doesn't exist here?"
He didn't reply.
He didn't have to.
That said more than enough.
"Let's keep scouting," Silver said suddenly.
"Huh?! Are you kidding? Did we not just witness Alpha oppression in full BDSM glory? Aren't you even a little scared?"
"Why would I be scared?" he said with a snarl. "They should be scared of me."
And with that, he grabbed my wrist like I was a defiant child—and yanked me right out of our hiding spot.
"W-WAIT! SILVER! CAN'T WE JUST—NEVERMIND, HE'S DRAGGING ME!" I cried, flailing uselessly.
And just like that, the chaos continued.
A Sigma male walking confidently into the lion's den.
And me?
The unwilling tourist of doom.
...
We hadn't even been walking long, but I was already clinging to Silver's jacket like a nervous toddler at a haunted theme park. He was in front—tall, steady, fearless—and I was behind him, heart pounding, head on a swivel, absolutely convinced we were two steps away from being caught and turned into decorative hostages.
The silence around us was unnatural.
Not peaceful. Not serene.
It was the kind of silence that screamed. Like the air itself was holding its breath.
And then—I saw them.
Alphas.
Lined up along the street, all wearing the same soul-sucking uniform. Collars tight around their necks. Horse blinders on the side of their eyes. Metal covers on their mouths preventing them to bite or maybe claim an Omega. Identical leather straps and shorts. And that one heck small of a chastity cage that makes my manhood itch just by looking at it! They weren't just oppressed—they were stripped of identity.
Some were sweeping the pristine walkways. Others were carrying heavy crates, bending and lifting with mechanical precision. A few were pushing carts like factory drones. They didn't stop. They didn't flinch. They didn't even glance our way.
Because they couldn't.
Their blinders made sure of that.
They are like the lowest of the low here in this civilization!
"Why are they doing this to the Alpha males?" I whispered, barely able to speak.
"They've erased individuality," Silver muttered coldly. "No packs. No bonds. No voices. Just obedience."
We kept walking—and the deeper we went, the worse it got.
Massive propaganda posters lined the walls, glowing with eerie luminescence.
One showed an Alpha male groveling on the ground before an Omega dressed in ceremonial robes. Scrawled above in bold red letters:
"THE HUNTERS MUST NOW BE HUNTED."
Another showed an Omega male lovingly cradling a child, while behind him, an Alpha male was caged like an animal.
"THE RIGHT TO CREATE BELONGS TO THE CHOSEN."
I gagged a little. This wasn't just a role reversal. This was a system. A twisted, polished, and deeply enforced regime. A prison masquerading as progress. It was too clean. Too perfect.
Too wrong.
Then—thud.
I walked face-first into Silver's back.
He had stopped abruptly, frozen like he'd seen a ghost.
"Silver?" I whispered, rubbing my nose. "Why'd you stop?"
He didn't answer.
He was staring straight ahead, jaw tight, and eyes narrowing slowly with pure, simmering disbelief.
So I looked, too.
And instantly—I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Silver... Tell me I'm dreaming," I whispered. "Tell me this is some kind of nightmare dream sequence. Tell me!"
We stood in dead silence.
In the center of the plaza stood a glowing electronic bulletin board.
And on it—
A poster.
A very familiar face.
A large, clear portrait stamped in crimson red with one word:
WANTED
Below the image, in bold glowing letters:
"TRAITOR TO THE BLOODLINE."
"ALARIC OF THE ROYAL LINEAGE."
"EXECUTION ON SIGHT."
Silver's expression didn't crack—his body didn't twitch. But I saw it.
His pupils contracted. His breath paused. And his hand clenched just slightly.
That alone told me everything I needed to know.
This was very bad.
"That's Alaric," Silver finally said, voice low. "My... mother."
"I—wait, WHAT?!" I gasped. "So you're telling me that your mother—Alaric—came from here? This horrifying dystopia of Omega overlords and collared Alpha slaves?! This is Champ and your family's origin?! So he is keeping his past as a secret to everybody? What if Alaric is a full-time villain in spy mode ready to dominate Aurivelle for the longest time!"
My brain was doing cartwheels. None of this made sense.
"Silver, this changes everything! Why didn't anyone say anything? What about the history books that I have read? The things about the Omega males and their history? I have SO MANY QUESTIONS and absolutely zero answers!"
Silver didn't even flinch. "We need to gather intel. Learn their plans. There's something happening here, and I know it's not good."
Then, without another word, he walked forward.
"Wait for me!" I whispered.
And like the terrified sidekick that I was, I clung to his jacket again and followed him—back into the belly of the beast.
...
...
...
Alaric's POV
"There! These old homes are sparkling clean now!" I said with a cheerful grin, turning around to admire our hard work. "We can finally live here!"
Kali, standing at my side with arms crossed and a confident smile, nodded. "It won't be long, Alaric. Veydith will rise again with Champ's leadership."
"You're right." I glanced toward the Omega females resting peacefully on polished marble benches, their faces still weary from everything that happened. "Are you all hungry?" I asked gently.
"We haven't eaten since we escaped the Omega facility," one of them replied with a tired voice.
"Then we must search the nearby forests. There may be fishes in the streams, and surely some wild vegetables—"
"I'll handle that!" Kali interrupted, already stretching her arms. "You and the others should stay here. I can see how exhausted the Omega females are."
She was about to head off when a Beta male approached, his steps hurried. I recognized him as one of Champ's friends.
"Lord Alaric," he said, slightly breathless, "I'm Marsh."
I smiled warmly and placed a hand atop his head. "You've returned?"
"Mhm!" he beamed. "We've brought other Omegas and Betas who wish to live here in Veydith! They're on their way, and we brought food too. We figured no one's eaten yet."
"Oh, thank goodness," Kali sighed in relief. "No need for a forest run then."
"Where are they?" I asked, looking past Marsh's shoulder.
And then—we saw them.
But something was wrong.
The others were running—but not with joy. Not with laughter. With terror.
"Marsh!" another Beta male called out, panting hard as he approached. "We're being chased! An Alpha Clan followed us!"
Marsh's eyes widened. "Oh no—they tracked us!"
Everyone scrambled to the back of our makeshift camp. They collapsed to the ground, sweating, gasping for air.
"Gem," Marsh asked, "what happened?"
"We weren't careful," Gem admitted between pants. "They realized we're just Omegas and Betas—easy prey. And we were carrying supplies, so they—" he didn't even need to finish.
Because that's when they arrived.
An Alpha-led clan.
Their leader stepped forward first—muscular, tall, with a twisted smile that made my skin crawl. Around him, nearly fifty Beta males emerged, all looking like they were auditioning for the villain squad in a low-budget fantasy film.
The Alpha male licked his lips and dragged his tongue slowly across his upper lip like he was standing in front of a buffet.
My fists clenched.
Four Beta males—Champ's friends—stood in front of me. Behind me were more Betas, male and female, and the Omegas who'd just barely escaped a lifetime of torment.
Kali stood silently at the rear of the formation, her expression cold and still.
The Alpha stepped closer.
"Where is your Alpha leader?" he sneered, sniffing the air like an animal. "Ha! No scent of Alpha power. Just sweet, ripe Omega females... ready to be claimed."
Marsh and the others tensed, ready to fight—but I held my hand out to stop them.
"Lord Alaric," Marsh whispered, "We can't let them—!"
"Wait," I said softly, my voice a breeze in the tension. "Not yet."
The Alpha grinned wider. "You!" he pointed at me. "You're male—but you're prettier than any of these Omegas! You'll belong to me. And the rest? My men will enjoy them."
"Really?" I replied in a soft, delicate voice. "Oh, I'm terrified. I'm just a weak little thing."
The Alpha laughed. Loudly. Arrogantly. He believed he'd already won.
"Good," he said, motioning to his men. "Make it quick. Capture all the Omega females."
"Kali, and the Beta males," I said calmly, hands clasped behind my back, "you're in charge of protecting our people. I'll handle their Alpha leader."
"Yes, Lord Alaric!" the four Beta males barked, positioning themselves between our defenseless Omegas and Betas and the incoming chaos.
Behind me, battle erupted—Beta fists versus Beta fists, Kali diving in with deadly elegance and the force of a hurricane in silk robes. But in front of me?
Ten Beta males and their smug Alpha leader.
"You?" the Alpha scoffed, lips curled in amusement. "You're going to fight us? Alone?" He barked a laugh, echoed by his goons. "This is going to be fun."
I didn't reply. I simply smiled.
Softly.
Politely.
Which, in hindsight, should've terrified them.
"You mocking us now?!" he roared, rage snapping through his voice.
He raised a hand and signaled the attack.
Ten Beta males rushed me at once.
I sighed. Rolled my neck. Cracked my knuckles.
The first one got close—too close.
WHAM!
I gripped his head and slammed him face-first into the ground so hard the earth cracked.
Another came swinging at me—I caught his fist mid-air, twisted his arm until it popped, and dropped him like laundry.
The next wave approached. I moved like water, graceful and precise. I struck pressure points on their legs and arms with two-finger jabs, fast and accurate. In seconds, they were collapsing, groaning, unable to stand or even lift a hand.
Now only the Alpha remained.
He narrowed his eyes, less cocky now. "You are strong but you look so delicate. So soft. It makes me crave for you more. Make you mine. Cage you."
He grinned, but it was strained. Desperate.
Then it happened.
His eyes flickered with a dark glow.
An ability.
He was no ordinary Alpha.
I felt the pressure instantly—a suffocating, invisible force. It pulsed like waves through the air. I glanced behind me. My comrades, even his own men, were swaying on their feet—disoriented, trembling.
He was affecting them all.
All but me.
I stayed still.
Unbothered.
"You're not affected," he whispered, fear creeping into his voice.
Then, foolishly, he lunged.
Trying to catch me while I looked away.
Cute.
Too bad I was faster.
I turned, drove two fingers into the soft flesh of his abdomen—right between the ribs—and he choked, coughing up blood as he stumbled backward.
"What... what are you?!" he gasped, clutching his gut, eyes wide.
I stepped forward, still composed, still polite.
"You don't want to know," I said quietly. "But I'll tell you what I am not—someone who lets invaders hurt his people. I despise aggressive Alpha males like you wanting to oppress these helpless Omega females."
I took another step, voice lowering.
"If you don't leave Veydith this instant, I will slaughter every last one of you."
I smiled.
The kind of smile that belongs to someone who waters flowers... and poisons kingdoms.
"I'll count to three," I added.
"One..."
They didn't wait for "two."
The Alpha and his remaining lackeys bringing their injured comrades ran like frightened chickens, tripping over themselves as they vanished into the forest.
I stood there, disappointed.
"Hey! I wasn't done counting!" I shouted after them, crossing my arms.
Behind me, Kali chuckled. "Still dramatic and brutal as ever, Alaric. Showing off your composed and calm side but they don't know that you are a monster killing machine on the inside!"
Soon after, Champ's Beta friends sprinted toward me and dramatically dropped to their knees.
"Get up! I didn't order kneeling," I laughed, waving them off.
"Oh, you who birthed our leader..." Marsh said, eyes shining. "We are honored to witness your power firsthand! Now we understand where Master Champ gets it from!"
I chuckled and pulled them up. "This? Oh, this is nothing. If you saw Champ's father fight, you'd cry and clap at the same time."
"You're... incredible," said one of the Omega females, eyes wide in awe.
I turned to see the rest watching me, admiration glowing in their faces.
"We didn't know an Omega male like you could do that," murmured one Beta male.
I smiled gently and nodded.
Then Kali spoke. "Alaric... I think it's time they learn to fight for themselves. They need to defend each other, even when you or I aren't here. We can't protect them forever. If we are starting a rebellion, we need total change."
I looked at the Betas and Omegas in front of me—tired, bruised, yet hopeful.
And determined.
They wanted to learn.
I took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. It's time you all learn to protect yourselves. We don't know what tomorrow will bring."
But I did.
And the thought of it chilled me.
I turned toward the horizon.
My voice dropped. "I just hope... it doesn't come to what I fear most."
Kali glanced at me. "What is it, Alaric?"
"...Nothing," I said quietly.
But inside, my thoughts were spiraling.
A secret that I have never told anyone about my past. Even Kali doesn't know about it. Only Voder, knows about it when he marked my neck and we bonded all of our feelings and thoughts that day.
He knew about it but we never spoke of it. Maybe, he understood that I really did not want to bring it up anymore and forget everything in the past and live off the present.
The place where I came from, Verilios.
What if Verilios attacks Aurivelle while everything is a mess?
What if my past crashes into my future, destroying the peaceful life I've tried to build here in this kingdom?
What if everything I abandoned—the kingdom I left—comes to burn the kingdom of Aurivelle, now I called my home?
Because I know them.
I know what they're capable of.
And when the Kingdom of Verilios finally decides it's ready to invade... I hope that the Kingdom of Aurivelle is ready to face their wrath.
...
...
...
Jiggs' POV
As Silver and I crept through the shadowy maze of Verilios, being very careful not to be seen, fate—as always—had different plans.
Within seconds, a group of figures stepped into our path, like they'd been waiting for us the entire time. And not just any figures.
These were something else.
They wore slick red biotech-stitched suits that clung to their bodies like a second skin, and helmets that were smooth, black, and completely faceless. No eye holes. No mouths. Just cold, chrome black reflective masks that stared back at us with all the emotion of a toaster.
My soul left my body.
We instinctively took a step back, and then—bam!
Another group blocked us from behind.
"Silver," I squeaked, clutching his arm like it was the only thing tethering me to life, "I don't want to die here. Not like this! Not in Verilios! I don't want my tombstone to say 'Died in Omega-ville. No visitors.'"
"I won't let you die here," Silver said flatly. "I'll make sure you die in Aurivelle instead. I will bring your corpse there, don't worry."
"Wow. That's so comforting. Truly inspirational. Thank you," I deadpanned.
Suddenly, the faceless soldiers raised their weapons—not swords, not guns, but plasma-bladed halberds. Long, gleaming, glowing death-sticks with tips that looked like they could carve a planet in half.
"Silver," I whimpered, "what do we do?"
"I was hoping you had a plan."
"I can't even spell 'plan' right now!"
Just then, the soldiers parted—and through the gap walked someone I really didn't want to see again.
The Omega male in the crimson red robe.
His presence was like a walking red flag—elegant, calm, and oozing that kind of "I-torture-for-a-hobby" energy. He smiled like he'd just found two new toys.
"Clearly, you are not from our kingdom," he said smoothly, his eyes locking onto Silver like a hungry cat eyeing a stubborn pigeon.
"We are from here!" I yelled a little too quickly.
"Oh?" he said, tilting his head. "Which sector? Which district? House number? Postal code?"
"I—I—uh..." I sputtered, pointing wildly at Silver. "HE knows! Talk to him!"
The robed Omega's grin widened. "Foreigners..." he said with relish. "You've wandered into the wrong kingdom."
He raised his hand—and every single soldier immediately shifted. Weapons turned. A snap of movement, and now a circle of laser-tipped death surrounded us.
"Silver, I really don't like the vibe their weapons are giving off," I hissed. "I have a bad feeling our bodies will not be left in one piece."
As if to confirm my worst fears, the plasma-tipped halberds began to glow ominously, humming with power, ready to fire.
And all I could think was—I'm not ready to wear those cursed seductive Alpha outfits! I don't do leather thongs and collars! I get cold easily!
Then the Omega male closed his fist.
BOOM!
A sudden explosion of thick white smoke burst in front of us.
I coughed. I flailed. I couldn't see anything.
"Silver! SILVER, I CAN'T SEE MY NOSE!"
"Stop flailing or I'll knock you out myself!"
Then, I felt something grab my wrist—firm, fast.
Not just me—Silver too.
Someone was pulling us.
Dragging us out of the death circle with freakish precision, slipping through the chaos like a shadow through mist.
And when the smoke cleared, we were gone.
Far from the faceless soldiers, far from the crimson-robed sociopath Omega male, and probably far from our chance at dying in one piece.
Our mysterious rescuer?
A figure clad in a black cloak. Hooded. Silent.
I stared at him, wide-eyed, gasping.
Then leaned over to Silver and whispered:
"Okay, is it too much to ask if he's a good guy? Or are we just getting kidnapped by someone else today?!"
Because honestly?
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be another Omega with a collar collection.
...
...
...
After a mad dash through hidden tunnels, secret corridors, and enough smoke to trigger an asthma attack, our cloaked rescuer finally brought us deep underground—to a place nobody was supposed to know existed.
A dimly lit facility stretched before us, cold metal walls lined with old data panels and flickering lights. Dust hung in the air like it had made a permanent home there, and yet, despite the eerie silence, it felt... protected.
Safe.
Well—relatively safe.
Because standing before us was the hooded stranger who just saved our ass. His entire face was shrouded in a heavy black cloak, the kind villains usually wear before dramatically revealing they're your long-lost evil father.
Silver crossed his arms, ever the menace even in mystery. "Who are you? Why did you help us?"
I squinted suspiciously, still catching my breath like a marathon runner who tripped at the start line. "Yeah," I added, voice shaky. "And also... thanks, I guess? But who the hell are you?"
The stranger didn't answer right away. Just stood there. Silent. Still.
Cloaked.
Ominous.
Silver stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "I can't smell anything from you. No scent at all. Are you... a Beta?"
"No," came the deep, booming voice.
Silver and I shared a look. A very concerned look.
"An Omega then?" I asked, stepping sideways just in case I needed to bolt.
The figure chuckled.
Then—slowly, dramatically, like he had watched way too many theater productions—he reached up...
And pulled back his hood.
The moment I saw his face, I froze.
And I don't mean a little gasp or a dramatic jaw-drop—I mean every bone in my body forgot how to move. My brain blue-screened. My soul actually took a step back.
His face.
That face.
No.
It couldn't be.
He smiled gently at me, his eyes soft. "It's good to see you again, Jiggs. You've grown so much from the very last time I saw you."
I physically stumbled backward, clutching my chest like I'd been hit with a truth bomb the size of a planet.
My mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
Nothing came out but air.
Just panicked, wheezing air.
Silver glanced at me, confused. "Jiggs? Who is this guy?"
My lips moved on autopilot. "He's... he's... he's—"
I turned to look at the man again, my heart pounding like a traitor.
"You're alive?" I whispered.
Silver's brow furrowed deeper. "Jiggs, who is he?"
My finger trembled as I pointed at the man standing calmly, casually, like he hadn't just shattered the laws of logic and history.
"That's... Voder," I whispered, voice cracking. "THE VODER."
Silver stiffened. "Voder? As in... Champ's father? The Rightful King of Aurivelle?!"
I nodded, barely able to breathe.
And there he stood.
Smiling.
Very much not dead.
The man every kingdom believed had been gone for good.
The man whose death changed everything.
The man whose return could start a war.
And just as I tried to steady myself—tried to convince myself this wasn't some twisted hallucination—Voder tilted his head, and with a chilling glint in his eye, said:
"We don't have much time. They've already begun moving."
My blood turned to ice.
They?
Who's "they"?
But before I could ask, a distant explosion rumbled above us—shaking the ground beneath our feet.
The ceiling dust trembled.
Lights flickered.
"Please, I don't want to die here! I don't want to wear the chastity cage!" I shrieked.
End of Chapter 40