Jiggs' POV
The moment Silver and I returned to the Alpha Breeding Laboratory, I darted around like a madman on a mission, my eyes scanning every corner.
"Where's Melior?" I muttered, frowning as I checked the usual places. "Maybe he just stepped out for a bit?"
Silver sniffed the air like a seasoned bloodhound, his nose twitching.
"No scent of him. He's not here," he said flatly.
"Hmm... I don't think he'll mind if I borrow his terminal for a second, right?" I said with one hand on my hip, standing confidently (and still stark naked, by the way) in front of the control panel like I owned the place.
I turned to get Silver's opinion, but—
THUD!
His body slammed into the ground like a sack of potatoes, unconscious.
"SHIT! NOT AGAIN!"
"Silver!" I yelled, heart thundering in my chest. I spun to the right and—
My eyes widened.
Standing there, clutching a Verilios halberd like a war goddess, was someone I knew.
"Kaia?" I stammered, eyes lighting up. "Oh my stars! Is that really you?! How are you? Are you here to help us?"
But Kaia wasn't smiling. Her brows were furrowed, eyes steely and unforgiving.
She didn't say a word. Just slowly leveled her halberd at me.
I instinctively raised both hands like I was being held up at gunpoint. "W-Wait a minute, Kaia! You remember me, right?! It's me! Jiggs! Your classmate!"
"I know exactly who you are," she said, her voice hard like stone. She took a step closer, the blade now inches from my throat. Her eyes shrank into deadly slits. "And that's why you need to die."
"HUH?! WAIT—don't tell me... you're with them?!"
She smiled, but it was the kind of smile that makes your bladder second-guess itself.
"Yes. I'm a spy. Sent by Nihilex. Planted in Aurivelle."
"No. Nope. Nooo way. This is a prank, right?! Where's the sweet, soft-spoken Kaia who couldn't even hurt a fly?! You literally used to pack Champ bento boxes with heart-shaped rice!"
"That Kaia was a lie," she said. "This is the real Kaia."
Suddenly, her halberd's tip lit up with energy.
Instinct kicked in. I shrieked like a toddler and dropped to the floor, dodging her thrust by mere inches. My heart was hammering like a tribal drum as I scrambled backward, panting.
But she wasn't done.
With a fierce war cry, she swung the halberd again. I rolled across the floor like a kebab in a dirty food cart—still naked, by the way, and now covered in grime and floor dust. Absolutely delightful.
"Kaia! Wait, wait, can't we just talk about this? Maybe over tea? A truce? Therapy?!" I begged.
"There's nothing to talk about!" she snapped, lunging with another stab.
Luckily, I barrel-rolled again like a pro-level dodger in a fantasy MMORPG.
"You're really stubborn, huh?!" she said, visibly annoyed.
Suddenly, she lifted her leg to kick me. Bad move, girl.
Still on the floor, I latched onto her ankle with both hands like a koala clinging for dear life.
"Ack!" she yelped, losing balance.
YES! My chance! I leapt to my feet and bolted like a greased lightning bolt.
But just as I hit my stride, I heard a whistle through the air.
WHOOSH!
Her halberd whizzed past me like a deadly javelin, slamming into the wall beside me with enough force to make a crater. I flinched so hard I almost peed myself. (Almost.)
"Kaia! Come on! This isn't you!" I cried, voice cracking. "Remember those times we used to cheer Champ during P.E. Class? We're friends, right?!"
"We're not friends," she said coldly—and then she charged.
Panic rising, I glanced at the nearest table and saw a bunch of vials and data chips.
I did what any genius would do: I threw them at her.
Glass shattered. Chips bounced off her armor. But Kaia? Didn't. Even. Flinch.
"What kind of Omega female are you people?! You're like... like savage war beasts here in Verilios!" I shrieked in panic. "SILVER! WAKE UP!"
"He won't be waking up anytime soon. So I'll finish you first," she said.
Then, BAM! She socked me right in the gut.
I choked on air, eyes bulging, blood spitting from my mouth like a tragic anime scene.
"S-slow down a sec..." I croaked, clutching my stomach like it held all the world's pain. My knees buckled. I collapsed, wheezing.
I've always sucked at physical combat. And now, it was catching up with me.
She reeled back for another punch, and I did what any self-respecting, desperate man would do:
"WAIT! DON'T MOVE, KAIA! OR... OR I'LL PEE ON YOU!"
She froze.
Brows furrowed. Disbelief radiated from her.
I used that moment to climb back to my feet, groaning. Then I took a deep breath, did a little stretch... and pointed my manhood right at her.
"This... is my last weapon," I said, serious as death. "Approach, and you'll taste the fury of my golden shower!"
Her lips curled into a smirk. She shook her head, clearly exasperated.
"You're seriously messed up, Jiggs," she said, pulling the halberd from the wall. "You're just wasting my time."
And then—
PSSSSSSHHHHT!
It happened.
I couldn't stop it.
I actually... peed.
Right then and there.
Kaia jumped back in disgust.
"JIGGS!!"
"THAT'S RIGHT! COME CLOSER AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN!" I shouted, voice trembling, eyes wild, covered in sweat and floor gunk and shame.
But I had no choice.
My dignity was gone. Silver was down. I was alone.
And my pee was my only shield.
Let's go.
"What do you even gain by serving Nihilex, Kaia?! Can't you see this path leads to nothing but ruin?" I shouted, my voice echoing across the metallic walls of the lab.
"You're wrong, Jiggs," she snarled. "We Omegas will finally know peace—true peace—because of what Nihilex is about to achieve!"
"Oh, and how? By doing to Alpha males what was once done to Omegas? So that makes you just as cruel as the people who hurt you. You've become no different than them!"
"You won't change my mind, Jiggs. I'm not like Melior," she said coldly, her grip tightening on her halberd. "He deserves the punishment Nihilex is giving him."
"...What?" I breathed, the blood draining from my face.
"You heard me," she said, her voice now a vicious growl. "And you're next!"
She lunged.
The halberd came down with a whistling slice of air—but I dove, rolled, and scrambled like a cartoon character on fire, tumbling across the floor in every direction like a human tumbleweed.
Kaia chased after me, her halberd slamming and swiping in rapid bursts. I looked like a naked dodgeball getting hunted by a vengeful ballerina armed with a medieval weapon.
I rolled one last time—SMACK!—straight into the wall.
"Ow—ugh, wait, what the—?"
Something small dug into my back. I turned and saw it blinking.
"A... GPS tracker?" I muttered.
"PREPARE YOURSELF!" Kaia roared, raising the halberd overhead like a judge about to deliver the final verdict.
I squeezed my eyes shut. "Okay! Then I'll PEE ON YOU!" I shrieked in pure terror—
SMASH!
A chair flew across the room and clocked Kaia right in the ribs, sending her stumbling backward with a pained grunt.
I gasped and turned to the source—eyes lighting up in dramatic slow-mo. "Mr. Voder! You're late! I almost died! Like, actually died!"
"Apologies, Jiggs," he said calmly, stepping over debris like he was strolling through a garden. He tossed me a red uniform. "Good thing I brought this. You did say you wanted to disguise yourself as one of the executioner soldiers."
Before I could thank him—
"You planned this..." Kaia hissed, recovering from the chair strike. "It was all a trap..."
She shouted, turning sharply to escape and report back to Nihilex.
"You won't succeed!"
But she didn't get far.
A hand—a terrifying hand—clamped around her ankle.
"Where do you think you're going, you damn piece of trash?" came a deep, guttural snarl.
My heart skipped a beat.
Silver.
He was awake.
And he was furious.
You could hear it—feel it—in his breath. It rumbled out of him like a beast freshly unleashed. The lab felt darker, heavier, as if the oxygen itself was backing away in fear.
This wasn't the good Silver I was getting used to.
This was the Silver I hoped I'd never see again.
"Let me go!" Kaia screamed, swinging her free leg down to stomp him.
CRACK!
Kaia screamed as Silver snapped her leg like a twig, without a flicker of hesitation.
She collapsed, gasping, clutching the mangled limb.
Silver rose slowly—deliberately—his calm demeanor more terrifying than any screaming beast. His aura was electric, pulsing with a rage so intense it nearly scorched the floor beneath his feet.
"You don't deserve legs," he said coldly, reaching down.
CRACK!
He snapped her other leg, and Kaia howled in agony.
"STOP! PLEASE!" she sobbed, her voice raw and trembling.
But Silver wasn't done.
His fingers twitched, hungry for more. His glare burned with divine fury.
"Silver! That's enough!" Mr. Voder called, alarmed.
But Silver didn't even blink. Slowly, methodically, he reached for her arm.
"Silver!" Voder shouted again.
CRACK!
Kaia's right arm broke with a sickening snap. She collapsed completely, screaming until her voice cracked.
"P-please! Stop! I-I'm sorry!" she cried, tears pouring down her face as she trembled in fear.
"You scream too much. You should be silenced permanently," Silver whispered, his voice low and deathly calm. Then he grinned.
He grinned.
And placed his hand on Kaia's head.
"No... no, please! Don't—!" she begged, shaking violently.
"Jiggs!" Mr. Voder shouted. "If you don't stop him now, he'll kill her!"
My heart thundered in my chest.
Silver's fingers began to tighten around her skull.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. His eyes—they weren't just angry.
They were monstrous.
Like the darkness had taken him completely.
He was slipping. Slipping back into that monstrous side of himself that we'd worked so hard to bury.
My breath hitched.
Not for Kaia alone—but for him.
"SILVER! STOP!" I screamed, panting, voice cracking from the tension, from the fear, from everything.
Silver froze. Slowly, his burning eyes turned toward me.
And for a moment—I wasn't sure if he even recognized me.
"It was her, wasn't it, Jiggs?" he asked, voice low, trembling with restraint. "She's the one who attacked you."
I swallowed hard. I couldn't speak.
I just... stared.
Because I didn't know what scared me more—
Kaia...
...or Silver, now looking at me like he was inches away from losing himself forever.
Slowly—deliberately—Silver turned his gaze back to Kaia.
His voice dropped, low and thunderous.
"No one... no one is allowed to hurt Jiggs," he growled. "Because if they do... they will have to face me."
And with that, he placed his hand once again on Kaia's head—tightening his grip—his fingers poised to snap her neck like a dry twig.
"SILVER, STOP!" I shouted, the sound of my panic cutting through the thick tension.
Silver froze. He held Kaia's head for another second... then with terrifying calm, he let go. Her body dropped to the floor with a thud, limp and discarded like some useless piece of trash.
"You better be grateful, woman," Silver said in a low, cold tone. "If he hadn't stopped me, you wouldn't be seeing daylight again."
Then—he looked at me.
I gulped.
Hard.
His eyes... they were intense, a storm raging just beneath the surface.
"This is only the beginning," he told me darkly. "If anyone lays a hand on you again, Jiggs... I won't hesitate. No pleading, no mercy. Not even from you."
And just like that, my brain short-circuited.
I couldn't tell if I should feel flattered because I had a brutally loyal, overprotective, half-feral bodyguard... or terrified because said bodyguard might casually murder someone just for accidentally bumping into me.
The room fell into heavy silence, thick with tension.
It was like the lab itself held its breath.
"Do what you need to do, Jiggs," Silver said, his voice calm again but distant. "I'll step out... give you space. I know I scared you." His eyes dimmed slightly. "I'll return only when you're no longer afraid of me."
"Silver—" I tried to stop him, but with a blur of motion, he was already gone.
I stared at the empty doorway, stunned.
Mr. Voder sighed beside me, shaking his head.
"Silver's... got a very unique way of expressing love, huh," he muttered.
"L-love?" I choked out.
He smiled faintly and ruffled my already messy hair.
"He may not have marked you yet, Jiggs, but... this is his way of claiming you. You're his. And he won't allow anyone to hurt you again."
"M-me?!" I gasped.
Mr. Voder nodded.
"Now stop worrying too much. You've got a job to finish."
Right.
I nodded, took a deep breath, and marched over to Melior's terminal.
I booted it up, but then—my brow furrowed.
"Why's it empty...?" I muttered, confused.
And then—
Kaia laughed.
Even in her broken state, bruised and battered, she still managed a twisted grin.
"Nihilex ordered it," she said breathlessly. "Every single file. Every record. Every backup. Erased. You've got nothing left, Jiggs."
I swallowed hard and stared at her.
I closed my eyes, sighed deeply... and shook my head.
"Erased? That's all he told you to do?" I asked, slowly opening my eyes again.
"Everything," she hissed. "Digital or hard copy. All gone."
WHISTLE!
I turned just in time to catch something flying toward me.
"Jiggs! Catch!" Mr. Voder called.
I snatched it mid-air. Looked at it.
A flash drive.
I grinned like an evil gremlin.
Held it up where Kaia could see it.
"And you thought we had no backup."
Her eyes went wide. "No! That's not possible!"
"You failed," I said sweetly. "And this, Kaia, is the danger of underestimating tech nerds."
I plugged the flash drive into the terminal.
Boom. All the missing files from Melior's work began pouring back in like a digital resurrection.
Kaia looked like she'd swallowed her own tongue.
"Thought you won, huh?" I turned to her, smirking like I was the main character in a hacker movie. "Big mistake."
And as the files loaded in, I pulled out the GPS tracker I'd found earlier and fished my phone from the uniform Mr. Voder had brought.
I synced the device, tapped around, and—BINGO.
I jumped in place, holding my phone up like a victory trophy.
"I've got Melior's location!"
Kaia's face fell.
I turned to her, eyes blazing with mischief.
"Next time, don't go messing with geniuses like us. We might not have the muscles," I said, pointing to my temple, "but baby, we've got this."
I might be ridiculous, sure. A living disaster. A walking accident.
But when I'm serious?
That's when Overdrive Jiggs 2.0 takes over.
The file import completed with a cheery little ding, and Mr. Voder approached, brow raised.
"What do you want to do with Melior's terminal now, Jiggs?"
I grinned like I was about to launch a missile.
"Watch and learn."
My fingers flew across the keys.
"Analyzing data structure... recalibrating Verilios frequency to Aurivelle signal... calculating range, triangulating line of sight... initializing connection..."
"What language are you speaking?" Mr. Voder asked.
DING!
Signal acquired.
I turned to Mr. Voder, practically glowing with pride.
"Why the smile, Jiggs?" he asked.
I leaned in with a wink.
"Better fix your hair, Mr. Voder..."
He blinked. "What? Why?"
"...Because we're about to be on national TV," I said smugly. "And I'm finally going to wave hi to my Omega mom... just like I promised her."
He stared at me.
Mouth open.
Mind blown.
And I—well, I was just getting started.
...
...
...
Alaric's POV
"Have most of the Omega females you rescued arrived safely?" I asked the four Beta males—Marsh, Gem, Daryl, and Martin—who stood before me, dust-covered and weary, but still holding their composure.
"There are still a few we believe are in the custody of the Alpha clans," Marsh said, his voice taut with guilt. "But... we don't have the numbers or strength to extract them. We're sorry, Lord Alaric."
"No." I shook my head gently, giving him a reassuring smile. "You four have done more than enough. You risked everything to get them out. Don't apologize for bravery."
I turned to the group of Omega females now gathered in the safety of our refuge.
They sat or lay close together, shivering with trauma still fresh in their eyes. But they were being cared for—Kali and the other Omegas moved gently between them, offering food, warmth, and words of comfort. Beta males and females alike helped however they could, building back the courage these women had lost to fear... fear carved into them by Crest's tyrannical decrees back in Aurivelle.
"Is this really the end for Omegas?" one of the rescued women asked, her voice barely a whisper as she trembled. "Do we have no place in this world anymore?"
I walked toward her and knelt down, taking her shaking hands into mine.
"Don't be afraid," I said with a soft smile. "We're not done fighting. We will take back our peace. And I promise... I will protect every single one of you."
Then, I summoned my ability—Omega's Tranquility—a calming aura that spread like a gentle breeze across the room.
One by one, the women's shivers faded. Their breathing slowed. The tension in their shoulders eased, if only slightly. I couldn't erase their pain, but I could ease their suffering—for now.
Then I turned to Kali. "Can you guard the perimeter?" I said quietly. "I'm going to Crest."
Kali's face paled. "Alaric, that's dangerous."
"If anyone should be deemed dangerous, they should be afraid of me," I replied coldly. "Crest continues to poison Aurivelle with his lies and power. As long as he remains in that seat, more chaos will come. I won't allow it."
"Alaric..." Kali's voice trembled.
I looked over my shoulder. "Don't worry, Kali. I'm not leaving you behind. I'm coming back."
I had just turned to leave—when the sound of screeching tires broke through the air.
A black vehicle came speeding into the safe zone.
The car stopped abruptly, and the doors flung open.
And the first person I saw was someone I hadn't seen in years.
"Henry?!" I exclaimed, shocked.
But that wasn't what truly stole my breath.
In Henry's arms... was Champ.
Unconscious. His body scorched. Burned.
"Alaric! Kali!" Henry screamed as he ran toward us, his voice full of desperation, tears streaking down his soot-covered face. He collapsed to his knees before me, gently laying Champ's broken body on the ground.
"What... what happened?!" I cried, kneeling beside them, trembling as I placed a hand over Champ's chest.
It was faint—but he was alive.
Just barely.
My eyes shot toward the man beside them.
There stood Deux, frozen.
And then—he dropped to his knees and bowed low—his whole body pressed to the ground in deep remorse.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean for this to happen..." Deux choked out, his voice shaking with sobs. "I never wanted Champ to get hurt."
My vision blurred. I turned to the four Beta males—Champ's loyal companions. One look at Champ and they fell to their knees, anguish ripping through them as they broke into tears.
"Master Champ..."
Their voices cracked as they mourned their commander.
I turned to Henry, grabbing his hands. "Tell me what happened, Henry. Who did this to my son?!"
He gripped my hands tightly, his own eyes brimming with tears. "Listen to me, Alaric," he said. "Champ and Deux saved me. They risked their lives to get me out. But before we escaped... I told Champ the truth. A truth he deserved to know."
"What truth?" I asked, breath catching.
Henry took a deep breath, then spoke.
"I overheard it myself. Crest confessed it with his own mouth. Back when you were locked in the Omega Secret Facility... during your heat stage... Crest took advantage of you, Alaric. He impregnated you."
My breath hitched.
A sharp, cold dread stabbed into my chest.
I staggered back.
"No..."
Henry nodded. "And the result of that was..."
"Silver?" I whispered.
"Yes," Henry said, barely able to speak the word. "Silver is your son."
I pulled away from Henry, stumbling back. My hands flew to my mouth as the tears broke loose. Sobs wracked my body.
All the pieces fell into place.
That's why...
That's why Silver had always kept his distance. Why he avoided eye contact. Why he refused to say the word "mother"... because in his heart, he believed he was nothing but a mistake.
"That's why he never introduced himself to me..." I cried. "He thought he was worthless..."
Henry nodded, silently confirming what my heart already knew.
Silver—my son.
And I never knew.
"When Champ found out the truth... his heart was consumed by fury," Henry began, his voice breaking, tears already streaming down his face. "In that moment, he triggered a power only he possesses... the Omega's Whisper of Death."
My breath caught.
"It's an ability that annihilates everything around him especially who he thinks or deem as enemy—without mercy, without discrimination. But in return..." Henry paused, his hands shaking. "It sets himself on fire. Life for a life. That's why his body's like this, Alaric. He was burning alive."
I felt something inside me shatter.
"But Deux," Henry said, turning to the trembling figure behind him, "Deux was the only one who could stop him. The only one strong enough... close enough, to wake Champ from it. If it weren't for him, Champ would have died right there."
A tidal wave of emotion surged through me. I stood and walked over to where Deux remained kneeling on the ground, his body pressed into the dirt as though begging for punishment.
I knelt, took hold of his shoulders—and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Thank you, Deux," I whispered, voice trembling, heart aching. "Thank you for saving my son."
"I'm sorry," Deux sobbed against my shoulder. "I... I couldn't stop it in time."
"No, Deux," I said, pulling back just enough to look into his tear-streaked face. "This wasn't your fault." I reached up and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks. My hand trembled—because in that moment, I saw not a warrior, not a soldier... but a child. My child, in all but name. "I'm grateful you were there for him when we weren't."
"But what's going to happen to Champ now?" he asked, eyes wide, panicked. "He's not waking up..."
I reached out and placed a hand gently over his chest.
Deux closed his eyes, drawing in a shaky breath and gave him peace from all of the pain.
Slowly... his breathing evened out. The panic faded from his face, but the sorrow remained.
"Thank you... but it still hurts, Alaric," he said quietly, "seeing him like this... it hurts so much."
I nodded, then walked over to Champ's side.
His body—burned, broken, still—lay motionless.
I knelt down once more, this time placing his head gently onto my lap.
Everyone around us watched in silence.
Waiting.
"Alaric..." Henry said softly.
I turned to him, my eyes already wet. "Thank you, Henry," I whispered. "For protecting my son when I couldn't. For staying by his side... when Voder and I weren't there."
Henry's own tears fell freely now. "It was my honor, Alaric," he said, voice cracking. "In those years when we were separated... it was Champ who reminded me of you, of Kali, of Voder, of the family I lost. He carried your strength in his smile. I never truly felt alone because he carried all of you with him."
I closed my eyes and nodded, overwhelmed.
And then... I began to hum.
A soft, haunting melody rose from my throat. Gentle... soothing... almost like the lullaby of a mother cradling a child.
"Mmm... mmm... mmm..."
The world fell still.
The wind passed gently over us, cold and soft as if it, too, was listening.
Birdsong fluttered through the air, and the quiet rustle of trees filled the silence.
Then... I released it.
My gift. My truth. My power.
From deep within me flowed a light—a soft, golden glow that pulsed and spread over Champ's broken body.
"Alaric..." Henry gasped, stepping back, his eyes wide with awe.
"Champ..." Deux breathed, his voice breaking with disbelief.
Before everyone's eyes, Champ's skin began to mend.
The charred flesh slowly regenerated—blackened wounds fading into healthy, pink skin. His breath grew less shallow. His lips, once gray and dry, were returning to their natural warmth.
The color returned to his cheeks. His body, no longer radiating death—but life.
"Is this...?" Henry whispered.
"Yes," I said, smiling faintly, though my tears continued to fall. "The Omega's Purity."
Henry staggered back in shock. "You have it... you...!"
"It's a rare gift," I said, brushing a hand through Champ's softening hair. "A unique power that I have—one that allows me to heal the ones I own... my mate, my children."
Tears ran freely down my cheeks now.
"And I've never been more grateful to have it," I whispered. "To be able to protect Voder... to bring Champ back from the edge... to save Silver... no matter what tragedy may come, I will stand between it and them."
They are my light.
And I will be their shield.
Always.
Just a few moments later...
"Ugh... mmm..."
(Cough!)
The silence shattered.
Champ's body convulsed with a sudden cough—a breath!
Everyone gasped. Then, without warning, Deux threw his arms around him, embracing him like he never wanted to let go again.
"W-wait—Deux... I—I can't breathe!" Champ croaked, wincing.
But Deux couldn't hear him.
He was trembling. Tears flowed freely from his eyes as he clung to Champ's burned but now-healing body, his voice choked in disbelief. "Champ..."
Champ blinked, confused, trying to catch up with the moment. "Where... where are we?" he asked softly.
Deux slowly pulled away, wiping his eyes as he looked around.
"Mother?" Champ asked.
Then his eyes scanned the surroundings—recognizing faces, one by one.
"Uncle Henry... Kali... Marsh, Gem, Daryl, Martin..." he murmured, dazed.
He looked beyond them. "Omega females... Betas..."
"Yes, Master Champ!" Daryl exclaimed through sobs. "These are the ones we brought to Veydith—those we managed to rescue."
"However, the situation in Aurivelle... it's gotten worse," said Martin, his voice low and grave.
"Crest has seized power," Gem added. "He's ordered all Alpha males to capture and enslave every Omega female in Aurivelle."
"And it doesn't stop there," Marsh said solemnly. "He tried to claim Lord Alaric for himself."
Champ's eyes closed. He inhaled deeply. Then opened them with cold determination.
"The list of Crest's sins... it keeps growing," Champ said, his voice sharp with rising fury. "This isn't something we can just stand by and watch anymore."
"What do you want to do, Champ?" asked Deux, eyes still red.
Champ's jaw clenched. "I'll face him again. And this time—I won't let him get away."
"I'm with you," I said, stepping forward, eyes gleaming. "That monster still has a debt to pay."
"Are you sure you're ready?" Deux asked, concern creeping back into his voice. "Is your body strong enough?"
"I think so," Champ nodded. "I feel... alive."
"He's fully recovered," Henry confirmed with awe in his voice. "Your healing ability, Alaric... it's unlike anything I've ever seen."
"Then I'll take you straight to Crest myself," Deux said firmly, his hand already clenched around the car keys.
"As we agreed," I said, turning to Kali, "you'll stay behind and guard everyone here. We'll end Crest's reign."
Kali hesitated. She took a long breath.
And for the first time—she nodded.
"Go, all of you," she said softly.
"Come on, Champ. Deux," I said, already turning toward the car.
"I'm going too," Henry said suddenly. "I need to return to the Alpha King estate. There's something I still need to do. I need to make sure Theron won't die."
"What?" Kali asked sharply. "Henry, why would you—?"
But her voice faltered.
She already knew.
"Uncle Henry..." Champ said gently. "Deux and I already know."
We all turned to him, confused.
"Champ?" Kali asked. "Know what?"
Champ turned to Henry. "Uncle... it's best if they hear it from you."
Henry's face tensed. His eyes fluttered shut, and he exhaled shakily.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then...
"There's... a secret I've carried," he began. "Something I never told anyone."
He looked up at Kali, at me. And finally, he let the truth go.
"Theron and I... we've been in a situationship. In secret. For a long time."
The words hit like a thunderclap.
"What?!" Kali gasped, staggered. "Henry... why?!"
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice raw. "I couldn't say it. You all hate him. I know what he's done... But I saw something in him. Something no one else did. I... I still do."
"You're going back... to heal him," I said quietly, piecing it all together.
"Yes," Henry nodded. "I won't let him die—not like this, not when Crest secretly poisoned him to steal the throne."
Kali was silent.
She stared at him, betrayal and heartbreak bleeding across her face.
She swallowed hard, her eyes wet, but she turned away.
"Do what you want," she muttered. "Just... don't let yourself get hurt."
"I won't," Henry whispered.
She didn't turn back. But her shoulders trembled slightly as she walked away.
"I thought... maybe you and I would be... but it's all just a shattered dream now," she murmured to the wind. "Go. You're wasting time."
"Kali..." Henry said gently.
"Go!" she snapped, not looking back. "I've got things to protect here."
I exhaled, heavy-hearted. Then turned to the others.
We moved as one—Champ, Deux, Henry, and I—climbing into the car as the engine roared to life.
The sky above was heavy with clouds.
The storm was coming.
And this time—we were bringing it straight to Crest.
...
...
...
Champ's POV
We had finally arrived in the capital city—but it was no longer the place we once knew.
We stood in silence, our eyes scanning the ruins before us. The buildings were shattered, the homes engulfed in flame. Smoke filled the skies like black veils mourning the fall of a kingdom.
Aurivelle had fallen into chaos the moment Crest claimed the throne.
The city that once radiated beauty, balance, and structured power... was now an open grave for hope. Under King Theron's rule, while inequality still existed, there had been laws—protections that bound all living beings to a fragile peace.
But now, all of it was gone.
Suddenly, a terrified Omega female sprinted toward us, eyes wide with fear and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Please help me!" she sobbed, collapsing near Doctor Henry.
Behind her, five Alpha males appeared—chasing her like predators stalking prey.
Deux calmly stepped forward, planting himself in front of them. The air shifted, tense and electric.
"Master Deux?" one of the Alphas asked, confused.
"You're under my command. What is the meaning of this?" Deux's voice was sharp, stern.
"It—it's a direct order from Alpha King Crest," the Alpha stammered. "He's permitted us to capture Omega females at will." He pointed toward my mother. "We've been ordered to take him"
And then they came—more of them. Dozens. No... over a hundred Alpha males. Drawn by the scent of Omega blood. Drawn to us. We were surrounded.
Five of us stood in the center. My mother. Doctor Henry. Deux. The frightened Omega female.
And me.
My mother turned to me and whispered gently, "Champ... I can use my ability, but only those in front of me will be affected. If I see you, even you might fall under its power. I want you behind me and command the remaining Alpha males that's not in my line of sight. Henry, Deux, and the girl will stand between us—shielded from our gaze."
"But I... I can't do it, Mother," I said, my voice trembling. "I've tried so many times before. I can't make them submit. I can only do it unconsciously. Uncle told me I need to tap into my emotions to awaken my aura... but I don't know how."
He smiled at me softly, his voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos.
"How should I do it, mother?"
"It's simple, Champ. Think of the one person you love the most. Someone you would die to protect. That's the key. Not anger. Not rage. Love."
His words didn't just echo in my ears—they cracked something open inside me, as if a lock buried deep within my chest had finally come undone. A rush of heat surged through my veins, not from fear, but from something far more powerful—something ancient and instinctive. My gaze drifted toward Deux, and there he stood—steadfast and resolute, a lone figure facing down a tidal wave of danger. He didn't flinch. Not even a blink. Surrounded by snarling Alpha males, he stood tall like an unbreakable pillar in a storm.
And then... as if he felt the weight of my eyes, he turned.
Our eyes met.
He smiled.
It was gentle, almost subtle, but it radiated through me like a burst of sunlight cutting through the darkest clouds. There were no words, no grand gestures—just that look. That silent expression of everything he couldn't say. And somehow, in that moment, I felt it all.
I didn't have time to hold onto the warmth.
Because the storm broke.
The Alphas lunged—feral, fast, and merciless.
But time... it didn't move with them.
It slowed.
Every heartbeat thudded like a drum of war, loud and deliberate.
And before I even realized it—my body had already moved.
I wasn't thinking.
I was acting.
Driven by something far greater than instinct.
Smack!
Smash!
I attacked the Alphas closing in on Deux, driven by one instinct: protect him.
They kept coming. More and more. I closed my eyes, heart pounding in my chest like a war drum.
Love...
Protect...
Deux...
His name echoed through my soul like a sacred mantra.
He was the one I loved most. And I would protect him—even with my life.
"Champ! In front of you!" Deux shouted.
My eyes flew open.
And there he was—shielding me from incoming attackers, taking hits meant for me.
"I won't let them hurt you," he growled, holding back a wave of Alphas.
My heart exploded with something I couldn't describe. A tidal wave surged through my body, flooding my veins with light and fire.
And then—it happened.
One by one, the Alpha males began to kneel.
Not just the ones in front.
All of them.
A hundred Alpha males... kneeling before me.
"I won't let you hurt the one I love," I said, my voice low but firm.
Even Deux—frozen in front of me—turned to stare. His eyes wide in disbelief.
And yet, he alone remained unaffected, along with my mother, Doctor Henry, and the Omega girl. Only the Alphas around us had fallen under my command.
"Champ..." my mother whispered in awe.
Doctor Henry looked down at his arms. "I can move freely? But how...? Is this how Champ's Omega aura works? Those he deemed enemy will fall under his command?"
A stunned silence followed.
Then my mother smiled.
"Champ... do the honor," he said gently.
I took a deep breath.
Swallowed the lump in my throat.
"I don't want to kill you," I told the kneeling Alphas. "But I want you to remember your mistake. Your greed. Your cruelty."
I stepped slowly, circling around the sea of bowing warriors. My voice echoed through the battlefield like thunder.
"I am Champ. An Omega male," I declared. "And I command all Alpha males present to go to Veydith and to stop following Crest's orders. I want you to follow me instead and apologize to the Omega females. From now on, you are their protectors. You will defend that city with your lives."
I turned to the Omega girl.
"You will go with them. They will protect you now."
And then—something unbelievable happened.
All the Alphas... stood up.
Silent. No resistance. No hesitation.
And then—they walked. As one. Toward Veydith.
I swallowed hard, my voice shaky as I turned to Uncle Henry.
"They listened...? Did they really follow my command?"
He smiled. "Yes, Champ. I believe they did."
"But how? I meant every word—I wanted them to protect Omegas—but... did I really change their hearts?"
"I believe it's in your blood," Henry replied. "Your mother's infinite love. Your father's bravery. You're both Alpha and Omega—two forces fused in one. And your aura? It's the proof. You awakened your true power... through love."
"But you weren't affected?" I asked, confused. "When my mother used his power, even allies suffered."
"Your ability is different," he said. "It's precise. Measured. You don't impose submission—you remove fear. You see danger and eliminate it with your will. That's rare. And because you're the child of Alaric and Voder, you're something unique. A true, one-of-a-kind Omega male."
My mother's eyes glistened with joy. "And I'm proud of you, my son. Now... let's finish this."
I nodded.
And I smiled back.
For now, it was time to face Crest—the usurper who had no idea what kind of storm was coming for him.
"You don't need to search any further... I'm right here."
The voice sliced through the tension like a blade—smooth, arrogant, cruelly amused.
From the smoke and crumbled stone, he emerged.
Crest.
The traitor. The usurper. And he was smiling.
No—grinning.
"Crest!" Uncle Henry growled, stepping forward in a defensive stance.
"You've done quite well for yourself, Champ," Crest said mockingly, his smirk never fading. "But tell me... do you truly believe you can command thousands of Alpha and Beta males at once?"
Even before he finished, the ground rumbled beneath our feet.
Footsteps.
Hundreds of them.
From every shadow and alley, Crest's soldiers emerged—Alpha males clad in hardened armor, Beta warriors wielding deadly weapons that glinted under the fiery light of the ruined city.
We were surrounded.
And this time, it wasn't a bluff.
They were armed, organized, and ready to kill.
Crest chuckled, almost giddy with anticipation. "What's a rebellion without a little bloodshed, hmm? Why don't we... begin?"
He raised his hand—and then—
ScreeeeeEEEECHHHH!
A high-pitched, deafening screech tore through the air like a thousand blades stabbing into our skulls. Every single one of us—Alpha, Beta, Omega—dropped to our knees, clutching our ears in pain.
Even Crest faltered, his expression twisting in confusion.
The sound echoed from everywhere—buildings, screens, radios, even old broadcast towers.
"Sound check, one two, sound check? Can you all hear and see me clearly? Lalala dododo mememe! Huhu haha!"
I froze.
That voice.
No mistake.
"Jiggs...?" I whispered, heart skipping.
All around us, the screens on nearby buildings flickered to life—followed by every nearby store display, every radio, every comms device—and there, larger than life, was his face.
"Mic test! Mic test!" Jiggs beamed on screen. "You can't talk back, but don't worry! I'm here, and I'm fabulous. Just sit back and admire my ridiculously handsome, incredibly charming, and undeniably captivating face."
Tears welled in my eyes. I hadn't seen him in so long.
Deux just shook his head, almost amused.
"Your friend is... quite the character," my mother murmured.
Crest's face twisted in rage. "Why is that obnoxious Beta ruining my moment?! Ignore him! CHARGE!"
The command echoed. Soldiers prepared to rush.
But I stepped forward, raising my right hand high into the air.
Silence.
Instant, complete silence. Every Alpha and Beta soldier halted mid-charge.
Crest spun, enraged. "Why are you stopping?! Attack—ATTACK!"
I met his gaze—and then, his body jolted.
His eyes widened. Blood trickled from his nose, and every Alpha and Beta male surrounding us weakened.
It wasn't me.
It was Deux this time.
His aura dominance—cold, precise, merciless—was pressing against Crest's soul like a crushing vice.
And Crest was feeling it.
Just then, Jiggs spoke again, cheerfully as ever.
"Oh! And before we begin—Hi Mom, my beautiful Omega mother! If you're watching, your dazzling son is on TV!"
I couldn't help but laugh through the tension.
"You haven't changed at all, Jiggs..."
But I knew better.
When Jiggs started acting like this during chaos... it meant something bigger was coming.
Something that would change everything.
"Champ! I miss you, man! It's been way too long!" Jiggs grinned, "Also, I'm not in Aurivelle right now."
"What? Where are you?" I whispered instinctively, even though I knew he couldn't hear.
"I'm in a secret kingdom I stumbled into with Silver—it's called Verilios."
"Verilios?" my mother gasped, his face draining of color as he clasped a hand over his mouth.
"Mother...?" I asked, startled.
He was trembling.
Before he could speak, Jiggs continued.
"I've collected some juicy, horrifying, and very real intel about Verilios. Watch closely. What you'll see is what they're hiding—their way of life, their twisted plans, and their true intentions toward Aurivelle... and the Alpha males."
Images. Videos. Files.
Flashed across every screen.
Scenes of experimentation. Of chained Alpha males.
Of soldiers kneeling under brainwashing devices.
Of Omega kings commanding with fear instead of love.
And then—one final message.
"Champ... if you're with your mom, Alaric—uh, sorry, Madam Sir Alaric—there's something you need to know. Nihilex, the Omega King of Verilios... your brother... has branded you a traitor. He's ordered your execution."
Everything went silent.
I turned to my mother.
He couldn't speak.
"Mother... are you from Verilios?" I asked, voice shaking.
He hesitated, lips quivering.
"Champ..." He began, guilt clouding his eyes.
Uncle Henry stepped in, voice tight with fury.
"This... this isn't just cruelty. It's monstrous. They've already begun altering Alpha males—physically and mentally. And Alaric... why didn't you tell us where you were from?"
He lowered his head. "Because I left that world behind. I didn't want to be one of them. I wanted a real and peaceful life here... with Voder. With my children. I'm sorry."
I stood there, unmoving, as if the very ground had turned to ice beneath my feet. My breath caught somewhere between my lungs and my throat, refusing to come out. The world around me blurred, drowned beneath the crashing waves of realization flooding my mind.
A thousand thoughts raged through me like a storm I couldn't control—memories, doubts, truths I hadn't wanted to face.
I had Verilios blood running through my veins.
That place wasn't just some distant mystery or enemy land—it was part of me. It was in me.
I wasn't just from Aurivelle.
I came from there as well.
And in that moment of harrowing clarity, as everything I thought I knew about myself unraveled—I whispered silently, almost afraid to finish the thought:
I was... something else entirely.
"Champ."
Deux's hand gripped my shoulder firmly, snapping me out of it.
I looked into his eyes.
"I know what you are feeling confused right now. But let me tell you this. I don't care where you're blood is from—Verilios or Aurivelle. All I care about is the world we build—a peaceful one. For you. For me. For our future. For our child."
"Deux..."
I smiled—just a little—and turned to my mother.
"You don't need to explain anymore," I said, voice calm. "I know what you wanted was peace. I feel it."
He broke down in tears, nodding.
And then—
"CHAMP! MADAM SIR ALARIC! Before I get captured by the scary guards chasing me through this crazy kingdom, I have one last gift to show you!" Jiggs announced with a cheeky grin. "Something I found in Verilios by accident. I think you'll love it..."
The screen flickered once more—an erratic burst of light breaking through the darkness like the pulse of a heartbeat trying to come alive.
A strange sensation crawled up my spine, tightening around my chest like invisible fingers.
I didn't know what it was, but I felt it.
A presence.
A weight in the air.
Something was coming.
And whatever it was... I knew, deep in my bones, it would shift everything—like a blade carving a new future into the battlefield of this war.
The room fell into an uneasy hush.
The static buzzed softly, like the breath of a sleeping beast ready to awaken. Every screen, every speaker, every device around us went still—waiting. Watching. Holding its breath along with us.
We stood frozen in place, shoulders tense, hearts pounding, eyes locked onto the dark monitors.
Then, like lightning cutting through a storm—he appeared.
And in that single, devastating moment...
Time. Stopped.
A sharp inhale caught in my throat, and for a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe.
Beside me, my mother froze—eyes wide, lips trembling, his hand instinctively rising to cover his mouth. He was speechless. So was I.
And then, without warning... the tears came.
They spilled over, uninvited but unstoppable—hot, silent streaks carving paths down my cheeks.
Not from pain.
Not from fear.
But from something far deeper—an eruption of emotion that had been buried for years. A surge of relief, joy, longing, and disbelief all colliding in a single, overwhelming storm we could no longer hold back.
There he was.
Voder.
The man I thought I'd lost forever.
My father.
Alive.
Even through the flickering screen, he looked just as I remembered—brave eyes, slightly unkempt hair, and that familiar, crooked smile that once made me feel like everything would be okay.
And now... here he was.
He came back.
Smiling awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head, clearly unsure how to start.
"Uhh... Hey there!" he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "Alaric? Champ? I—I can't hear your replies, but I hope you're safe. I hope you're both okay. I just... I love you. So much. I've missed you more than words could ever say. And I—" He paused, his voice breaking. "I can't wait to see you again."
"F-Father..." I whispered, my throat tightening.
"Voder..." my mother breathed, his voice drenched in emotion.
It had been so long. Too long.
Yet here he was.
Real.
Alive.
Even through a screen, the warmth of his presence reached into my soul like sunlight after an endless winter.
"I'm sorry I didn't show myself for so long," he continued, rubbing his neck nervously. "It's all my fault—I know. But don't worry. I promise you... we'll be together again."
My mother—who had stood tall through war and heartbreak—suddenly broke down, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs as his hand reached for the screen, as if trying to touch him.
I couldn't move.
I didn't want to blink, afraid he'd disappear again.
From the side, another voice chimed in—strong and familiar.
"Jiggs! Voder!"
"Silver?" my father turned, surprised. "What's happening outside?"
"They're all together..." Mother said with joy, glancing back at us.
I smiled, my chest tightening, overwhelmed by the swell of emotions—relief, disbelief, and joy all crashing over me.
But Silver's next words wiped the smiles off our faces.
"Executioner soldiers! A lot of them! Get ready!" he shouted, his voice sharp and urgent.
"Champ, my man! Sorry, I have to cut the feed! They're almost coming—!"
Static.
The screen blinked off. The image vanished.
Silence fell over us like a shroud.
Not a soul moved.
Even Crest... stood frozen.
His face pale, expression stunned. He stammered, almost to himself, "Verilios... those were the enemies Jude mentioned..."
The truth hit him like a falling fortress—crumbling brick by brick, crashing around him with a weight too immense to bear. You could see it in his eyes, wide and wild, darting from face to face, as if searching for a lie to cling to, a denial to scream. But there was none. The truth was merciless. And it left him exposed.
And then—he moved.
No words. No defiance.
He turned.
And ran.
The so-called Alpha King—now fled through the rubble like a terrified child chased by shadows. The very embodiment of power was reduced to a coward, fleeing from a truth he could no longer command.
Uncle Henry's voice broke the silence, laced with tension. "What did Jiggs say was coming?"
I opened my mouth, but before I could speak—
We heard it.
A low, thunderous beat rolling across the ground.
Footsteps.
Not random.
Not frantic.
Precise.
Heavy.
United.
Marching in perfect synchrony—like the ticking of a war drum announcing the arrival of death.
From the horizon, through the haze of smoke and ruin, they emerged—row after row of tall figures clad in blood-red suits with pitch-black helmets, each one identical, each one emanating the kind of presence that turned blood cold.
They moved as one—an army of shadows wrapped in blood-red armor, faces concealed behind obsidian-black visors that reflected nothing but the scorched world around them. Not a single voice rose from their ranks. No war cry. No threat. No warning.
But they didn't need to speak.
Their silence said everything.
Every step they took was deliberate, earth-shaking, soul-crushing.
They weren't just soldiers.
They were a message.
An omen.
A promise that death had arrived—and it wore a uniform.
My throat tightened, and I forced the words out through the hammering in my chest. "Who... who are they?"
Beside me, my mother inhaled slowly. The sound of his breath was barely audible over the synchronized marching, but I felt the shift in his presence—an inner storm barely restrained. Not fear. Something colder. Heavier. Familiarity.
"They're the Executioner Soldiers of Verilios," he said, his voice a low whisper edged with steel. His eyes never left them—not even for a second.
He turned to face us then, standing tall, his expression carved in stone. His gaze swept across our group—lingering on me, on Uncle Henry, on Deux—and something in his eyes lit like a dormant flame now rekindled.
When he spoke again, his tone had transformed. It was no longer maternal, no longer gentle.
"Prepare yourselves, everyone."
A silence fell over us—not from fear, but reverence.
His eyes locked back on the incoming soldiers, glowing faintly with a fury that burned just beneath the surface.
"This..." he said, every word like a blade, "this is the true war."
End of Chapter 46