Third Person
The grand arena was yet again filled with spectators who had come in the name of Prince Rain Vale. The ministers of Silvereach sat proud, the nobles swayed their fans with pride, and the middle class gossiped without bounds.
On the other side of the arena was the Alpha of Moonfang, Vegas Moonfang, who hadn't just arrived with his mother but with a delegation of ministers and trained gamma warriors.
At the center, on the highly elevated throne, sat the king, the almighty Aldric Vale, who was known for his strictness, conquest, and non-weakling tolerance.
By his left were his seven alpha sons, the very ones the people hoped were born of noble birth, and on his right… sat the disgrace, the shameless heir who had proclaimed a crippled man for a mate.
Without any announcements, today's agenda was far-fetched. Everyone knew Aldric well enough to know Rain's tantrum wouldn't last, and only a day after they were gathered for a rejection ceremony. This would have certainly been a slap in the face of Moonfang, but the twist was Alpha Vegas and his people had not come to claim Caelan.
On the contrary, they had come to publicly reject him and announce him a rogue. He was not fit to be one of them. A man with no legs was nothing but leverage on others, a pullback in the economy, and Moonfang did not have silver to spare on such unresourceful adventures.
Prince Rain held the paper he had been handed a few hours ago. His eyes ached as though grain had been poured into them. He could barely make out the words, but highlighted phrases stood out.
"A grave mistake…"
"Unsuitable alpha…"
"Bond to be severed under royal decree…"
His fist tightened. To save Caelan, he had agreed to reject him, but this… this speech was nothing but humiliation wrapped in a royal seal.
The king was the first to speak. He cleared his throat, then addressed the people. His speech was brief, with no insistence on cohesion, giving the idea that it was all on Rain. Rain noticed every action, every snarl, and every snort.
His brothers kept giving him dead glares. Marcus had gone as far as choking him when he came to deliver the speech, as a reminder that one wrong move meant Caelan would go under the knife. Rain had never hated being weak as he did at that moment.
"Before my son gives a speech as to why he gathered us today, we should acknowledge the elephant in the room… welcome to Silvereach, Mrs. Selene Moonfang. It's ideal seeing you out of your crib."
A blond woman who looked mid-forty stood up and bowed. "It's a pleasure, King Aldric. No mother hen sits down and watches her children go astray."
Rain's eyes almost rolled backward. The sweetness of her voice was nothing compared to her actions.
The arena relaxed with such softness. Then, before everyone, he was dragged in. Chains to his legs, hands, and even his neck. At first glance, Rain sprang to his feet. His eyes darkened.
"You said he would be free," he turned to his father.
"After the rejection. Now sit down," the king ordered.
Prince Rain reluctantly sat down, but his nails dug into his skin. The chains were too tight on Caelan's skin, so much so that they were digging into his flesh.
But what made Rain's heart ache even more wasn't the chains, but the fact that Caelan wasn't fighting it. They didn't even have the decency to put him on his chair. They dragged his legs on the ground like discarded goods.
"This is the truth when we say foreign wolves cannot be trusted," King Aldric hissed.
"I heard the crippled alpha finally snapped," an elder murmured from the side.
"He is a beast and should be made a rogue…"
"Rogue… death is best."
The whispers continued.
Rain wanted to scream and tell everyone it was all lies. He wanted to show the world how much Caelan loved the one they claimed he killed, but they would only see him as weak, nothing but an omega overwhelmed by the bond and pain of rejecting their mate. So he said nothing. And Caelan… he didn't lift his head up, not to look at Rain, the accusing crowd, or his visiting mother.
"Did you or did you not start the fire?" Marcus roared.
But no answer.
"Does it matter? He is a monster and should be killed," Victor hissed.
Rain closed his eyes as tears threatened to fall. His lips trembled with words he couldn't speak.
Rain turned to his father, his eyes desperate.
"Reject him… and he lives," the king murmured.
"But—"
"No buts, Rain. I am lenient enough by letting you keep his life… don't spit on my grace."
"Grace…" A cruel laugh tore through his throat. "I guess I should thank my king for such marvelous life-saving grace."
"Now," the king growled.
The arena went silent.
Prince Rain took the stage, his hands trembling as he held on to the royal pronouncement. He glanced over to his mate, then to the family who had come to claim him.
His so-called mother sat still with no reaction when her son was dragged in chains. A brother who would rather be anywhere but watching this show. And him… a man cursed from birth.
"I… Rain Vale, Crown Prince and heir of Silvereach, under the order and permission of my father… Aldric Vale…"
Rain paused and drew in a long breath.
"Hereby…"
He looked toward Caelan, but he looked ready, waiting for the pain of the rejection. Rain's lips pressed, his fingers tightened on the pronouncement.
"We don't have all day, child," his father growled from behind.
"Of course," Rain sighed. "I announce my marriage to Alpha Caelan of Moonfang."
The arena went deathly silent… then exploded.
"RAIN!"
The king, his brothers, and everyone growled all at once.
"He shall be taken back to his people with honor," Rain continued without delay. "Until formally received, Alpha Caelan Moonfang will reside in his homeland and be prepared for ceremonial retrieval as consort."
And Caelan looked up for the first time. His eyes met with Rain's.
"Will you be my bride?" Rain dared to ask.
The arena was still. Fists eager, hands trembling, jaws dropped.
Caelan didn't answer, so without delay, Rain stepped down the stage. He walked closer, every step a statement he was making. Before Caelan, he smiled, then asked again,
"Will you be my bride?"
Caelan chuckled bitterly. "Is this another performance, Your Highness? Too bad I don't have another Alvin for your actions to kill."
Rain's eyes darkened, but he didn't back down.
"No… it's not."
Rain pulled out a white silk cloth and carefully cleaned the blood trail off Caelan's face.
"I can't protect you from my family… but I can from yours."
Caelan glanced towards his mother and brother.
"If it's pity, keep it," he muttered.
"And if it's war…?"
Caelan drew in a long breath. "I am used to war."
Rain nodded, then leaned in closer, close enough to hear his heartbeat.
"Matters of the bedroom… remain in the bedroom. So will you marry me, my enigma?"
For the first time since he lost his legs… since the bond clicked, Caelan was offered choice… an opinion. It didn't matter on what plate it came on… he nodded.
"Yes… I will."