Merfolk's Deep Haven

Taken Away

"What kind of omega would have its glands removed?"

Upon hearing such words, those hereditary nobles should first turn pale, then delicately cover their lips with an intricately decorated fan, widen their eyelashes with sparkling powder, and murmur in disbelief, "Oh God, what has this omega done? Can they truly control their glands?"

So, she must have committed some grievous offense.

What could she have possibly done to prompt the Kondo family, known for raising omegas as if they were delicate flowers, to perform surgery and strip her of her glands?

She wouldn't be officially tagged, wouldn't experience heat, nor exude those abundant, sweet pheromones. Conception would be a challenge, and establishing a normal family relationship with an alpha would be deemed impossible.

In this modern age, such behavior almost signifies that this omega is of no value. She could only be sold at a pittance and reduced to a mere tool to satisfy others' s****l cravings. The upper echelon would surely ostracize her.

This form of punishment was exceptionally rare, as it benefited neither party.

Ann hailed from a distant Eastern country.

It was an isolated, minute village. When war ravaged the land, the enemy didn't need artillery shells. Just a few gunshots were enough to shatter the tranquility of Zhuangzi.

Most people were mercilessly stabbed to death, resembling a grotesque carnival. A handful of underage omegas were seized as trophies.

And Ann was among them.

Yet, she was markedly disobedient.

Perhaps it stemmed from the fact that she wasn't very young when she was taken. According to the housekeeper, her dark eyes resembled holes on paper, devoid of emotion.

Other young omegas spoke of an unsettling feeling in her gaze that lingered uncomfortably.

She detested the art of tea-making, fumbled with needlework, and couldn't brew sake proficiently. Her attempts to don a robe or kimono resulted in a disheveled appearance, her black hair tied in a haphazard fashion akin to a chicken coop.

Ann should have been discarded or sold off inexpensively long ago. But unexpectedly, Mr. Kondo took a keen liking to her.

He was so enamored that Kondo had her glands removed simply because she was a beta.

This evoked envy from others who 'admired' it.

It was akin to a persistent nuisance that refused to fade away.

Ann instinctively covered the back of her neck. She arched her back, burying her face to one side. But her weakened state only made her raised needles appear pitifully tempting.

Rick felt an uncommon pang in his heart and inquired, "Are you in pain?"

Then, almost charitably, he offered, "I can mark you temporarily."

After all, having the temporary mark of a top-tier Alpha was something to boast about.

Ann clenched her fists, nails digging into her flesh. The moist, sticky sensation came from the mermaid's silver-blue blood, slowly seeping from her palms.

The pain jolted her awake. Ann's throat felt dry and hoarse, and the muscles in her temples throbbed and bulged. She coughed several times before managing to utter a clear sentence——

"Leave."

Then, she succumbed to unconsciousness, her frail body falling into the mermaid's long hair, much like being enveloped in dense algae.

"I'm genuinely curious why you think you have the right to raise your voice at me..." Rick stepped forward, disentangling her limbs from the merman's. "You should be grateful for my kindness."

As he squatted down, attempting to sniff Ann's neck, he found no scent.

It was a bit of a disappointment.

Ann awoke from a restless dream, a splitting headache throbbing in her skull. She noticed her body covered with a warm woolen blanket.

A cup of tea sat on a stool near the head of the bed. The tea leaves had settled at the bottom, the brew now cold.

Rick, indeed, upheld the ridiculous aristocratic traditions.

The events from yesterday were a chaotic whirlwind, taking her considerable time to piece together. Gunshots, clashes, mermaid riots, and Rick attempting to discern her identity...

Even today, the glands at the back of her neck still throbbed.

Ann touched the spot, finding no teeth marks, indicating that Rick hadn't temporarily marked her.

In truth, it wouldn't matter even if he did, but Ann had heard that a marked omega would uncontrollably desire the person who marked them. The notion of being controlled by someone else's desires nauseated her.

Though she hadn't been an omega for long, the lingering sensation of gland fever from yesterday still made her legs feel weak.

She genuinely feared experiencing secondary differentiation on her own.

That merman was unquestionably something peculiar.

She attempted to rise from the bed when footsteps approached the cabin, accompanied by hushed conversations.

"The omega borrowed from the Davis family fails to capture the mermaid's attention. Why? That omega boasts top-notch qualities, possessing the purest Eastern European blood!"

Another woman's voice, calm yet cold, countered, "Ansel, restrain yourself. Rick will mock you..."

They were engaged in a competition against Rick.

When the door swung open, a strong light illuminated Ann's face.

She wore a dark black dress with delicate rose embroidery on the hem, though it had been torn, exposing the lace lining. Her shapely, slender calves bore a series of red marks, as if drained.

Her black hair contrasted against her snow-white skin. There was still undried blue blood on her cheeks, and the corners of her lips shimmered like bright silver.

Cloaked in shadows, she was unforgettable.

"Take her away."