The Omega’s Rebellion

Episode.4

“What are you doing here?”

Jolting back to reality, I spun, crashing into his chiseled chest. The gears in my head turned, and as I looked up at him, he met my gaze with crushing intensity.

His amber seemed to glow in the dark, like embers of a bright flame. They silently threatened to burn me, and I knew no explanation could get me out of this, so I said the first thing that came to mind.

“Are you the leader of the Iron Fang?”

Zayne’s jaw clenched, and just a split second his composure cracked.

I got my answer.

A gasp escaped my lips as he whirled me around, pushing me back against the wall. He pinned my wrists above my head with one hand, keeping me trapped against him.

“You saw nothing.” He whispered, letting the threat hang in his words. “Do you hear me omega?”

I should have nodded, should have given in, and let fate decide what happens next. But instead, I raised my chin a millimeter higher, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Let me go….and I’ll keep your secret.” My voice trembled as I spoke, but I meant every word.

A beat of silence passed, then he let out a breathy laugh.

“Are you threatening me?” He scoffed, his lips spreading into a mocking smirk.

“I’m bargaining.” I corrected, keeping my tone steady. But he didn’t seem to like that.

“Bullshit.”

I winced as his grip on my wrists tightened, coupled with the throbbing ache in my ankle.

Zayne narrowed his eyes at me, leaning forward. His lips were barely inches away from mine. Panic surged through me as his pupils shifted, his teeth sharpening into fangs.

“I have a better bargain,” he started, and I watched in horror as his claws shot out of his fingers. The color drained from my face as he directed them to my neck. “Why don’t I just kill you?”

I swallowed hard.

There was no escaping this. Was I destined to die no matter what? Or was the universe toying with me by giving me a shred of hope, only to snatch it back in the blink of an eye?

Taking a deep breath, I glared at the general, teary-eyed and determined.

“Do it then,” I told him, turning my head to expose my neck to him. “I thought the Iron Fang stood for peace, but if you’re going to kill me to keep your secret, then you’re no different from the tyrant prince.”

His grip on me faltered, taken aback by my statement. Zayne’s jaw flexed, his claws hovering in the air as if frozen. His amber eyes glimmered with an unfamiliar emotion, almost like he was battling with himself.

I was glad.

Truth be told, I had no intention of dying. This was just a bluff to buy time. Just enough for me to tackle his self-conviction. I had no physical strengths, but I was a keen observer, and men like him seemed to be rooted in justice, even if it meant getting their hands dirty. But only when necessary.

I was no real threat to him, so killing me would only prey on his conscience. At least that was what I hoped.

I unconsciously held my breath, waiting.

Zayne lowered his gaze, his expression shifting. “You’re right.” He started, his voice turning cold.

Oh no.

“I’m no different than the prince, neither am I righteous enough to risk everything I worked for over someone like you.”

“No—”

His hand moved before I could finish. I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing myself.

My knees buckled as a blinding pain tore through my chest. But….there was no blood.

Instead, Zayne’s hand was frozen in midair, trembling. His claws were inches away from my throat, and he gritted his teeth as if he had lost control of his body.

A strangled cry ripped from my throat, and my whole body shook, as I struggled to catch my breath. It felt as if acids burned through my veins.

Zayne staggered back as if struck, dropping to one knee with his palm clutched over his heart.

“What….” I choked through strangled breaths. “…. What’s happening?”

I didn’t understand why, but it seemed whatever was happening to me was affecting Zayne as well.

His claws retracted instantly, pupils blown wide in alarm. He stared at me like I was the cause, his veins popping in his temple as he struggled to get back to his feet.

At that moment, our gazes met, desperate and confused.

Mate

My heart stills.

Mate

No….

No…not again.

Zayne’s lips parted, shaking his head in disbelief. “This can’t be…”

We both felt it. Even when we didn’t want to.

The mate bond.

A second chance mate bond.

I groaned as my chest tightened, like an invisible chain that yanked me forward. “H-How?” I forced out, “The prince already rejected me…”

Zayne’s chest heaved, his voice cracking. “No…I reject—”

The moment the word passed his lips, agony exploded between us.

A suffocating force slammed into my lungs. I cried out. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I erupted into a fit of coughs.

Zayne doubled over, his hands clawing at the ground. A sharp groan rumbled in his throat, cold sweat trickling down his temple.

Even still, he tried again…

“I…reject…ah!”

But if it only made it worse.

My vision blurred at the edges, and I felt my body giving out, collapsing against the cold floor.

I saw Zayne reach for me, maybe to deliver the final blow. And the last thing I felt was the echo of the bond pulling at my heart.

Then everything faded into darkness.

****

I drifted in and out of consciousness, my muscles straining. I couldn’t move, frozen in place with only my mind awake. Everything hurt, and I didn’t even have the strength to open my eyes.

But one thing was for sure. I was alive.

Voices filtered through the haze. They were muffled at first, but as I sharpened my focus, it became clearer.

“Why hasn’t she woken up yet? It’s been three days.”

Zayne’s voice was rough and impatient.

Wait….three days? Have I been unconscious for that long?

“She will. The effects of the prince’s rejection had already weakened her; Her body couldn’t handle a second rejection.” It was a woman’s voice, much softer and wiser.

“That may be the case, but why did it affect me as well? I still can’t shift properly,” Zayne said again, sounding even more agitated.

“That is complicated,” she answered.

“You’re the pack’s priestess, give me a valid explanation.”

I heard the woman sigh. “Listen to me, Alpha. Do not attempt to reject her again. At least not for now.”

I could imagine his gaze sharpening. “Why?”

The priestess took her time before replying, then I subtly felt something touch my forehead. Her hand may be.

“If you reject her, both of you will die.”

“What?” Zayne’s voice dropped, low and lethal.

“Your wolves are entangled,” she stated, her tone heavy with warning. “Your bond is not natural. It’s far from normal, almost forged. Like it was forced into place. Something is wrong, but whatever the cause, rejecting her will destroy not only your wolves, but your bodies.”

I could feel the tension in the room harden. But my mind spun as I tried to process her words.

Zayne can’t reject me. Does that mean he will let me live? But at what cost? I would have to be bound to him. And this time, neither of us would be able to ignore the bond.

I tried to open my eyes, move, speak, anything at all, but my body remained frozen. I could only listen as my fate dawned on me.

Zayne cursed under his breath. “Is there anything that can be done?”

Her hand left my forehead. “Keep her close, it would help your wolf heal.” She said simply. “If not, you’ll both suffer.”