“You are not from here, you do not know our ways. You were our prisoner. You have no home to go back to. You are vulnerable,” Inge said. “He can’t take an omega to bed without mating them.”
I frowned. I was not thinking clearly. Yet, I knew Inge was right and wrong at the same time.
“He cares for me, I think,” I said.
“He does,” Inge agreed. “I know he means for you to be his omega, so why is he not taking responsibility?”
“He promised me he would,” I said.
“You are sleeping in his chambers,” Inge said. I bit my lip. I looked away.
“I agreed.”
“Has he taken you to bed?” Inge asked. If I wasn’t flushed from the alcohol, I sure would be flushed from the conversation. I could hardly respond with ‘to his bed, to hisdesk, to an alcove, anywhere really!’
“I don’t see how that is any of your business,” I said. “I am not a helpless victim. I can make my own choices. Why is everyone so obsessed with what Axel does in his spare time? Are we not grown men?”
“That is not the point, it’s about Axel not being above the law,” Inge started. I interrupted him.
“A war has already started, yet you are worried about my virtue?”
“I’m worried about my country and the line of succession!”
“Leaders in the Oaklands are chosen by merit, not by blood,” I said. Espen told me that the very same morning.
“There has never been a succession before! Besides, if a child is born without mating it would be illegitimate, where would that leave-” Espen grabbed both of our arms to get our attention.
“Don’t look up,” he whispered. I, of course, looked up. Castle guards entered the inn. Several of them. “Let’s get out of here,” he said.
“Gabriel, your hair!” Inge whispered. My glamour must have faltered. Drunk and emotional, my magic was not holding up. I had to get out of there.
As I stood up, I looked right into the eyes of one of the guards.
The return to the castle took a while. While Espen and Inge could hold their liquor quite well, I needed their support to remain upright and steady. It was a walk of shame through the city. Three drunk omegas in fine cloaks and furs, framedby castle guards. We trudged through the streets towards our home.
We were wordlessly escorted to the General’s wing. Inge used his status, his position and his familial ties to get the guards to leave them alone. It would have worked if a worried Alain had not reported that his little brother missed his archery lessons.
“You are messing with the wrong omega! I am a free wolf, not a little troublemaker like this mongrel!” Inge shouted at one point, pointing at Espen. Unfortunately, the fear of what would happen if they did not return the General’s omega safe and sound won over their fear of the General’s brother. “The next time you are wounded, you heal yourself!” Inge said to the guards, as they arrived at the General’s office.
Inge stormed into the office, fire blazing in his eyes. I trudged after him. Espen held me up. We reeked of moonshine. Inge walked right up to his mate. His finger pointed towards Alain’s chest.
“Are you trying to control me?” he asked. The alphas had no time to take in the situation before Inge was in their face.
“What?” Alain asked.
“I can’t go out on my own now? What are we? Omegas or slaves?!” Alain sighed. He took the hand that was pointing at his chest and lowered it.
“Our enemies are at our borders. If you want to go to the market, just take a guard with you,” he said. His tone was soft. I saw how it softened Inge as well.
I felt Axel’s eyes on me, taking in my sorry state. I was leaning on Espen. Espen did not look guilty or scared at all. In fact, his features were brightened by his usual smile.
A sound startled me. Axel’s fist slamming his desk. His eyes were narrowed. They were focused on Inge.
“If you want to be abducted and tortured by the empire, that is your prerogative, but you two dragged my mate into this,”Axel said. His voice was not raised, but he was angry. I could tell from the coldness in his voice. It shocked me a little. I felt Espen’s body tense up against me. Inge was not shaken.
“Your mate? Which mate?! Last I heard you were taking concubines!” Inge said.
“Don’t insult my omega like that,” Axel said.
