[BL] Alpha, You've Got the Wrong Mate!

Chapter 390: 390 — A Curse or A Blessing? (1)

Weeks passed, yet Ilyan still couldn’t get in touch with Raniel.

Every attempt to meet the omega ended the same way. Either the guards turned him away before he could even reach Raniel’s quarters, or someone from the Temple would step in and remind him that he was not permitted to see him.

Eventually, Ilyan decided he had had enough.

Even if it meant going against High Priestess II’s direct orders, he would enter Raniel’s room himself.

Ever since High Priest I’s passing, she had become the one overseeing the Temple’s affairs. Although the High Priest I’s daughter had officially inherited his title, it was the High Priestess II who held the true authority, making every important decision and dictating nearly everything that happened within the Temple’s walls.

The alpha climbed the large pipe running along the Temple wall before carefully slipping through the small window leading into Raniel’s room.

It wasn’t any easier than the first few times he had done it. As he pulled himself inside, the sharp edge of the broken window scraped against his hand, leaving behind a shallow cut.

The window is still broken?

His brows furrowed.

No one had even bothered to repair it. Not even months later.

Although it was already late into the night, and darkness had settled over the horizon, Raniel remained seated on the floor with a book resting on his lap. He appeared so engrossed in his reading that he didn’t even seem to notice someone climbing through his window.

Ilyan raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.

It suddenly occurred to him that he had never questioned how Raniel managed to read while wearing a blindfold. He had simply accepted it without giving it much thought.

The omega never spoke about himself, never explained his circumstances or how he was treated within the Temple. If Ilyan wanted to learn anything about him, he had to notice the smallest details on his own.

”What are you doing here?”

The question caught him completely off guard. His arms immediately dropped to his sides as he stared at the omega in surprise.

”Y-You knew I was here?” he stammered, sounding as though he had just been caught committing a crime.

”Just because my eyes are covered doesn’t mean I can’t hear.”

There was an unfamiliar coldness in Raniel’s voice, sending a shiver down Ilyan’s spine.

This wasn’t how he usually spoke.

In fact, Raniel rarely showed him any emotion at all. Yet tonight, every word carried a sharp edge that hadn’t been there before.

”Right...” Ilyan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before glancing at the book resting in the omega’s hands. ”But... how can you read?”

”Don’t change the subject. That isn’t why you came here.” Raniel closed the book with a quiet thud before placing it beside him. ”Do whatever you came to do, then leave.”

Ilyan tilted his head, unable to understand.

”What do you mean?”

A soft laugh escaped Raniel’s lips. Dry—almost devoid of any amusement.

”Didn’t you come here because you wanted to do it?”

Once again, confusion spread across Ilyan’s face. He blinked, trying to comprehend, only to fail.

”Do what?” He asked, hoping it would clear his confusion.

”You aren’t that innocent during your ruts,” Raniel replied, his voice carrying a trace of mockery and sarcasm.

The alpha’s eyes widened.

”What?” He frowned deeply. ”You think I came to see you because of that?”

”You alphas are all the same anyway.” Raniel lowered his gaze. ”You never ask. You simply do whatever you want.”

Before he could finish speaking, Ilyan hurried over and lowered himself onto the floor in front of him.

”Other alphas?” His throat tightened. It burned in inexplicable rage. ”They... did that to you?”

He didn’t need Raniel to explain what he meant. The implication alone was enough.

Raniel simply nodded, his expression remaining strangely calm, as though he were speaking about something completely ordinary instead of something that should never have happened.

”And... what did you do?”

Another laugh escaped the omega. This one was louder. Yet somehow, it sounded even emptier than before.

”Tell me,” Ilyan urged, his gaze hardening.

Bloodlust flickered within his eyes as countless faces he had never seen flashed through his mind. He wanted every single one of them to lose their heads for daring to lay a hand on his mate.

”When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice trembled with urgency. ”How could the Temple allow something like this to happen to you? Where were the guards, huh? They don’t let me in, but them—”

Raniel rested his chin against his knees after pulling his legs closer to himself. For a long moment, he simply stared at the blurry outline before him.

”Why should I tell you?” His answer came without hesitation. ”I killed every one of them anyway.” There wasn’t the slightest hint of guilt in his voice. Nor fear.

If those words drove Ilyan away, then so be it.

”Do you really think he wants you for who you are? He’ll run away the moment he sees your eyes.” High Priestess II’s voice echoed through his mind.

She wasn’t wrong.

Every person who had once claimed they wanted to be his friend had disappeared after learning the truth, running the other way.

”You’re a monster!”

”I should have known! No wonder everyone avoids you like a disease.”

For a while, Raniel had begun believing Ilyan might be different.

Until the High Priestess had forced him to face reality once again.

No one could ever truly love a monster and remain by their side for a long time.

Not even kind and gentle Ilyan.

During the tournament, High Priest I’s health suddenly deteriorated. The elderly man was immediately brought back to his bedchambers with the help of the other high priests and servants.

And, naturally, Raniel was taken there as well. After all, he possessed divine powers capable of healing any wound or illness.

For days, the omega remained at the old man’s bedside without leaving, pouring his powers into him again and again despite watching his condition worsen with each passing hour.

The pain was redirected to Raniel, but the disease of death had already spread into the High Priest’s body.

The man he had once admired. The man he had wanted to become. The person whose words everyone listened to without question. Now lay weak before him, barely able to keep his eyes open.

”Don’t let anyone know you’re an omega from now on,” the elderly man rasped, his voice rough and dry.

Raniel frowned.

”But what’s the point? Everyone knows.”

”If you keep quiet from now on, no one else will know. You’ve seen what happens when they find out, haven’t you?” High Priest I slowly closed his eyes before opening them again with great difficulty. ”Keep your mouth shut... and keep your distance from alphas. All of them.”

The omega bit his lip so hard that blood trickled down his chin.

How ironic.

The very man who had assigned countless alphas to guard him day and night... the man because of whom he had endured endless nights of unwanted pheromones and wandering hands... was now warning him to stay away from alphas.

If only he had said those words years ago.

Perhaps everything would have been different.

Not long afterward, High Priest I drew his final breath.

Raniel kept his hand over the elderly man’s chest for several moments longer, silently pouring more divine power into him despite already knowing the outcome.

Nothing happened.

No matter how miraculous his gift was, even divine powers could not stop death.

Before the funeral ceremony began, High Priestess II requested to speak with Raniel alone.

The woman stood before him with her usual composed smile, folding her hands neatly before her.

”Ilyan is far too good for someone like you,” she said calmly, as though she were merely stating an undeniable fact. ”He is the Temple’s greatest archmage, admired by both nobles and commoners alike. He won the tournament through his own abilities, earned everyone’s respect, and has a future brighter than anyone else within these walls.”

Her eyes slowly settled on the blindfold covering Raniel’s face.

”And you...” A faint smile curved upon her lips. ”You are nothing more than the Temple’s weapon. A monster we keep alive because you are useful. Do you truly believe Ilyan would still want you after learning that your eyes can kill anyone... even him?”

Each word pierced deeper than the last.

It was only then that Raniel understood. Even if they had been destined as mates, that didn’t mean they were destined to spend their lives together.

Perhaps they would fulfill their instincts during their heats and ruts, just as nature intended.

But spending ordinary days together... speaking about their lives, laughing over trivial matters, growing old side by side—those were things someone like him could only dream about.

After all, how could anyone willingly stay beside a monster whose mere gaze could steal away the life of even the person he loved most?