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

Chapter 397: 397 — A Curse or A Blessing? (6)

”What were you doing last night?”

The question came unexpectedly. Vincent almost choked on the water he had just taken in. Still, he managed to swallow it, gently placing the glass on the table before him.

He looked at his friend, his gaze feigning ignorance, as if he didn’t know what Ilyan was talking about at all.

”Don’t give me that look,” the other man frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.

”I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Vincent said, shrugging.

Ilyan, however, didn’t believe him. His expression alone was enough to speak his mind. He rose from his seat, lowering his face so that their eyes met as he leaned forward.

Something in his gaze unsettled Vincent. A spark, or perhaps it was his misunderstanding. Maybe it was fury flickering in his green eyes.

The sun cast large shadows over the trees just beside the window. Air blew into Ilyan’s lavender hair, hiding his eyes slightly.

Only then did Vincent manage to break eye contact. For a moment, he couldn’t look away, as if he had been hypnotized.

”I really don’t know what you mean,” Vincent repeated, though this time his voice sounded less certain.

”You’re lying.”

”Ilyan—”

”Vincent.” The alpha interrupted.

The way he said his name made the other man sigh.

Ilyan had always been like this. He could tell when Vincent was lying, even when everyone else believed him. They had practically grown old together, trained together, and spent more time with each other than either of them could remember. There was no point pretending with him.

Still, Vincent couldn’t tell him the truth. Not all of it.

”I wasn’t doing anything,” he muttered.

Ilyan raised an eyebrow.

Vincent rubbed his forehead, already regretting the conversation. ”Fine. I went near his quarters.”

”You did?” Ilyan’s expression hardened immediately.

”I didn’t go inside...”

”But you were there.”

”Yes.”

”Why? What were you thinking?”

Vincent remained silent.

”Why were you watching Raniel?”

”I wasn’t watching him.” Vincent rolled his eyes. ”I have bigger things to do.”

”Then what were you doing?”

Vincent opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked away, his fingers tightening around the edge of the table.

”Ilyan, you need to stay away from him.”

The alpha stared at him without saying anything for a moment. Then, he parted his lips.

”What?”

”I doubt you didn’t hear me.”

”But... Why?”

”Because he only brings trouble around you.”

Ilyan’s brows furrowed. ”That certainly isn’t true.”

”It is.”

”No, it is.” Ilyan stepped closer, his voice becoming quieter. ”You’ve never liked him. I understand that much, but this is different. You went near his quarters in the middle of the night, and now you’re telling me to stay away from him without even giving me a proper reason. Although you never gave me one before either. He is such a sweet person... So why do you speak of him with such loathing?”

Vincent swallowed hard. He wanted to tell him. Every single thing he had to endure because of this special someone.

He also wanted to tell his best friend that his mother had been planning something, that she had spoken about Raniel and their relationship, and that whatever she had in mind would not end well for either of them.

But he couldn’t. At least, not when he knew exactly how Ilyan would react.

”She’s right,” Vincent finally whispered.

”Who?”

”My mother.”

Ilyan’s expression changed upon hearing him mention his mother. Vincent rarely spoke about her.

”What did she say?” He asked.

”Nothing important.” Vincent shook his head, smiling bitterly.

”Vincent.” Ilayn’s gaze narrowed.

”She just thinks Raniel is dangerous for you.”

”And you believe her?”

Vincent slowly looked at him. His silence lingered in the air for a few seconds.

”I don’t know anymore.” He bit his bottom lip.

Ilyan stared at him for a long moment before turning away.

”You’re my best friend,” he said quietly. ”If there’s something I should know, tell me.”

Vincent’s chest tightened. That was precisely why he couldn’t. Because Ilyan trusted him.

And Vincent was already betraying that trust.

”Just stay away from him,” he whispered. ”Please.” His voice creaked slightly. So slightly that Ilyan didn’t notice.

Ilyan looked back at him, disappointment visible in his eyes.

”I can’t do that. I love him. You know that.”

Vincent lowered his gaze. He had expected that answer. Still, hearing it hurt more than he thought it would. He didn’t harbour romantic feelings toward Ilyan but it hurt to see his best friend turn against him over Raniel, of all people.

***

Several weeks passed after that night.

Nothing happened.

At least, nothing that Raniel could see.

He continued his daily training as usual, spending most of his time within the Temple grounds. His relationship with Ilyan remained unchanged, despite the strange occurrence that night. Vincent’s demeanour remained constant, cold and bitter.

However, Raniel had become even more comfortable around his lover—the alpha who claimed to be his fated mate.

He had also become stronger.

His body had grown accustomed to the constant training, and the once-frail omega could now withstand hours of combat without showing much exhaustion.

The High Priests were pleased by his progress, even if they had begun noticing other changes they did not particularly appreciate.

Raniel had become less obedient. He questioned orders more often. He spoke his mind. And, most importantly, he had begun to think for himself.

Still, none of them expected what happened one afternoon.

Raniel was in the middle of training when his vision suddenly blurred.

He stopped. His hand tightened around the weapon in his grasp.

Something felt wrong.

His stomach twisted violently, and an unfamiliar wave of dizziness washed over him.

He tried to take another step but his legs gave out.

The weapon slipped from his hand and struck the ground with a loud clang.

”Raniel!”

Raniel barely heard the shout.

The world around him spun before everything suddenly went black.

***

The Temple physicians gathered around Raniel almost immediately.

He remained unconscious for several hours, his body refusing to respond no matter how many times they called his name.

At first, the High Priests assumed he had simply overexerted himself. Then the physicians discovered something else.

Something none of them had expected.

”He’s pregnant.”

Silence filled the room.

The High Priests stared at the physician as though he had spoken a language they did not understand.

”What did you say?” High Priestess II almost laughed.

The physician lowered his head. ”He is carrying a child.”

For several moments, no one moved.

Then High Priestess II’s expression slowly darkened.

Pregnant.

Raniel was pregnant.

Their weapon—their greatest weapon—was carrying a child.

And suddenly, all the plans they had spent years building seemed far more fragile than they had ever realized.

”He cannot give birth,” one of the High Priests muttered.

The physician looked at him in surprise.

”He is still an omega. His body will—”

”I know what his body will do.” The High Priest slammed his hand against the table.

”If he gives birth, everything changes.”

No one argued. They all knew it.

Raniel had never cared about himself. He had been raised to obey, to fight, and to kill. His life belonged to the Temple in their eyes.

But a child was different. A child could give him something the Temple had spent his entire life being denied, something even a lover couldn’t give.

Someone to cherish. Someone to protect. Someone who could become more important to him than the Temple, or the Archmage.

High Priestess II slowly looked toward the unconscious omega lying on the bed.

”The love of a mother,” she murmured, her expression becoming colder, ”can make even the most obedient weapon turn against its master.”

The other high priests nodded in agreement.

That was indeed something far too frightening for the future—the war they had to win.