"Luren, NO!!" Craige shouted, his voice trembling with desperation. But Luren didn't
stop, he kept walking, his eyes clouded with pain as he stepped outside to leave.
Outside, a heavy tension hung in the air. Everyone stood silently, their eyes fixed on the door, waiting for the two to emerge. But as they saw the expression on Luren's face, they knew… something had happened.
Velzra was still tied up, held firmly by Rolen, his head bowed in silent guilt.
The King and Queen now stood outside as well, their faces pale with worry, waiting for
the Duke's decision.
"I-I'm sorry… Father, Mother," Velzra whispered, his voice barely audible, yet it
carried just enough to reach their ears.
Then Luren stepped through the door. The cold breeze hit him like a wave, but it was
nothing compared to the piercing gazes of the people around him. Their stares
wrapped around him like chains, questioning, and confused. He swallowed hard, his shoulders trembling as he tried to hold himself together.
He didn't look back. He couldn't.
"Roan, let's go back," Luren said grimly, his voice low and heavy with regret.
But behind him, a powerful presence loomed…Duke Craige, his steps steady, his aura dark and murderous, sending a chill through the air.
"ROAN, ARREST THEM ALL!!!" Craige roared, his voice thundering like a storm. The
ground seemed to tremble beneath the weight of his fury, and for a split second, the world stood still…. then chaos exploded.
Guards scrambled, people screamed, and under Craige's dangerously radiating power, no one dared to defy his command.
Luren stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief as Roan moved like the wind…swift, deadly,
unstoppable. One by one, the barbarian soldiers dropped to the ground, their
bodies twitching before falling still. Roan calmly blew into his pipe, releasing poison needles so potent they could paralyze a bear.
Mara, hearing the Duke's command, moved swiftly with the others, surrounding the area. The barbarians were quickly subdued. The King and Queen, overwhelmed by the chaos and the weight of the moment, fell to their knees, stunned by the sheer dominance unfolding before them.
Craige unsheathed his sword with a sharp, echoing hiss. His eyes blazed with fury as
he strode toward Velzra, each step trembling with rage and sorrow. He raised the blade, pointing it at the trembling omega who had shattered everything.
"Because of you—I lost him!," Craige growled, voice low and dangerous, his aura thick with murderous intent. "For that, you will pay with your life."
Velzra cried, tears streaming down his face as the Duke's words echoed in his ears.
What he had done was unforgivable, he knew it. Shame and guilt twisted inside
him as he shut his eyes tightly, accepting whatever fate awaited.
Craige raised his sword, his expression cold and resolute. In one swift, merciless motion.
"STOOOOP!!!"
Luren's scream tore through the air as he ran toward Craige, throwing his arms around
him from behind.
"Craige, no… please don't!" Luren sobbed, his voice shaking. "Don't do this…"
Craige's blade halted just a hair's breadth from Velzra's neck. His entire body trembled
from the force he used to stop it. His hand shook violently, blood dripping from his palm, he had gripped the blade with his bare hand to stop its descent.
His breathing was ragged, his control barely holding. The sword still hovered dangerously close, but Luren's embrace… it anchored him.
"Let's go home," Luren whispered softly, his voice barely audible, but filled with longing.
Without a second thought, Craige lowered his sword and slid it back into its sheath with
a heavy clang.
"Bring him with us," Craige commanded Rolen, his voice firm yet weary, then turned his eyes toward the King.
"We will talk again…" he added, his tone sharp like a final warning.
The King silently nodded, watching them leave, his gaze lingering on his son with sorrow clouding his expression. His heart ached, but his mouth remained shut.
Roan handed a small vial to the General, who was now stirring weakly despite the lingering poison in his veins.
"Make sure they drink that within twenty-four hours… or else," Mara said coldly, slashing
her fingers across her throat in a deadly gesture. Then, in an unsettling calm, she patted the General's shoulder before turning away.
With grim resolve, they all began their departure from the Northfang tribe.
Luren and Craige rode in silence atop the Cryaroc beast, the wind brushing past them as the world seemed too quiet. Neither spoke a word.
Craige kept his head down, eyes fixed on nothing, his mind spinning. His shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of ten battles. He hadn't even realized his hands
were bleeding, his grip too tight, his heart too broken.
Luren's heart tightened the moment he saw Craige, his eyes widened in horror as blood
dripped steadily from his side. Without hesitation, Luren tore his inner shirt and rushed to Craige's side, hands trembling as he tried to stop the bleeding.
Craige looked at him, surprised, but Luren was too focused, his fingers pressed gently
yet urgently against the wound, his breath shaky.
"I'm… sorry…" Craige whispered, his voice raw and low, the only words he could offer.
Luren didn't meet his eyes. His hands kept working, but his heart was breaking. He
wanted so badly to hold him, to cry in his arms and return to how things once were, but he couldn't. Not yet.