"I felt the sonata of the horn last night, I imagine they have already made a decision regarding the political agreement."
The silence at the table was simply icy, even the cutlery went to complete silence, the servants seemed to hold their breath, and the aromas of everyone mixed together was almost unbearable, Axe for a second wished he was anywhere else but there, as uncomfortable as he and his wolf could be, his scent was at the surface, his nerves and anger had not diminished and were making him almost impossible not to give off pheromones everywhere, right now they could pretend to be in a garden full of roses, He had never wanted to escape with such desperation, he had not been able to sleep all night, and Igna, his wolf did not stop moving around the spaces of his mind, he honestly doubted he could rest properly in what was left of his life, that together with his reduced appetite, perhaps would make him die of exhaustion before reaching Craenia.
Morning had already arrived and with it the reality that seemed to slap Axe with a force that was already impossible for him to ignore, last night, once the horn had given its last report tune, for a second he thought to catch its lament in the melody, it was slow and not very pleasant to the eardrums, he even swears to have heard one or another wolf howling next to it, but as melancholic as it can be, it could also be considered beautiful to those who really appreciate its beauty, the last time he had had the misfortune of hearing the wail of the horn, was when he was just a puppy and his father was leaving for war, his memories of that time are somewhat fuzzy, but that, he remembers well.
"You're right" spoke his father at last, taking a sip of water, leaving both elbows to one side of the plate that guarded the food, looking him straight in the eyes.
Kellar André Noir, alpha and king of Asmax, who was the living example of sacrifice, the marks that his back bore, The marks on his back, neck and abdomen proved it, according to him, the only reward he received throughout the years and that kept him willing to always give everything, was his wife, Lena Marielle Noir, his beautiful wife with olive skin and greenish eyes, and his two children, Erika Arlette Noir, first born, who had introduced herself as beta, and Axe, the only omega male in the Noir monarchy in years, always a smile of encouragement to them, his family, his pack, but now, the handsome, masculine face was stoic, even with an imperturbable serenity, yet Axe read far beyond that, he knew that if his father could take him by the hand and put him in a bubble, he would do it without hesitation, the dull gray eyes, almost black from the alpha's own emotions made him lower his gaze for just a second before recomposing himself and looking at him decisively.
"When do I leave for Craenia?" King Kellar Andre did not look away, he even seemed happy at Axe's posture and attitude.
"This very afternoon" he said this time in his direction with heavy tone.
Axe had cried for hours at the positive alliance between Asmax and Craenia, only the fact that the war was unstoppable and the lives of all his people were at stake had made him still hesitantly give his arm. Axe nodded, his scent even stronger but this time sour, he didn't want to appear weak and he swears he isn't, but all this was overtaking him by leaps and bounds, without uttering a word he took a sip of wine before taking a mouthful between his lips, swallowing hard hoping to make it easier just trying to ingest the slightest thing, his life wasn't over, this was just a test, it had to be.
"I'll understand if for a second, you drop that stubbornness and stiffness and behave like the young man you are, Omega."
The omega prince denied and continued eating forcefully, pushing the food into his mouth, forgetting the etiquette with the obvious tension and force marked in his rigid movements, his scent could be felt throughout the halls, making the alphas around want to protect him, including his father.
"I know you don't want this, and you don't know how proud I am, that you put our people above it, I tell you as a father and alpha, you are a worthy heir to the Noir."
Axe didn't answer, he chewed his food almost choking on it, the look on his mother's and sister's faces-until now silent-must have been pure sorrow, the obvious sadness his progenitor gave off was evident, they knew he was holding himself and his wolf back, he always did that since he was little, when he didn't want to speak and give vent to his rage.
By the time he managed to swallow he only felt his father's arms around the side of the chair, along with his scent of Mint, eucalyptus and watermelon, like a mantle, over him, as if to make him understand that all was well, his father's alpha sent a warm feeling to his own inner omega, leaving a kiss in his hair, Axe looked to the side finding his progenitor's crystallized orbs, sad but with that bright streak she knew so well.
"You are my child, Axe Didier Noir, my beautiful boy, and god save whoever tries to hurt you, your alpha is sorry to do this to you, very sorry, I hope someday you can forgive me."
By the time his father finished speaking Axe's tears were rolling down his cheeks, weeping erupted from his chest and emitted sound from his throat that showed his pain and that of his she-wolf who howled loudly in a song of agony, his father just hugged him and let him vent, while his mother, and sister, watched the scene with grief and, the servitude, sighed in sorrow.
Family over family, and over family, only the people, that was the motto of the crown of Asmax.
By the time evening fell at the port and Axe was saying goodbye to his mother, father and sister with a wobbly, melancholy smile, the people strategically positioned themselves to see their omega prince depart, Lena Marielle, his mother looked at him with those bright green eyes of hers and kissed his forehead before embracing him and giving him her blessing, letting out her scent of honey, pineapple and cookies as if she wanted him to have it as a souvenir, then his sister did the same with her pineapple scent and lamented for the umpteenth time, not being able to take his place, Kellar André however was less emotional, as his caste dictated, she hugged him tightly, looked him straight in the eyes and repeated again how proud he was of the man and omega he had become, to all that Axe could only close his eyes, sigh and smile.
When the trunks began to fill the ship, Axe looked at all those who had taken the time to see him off, there were his people, omegas that had been like second mothers, alphas and betas that he loved like a father, puppies that deserved a future as much or better than a present full of wars.
Carefully he positioned himself facing them and gently placed his knees on the ground, he leaned on the wood of the port and let his forehead rest on it to then leave a kiss and get up, and without looking he turned around and climbed into the boat with his back to everyone leaning his weight on the wood, begging his she-wolf not to let him fall.
The scent hit him even before the sound of footsteps on the wood, wet earth, cinnamon and blood, something unheard of and real as the man beside him.
"Easy, Omega" he asked seeing the young omega standing at the edge of the boat, holding on to the wood with his hands made into a fist admiring the sea as they brought up everything they needed for the journey, Axe turned to give him a quick glance smiling, a small, strained smile that cost him the strength he didn't have.
"You ask too much of this poor omega, Cedric" his voice came out forced, sad, low and even without taking his eyes off the salty waters "Today begins the road to marrying the enemy, an alpha who will surely make my life hell" he pursed his lips in a grimace and denied, both he and his wolf defeated and angry for not being able to do anything about it "The calm you ask of me is far from being an option. Not even my gods will save me from this, perhaps it's time to resign myself, but I won't accept it, it's not fair."
"If it were in my hands you wouldn't go there, I'm not in favor of this, Igor neither" he said.
Axe smiled seeing the human and the beast inside him, Igor, equally worried about him, smiled giving off his scent full of love and affection, Cedric also let his go, it was a breeze of support, a caress of affection that was worth more than anything, between omegas that was one of the greatest displays of affection, and he couldn't behave any other way, the ever good and willing Cedric.
"It's okay, Cedric, it doesn't matter anymore, we need them" he shrugged "My wolf and I know, alone we won't be able to against Aspor's kingdom, and Craenia will be reduced to ashes without us."
He turned his face observing the omega next to him, tall, strong, full of muscles, white straight hair, symmetrical eyebrows and adorned with a gold ring, honey eyes, thin lips, olive skin, slightly toasted by the sun; he raised his hand letting it be on the albino's cheek with a subtle caress that made Cedric close his eyes and feel, he smiled, he was going to miss that omega with all his heart, his brother from another mother, his beloved Cedric, they would go together, but the union would not be the same.
"Do you think they have accepted willingly?" he asked withdrawing his hand while still smiling, his eyes calm as well as his posture, but with a rumbling, unsure heart "Years of bad intentions are not forgotten my dear, but we are so in need of each other, that I am to cross the sea and marry the heir to the throne of Craenia."
"One word Axe, just one and I will help you disappear from the earth, there will be no alpha, beta or omega that can find you, just say it" the omega denied giving an almost imperceptible and one can say shy laugh, he took a deep breath and looked at the sea closing his eyes, soaking in the wind blowing all over the harbor, the saltpeter, the sound of the waves, the sun warming his skin "Axe, please."
"I would only create the foundation for an impending massacre, Cedric" he said with a hint of pain, his eyes threatening to crystallize "I thought it many times, the goddess Luna and Fenrir are aware of it, I prayed for freedom, but I cannot" she sighed "I carry the crown of a nation on my head, a people on my shoulders and the lives of each of our people on my conscience, I could not sacrifice all of our people for my happiness."
"You will be miserable."
"So be it, Cedric" he let go a sigh that bid farewell to his homeland "So be it."
Those had been the last words the kingdom of Asmax heard from the lips of one of its heirs, in the beautiful port of Uprad, capital of Asmax.