Robin and Victor were meeting the President at an underground lodge. They sailed for four hours to reach the mainland of Dhasur. A masked man had taken them deep into the forest, into an underground tunnel that connected to a military base.
"Are you nervous?" Victor asked, squeezing his palm.
He shook his head even though he felt a little fidgety.
The door of the conference room was big and intimidating. It only added to Robin's unease. Robin's eyes fell on the man sitting on the wing chair and wondered where he had seen that face. Then it clicked. Robin had seen President Lawrence at a Diplomatic Conference three years ago. He remembered his face very distinctly. He was the only non-royal member representing his country. Robin hadn't given him much thought then, after all, Robin was there only for five minutes before the guards had escorted him out.
Lawrence looked up from the computer screen when he heard them enter.
"You are finally here," the man said with relief, turning towards Victor. "It's good to see you back."
"It's good to be back. Thank you for taking care of my family," Victor said, sitting on the sofa opposite him and dragging Robin with him to sit beside him. Robin felt a little weird since their palms were still intertwined like teenage couples.
"Your family took care of me when I needed it," Lawrence replied. "Is that your mate?"
Robin waited for Victor to answer with uncertainty.
"Yes," Victor said, looking at Robin and raising his palm to kiss it. Robin's heart danced with giddiness. When Victor looked back at Lawrence there was a certain frown on his forehead, like he didn't understand their dynamic. Maybe he didn't expect Victor to show up with his mate at an official meeting. When Lawrence sensed Victor's eyes on his schooled expression.
"Should we go ahead with Plan B?" Lawrence asked, addressing Victor.
"I need a date," Victor said.
Lawrence sighed before crossing his legs and leaning back. "I can give you a date but are you ready? Our soldiers certainly are not. We need to regroup, we need weapons, and we need training. Marcella's army is ruthless. Without proper preparation, it would be stupid to send them to war again."
"Have you spoken to our allies?" Victor announced.
"Three of the five allies we had have backed off."
"Who are the two allies?"
Lawrence looked at Robin with hesitance like he didn't want to talk about it in front of him. Robin understood his hesitance, this was a secret military matter and he was an outsider.
"Lawrence," Victor prompted when he didn't answer.
Robin saw the President's jaw tick before he spoke. "Hestros, and Joolandia."
"As expected," Victor said. "Can you set up a meeting with their representative?"
"I can but I don't think we can defeat Marcella even with their help. Marcella had far more allies than us."
"You can leave that to me."
"You are speaking like you have some kind of leverage over them," Lawrence said, narrowing his eyes.
"Maybe I do."
"What kind of leverage?"
"Maybe their prince, the son of King Harold Marcella is my mate," Victor said with satisfaction. Lawrence whipped his head to look at Robin, his eyes wide with shock.
"You are Robin Marcella?" Lawrence mumbled in disbelief. "I think I have seen you at your father's court."
Robin gulped.
"What on earth are you doing here? How did you get out of the Marcella palace?" Lawrence boomed.
Robin stood there in shock. What was he doing here? He didn't think too deeply about the purpose of bringing him to the meeting. He thought Victor brought him here because he wanted him to meet the President but now it seemed absurd. Why would he want Robin to meet the President if there wasn't some underlying motive?
"I…I…," Robin felt tongue-tied.
"Can I talk to you for a second in private?" Robin asked, turning to Victor.
Victor stood up and they walked to the farthest corner of the room.
"What do I have to do with the war against Marcella?" Robin asked in an angry whisper.
"We can discuss it later," Victor said, sounding as guilty as he should be.
"Maybe you should have discussed it before bringing me here."
"You are right. I am sorry I put you in a spot like that."
"I don't want anything to do with this war, do you understand?" Robin gritted.
"Are you saying you won't help me even if you could?" Victor asked, looking pointedly at him.
Robin reeled back. "Where is this coming from?"
"You are free to refuse to help me. I am just asking." But it didn't seem like a simple question to Robin, it felt like a test. Like Victor was testing his loyalty.
"Fuck you and your war," Robin cursed. He wasn't the one to use cuss words but Victor brought out the worst in him sometimes. "I just wish you had spoken to me about this before."
"We are speaking right now. I need to tell Lawrence whether you are with us or not. If you don't want to help me, tell me now."
Robin wanted to scream in frustration. He walked back to his seat without arguing further.
"What's your plan, Victor?" Lawrence asked.
"We can turn Marcella Soldiers against their King. Most of these soldiers have suffered under Marcella rule. I know there is a huge section of people who want the King gone. If we can sway some of the soldiers to help us, we can start to train our soldiers with Marcella's resources."
"That's a great idea and your mate, being a Marcella Royalty, can help gain their trust. He can address them. I am sure many of these soldiers have seen him at his father's court so they are more likely to follow his lead than ours."
Robin felt betrayed. He never knew he would come up with such an elaborate plan without asking him first. Why did it feel like Victor was deceiving Robin, using him for his benefit?
"Will you be able to convince them?" Lawrence asked, turning to Robin.
Robin bit the insides of his cheek. Was he pathetic enough to go against his own country?
"Robin," Lawrence prompted when he didn't answer.
Robin nodded. "I will convince them," Robin said, deciding to play along for now.
He heard Victor sigh as if he had been holding his breath all this time.
"I will gather Dhasur's soldiers and set up a meeting with our allies. Be ready to address them," Lawrence said to Victor before standing up and bidding them goodbye.
***
Robin didn't speak to Victor on his way back to their home. HIS HOME.
"Why did you put me in that situation?" Robin asked as they were walking towards the house. Robin needed to get his worries out of the way before he could face Victor's family again.
"It wasn't my intention to include you in my mess," Victor confessed.
"So you dropped the bomb on me on the spot?"
"I shouldn't have done that. I should have discussed it before but it just happened and now I am asking for your help."
"What kind of help?" Robin asked, pausing mid-walk.
"Help my country defeat your father."
"You want me to go against my people?" Robin gritted.
"Not your people. Your father. I am giving you a chance to be more than an obedient son."
"You are not giving me a chance, you are using me!" Robin yelled, not caring if anyone heard. "You are good at this, aren't you?" Robin added. "Who knows, maybe you manipulated my aunt into killing the King of Sarai as well."
Victor didn't look offended at his accusation, he looked guilty.
"Oh my god," Robin gasped. "You did! You influenced her to kill her fiance." He shook his head, feeling stupid for not seeing the truth in front of him.
"I couldn't let your father ally with Sarai," Victor confessed. "I did what I had to do to strengthen my chances of winning against him."
"You used her like you are using me!"
"You are my mate!" Victor snapped. "My family. It is different."
"Wait a second," Robin said, remembering something else. "The day I broke the remote and hurt you. The soldier that said you are not breathing, had his ears near your mouth for way too long. He didn't bother to check your pulse, he went straight to check your breathing. You whispered something to him, didn't you?"
"There is no point…"
"Tell me!" Robin spat, "You knew I would follow you. You asked my maid to inform me about your condition. You planned it all."
"I couldn't possibly leave without you."
"When were you going to tell me all this?" Robin asked, feeling betrayed.
"You are not thinking from my perspective. I was trying to save you."
"Stop condescending me, you asshole."
"Yes, I am an asshole for trying to avenge my family and trying to free my people. But I am not an asshole for falling in love with you and needing you by my side. How could I ever go on with my life leaving you on your father's mercy? He would have wed you off to some random Alpha. I asked you his name and you never gave it to me. I didn't kill the King of Sarai but I would have killed that Alpha before I planned my escape."
"I can't believe you manipulated so many people into helping you. They could be executed for it. I know how wars work, there is no wrong or right side in a war. You are not the only one who lost his family, Marcella's soldiers lost their lives as well. I don't care if you are my mate, I won't be a traitor. I won't get used."
Robin flinched when he sensed true anger behind Victor's eyes. "So what if I am using you? Get the fuck off your high horse, Robin. You can't be prim and proper all the time. You don't want to be a traitor, well you are a traitor if you are supporting your father. He is ruining the lives of his countrymen for his benefit. He is the one 'using' his people, manipulating them, not me. Open your eyes, and see who is the real wolf. And if you do not want to help me, get the fuck off my country and go to your father. Go service him. Marry the fucking Alpha he said is your mate and form strong alliances for your father. I don't care! I will fight him and I will kill every motherfucking Marcella off the planet. I will make sure no more of your bastards are born."
Robin looked at Victor in disbelief. This wasn't the man he had known all this time. The words spilled like poison, darkening his heart, stabbing his soul. Robin felt his heart break. He took a step back as tears trickled down his eyes.
"Shit!" Victor muttered as if realizing what he had done. "Sweet…"
Robin shoved him away. "Stay away from me!"
"It was wrong to say all those things. I am sorry. I was trying to provoke you…"
"Well…congratulations then," Robin whimpered.
"Robin…" Victor whined.
"You have crossed a line, Victor. You want me to leave? I will leave you," Robin yelled before turning around and running where his legs took him. He didn't care where he was going, he just wanted to get away from Victor. Far away where Victor couldn't reach him. He wiped the stream of tears as they fell freely.
He was running along the beach when Victor caught up to him. Victor hugged him from behind and didn't let go.
"I am sorry. I didn't think before talking. I was wrong. Forgive me," Victor chanted, placing his lips on Robin's shoulder.
"Get out of my fuckin' face, Victor, I'm warning you," Robin shrieked.
"Please, sweet, don't do this. I was being stupid. Please."
"Let. Go. Of. Me!" Robin yelled.
"Robin, please, stop being so stubborn."
"I will kill you, Victor. Get your hands off me." Robin put all his strength into getting himself free but was no match to Victor's strength.
"Tell me what do you want?" Victor said. "I will do it."
Robin didn't care to answer. He dug his nails into Victor's arms, trying to free himself.
"Do you want me to leave everything? I will leave everything. I will not go on a war against your father. Just say the word," Victor pleaded.
Robin stilled, halting his struggle.
"You are toying with me," Robin whispered.
Victor shook his head. "I am not. I can't stand the idea of losing you. I lost it the moment you ran away. I will die if you leave me. Please, don't leave me."
"You hurt me, Victor," Robin said, feeling disappointed at him.
"I know. You were right, I am an asshole. Punish me however you like. Kick me, slap me, bleed me dry, just don't leave me alone. Don't be angry with me. I love you so much, Robin. I didn't mean to hurt you, I know I'm the worst."
"Shut up, Victor. Stop talking."
Victor went on his knees, head bowed down. "Forgive me."
"Get up, Victor," Robin said, seeing that the people around the beach were starting to notice them.
"Tell me how to fix it and I will."
"You know how to get your way every time, don't you, Victor?" Robin gritted.
Victor looked up at Robin, eyes red. "Not when it comes to you. But I am being earnest. I will do whatever you say."
"You said some really fucked up shit. I can't accept your apology but..."
"I regret it deeply."
"Don't interrupt me when I am talking!" Robin snapped. "I will not leave you but we need to talk. We will talk about this when I am feeling myself again."
Victor nodded.
"Let's go home. I don't want to worry your family."