Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Despite assurances they would be safe under Fergal’s protection, Rhene had an uneasy night. Usually, he was the one who immediately fell asleep, while his mate was more prone to lying awake, but this time, it had been the opposite. They’d talked for a long time, discussing their impressions and strategy going forward and sharing their worries about the rescue mission back home. But after that, Erwan had been out like a light while Rhene had lain awake until the early hours of the morning, unable to stop his brain from spinning.

Fergal seemed like an ally, but was he really? Rhene rarely doubted his intuition, but how could he not after everything they had been through? He had to be careful for himself, for his mate, but above all, for their pack, their clan. Too much was at stake to be careless.

Fergal had shown no indications of being less than forthcoming with them, and Gregor had come across as equally honest and respectable. Rhene could only hope his intuition was right this time. How many more betrayals could Erwan take?

He’d only gotten a few hours of sleep, but Rhene still woke early, probably because of the time difference his body wasn’t used to yet. Next to him, Erwan was still deep asleep, softly snoring. Rhene was quiet when he got up, careful not to wake his mate. Erwan needed the rest. He didn’t handle a lack of sleep well, unlike Rhene, who could function fine on five hours.

When he crawled out of their tent—placed right next to Fergal’s own—Gregor sat in front of the tents, tending to a fire that radiated plenty of heat.

“Morning,” he said. “Coffee?”

“You’re speaking my language.”

Gregor poured Rhene a generous cup of coffee from a thermos and handed it to Rhene. “There you go.”

“Thank you.” Judging by the steam drifting up, it would be way too hot for him to drink, so Rhene curled his hands around it and sat on a chair next to Gregor.

“All meetings have been canceled for this morning,” Gregor said.

“By whom? I thought you guys were in charge.”

“We are, but I’m sure you’ve discovered by now that many powers are at work here, all vying for the top. The Murphys called it off, claiming King Ennis was unwell.”

“That’s a convenient excuse, though, in all fairness, the guy looks like he could keel over any moment.”

“He does.” Gregor sipped his coffee. “He’s aged considerably since the last time I saw him.”

“Well, that’s to be expected, no? I mean, you’ve been gone a while now.”

“I have, but I saw him four years ago. A man does not age that much in four years, especially not a dragon.”

Unease danced down Rhene’s spine. “What are you insinuating?”

“Nothing. At least, nothing for now. Merely making an observation.”

Rhene nodded slowly. “Observation noted. So there won’t be any meetings this morning? That’s guaranteed?”

“Yes. The first meeting is at one.”

“Good. That means Erwan can sleep in. Is Fergal up yet?”

Gregor snorted. “Are you kidding me? He won’t be up until noon, is my guess. Not if he doesn’t have to be.”

“So what are we supposed to do until then?”

“I’m not going anywhere. Fergal wasn’t joking when he said I don’t let him out of my sight.”

Rhene couldn’t resist. “Ah, okay. So that’s why you’re sleeping right next to him.”

Gregor let out a long-suffering sigh. “We both know that’s not the reason, but that’s all I will say. It’s complicated. Very, very complicated.”

“Say no more. You’re talking to a guy who fell for a dragon king when he didn’t even know dragons existed. Trust me, I’m intimately familiar with complicated.”

“Yeah, you would be. Anyway, I’m staying right here, keeping an eye on Fergal and your mate. Trust me when I say nothing will happen to him, not while he’s under our protection. So if you want, you can take a stroll around the camp. Maybe put your ear to the ground here and there and see what you can find out. When you showed up yesterday, we’d only just arrived ourselves, so we haven’t had a chance to explore either.”

That wasn’t a bad idea. Even though Rhene stood out like a sore thumb as the only wolf, he might still pick up some information that could come in handy. “Any idea where I can find some breakfast?”

Gregor grinned. “There’s a breakfast tent where you can order whatever you want.”

They chatted until Rhene had finished his coffee, and then he followed Gregor’s directions and found said breakfast tent with ease. It was quiet, only a few dragons occupying one picnic table, and after getting a bacon-egg-and-cheese muffin from an omega who looked terrified to be near him, Rhene sat right next to the men, ignoring their stares.

“Good morning,” he said as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “I’m Rhene.”

One of the men made a strange sound, then chuckled. “We know. Trust me, we all know who you are.”

“Oh, good. That means I don’t have to introduce myself. You have me at a disadvantage, though, because I have no idea who you are.”

Timothy and Daniel were from the O’Connor clan, while Andrew and John were from Fergal’s clan. That made sense because Rhene had already met all the delegates from the Murphys.

“What are you guys up to this morning? Any fun stuff planned?” Rhene asked.

John shrugged. “We’re not attending the afternoon meetings, so we have a whole day off. Andrew and I were thinking of maybe going hunting. They have reindeer here, and I haven’t had one in a long time.”

“That sounds like fun. What about you two?” Rhene asked the other two guys.

“We’ll probably spend a few hours in the red tent,” Daniel said.

Timothy grinned. “I heard they have some real beauties this time.”

“What’s the red tent?” Rhene asked.

The other men shared a look that made him a little uncomfortable. Were they setting him up for something?

“Why don’t you find out for yourself?” Andrew said. “It’s all the way at the back of the camp. You can’t miss it. It’s the only red tent. Who knows, you might want to spend some time there yourself.”

Their raucous laughter made Rhene even more suspicious, but he kept his face blank. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll make sure to stop by.”

The men left shortly after that, and Rhene finished his breakfast. After returning the plates to the omega who had served him, which earned him an incredulous look, he washed his hands and wandered off.

The camp was much bigger than it looked from the outside, but maybe there was some magic at work? It sure seemed like it. It had a shimmering quality that made it feel almost like a dream, like a mirage in the desert.

The four clans each had their own corner, neatly separated and cordoned off by ropes. That wouldn’t stop anyone from trespassing, but Rhene suspected those ropes had some magic attached, so he stayed away from them.

Wherever he went, curious stares followed him, and no one greeted him, but that didn’t surprise him. Finally, he made it to the back of the camp, where a massive red tent stood apart from the others. The men hadn’t been lying when they’d said it was hard to miss. Among all the camouflaged tents, this one stood out like a sore thumb. Something about the red velvet curtain at the entrance made Rhene’s hair stand on end. What was this? What was going on here?

He walked over. From inside the tent, soft voices spoke whispered words he couldn’t make out. Not alphas, then. All the dragon alphas Rhene had met were loud, except his mate. Even Erwan’s brothers spoke in booming voices. Maybe it was a dragon thing. So who was whispering inside that tent?

Rhene took a good look around him, making sure no one was nearby, jogged over to the entrance, pushed the curtain aside, and slipped inside. It took a couple of seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dim light provided by a couple of red lamps.

The tent was set up like a rectangle, with a hallway in the middle and what looked to be small sections on both long sides, each separated by more red velvet curtains. Most of them were drawn open, showing off a bed with a nightstand next to it. Plush red rugs were the only other decoration.

What was up with all the red in here? It was almost like…

His heart skipped a beat. No. No, that couldn’t be. They wouldn’t be so crass as to…

“Welcome to the red tent, alpha.”

Rhene turned around at that seductive whisper. The female dragon omega in front of him was beautiful, with long blonde hair that danced around her shoulders, legs for days, round soft hips, and a generous C-cup. All clearly visible through her see-through négligée that left nothing to the imagination.

“Hi,” he managed.

“My name is Sheila. Are you interested in male or female companionship?”

Oh god, oh god, oh god. Was this what he thought it was? But what else could it be? Her question confirmed it. He swallowed. “Male, please.”

She raised her eyebrows but quickly concealed her surprise. “Any preference for a type?”

He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t play this game. But if he walked away now, he wouldn’t know what was going on here. And he couldn’t ask her, not until he knew if he could trust her. For all he knew, she was complicit in all this. No, he had to be one on one with an omega.

“Not really. Anyone will do.”

She nodded and snapped her fingers. “Travis.”

As if he’d been waiting, an omega appeared from behind one of the curtains. He was beautiful, but when he looked up, his eyes were empty, devoid of any emotion. Rhene was looking at his body, but the omega’s mind had long since checked out. If he tried to talk to him, he wouldn’t get anywhere.

“He looks a little too timid. Do you have anyone with a little spunk?”

He couldn’t believe he’d gotten the words out, sounding normal when everything inside him wanted to scream, shout, protest, throw up.

Another snap of her fingers. “Zacharias.”

As soon as he came from behind the curtain, Rhene knew he had found the right guy. Zacharias might be obeying Sheila, but his eyes spewed venom as he sent Rhene a look of pure disdain.

“Zacharias is new to the red tent, so you’ll have the privilege of breaking him in, alpha.” Sheila all but purred.

Rhene clenched his fists, driving his nails into his hands to keep himself from doing what he wanted to do most, which was to slap her. He’d never hit a woman, but if she continued like that, he wasn’t sure if he could resist the urge. “Can you guarantee us some privacy? If this is his first time, he may need some discipline, and I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone else.”

Her eyes lit up with approval. “Our private room is available, alpha. It’s soundproof. You will find all the necessary supplies on the bedside table.”

“Good. Lead the way.”

Rhene grabbed Zacharias by the wrist, forcing himself to use a firmer grip than he normally would. Everything had to look normal in Sheila’s eyes and to anyone else watching until they were alone. Zacharias didn’t struggle, but Rhene got the impression the omega was biding his time and would happily shove a knife into Rhene’s back, given the chance.

Sheila led them to the back of the tent, where a mini-container stood inside the tent, the heavy door ajar. It had been padded from floor to ceiling with those foam pads they made camping mattresses from. Rhene’s stomach turned at the thought of why the container was soundproof. “This will do fine. Leave us.”

Sheila pointed at a green button right next to the door. “If you need any assistance, just hit the button.”

Rhene grunted in understanding, unable to get more words out. Sheila sent Zacharias a sharp look and left the room, locking the door behind her.

Zacharias yanked his wrist out of Rhene’s grip and scrambled back until he stood with his back against the wall, his hands fisted. “I won’t make this easy for you.”

Thank god. He still had some fight in him. Rhene stepped back, creating as much distance between them as possible. “I have no intention of having sex with you,” he said softly.

Zacharias harrumphed. “Right. You’re just trying to get me to let my guard down.”

Rhene couldn’t blame him for being suspicious. “Do you know who I am?”

Zacharias shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

“I’m not a dragon, Zacharias. I’m a wolf.”

The omega blinked a few times, then narrowed his eyes, studying Rhene for the first time. “You are.” Surprise colored his voice. “I don’t understand.”

“I don’t know how much time we have, and I get that you have no reason to trust me, but I’m still asking you to. What clan do you belong to?”

After a short hesitation, Zacharias said, “The O’Connors.”

“Do all the omegas here?”

He shook his head. “It’s my first time here, but I’ve been told the clans take turns running the red tent at the Dragon Council. It was the Murphys’ turn, only for some reason, they didn’t have enough omegas available, so I was brought in here with some others from the O’Connors.”

Rhene knew exactly why the Murphys had a problem with omegas. “Have you heard anything about why the Murphys don’t have omegas?”

Zacharias snorted. “As if they’d ever tell us anything.”

“The reason is that all their omegas left and joined my mate’s clan. King Erwan of the True Doyles, he’s my mate. And those omegas have all joined his clan.”

Zacharias gasped. “He’s the White Dragon. I didn’t see it, but others said he shifted yesterday. Is it true?”

Rhene nodded. “He is. And, Zacharias, I don’t know the details of what is going on here, but I do know you’re not here voluntarily, and neither is Travis.”

“Voluntarily? That’s not a word we know as omegas. The whole concept doesn’t exist for us.”

“It does in the True Doyle clan. I swear on the earth and the moon that if you want to, you can transfer to my mate’s clan. He will take you in. You’ll be free, you’ll be safe, and you’ll be welcome. We took in twelve omegas from the Murphys, and all of them have made their homes with us. They’re free to go, but they want to stay. We’re offering them a place to live, education, a chance at a future.”

Rhene spoke as fast as possible, fighting to keep his voice low.

Zacharias’s defiance broke, and his eyes welled up. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“Do you have magical abilities?”

“I’m an omega. Of course I don’t.”

That answer came a little too fast. “You and I both know omegas are capable of a hell of a lot more than the alphas realize. If you have the magical ability to scan me, do so. I’m a wolf. I don’t have your magic, and there’s no way I could deceive you. You have my permission. Scan me.”

Zacharias stared at him, not moving a muscle, and Rhene stayed where he was. It took almost a minute before Zacharias took a slow step forward, then another and another until he was close enough. Rhene barely dared to breathe out of fear of scaring the omega. Zacharias raised his trembling arms, then moved his hands perpendicular alongside Rhene’s body. He was halfway down when he gasped. “The True Alpha. I see the True Alpha in you. Are you…?”

If he could pick up on that connection, his magical abilities were strong. “He’s my brother-in-law. My brother Palani is mated to the True Alpha.”

Zacharias dropped his hands. “So the prophecy is true. The White Dragon and the True Alpha have formed an alliance.” His voice broke. “The time has finally come.”

How did he know this? Rhene had too many questions and not enough time. “Yes, it has. Now that you know I speak the truth, you can trust me.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Are you guys allowed to talk to each other in here?”

The omega nodded.

“Then spread the word. Talk to the others. Before this Council ends, we’ll get you out of here. You have my word.”

“They can’t suspect.” Panic filled Zacharias’s eyes. “Sheila is one hundred percent loyal to the Murphys. She’ll rat us out in a heartbeat, and they’ll teleport us out of here in a flash, and no one will ever see us again. The stories we’ve heard about the Murphy alphas… They’ll kill me.”

Rhene realized the truth of what Zacharias was saying. “It has to look like we had sex.”

“And like you knocked me around. She knows I would’ve put up a fight.”

Nausea churned in Rhene’s stomach. “I can’t hit you.”

Zacharias had already messed up the bed sheets. “You have to. I’m not strong enough to do it myself.”

“Zacharias…”

“Do it. Please. This is the only chance all of us have.” He squirted some lube onto the sheets and spread it around.

Hitting an omega went against everything Rhene believed in, everything he valued, but what was the alternative? Zacharias was right that if he was found out, the retribution would be severe. So he stepped behind him, tears forming in his eyes as he wrapped his hands around the omega’s neck. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry…”

He squeezed until Zacharias turned red, and when he let go, imprints of his fingers were perfectly visible against the omega’s pale skin.

“It’s okay,” Zacharias rasped. “I’ve survived far, far worse, trust me.”

Rhene had to turn his emotions off as he hit him on the cheek, picking a spot where it was most likely to bruise, then knocked him a busted lip. Zacharias didn’t even flinch, and that only made it worse.

“We need your cum,” he said to Rhene as he dabbed his bleeding lip, rubbing the blood all over his chin.

“I…I can’t.”

“I’m not asking you to fuck me. You need to jack off, and I’ll stuff it into my ass myself. She’s gonna want to see evidence.”

Rhene wasn’t sure he could get hard under the circumstances. Zacharias must’ve picked up on that because he stepped in front of him, his eyes softening. “Think of your mate. Picture him and do this for him. He’d be proud of you.”

He would be. Once Rhene explained the situation, Erwan would understand he’d had no choice. “I have to turn around.”

“Do it.”

Rhene closed his eyes and pictured how Erwan looked after shifting back. Masculine, strong, and so fucking hot. Once they were out of here, he’d make love to him again. Slow, sensual love that lasted for hours. And then he’d stay inside him as they fell asleep, only to do it all over again in the morning.

He’d never had to work so hard for an orgasm, and when it finally came, it felt like a victory. He’d blocked out everything else, and when he turned around, his hand full of his cum, he was startled. Zacharias lay on the bed with his fingers in his ass, fucking himself roughly, wincing while he did it. “What…?”

“This also needs to look like you used force. Give it to me.”

Zacharias’s naked form, as beautiful as it was, did nothing for Rhene. He was almost clinical as he dripped the fluids from his hand over Zacharias’s hole. The omega stuffed it in and spread the rest over his ass cheeks. “This will have to do.”

Zacharias nodded. “It’s enough. You leave now, and I’ll pretend I’m unconscious. The gods know that’s not the first time either.”

Rhene swiped the last bit of his fluids on the bed sheets and tucked himself back in. “When you arrive, I’ll introduce you to a wolf omega named Sivney. You two are gonna be best friends, I promise.”

“I’m counting on you, alpha. Don’t let me down.”