Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-85. Hormones

[Raven]

This was the first time Ezra had been this vulnerable with us, and now everything felt painfully awkward.

Honestly, I preferred it when Ezra would just lose his mind and burn down the world. The nauseating, smoky stench of boiling blood and burning flesh was far more tolerable than the suffocating silence in Asher's chamber. Before, disemboweling a conscious immortal was enough to lift his spirits. Now, I didn't have a clue what might work.

Food?

Rum?

Flowers?

Cannibalism?

Women?

Torture?

Poetry?

I am an alchemist, not a poet.

What am I even supposed to say?

Gold is yellow, Silver is blue, Oh, my dear brother, You've lost all your screws.

Instead of cheering him up, my poetry would torture him. And I didn't want him to crave death even more. So, poetry was clearly a bad idea. I let out a sigh and even that echoed. Maybe I'll just ask the obvious. I cleared my throat.

"You knew who posted that news blog online, didn't you?" I asked Ezra.

"Cedric." Ezra replied in a voice weaker than a whisper, almost lifeless.

"When you knew who it was, why didn't you reveal his identity before the council?" I asked, my frown deepening when he didn't react and just stared into nothingness silently.

I contemplated him closely, curling my fingers into a loose fist, feeling a restless frustration grow inside me. Something heavy in my chest wanted Ezra to react like the Ezra I knew instantly. Because this version of Ezra...

My fist tightened, nails biting into my palm.

It felt as though Ezra had already been consumed by some curse worse than death, leaving behind someone I barely recognized. The thought hit harder than I expected, tightening the ache in my chest.

I clenched my jaws, resisting the urge to smack some sense into him. To yell at him and tell him to get his shit together.

But his silence... his unnerving calm... this complete lack of action - it tested my patience to its breaking point.

But no. I couldn't lose my brother. Not because of two women.

"Ezra, I asked you a question," I demanded, my glare cutting through the silence.

He finally spoke, his voice hoarse and exhausted. "Cedric is our little brother."

The words hung in the air, but they didn't sit right with me. I mean, yeah, biologically Cedric was our half brother, but did we ever consider him as 'our' little brother?

"Not just that..." Ezra looked up at me, his gaze heavy. "If we fail to fight this curse, Cedric will succeed us. Isn't that why Asher is grooming him as the back-up Alpha?"

I ran my tongue across my inner cheek, my gaze drifting to Asher's empty chair behind the desk.

As much as I hated this idea, it was for the best. The generational curse affected only the legitimate offspring of the curse bearer.

That was why the curse didn't affect Nesryn and Cedric - they were the illegitimate children.

My father may have given his second and third concubines the status of wives, but he never formed a soul pact with them. That was why, when he finally succumbed to the curse, our mother was the only one who suffered due to the breaking of the soul pact.

I never understood my father. Even now, I can't make sense of his actions. Did he know about the curse? Was that the reason he took concubines, hoping his illegitimate children would survive?

Was it some twisted form of protection?

What was the origin of such a complex curse?

What words were used to forge its malignancy?

Who created this curse and why?

to thousands of such questions, but never found a link that could connect all dots. And whenever I thought I was close to figuring things out, either the link disappeared or I found Asher blocking my path. Just another reason to abhor him

strutting around as if he has it all figured out. But in reality, he's just a self-centered bastard, too arrogant to admit he

They somehow bond better, but no - Mr. I-am-always-busy-because-I-am-the-true-alpha had

possibly be more important than Ezra

well, and then I had to

seriously doesn't

Damn him!

Screw him!

up

I'd burn half the blood in

instead, almost out of habit, I activated my butterfly surveillance, which was supposed to

with all the council shit, I couldn't monitor her first day at all. Then again, the first days are mostly

a quick side

would cheer him

butterfly surveillance from my phone onto

who had been sitting limply on the couch with his soul lost in oblivion, stirred the moment Xanthea's voice filled the room. It was like watching a spark

candidates?" Xanthea's voice wavered as she looked at Nesryn, insecurity

Nesryn affirmed with a nod. Her brows tensed as she

fidgeted

Ezra's candidates...

I'll train you for the meeting while

completed the paperworks required to be a candidate, the jury would

Ezra asked Nesryn to bring Xanthea to the council, he instructed

tell me you are planning to ask the omega to be your Luna candidate directly before the jury," I said plainly. "What's wrong with that?" Ezra

that!?" I raised my voice. "She'll panic on the spot. You'll make a fool of yourself if she

his eyes lingering on Xanthea's image on the screen. For

Getting her consent might just be a formality for the jury, but for me, it's important. And this is

my eyes, I

remained expressionless and her eyes blank as she looked at her phone

Who is she texting?

ask him to hack her

is Lana?" Ezra asked, busy on his phone. "And what's with

forget to visit 000005s.org for the full experience.

"Squirrels?"

at the Lana's first text

Don't worry.

I'll be there asap.' Xanthea's reply was brief, and then it was just Lana updating

squinted, trying to make sense

puzzled. "Do healers

with the beginners, not squirrels," I said,

Lana?" Ezra looked

partner," I said, and Ezra silently peered at

Xanthea's healing partner," Ezra said after

"What about her?"

a chance. I know she's dangerous, but Xanthea wants her as her healing

sigh. "How much did that omega pay

a request.

I get it! No need to get all sentimental again. Asher's not here and I am not hugging you, even if it's the end of the world. So give it a rest. As for a chance, I have already given

turned my attention to Xanthea, Ezra's gaze lingered on me

perfect shield. I knew Xanthea would try to help that cat even if I threatened to kill her if she did. So I taught Lana the way to protect Xanthea from Zosha. I have forbidden her to help the cat, but aside from the exams, Lana will have plenty of free time to train or help some stray cat

looked at Xanthea as she peered out of the car

how she can use the resources you gave her to help

her powers, I'll not allow her to be Xanthea's

He nodded. "I suppose."

designers come together to create history through their dresses, curated exclusively for the Luna candidates." Nesryn and Xanthea were

a statement of the candidate's elite status, a clear

boutique. I expected to see the same spark of excitement in her eyes that I had seen when she visited the Glass Palace, but her gaze was rather dull and heavy, as

be offended if I wear a dress from here? They might find

let out a sigh, shaking his

here. Isn't

to outshine the other candidates to avoid

think an omega can outshine

landed a quick glare at

stating facts!"