Chapter Text
Winter was approaching Wittleton with fervor. Night was enveloping the countryside earlier each evening, coating the hillside in shades of deep blues and black. Louis would begin his days in the dark, tending to the cows first, squeezing milk from their utters in between comforting pets and scratches to their anxious hides. Then he’d deliver the milk to his mother who would bottle it up, churn it into butter or age it to form a cheese. By sunrise, he’d be at the chicken coop, collecting eggs and feeding the hens before spending the remainder of the day cleaning the stables and inspecting the animals for any signs of injury or illness. Though he always took longer than was expected of him during this step. He loved all of their animals; the cows, horses, pigs, chickens, and sheep. He cared for each and every one of them like most people did their cats or dogs. It was the reason he loved growing up on a farm. If he could spend all his time playing with the pink little piglets, snuggling with the newborn lambs, or riding his horses through the rolling hills, he’d die a happy man.
His parents, however, would disagree. They believed that Louis couldn’t possibly live a full and happy life all on his own. He needed an alpha to protect and provide for him. An omega such as himself should not have to work at all, let alone endure such a laborious field as a farmhand. His biology fought against it. But he was born into this life, and his family was too poor to find a suitable partner for him.
“Oh girl, I know it’s cold,” Louis patted his horse as she trotted across the field. Beside his sisters, Paddy was his only other true friend. She had been born only a few short months after Louis was, allowing them to grow up in tandem. “Just a bit further, now,” he cooed. The chill was beginning to bite at Louis’ skin despite the layers of heavy outerwear he used to pad his fragile frame. He always ached for the animals during these painful frigid months.
When they reached the stables, Louis tied up his horse and began brushing her, hoping it would provide some warmth, no matter how small. She stomped her hoof on the ground and neighed under the bristles touch.
“I know, Paddy,” Louis soothed, giving her a kiss on her cheek. “I will be back soon to feed you dinner, okay?” Louis patted her once more before locking up the stables and heading into the main house just in time for dinner with his family.
“Hi Mama,” Louis called as he entered the side door, just off the kitchen. His mother was busy cooking dinner, scents of chicken broth and vegetables filling his nose. The fire burning in the den provided him immediate warmth as he stripped off his numerous coats, scarf, and knit hat.
“Oh, Louis!” his mother gasped, spinning around to face him from where she stood at the stove, stirring the large pot of simmering soup.
He furrowed his brow at her unusual greeting. Normally, she’d have asked for his help by now, what with his four younger sisters running around the house all the time.
“What is it?”
“I was hoping to do this with your father, but he’s not home yet,” she sighed, though her tone was filled with anxiety, and maybe…excitement?
“Do what with father?” he wondered. “And where is he? He is never late for supper.”
“Sit, sit,” his mother brushed him towards the wobbly wooden chair at the dining table.
Louis did as he was told, looking at his mother expectantly. She remained standing.
“Your father and I have some very exciting news, Louis!” She clapped her hands together, looking as if she was about to burst from excitement.
“What is it?” his body stiffened, anxiously.
“Well, I’m sure you are aware that you are a very desired omega in Wittleton.”
Louis, unfortunately, did know. Ever since he was a young pup, he’d been complimented on his beauty. The attention had only increased after he’d presented as an omega when he was 15. It was no secret that just about every available alpha in the village wanted him as theirs. He was the most beautiful omega in Wittleton between men and women combined. On the outside, he was the epitome of a perfect omega. He had soft, feminine features, a dainty frame and motherly instincts having cared for all his baby sisters, not to mention every animal on their farm. But none of these alphas really knew Louis. If they knew what he really thought, they’d know he was no perfect omega. He was far from it.
Because the truth was, he wanted to work. He wanted to be able to provide for himself. Even if his omega biology made it harder for him to do those things, he still wanted to. And he’d work that much harder, put in more hours, more energy to achieve the same things an alpha could easily provide for him. He was stronger than any other omega he knew. Growing up as a poor farmhand, he had to be.
His mother continued, “But, as you know, it has been rather difficult to find a suitable alpha for you. None of the offers your father and I have received have been what you require.”
“Mama, what are you saying…” Louis asked warily.
“We have found you a husband, sweetheart,” she beamed at him.
“A what?” he scoffed.
“A husband. An alpha. A wealthy one,” she exaggerated. “One who is willing to provide for you so you never have to work another day in your life. Oh, Louis. This is greater than anything we could have dreamed of!”
Louis’ heart was racing. His mind was spinning. He couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. A husband?
“Who is it?”
“Geoffrey Lansbury, the son of the Earl.”
Louis’ stomach dropped. He tried to speak but all that came out was a small squeak. It felt like he was in a dream, trying to scream but nothing would come out no matter how hard he tried.
He was very familiar with the Earl’s son. He’d held a strong disdain, borderline loathing, for the man since they were teenagers. He was everything Louis was desperately trying to avoid in an alpha. He was a foul man. A pompous, chauvinistic figure in their society. It was common where he lived for omegas to be treated as nothing more than an accessory, a vessel for childbirth. They were born to serve and obey their alphas, taking what their alpha would give whether they liked it or not. They were expected to submit, to bow before their alphas at every command. They were not to be educated. They were not to work. They were to bear and raise children, to be used as an instrument for their alphas in rut.
Louis would rather die than live that life.
“Mother, no!” Louis sprung from his seat, his mother watching on in utter confusion. “I can not marry that man! I can not marry any man. I want to work. I want to stay on the farm. I can not give this up!”
“Yes, and you must,” his mother’s voice did not raise a decibel, not wanting to catch the attention of his sisters in the other room, but it was cutting with intensity. “You have to. You are an omega, Louis. You can not keep putting your body through this. Your father and I have already spent years absolutely riddled with guilt over having you work on the farm. We’ve been through so many other offers. But those men were not rich. They would not be able to fully provide for you. We’ve finally found a perfect match for you. The son of an Earl, Louis.”
“I do not care if he is the son of an Earl, if he is rich. He is horrible, mother! He will make me give up everything! He will make every decision for me; how I dress, what I eat, how many children I must carry for him. I can not marry him! I refuse!” he said through gritted teeth, stomping his foot loudly to emphasize his point.
“This decision is not up to you,” she spat at him. “This is what is best for you, for your future children. They will never have to worry about money. They will never have to work as children like you did. You will be a Countess.”
“I do not care about these frivolous titles and I never have!” Louis waved his arms in the air. “I care about a man' s morals, how he treats other people, omega, alpha, or beta; it should not matter. We should all be treated with respect. Something Geoffrey lacks,” he scoffed. “The only thing he cares about is having beautiful omega to carry on his family name. Well, what about our family name?!”
His mother took angry strides toward him, pointing her finger into his chest. “You are an omega, Louis! No matter how much you try to run from it, that is what you are!”
“I do not try to run from it! I love being an omega. But I do not live to serve. I do not live to bear children.”
“That is your purpose as an omega. Just as leading is an alpha’s purpose.”
“That will not be my purpose,” Louis growled.
“Yes, it will. You are getting married to Mr. Lansbury, and that’s that.”
Louis stared back at her, his arms folded over his chest, his chin raised in the air. “Then I will leave.”
His mother sighed and shook her head. “Do not make this harder than it already is. We are doing this for your benefit, for your future, for your children!”
“Children that I refuse to have with that horrible, horrible man!”
His mother gasped. “Do not say such awful things!”
“Then that would make me a liar!
“You are not thinking correctly,” she tutted. “We will continue this when your father gets home. He is finalizing the deal with the Earl now.” She turned away from Louis, returning her attention to the soup still cooking on the stove.
“I am thinking just fine, mama. It is you who is mistaken. I am not marrying him. How could I marry a man I do not love, nevermind loathe?”
“Marriage is not all about love, Louis. Do not be so naive,” she scoffed.
Louis walked into the den where his sisters were sitting around the fire. His youngest sisters, a pair of twins, were playing with their dolls, his middle sister was writing in her diary, and the oldest was knitting a pair of gloves. He gave each of them a kiss on the forehead as they watched on in confusion. “I love you,” he told them, taking one last second to memorize their faces, wanting to remember them as he’d leave them.
“We love you too…” the oldest sister, Charlotte, replied. Louis walked out before he could change his mind.
Re-entering the kitchen, he headed straight for his coats. “Do not bother waiting for father to get home. I will be gone before he arrives.”
“You are not going anywhere! And you will do as I command!” his mother snarled.
“No!” Louis yelled as he grabbed his jacket off the coat rack, shoving the hat over his head. She watched him storm toward the door, his hand on the handle, shock coloring her features at the pure disobedience of the strict order. He looked back one last time, “I suppose I am not the perfect omega everyone assumes me to be.”
With that, he opened the door to the now dark night and walked out, unsure if he would ever see his family again.
He quickly ran to the stables, going straight for Paddy’s stall.
“Sorry, Paddy. You are going to have to eat dinner on the road,” he said as he untied her. He grabbed handfuls of carrots, forage and oats and stuffed them into his bag, hoping it would be enough to last them until he found somewhere to live.
He had no plan, no money, just Paddy and the clothes on his back. But even with all the odds stacked against him, he felt strangely okay. For the first time in his life, he was doing what he wanted to do- what was right for him.
He gave Paddy a soft kick and they were on their way, riding into the night without a destination in sight. Louis figured they could ride into the next town, Lestershire, and find refuge there until he could come up with a plan. An omega, especially with looks like his, wouldn’t struggle too much getting what he wanted from strangers.
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Time seemed to slip away from him. The adrenaline had since worn off, leaving him wondering if he’d been travelling all night. He searched for the moon but could not get a good view with the trees canopying the path. The sun would surely be rising soon, and they still had not crossed over into Lestershire.
Just when Louis began to worry they had taken a wrong turn, Paddy halted at a fork in the road. Just ahead lay a wooden sign, the name of the town they were headed to catching his eye, pointing right. Forty more miles until they would arrive. It was much too far to continue on without any rest, and Paddy needed food. Louis’ stomach grumbled at the mere thought. A carrot or two would have to do for now.
He surveyed his surroundings for a suitable resting place. The forest edge to his right, where they ought to be heading, was far too open and exposed for his liking. He couldn’t deny the dangers of being a lone omega in the middle of the night, especially a half-breed. And he’d surely need some sort of protection; protection that the forest to his left was offering. It was much more densely lined with trees, providing an extra level of privacy while they waited for morning to come.
With a click of his tongue and a kick to Paddy’s side, they were turning left, entering the pitch black stretch of path leading west. “C’mon, this way,” he coaxed a reluctant Paddy.
The air surrounding them turned instantly silent. No longer could he hear the chirps from the crickets or the hoots from the owls. He could hear nothing besides the puffs of air leaving his lungs, the beat of his heart, and the clops of Paddy’s hoofs on the dirt. It was unsettling.
He squinted, hoping to improve his vision under the dim light of his lantern, but all he saw was darkness. Paddy was afraid, he could tell from the way her steps became hesitant, shaky. Louis tried to soothe her, cooing and rubbing her hide, but it provided her with little to no comfort since Louis himself was oozing with anxiety. Something didn’t feel right.
Just then, Louis caught sight of a pair of red eyes off to his right. Almost instantly, another pair appeared beside it, and then another, and another until Louis couldn’t even count how many wolves were watching him, surrounding him. His blood ran cold, his omega releasing a whine from deep in his throat, sending Paddy into bits.
Because the thing was, no half-breed, let alone an omega, could fight off even one full-bred wolf. Trying to fight off a full pack was a suicide mission. There was no way for Louis to defend himself. He couldn’t transform. He had not been gifted with any wolf-like abilities, same as everyone else in Wittleton. Full bred wolves were rare and mainly lived in the uninhabited regions of the country. Louis had only ever seen one once when he was just a pup, and it had been absolutely terrifying. They towered over normal wolves, almost triple the size, and they were viscous if you crossed into their territory. These wolves would surely have their way with him.
“Paddy, run!” Louis commanded, squeezing his thighs tight around her middle to get her to a high speed. She took off running, but it was foolish for Louis to think for even a second that they would be able to get away unscathed. Wolves were much faster than horses, especially alphas.
Against his better judgement, he chanced a glance back to see if the pack was following him. Just as he suspected, a glowing pack of eyes were drawing closer and closer to him. This would be it. This is how he would go out. At least he was going to die free, he reasoned.
Before he could register what was happening, one of the large wolves jumped out onto the path, forcefully bumping into them. Luckily, Paddy stayed upright and continued running as Louis tried desperately to search for an escape. A sharp pain in his side made it difficult, his ears ringing from the harsh hit to his stomach. The wolf was still at their side, ready to go in for another attack when Louis caught sight of something straight ahead.
Something silver glinted in the light of his lantern. Louis couldn’t make out what it was, but he ran towards it regardless. “C’mon, c’mon!” he instructed Paddy, though he was mostly just chanting and cursing under his breath for his own comfort.
Gates. They were iron gates. They were close enough that Louis could finally make them out, just a few yards away now. But they were shut.
Paddy skidded to a halt just mere inches from the gate’s entrance. Louis braced for the deadly grips of the wolves, the depth of their sharp bites, the sting of their long claws. He lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Paddy, his longest friend, and shut his eyes. But no attack came.
He opened his eyes and was met with a wall of wolves surrounding him, but warily keeping their distance. They were growling angrily, but didn’t dare move an inch closer to them.
Taking his chances, Louis quickly dismounted and ran to the gates, pushing them urgently to find that they opened with little effort. Before he could think any further, he pulled Paddy’s reins inside the walls of the gates and shut them behind him, observing the wolves before making any further moves. They were angry, but they backed away, retreating into the thickness of the trees, growling as they did.
When they were out of sight, Louis sighed, quivering as he tried to catch his breath. He lifted his shirt to reveal a large slash to his waist, seeping blood through his flannel. “Shit,” he winced, wrapping his hand over it to try to stop the bleeding. He needed to find bandages and something to keep infection away. He was so weak, he noticed now, he could barely muster the strength to stand. His entire body trembled with fear. Lack of sleep, hunger, and anxiety ate away at him from the inside out.
Beside him, Paddy neighed. Oh, poor Paddy. How afraid she must be. Louis did his best to be strong, summoning all the strength he could muster to lead Paddy deeper into what lay beyond the gates. Nothing could be worse than the pack of wolves that linger so nearby.
They walked slowly, hesitant to make even the slightest of sounds. The wolves were gone but it still felt like someone was watching him. Or something. As it turns out, there were lines of ink black statues, no- gargoyles, lining the stone walls of a large property, all staring directly at him. It was silly of him to be so frightened by a few stone figures but they were unlike anything he’d seen before. They weren’t depictions of half-breeds, nude silhouettes of the human form, no. They were all wolves. Large wolves with fangs the size of his arm, claws exposed and aimed toward him, all extending out from the edges of the walls. Some were crouching in menacing positions, some leaping towards him, some had wings, others horns poking out the tops of their heads like a devil, and they only got more disturbing the further they walked. Statues of lone wolves turned into illusions of wolves attacking humans, gruesomely biting and ripping flesh from bones. Wherever they were was no place for someone like Louis, that was certain.
He couldn’t quite shake the way the wolves backed off fearfully from the gates of the castle. It was expected for someone like Louis to fear such a place, but the wolves? Perhaps it wasn’t that they were afraid, but that they were not permitted.
When they reached the end of the long row of gargoyles, Louis looked ahead and found they were at the foot of a castle, bigger than any he’d ever seen. It was black in color, tall pointed towers looking sharp enough to impale should someone fall from a great height, with spikes adorning each tower. Geometric windows decorated the palace, though they were all dark, no sign of life lay inside the walls of the castle.
Supposing whatever this strange land was was abandoned, Louis placed his hand on the front double doors and pushed. The door opened easily, squeaking from the rust to its hinges, but putting up no fuss. Louis turned back toward Paddy and fed her a few carrots before tying her up outside for the remainder of the night. Once she was calm and sated, Louis ventured back inside the empty castle.
As expected, it was black as night and so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat. There were cobwebs lining every corner and nook in the gothic architecture and dust covering every surface. Not a soul must’ve stepped foot in there for years.
A grand stone staircase led up to a second story, then split in half, leading to what must have been ten more stories above that, separating into countless chambers. Louis made his way up the first set of stairs and ventured down a long hallway in lieu of continuing higher up. His body was much too exhausted from the journey. He needed rest.
As he walked down the dark hallway, he was met with the faces of strangers staring back at him. Large portraits lined the walls on either side of him of what must have been the royals that once inhabited this castle. What he found most peculiar was that each portrait illustrated a human, no wolves like the gargoyles outside had eluded to. He stopped when he reached the end of the hallway and eyed what looked to be the most recent portrait. There was barely any dust covering the bright hues of paint that shrouded all of the others before it, but something more sinister took its place. Tears in the shape of claws litter the painting beneath, slashing this way and that. The painting depicted a young man in a red military uniform, adorned with a sword. Chocolate curly hair framed his young face, cheeks dusted a light pink, his lips stained a deep rose, eyes the color of emerald. He was rather beautiful, whoever this prince had been. Even through the ripped canvas, Louis could see how handsome he was.
Though as handsome as he had been, he must have been hated. His painting was the only one vandalized in the entire castle.
Just beyond the painting, Louis could see a sliver of warm light illuminating from a door that was left ajar. As he reached out his hand to push his way inside, his fingers instantly warmed. He whined at the pleasant sensation and yearned to get more of it. He peered inside the room, finding it empty, but not completely lifeless. There was a lit lantern perched atop a desk and a fire burning in the fireplace in the corner of the room. It looked to be a study from what Louis could tell. There was a large desk in the center of the room with books and parchment paper strewn about.
He really mustn't have ventured any further, someone was here after all, but- the room was just so warm from the fire, and he was so so tired. He couldn't even hear the reasonable voices in his head yelling at him to turn around and run before someone found him. All he knew was his omega, urging him to stay and rest.
In the light of the room, he lifted his shirt again, inspecting his wound. The bleeding seemed to have stopped, or slowed at least. His hand was covered in blood, but the sharp pain had subsided. He was just so tired.
There was a large velvet chair facing the fire, big enough for Louis to curl up on. He walked over to it, ready to make himself comfortable and shut his eyes for a few hours before he caught sight of something on the edge of the desk. It looked like a face. Not a real face, of course, but- a painted face. A mask of sorts. Well, only half a mask; one eye, one cheek, half a nose, but cut off there. No mouth. Louis furrowed his brows and reached out to pick it up when he suddenly found himself in the air.
The large paws that wrapped around his arms lifted him at least three feet off the ground, squeezing him tight so he couldn’t wiggle free even with the hardest of his might. So, he kicked his feet wildly in any attempt to strike the assailant. He managed to get a few hard kicks in but the being that had him trapped gave no inclination that they had even felt his feeble attempts at a fight. It was a wolf that had him, he could tell from the furry paws grabbing him, from the overwhelming alpha scent; a woody, amber like smell. But he’d not dare open his eyes. He didn’t want to see the wolf that would end his life.
But when no further attack came, Louis peeked his eyes open, finally coming face to face with the alpha. He was- he was the largest wolf Louis had ever seen. Larger than any of the wolves that had chased him through the woods by a long shot. His strength was unrivaled, strong enough to crush bones. Even Louis could tell that the alpha was only using a quarter of his strength on the weak omega, and it was almost enough to squish Louis to a pulp.
He was terrified. He wanted to turn away, screw his eyes shut and never look at the wolf’s face again. But at the same time, he was intrigued. He simply couldn’t look away. There was something oddly beautiful about him. The entire right side of his face was covered in a nasty scar, no fur able to grow through the damaged skin. It should have scared Louis more, that this wolf had surely been through treacherous battles and survived, but it didn’t. His fangs were bared to frighten Louis, and they did in a tantalizing way. It made goosebumps spread over his skin. He wondered what they’d feel like against his neck, breaking skin. He wasn’t thinking straight. Here he was, about to meet his demise, when all he could think about was spreading his legs and taking this alpha’s knot. He craned his head to the side, exposing his neck without thinking at all about what he was doing.
He’d never experienced this feeling before. Not for anyone real anyway. His heats were always spent dreaming of some fantasy alpha, never having an actual person in mind. But he couldn’t ignore the scent filling him up and sending warmth through his veins. His omega craved this alpha for reasons unbeknownst to him. This alpha that was about to kill him. He had to get his act together, he had to think.
The wolf growled and shoved Louis up against the wall when the omega let out a soft whine, causing Louis to snap out of his haze just slightly, if the bulge in his trousers was anything to go by.
Speak, a voice in the back of his head told him.
“I’m sorry, ‘m sorry,” Louis choked out, the pressure from being squeezed making it difficult to talk, to breathe. “Please- I did not know anyone lived here, I just- I just needed a place to sleep ‘til morning. Please just let me go.”
The wolf’s warm body pushed up against Louis’ small one, sending a squeak from Louis’ throat, a twitch to his hardening cock. He closed his eyes, trying to push away those inappropriate and ill timed thoughts. His breath was shaky when he whispered, “Please.”
The alpha was panting against his face, hot puffs of air slapping Louis in the face, doing nothing to help his arousal. When no response came, he opened his eyes. The wolf was just staring at him. Louis couldn’t tell what he was thinking; if he was angry, if he was aware of his affect on Louis, if he was feeling it too, if he was assessing what to do with him next. But the wolf’s eyes, green and searching- they made him seem almost warm while trying to be so cold.
Just as quickly as he’d been hoisted into the air, he was being dragged by his collar through the halls of the castle, kicking and screaming as they went. They passed through the hallway of portraits, up the right staircase. Eight flights of stairs Louis counted. The alpha must be taking him to one of the towers, the one with the spikes on top.
The wolf was silent, only panting and grunting occasionally as he hauled Louis through the castle, bruising Louis’ bottom with each stair he slammed against. At the top of the tower, on the eighth floor, he was thrown into a small cylinder room enclosed by iron bars. The alpha locked him inside, key between his teeth, before disappearing back down the stairs. Louis screamed as loud as he could, rattling the bars in his grip.
“Hey! Let me out! Let me out!” Tears began streaming down his cheeks. “I will die if you leave me up here!”
All he heard was silence.
There was nothing up in the tower to keep him company, to feed him, to help him rest. Just a lonely bucket in the corner, empty. He was exhausted, starving, so much so that he felt close to retching. But he could feel none of that right now. All he could do was cry.
So he wept and wept until he slipped into unconsciousness.
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His eyes flitted open to the smell of pig fat snaking its way to his stomach. There was a tray of food on the other side of the bars. He quickly crawled towards it, snatching up multiple strips of bacon and scarfing it down without so much as a chew before swallowing it. Beside that was a small loaf of bread with cherry jam spread across it and a soft boiled egg in a silver egg cup. He was ravenous, taking one bite of something before moving on to the next item, wasting no time to breathe.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Louis hurriedly scooted away, backing himself up against the wall, forming himself into a ball for protection. But the large wolf did not come in, at least not that he knew of. A man appeared from behind the door. For a second, Louis wondered if this man was the wolf’s human form, but he quickly realised that to be untrue when a spicy scent filled the room, like ginger and lemon.
Whoever this man was was an alpha, that much he knew. And that was reason enough for Louis to be fearful.
“Do not be frightened,” the man said, his voice soft. He bowed his head. “My name is Liam. I am the Steward of this castle.” He dropped to his knees, putting himself eye level with Louis. “I will not hurt you.”
Louis peered at him from over his arm that was currently covering his face. “How can I trust anything you say?”
“I suppose you can’t, not yet,” Liam shrugged. “Trust comes with time, and we have only just met.”
“Yes, it is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Louis rolled his eyes.
Liam only chuckled, which made Louis furrow his brows. He was sure he would’ve gotten reprimanded for his attitude. But the man seemed unphased.
“So am I being let go?” Louis asked.
Liam sucked in a breath, “I am afraid not. It is under strict orders from His Royal Highness that you are to remain at the castle.”
“What?” Louis guffawed. “Why? For what reason?”
“I am unauthorized to give any further details. Just that you are to stay at the castle. Of course, you will be provided a room, so do not worry, you will not need to stay in here. This was only temporary while we prepared your living arrangements. I promise you will be very comfortable in your new suite.”
“I can not stay here, you must understand.”
“Unfortunately, it is not a matter of my understanding. I have been given an order.”
Louis buried his face in his hands. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be trapped here. This had to be all some horrid dream, a nightmare. One that started with his parents marrying him off to Geoffrey and ending with becoming some sort of slave.
“Who was that last night? That wolf?”
“That is His Royal Highness,” Liam answered.
“You mean that is a- a prince?”
The wolf last night seemed like no prince to Louis. A prince of what exactly? Of what kingdom was he sovereign? He certainly wasn’t like any of the princes Louis had ever heard of, had ever read about in fairytales. And that was just on the basis of his actions. The fact that he was a full-bred wolf prince was something Louis couldn’t even comprehend. Was that even legal?
“Precisley. And it is under his orders that you are to stay here. I apologize I can not give any further information to soothe your worries.”
Liam, this Steward as he called it, was unlike any alpha Louis had ever met before. He was kind and patient. He actually apologized to Louis, something he’d never heard uttered from an alpha’s lips before. He didn’t even know they were capable of such a thing. He was soft with Louis, but not in a way that was pitying or because Louis was an omega. Not because he wanted something from him, looked at him with lust, stared at him with glazed over eyes and an urge to claim him. Was this what it felt like to be an alpha? A beta? To be spoken to as a human being?
Louis had more questions. The biggest one being why. Why was he being held here against his will? Was it some sort of punishment for breaking in? Why Louis?
But Liam already said he couldn’t give him any answers. Whether he knew the answers or not was another story. But Louis knew when not to waste his time, so he didn’t dare ask again. Instead, he ate his breakfast in silence while Liam stood and waited for him to finish.
When his plate was licked clean, Liam opened the cell door for Louis to exit.
“No shackles?” Louis eyed him hesitantly.
Liam found that amusing for some reason. “Of course not,” he chuckled.
“But aren’t you worried I will run? That I will try to escape?”
“You would not be able to escape even if you tried,” Liam said casually. “The castle is on high alert. You are being watched.”
“Will I ever know privacy again?” Louis sighed.
“You will in time,” Liam assured him. “But just as you can not trust us, we can not trust you. This is just precautionary. You will be given more freedom in time, if you behave.”
“And how does one ‘behave’ here?”
“For starters, not trying to escape,” Liam winked at him.
Louis rolled his eyes, but there was little malice. Not for Liam, anyways. He seemed sweet, reminding Louis of a teddy bear. Or a puppy. Something soft and kind.
Louis suddenly tensed. “What about my horse? I left her tied up outside last night,” he said frantically.
“Do not worry,” Liam soothed. “She has been taken to our stables and has been fed. She will be taken care of.”
“But she will be worrying about me. I need to see her,” Louis found himself on the verge of begging, his voice dripping with desperation.
Liam looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. “I am sure we can arrange for you to see her this afternoon. Will that make you feel better?”
“Yes, oh yes it will,” Louis nodded, relieved. “Very much so.”
“Then it is settled,” Liam clasped his hands together before he began his descent down the stairs. Louis followed after him.
In the daylight, Louis could finally get a better look at the castle. God, was it dreary. So cold, so void of life. He couldn’t help but wonder how a man like Liam could live in such a place and not let it drain the kindness out of him, not let it drag him down into despair like it had the Prince. He worried it would eventually grab hold of him too, eat away at him until he was nothing but a shell of his former self. He clutched his arms around himself as they walked deeper into the heart of the castle.
When they reached the second story, Liam turned right, passing by the hallway Louis had ventured down last night. Louis whipped his head around at the slightest noises, afraid he’d encounter the Prince, but he never saw another soul. Not until Liam entered a room at the end of the right wing.
Inside the living chambers was a large bedroom, ten times the size of Louis’ room back home. The ceilings must have been twenty feet high, with beautiful, finely crafted, crown molding. A bed laid against the left wall, comically large for someone as small as Louis, with linen fabrics canopying it. There was a vanity for Louis to get ready in front of every morning, a pianoforte in the far corner, though Louis had never been trained how to play. A spacious bathroom with a wooden tub and an endless closet adjoined the bedroom. All of it combined was larger than the house Louis shared with his four sisters and parents.
A new stranger had been standing in the bedroom, one that smelt of Lavender. He bowed before Louis, to which Louis reciprocated.
“Goodmorning, sir. I am Zayn, your handmaiden.”
“My what?” Louis craned his neck toward Liam.
“Your handmaiden,” Liam echoed. “He is here to help you dress and bathe, to prepare you for each day. He will tend to your living quarters and wardrobe, accompany you around the castle, be your companion. And do not worry, he is an omega.”
“Yes, I know what a handmaiden is. But why must I have one? From what I know, only royals have them.”
“Unfortunately, I can not answer what you desire to know,” Liam replied. “Only the Prince will be able to answer your questions.”
“And when will I be able to ask these queries to the Prince?” Louis had his hands on his hips and jutted his chin high.
“You will be having supper with the Prince this evening.”
“This evening?!”
“Yes, that is why Zayn is here. He needs to clean you up and get you ready for tonight.”
“I do not think I am quite ready for this,” Louis tried to weasel his way out of it. “I am still so exhausted and I think I require a bit more rest before meeting the prince.”
Liam gave him a knowing smile. “While I am sure that is true, it is what the prince has requested. Until then, I will make sure Zayn is as quick as can be so you are afforded some much needed rest before supper.”
Louis gritted his teeth and sighed in defeat. “Okay.”
“If you have no more questions, I will leave you and Zayn to it.”
“Um, yes, one more thing,” Louis said, causing Liam to halt his movements. “Paddy?”
“Paddy?” Liam cocked his head to the side.
“My horse.”
“Ah yes, of course,” he nodded. “I will come by to get you, say 4 o’clock?”
“Yes, okay,” Louis nodded.
“Alright,” Liam bowed once more, “it has been a pleasure meeting you, Louis. I will see you this evening. Good day.”
Louis gave a small bow before Liam was gone. He sighed and let his face fall into his hands, rubbing over his tired eyes, swollen from lack of sleep. He’d completely forgotten he wasn’t alone when a soft voice came from over his shoulder.
“Sir Louis, are you ready for a bath?”
“Oh,” Louis shuddered slightly at the fright it gave him. “Yes, that is fine.”
“I will run it for you now. Please, take a seat and rest until I call for you,” he offered a sweet smile.
“Okay,” Louis whispered sadly before taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
As the faint sound of running water came from the adjoined bath, Louis stared out the large windows of his new room, his new home so it seemed. Snow was falling over the grounds of the castle. He could still see the haunting gargoyles perched atop the stone buildings, still all seemingly deserted. If this really was some sort of running kingdom, where was everyone?
He thought about his family. If they would be looking for him by now. About how Geoffrey must be reacting to his soon to be bride having disappeared. It made Louis snicker. The only thing that made him feel sorrowful was his sisters. He missed them dearly and he just hoped that one day he’d be able to see them again. They didn’t deserve any of this after all.
“The bath is ready, Sir Louis,” Zayn appeared in the doorway of the bedroom, his hands clasped in front of him.
Louis stood, “Coming,” and walked toward the bathroom. “And, um, you do not need to call me Sir anymore. Just Louis is fine.”
“Of course…Louis,” Zayn said uncomfortably, clearly not used to being so informal.
“Is there something else you wish for me to call you?” Louis asked.
“No, just Zayn. Here-” he reached out to help remove Louis’ layers of clothing. He removed Louis’ coat first, then his sweater. “Were you not warm?”
“Oh, no it was quite cold in the tower. Was actually shivering all night,” Louis shrugged.
“I am sorry to hear that. This should feel very nice then.”
“Indeed.”
When he went to remove his shirt, Zayn gasped. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s dried now,” Louis felt strangely like he needed to comfort Zayn at this moment. “I got scratched last night by a wolf.”
“Does it hurt?” Zayn inspected it.
“A little. When I touch it, it stings.”
“We will get this cleared up at once,” Zayn insisted. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I don’t know,” Louis shrugged, helplessly.
“Do not worry, you will be okay.”
Zayn then helped him remove his shoes and trousers, leaving him in only his undergarments. Louis stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure of the typical process here.
“Is it okay if I remove your underwear?” Zayn asked professionally, not looking uncomfortable in the slightest.
“Um,” Louis stuttered, “I- uhh-”
“You can remove them yourself if you feel more comfortable,” Zayn sensed his discomfort. “But I assure you that I have seen it all. This is what I am here to do. In time, you will feel comfortable enough around me to frolic completely nude, to let me clean up messes you’re ashamed to let anyone else see, to confide your secrets in me. In return, you would trust me not to expose anything that goes on between us to anyone. That is what I am here for.”
Louis bit his bottom lip in thought. Zayn seemed sweet, trustworthy. Probably in need of some loosening up, but they could work on that. That is something Louis could definitely provide for him.
“You may undress me,” Louis told him.
So, Zayn did before guiding Louis by the hand into the tub.
Louis let out a whine when he stepped into the steaming water.
“Is it too hot?” Zayn tensed.
Goosebumps spread over Louis’ entire body. “No, it is perfect.” He let his eyes fall shut before he had even sat down in the water, his hand still holding onto Zayn’s as he lowered himself into a seat. He couldn’t contain himself, he just kept whining.
“Sorry,” Louis eventually apologized, peeking one eye open to look at Zayn who was seated in a chair right beside the tub.
“That is okay,” he replied.
“I realize now that I had been basically frozen. I can feel myself defrosting layer by layer. It is marvelous.”
Zayn let out the softest of chuckles before reigning it back in.
Louis peered at him again. “Zayn…” he sighed.
“Yes?”
“Where did you grow up?”
“Sir- I mean Louis- I must say that I am rather dull. You surely won’t be entertained by my stories-“
Louis cut him off before he could continue. “If we are supposed to be spending every day together, companions as Liam called it, then I must know about you! How are we supposed to be friends when I know nothing about you and you know my darkest secrets!” Louis splashed his hands about the water, getting some on Zayn’s trousers.
“Yes, well, I suppose that is true,” Zayn sighed. “I am from here, Valhalla.”
“I see,” Louis pondered. He needed more answers about what this place was, and he needed to ask in a way that wouldn’t scare Zayn away. He needed to be aloof.
Zayn grabbed a washcloth from a nearby cabinet and dipped it into the water, adding soap before beginning to rub it over Louis’ skin. It was rough against him and he winced.
“Apologies, I have to remove any and all dead skin and dirt. You will be tender.”
“It’s okay,” Louis whimpered. “So, how did you begin working at the castle?”
“My mother was a handmaiden for the Queen, Queen Anne. After she passed away, I took over her role.”
“I am so sorry to hear that,” Louis placed his hand over his heart in empathy.
“Thank you. She was a lovely woman.”
“She had to be if she raised a man like you,” Louis said honestly.
“Thank you,” Zayn blushed, briskly turning away so Louis wouldn’t see.
“Queen Anne,” Louis began, “where is she?”
“She has also passed.”
“Oh my,” Louis gasped. “When did that happen?”
“It was about ten years ago now, I believe,” Zayn pondered, scrubbing Louis’ legs now.
“And the King?”
“He is away.”
“Away? What does that mean? He is on holiday?”
“No, not on holiday,” Zayn clarified. “He, uh- sorry I do not know if I should be sharing all this information.” Zayn was suddenly jittery, looking around as if he was about to be caught.
“I am not asking anything too outlandish, am I? I just assumed since I will be living here now, I ought to learn about the people I am living with, no?” Louis questioned.
“Yes, I- I suppose that is true,” Zayn thought anxiously. “Well, just try to keep this between us, yes?”
“I promise,” Louis held out his pinky. “Pinky promise. That is how you know I am being honest.”
Zayn’ brows furrowed as he looked at Louis’ outstretched pinky.
Louis sighed, “Stick out your pinky.”
Zayn did as he was instructed.
“And interlock it with mine. That is a pinky promise. The ultimate binding contract,” Louis smiled up at Zayn whose eyes were staring at their intertwined fingers, not entirely convinced in whatever this childish pinky business was.
“Now,” Louis moved his hand back under the water, “where is the king?”
“He is in Romania,” Zayn lowered his voice before continuing. “There was a war here, ten years ago. A really brutal war. We lost 75,000 of our own, military and civilians. My mother and the Queen were only two of those victims. It wiped out nearly 60% of our kingdom.”
Louis’ mouth was wide open, using one hand to cover it as he waited for Zayn to continue.
“It was a terrible time,” he said forlornly, softly tending to a cut on Louis’ shin. “My dad was one of the leaders in the army and died in battle. My sisters and I were left to fend for ourselves. I had to grow up quickly so I could take care of them,” he paused and cast his gaze out the window, watching flecks of snow fly by. “Anyways, there was a kingdom, Furantur, in the southern region that was beginning to conquer other territories, taking their land. When they reached our border, they were shocked.”
“Why?” Louis asked, completely enraptured by his words.
“They had never seen full-bred wolves before, especially not an entire kingdom full. At first, they were scared. They retreated and did not bother us again until over a year later. When they returned, they were not so scared anymore. They brought more men, and more weapons. Now, half-breeds are no match for real wolves. We are bigger, stronger, faster. We could take out thousands of men easily. But we can not compete with guns, cannons. That is what they used to kill us.”
“But, why? For land?”
“That is what they were looking for at first. But once they found out what we were, that we were a thriving all-wolf kingdom, they were threatened. They wanted to eliminate us. I am sure you know how half-breeds feel about wolves.”
“I had only ever seen one once, when I was a child,” Louis admitted. “Until yesterday that is.”
“Yes, we are rare.”
“You can transform too?”
“Yes, we all can.”
Louis was in awe. Zayn was so soft and dainty. He couldn’t imagine him transforming into a large wolf. Hopefully, he’d get to see his wolf one day. “Half-breeds are jealous,” Louis explained. “They lie to us from birth, telling us wolves are dangerous, unpredictable, uneducated beings. That half-breeds are the civilized ones. It always seemed strange to me.”
“They want the world to be against us, they want to get rid of us completely until there are none of us left.”
“It is horrible,” Louis shook his head.
“Yes.” Zayn propped Louis up so he could wash his back, accidentally swiping the cut on his side. Louis whimpered and Zayn quickly flattened his palm against it, taking some of the pain away.
“How did you do that?” Louis stammered, feeling the pain drain right from him.
“We are born with healing abilities. We can take each other’s pain as our own.”
“Oh, but I do not want to hurt you,” Louis began to pull Zayn’s hand away, but Zayn brushed him off, reapplying pressure.
“It is okay. That is what we do.”
“Are you sure?”
“Most definitely,” Zayn smiled while continuing to scrub Louis’ back, moving up his shoulders and onto his chest.
“Anyways,” he carried on. “They killed us. And the people that did survive, escaped. That was the only way they could guarantee their safety. I had to let my sisters go, and I have not seen or heard from them since. I just hope they are okay.”
“Oh, Zayn, I am so sorry. I can not imagine.”
Zayn did not reply, but his working hands stilled for only a second, his eyes trained on Louis’ chest.
“So,” Louis spoke after a quiet pause. “Why are you still here?”
Zayn dropped the cloth at his side and squirted some shampoo into his hand. His other hand filled a cup with water and poured it over Louis’ head, tilting his head back to avoid getting it in his eyes. “Only a few of us stayed back,” he said as he massaged the product into Louis’ scalp. He purred at the contact. “The king fled to Romania to ensure his safety, but he needed someone to stay and man the castle.”
“Which would be the prince,” Louis assumed.
“Yes. He oversees the grounds, ensuring Furantur does not return. The only citizens that are still here are the castle staff and a small sect of the military.”
“I see,” Louis was deep in thought, trying to put all the pieces together. “There was a pack of wolves trying to attack me last night, on the other side of the gates. But when I reached the gates, they backed off. Why?”
Zayn poured another cup full of water over his hair, rinsing out the shampoo. “That is a wild pack. They have no association with our kingdom. They have been around for as long as I have been alive, I’m sure even longer. They have a truce with our kingdom that they can not enter our grounds, nor harm any of our people.”
“But, I am not one of you.”
“Being at our gate was close enough for them to concede and let you go.”
“Oh.”
Zayn pulled another towel from the oak cabinet and stood, extending his hand for Louis to grab. “You are becoming pruny. Let us get you dry. I still need to do your hair and figure out what you should wear tonight for the prince. It has to be perfect.”
“But, I have more questions,” Louis pouted.
“And we have plenty of time ahead of us. For now, let us get you ready.”
__
For hours, Louis had been prodded and poked. His eyebrows had been tweezed and he’d been freshly shaven. His hair had been pulled in all different directions, various products sprayed this way and that to achieve a feathery style that he must admit, looked grand. Zayn had added blusher to the apples of his cheeks, making them look freshly rosey, and tapped the excess off his finger and onto Louis’ lips, giving his already pink lips an extra pop. He had been dressed in a way he’d never seen before, though Zayn assured him this is what male omega royals wore.
Louis could only describe it as a mix between men’s and women’s dress. On top, he wore a beautifully pastel embroidered corset, his least favorite part if he was honest. He felt so uncomfortably constricted. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to eat at this dinner when he could barely breathe as it was. Zayn had spent most of the afternoon purely fastening him in, getting it as tight as possible, which would have been a feat on its own under normal circumstances, but considering the large wound on his side, all disinfected and bandaged up, it made it all that much more excruciating. Underneath the corset, he wore a long sleeve sheer white top with flowy sleeves, his collarbones laying exposed. On the bottom, he wore extra flowy pantaloons that cut off below his knees and tucked into boots that laced up all the way from his toes to his shins, and added the smallest bit of height to Louis’ stature.
He observed himself in the mirror once Zayn had finished fretting over him.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” Zayn commented, admiring his work.
“Yes, I suppose so,” Louis said, still getting used to his new appearance. “What will happen to my real clothes?”
“They have been discarded.”
“Hm,” Louis huffed, sadly. Those clothes, and Paddy, were the only things left from Louis’ old life. If he no longer had them, who was he?
Zayn checked the clock he had tucked in his shirt pocket. “Liam will be here in ten minutes to take you to the stables. Would you like me to leave you alone until then?”
“Yes, that would be fine, thank you Zayn,” Louis bowed. Zayn bowed back once before exiting the room.
All Louis wanted was to sit down, but it was no use. He was so uncomfortable in the corset, so he remained standing, continuing to pick himself apart in front of the mirror. He felt silly. He knew he probably didn’t look silly, not to these royals, but he looked so different from how he usually saw himself. He couldn’t help but focus on how feminine he looked. After all, omegas were more feminine by nature. Well- most omegas were female. It was very rare to be a male omega. Louis was the only one in Wittleton, and Zayn was the only other male omega he’d ever known. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to be presenting himself, he never had someone else to look to before for guidance. He’d just have to make it up as he went, he decided with a shrug.
A knock on the door announced Liam’s arrival.
“Come in,” Louis called.
The door opened to reveal Liam, now dressed in more formal attire. He bowed. “Wow, you look wonderful,” Liam said in awe.
Louis blushed and looked down at his feet. “Thank you, sir.”
“Zayn did an amazing job as always. Not that you weren’t beautiful before,” Liam quickly added.
“It’s okay,” Louis laughed.
“Shall we go see Paddy?” Liam stepped aside and extended a hand out for Louis to step into the hallway. Louis nodded and exited the room, waiting for Liam to lead the way. They hadn’t ventured anywhere unknown to Louis on their way to the stables which Louis was a bit disappointed by. He was antsy to explore his new “home.” After heading out the front doors of the castle, they passed through the gardens, all the way down to the stables at the edge of the property. Louis quickly ran to Paddy once he saw her.
“Oh, Paddy,” Louis cooed, wrapping his arms around her neck and squeezing her into a hug. He kissed her nose three times. “I’m here.”
Patty neighed and swung her tail from side to side.
“Has she eaten?” Louis asked Liam, who stood off to the side watching them.
“She did a few hours ago. I am sure she could use a treat,” he smiled.
Louis grabbed a carrot from a nearby bucket and hand fed it to her, giggling at the way her lips tickled his skin.
“I missed you,” he told her. “Did you miss me?”
She nuzzled her face against his.
“I thought so,” he kissed her. “Your new house is much nicer than back home. Do you like it, Paddy?”
She gave no reaction, and Louis just watched her with a smile, leaning his elbow against the railing that separated them.
He turned back to Liam after a few minutes in silence. “Will I be able to ride her?”
“Not today, but yes, you are free to ride her whenever you feel like.”
“Okay,” Louis nodded, turning back to Paddy and giving her some scratches.
“I am sorry to take you away from her, but we should start heading to dinner.” Louis caught a glimpse from beyond the stables. The sun had begun setting, turning the world outside shades of grey.
“Yes, okay,” Louis gave Paddy another kiss before regretfully pulling away. “I will see you again tomorrow, okay?”
With that, Louis was following Liam back to the castle.
Anxiety began to bubble up in his stomach at the thought of seeing the prince again. Their interaction last night had been… interesting to say the least, and he couldn't help but feel embarrassed about how he had acted. He bared his neck to an alpha. It made him sick with shame to think about. But, he also couldn’t deny the odd curl in his stomach when he remembered the look in the wolf’s eyes the night before. How he shoved him up against the wall, lifted him high in the air like it was the easiest thing in the world. He tried to steady his breathing so as to not attract Liam’s attention.
Then the thought hit Louis. Would he be seeing the prince’s human form tonight, or his wolf?
Liam led him into a grand dining room. A long dining table sat in the middle of the room, fit with 42 seats, 20 on each side with 2 at each head. Off to the side was another seating area in front of a large fireplace, with a wide open space for what Louis assumed to be used for dancing.
Zayn was already there when they walked in, dressed similarly to Louis but more simple. He bowed and gave Louis a smile as he passed by, reclaiming his position against the wall.
“Will you be eating with us?” he asked Zayn.
“No, dinner is just between the prince and yourself.”
“Oh,” Louis said wistfully, before continuing to follow Liam. “Where is he?”
“He will be here soon,” Liam answered, pulling out the chair at the head of the table for Louis. Louis sat down and let Liam push him in.
Just then, two double doors adjacent to the dining room swung open and a blonde man in a chef’s uniform appeared, approaching Louis with a wide grin.
“Louis, this is chef Niall,” Liam introduced. Niall removed his chef’s hat and wiped away the sweat that was forming on his forehead with the sleeve of his uniform.
“Hello,” Louis bowed shyly.
Niall bowed back. “Hello, Louis. Pleasure to meet you. And I must say, you look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you,” Louis bowed again, mostly to hide his blush.
“I hope you enjoy tonight’s meal. You will be having a seven course dinner. First will be bread and butter, all freshly made here with local ingredients. Next will be a garden salad with in season fruits and vegetables, followed by a charcuterie selection of meats and cheeses, honeys and jams. Then you will enjoy a vegetable soup followed by a seafood dish, which tonight will be sea bass. The main course will be duck with potatoes, and a lovely gravy to top it off. Lastly, of course will be dessert, trifle.”
“Wow.” Louis was at a loss for words. He had only ever had one course for each meal, and it was usually bread and vegetables they grew on the farm like carrots and potatoes. If they were lucky, they got a cut of meat. This just felt over indulgent.
“Do you have any allergies?” Niall asked.
“I do not think so,” Louis replied.
“Splendid,” Niall clapped his hands together. “Well, I hope you enjoy tonight’s meal. And if you should ever desire anything, please do let me know. I would be glad to provide it for you.”
“Thank you,” Louis said again before Niall was retreating back to the kitchen.
Louis was about to ask Liam if he could use the restroom, when suddenly Liam was bowing toward the entrance of the room, a deeper bow than he’d ever bowed for Louis, gaze locked on the floor. When he stayed bent over, Louis glanced over at Zayn who was in the same position, and it all became clear when he smelled the familiar scent of earthy amber. Before he made to stand and address the wolf, he heard a solid pair of footsteps approaching him from over his shoulder. This wolf was no wolf tonight.
Louis quickly stood and turned to face him, making to bow before daring to lay his eyes on him. He was scared, yes. Shaking with fear, even. Surely the alpha would be able to sense it. After bowing much longer than necessary, too anxious to face the unknown, he finally lifted his gaze. Unable to control himself, his breath hitched in his throat. The prince from the portrait. It was perplexing; how someone could be so terrifying yet beautiful all at once.
The alpha stood a distance away, staring at Louis with an unreadable expression, only half of which Louis could actually see. The other half of his face was covered by a mask with painted on features; an eye, a cheekbone, half a nose. The mask from the study. His real lips lie exposed beneath the mask, set in a straight line as his real eye observed Louis. It was green, Louis noticed, just as green as the portrait portrayed.
“Your Royal Highness,” Louis curtsied.
The Alpha said nothing and walked to the other end of the dining table, seating himself in the large chair across from Louis. Niall appeared from the kitchen with Liam in tow, carrying silver serving platters in each hand towards the table. The alpha was quiet as the food was placed in front of him, eyes on Louis as Niall poured his wine. Liam retreated to line the walls with Zayn, taking their places to serve the prince as needed.
The prince began to eat the first course, spreading butter over the warm bread and scarfing down half of it before Louis could even decide where to start. He glanced at the staff uncomfortably before clearing his throat. He’d prefer to have this conversation in private, but privacy was a rarity to royals after all.
“Your Highness,” Louis squeaked.
There was not so much as a flinch from the alpha. He glanced at the staff again, but they all stood staring straight forward, offering no acknowledgment of his words. The omega sighed and spoke with more authority this time.
“Your Highness-”
“Are your living chambers up to your liking?” The alpha interrupted him, his voice carrying a deep timber to it. It made goosebumps spread down Louis’ spine.
Louis stuttered. “Uh- yes, Your Highness, my room is lovely-”
“And your dress?”
“Yes, it is all very beautiful, but-”
“And the food? How have you enjoyed chef Niall’s cooking?” With every question, his eyes remained focused on his plate.
“Well, I- I have not started eating yet, but I am sure it is delicious. Your Highness-”
“That is all,” the alpha dismissed him.
Louis’ lips fell shut at the alphas' words, his omega doing its biological duty to obey. But the prince was not his alpha. Louis would not submit to his omega. He was a half breed. He was more human than he was wolf. He had control.
“It is not all,” Louis stared at the alpha across from him.
The prince finally looked up, meeting Louis’ gaze, but his expression was still unreadable.
“I am not a doll. I am not something you can just dress up and control. I am a person. I do not just do what you command. And you have commanded me to stay here. Well, I have questions. For how long must I stay here? Why is it that I am trapped here? Why have I been assigned a handmaiden, as if I am an omega prince, when I am not?”
The Prince’s gaze remained locked on Louis’, his voice stable as ever. “You are here because I have deemed it so. You are to stay here for as long as I wish. As of now, that is for the remainder of your life. You have a handmaiden because you are to be an omega prince. Have you gotten all the answers you desired?”
Louis spluttered, looking at the staff for any signs of support, considering it may even be a poor excuse for a joke, but they remained stone faced. He turned back towards the alpha with a fire in his eyes. “I will not be a prince. I am a poor farmhand. I am betrothed to the son of an earl. I have a family. I have a role, no matter how small. That is my life, not this one you have chosen for me. Do you even know my name?”
“You are Louis William Tomlinson, soon to be Prince Louis William Styles, son of Mark and Johannah Tomlinson, farmers from Wittleton. You have four younger sisters, Charlotte, Felcitie, Phoebe and Daisy. You are engaged to Geoffrey Lansbury, though you do not wish to be. You do not love him. That is why you fled your home. That is how you ended up here.”
Louis narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to a whisper, basically spitting questions at the man across from him. “Where did you learn this information? Who do you know? Who are you?”
The alpa was poised, offering Louis no reaction. “I am Prince Harry Styles, sovereign of Valhalla. I have access to all types of information. I can find out anything I want to know about you. And I will, if you make it so.”
“If I make it so?”
“If you choose to be untruthful or secretive. If you make this difficult,” he shrugged.
A scoff laced with disdain bubbled up Louis’ throat at the sheer audacity that this prince had. “I am not the one who has made this difficult. You have. I did not ask for this, nor did I ask for the marriage to Geoffrey. I realize it is unacceptable for an omega to speak out of turn like this. I apologize for any upset this is causing you all. But you must know that I am not like other omegas. I do not wish to stay quiet. I have thoughts and opinions and a brain. And I will use it.”
Prince Harry studied Louis for a moment, his thumb and forefinger caressing his chin.
“You asked why you are here. That is why.”
Louis glanced around the room, confused by his words. He began to stutter, “What- what do you mean…”
“You are not like other omegas. You are not afraid.”
Louis was quiet. A familiar warmth spread over his cheeks as he avoided eye contact with Harry.
“You are not afraid, right?” Harry questioned when Louis gave no response.
“Afraid of what exactly?” Louis asked quietly.
“Me.”
“No,” Louis swallowed, forcing his eyes back up to the Prince, for his voice to come out steady. “I am not afraid.”