TAKING THE DEMON'S MATE

Agnor, Sutcliffe, Beaumont, Ajax, Loughty, Braddock. These were the households ruling the six great kingdoms in Slora. Headed by some of the most muscular werewolves to walk the land, the clans lived in harmony, feared and revered by all.

When famine and a mysterious disease break out, everyone- be it a beastman, a unique or an ordinary person, is at risk of being taken by the icy hands of death.

The Braddocks, regarded as the weakest amongst the six great packs, rose above all and sailed through the crisis like it never took place. However, that success brought about unsavoury suspicions. Rumours about their leader using dark magic to grow his kingdom diffused into the air until it no longer became hearsay.

At the tiniest hint of proof, all but the house of Loughty schemed and attacked a family, accusing them of causing the deadly plague. Caeser Braddock stood his ground, but his wife did not survive the ordeal, leaving behind an eight-year-old yet to present.

Heartbroken, the widower exiles his only child to keep him safe until he is old enough to protect himself and the whole of Ingram.

Failure to subdue Ingram gave the other kingdoms sleepless nights. Everyone feared a retaliation may come when they least expected it. The impending darkness subsided over the years, but it was never forgotten.

Ten Years After...

Candor

It was another day to break the bounds and run around with a helpless servant on his tail.

Clear skies with thin clouds, a cooling climate, rustling noise of leaves giving in to the wind. Arlen soaked it all in. It was another form of meditation and a gentle reminder that he was an ordinary seventeen-year-old. Neither 'alpha' nor 'omega'.

"Master Arlen, watch out for that tree." A servant exclaimed. "The river does not have legs to run off, so SLOW down!" He adds, gasping for air as he chases after the young Master.

"Come on, it's more fun to embrace the excitement of a forbidden dip in the river- this way." Arlen swerves the said tree and goes left.

"The Madam will kill both of us if you return with a scratch." The servant's voice ramps like waves as he goes down a slope.

"Forget my Aunt; she'll never know if you don't freak out like the other day." Arlen set eyes on the river.

"You returned with a limp! I told you that tree was too high up. Sometimes I think you're just trying to die!"

"Pffft! Don't be silly. Here, catch these." Arlen removes his pants and flings them in the air.

"What! Don't go in naked; the water must be freezing. Prince Arlen!" Julius keeps his hands in the air to catch every garment as he calls out a name he is not allowed to say outside the castle walls.

"Stop whining. It's just water." Arlen jumped in from a huge rock along the riverbank. "Ohhh shit, it's cold." He cussed.

His servant found an excellent spot to sit and watch the young man act like a child. After swimming in various directions and techniques, Arlen can no longer take the silence. "Jules, get in the water." His hands slap at the surface childishly, resulting in a splash.

"Nope, staying here...and catch some fish while you're in there," Julius said. Folding his Master's clothes, he scoffs and mutters, "With your thing dangling in their view, the fish will probably think it's bait. I hope they succeed in biting it this time around."

"You know I can hear you loud and clear, right?" Arlen startled his friend with a surprise close-up.

"No! I don't know what you're talking about. Hurry and let's go back," Julius rants with his nose in the air.

Arlen always believed he had a lot in common with his aid. Abandoned by his father because he was a beta, Julius was taken in by Arlen's uncle.

Of all the servants that ever got to wait on the young Master, Julius survived his robust and cunning nature.

Truth is, Arlen took a liking to the young man. He drew Julius close and treated him as an equal. After all, if he were an alpha like his parents, he should have presented by now.

For someone who was a year older than Arlen, Julius was sensitive yet easy-going.

"If you're going to talk about my prick, why don't you strip and show me what you got? I know I'm bigger," Arlen scoffed.

"Whatever, Arlen, just get back in the water."

"Huh, why are you ignoring me? You usually love a challenge." The Master tilted his head.

"I'm hungry; snatch some fish. And stop swinging that thing in my direction." Julius shooed him away.

"Pffft! Sheesh, so prickly." Arlen shook his head as he returned to the river, shivering from the cold air blowing over his pale skin...

The day goes by faster with those two together, yet they don't take note of the time. After having more than enough adventures, they make it back home.

"The coast is clear," Julius hums. Arlen quickly runs past the second danger zone- his cousin, Rufus Loughty's quarters.

Knowing the youth's stubbornness, the Loughtys put guards everywhere to lock him in. At that, the rule-breakers never use the gates.

Given that Julius was shorter than his Master, the latter always gave him a boost over the wall before climbing up.

Julius: "I'm in. Um...Master Arlen."

Arlen: "Hold on for a second; I'll be right over."

"Master Arlennnnn," Julius stressed.

"Yes, my dependable Jules." Arlen puts on a flirty voice when he finds the right footing.

A dilemma hits as soon as he sees what's on the other side of the wall; should he return to where he ran off to or surrender to his cousin, who was glaring at him?

"Are you coming down from that wall, or must I get you myself?" Rufus folded his arms with a frown on his sharp face.

"Ahh...haha. Cousin, I was...I was just coming from your quarters." Arlen could not perfect the laugh as his cousin's face got darker.

A few moments later...

"Ah! Huff! Brother, this is too much." Arlen blinked nonstop when beads of sweat invaded his eyes.

"Shut up and squat properly! Always know to call me brother when you get in trouble. Keep your arms straight ahead of you... Arlen, you better not spill a single drop of water." Rufus flips a book page on the table.

Born a dominant alpha and the only son of the Loughtys, Rufus had to always appear tough. Although his father often gave him a hard time, he was considered the youngest until Arlen arrived.

It took time to get used to Arlen, but once he did, the alpha could not control his urge to protect the new baby of the house.

Julius shrugs when he notices Arlen spying on him from the corner of his eye. Although the servant is responsible for his Master, he hardly receives a harsher punishment. Julius often got exempted. While Arlen had to balance a water bowl on his head as he squats, Julius was only told to hold another water bowl.

"I told you not to go swimming," Julius whispered. Unfortunately, that came out louder than he thought. "You went swimming?! Lift your heels higher!" Rufus slammed the table.

"No, no, brother, I didn't go swimming!" Arlen scrunched his face, ready to cry.

Alphas were terrifying when angry or in distress. Restraining himself from yelling, Rufus walks to the window to cool off.

"Brother... Argh!... Brother." Arlen's body wobbled as sleep-inducing air repeatedly blew over his eyes, and his mind immediately thought of his bed. It made him realise how worn out he was.

"Ahh!" Arlen experienced a hard fall on his glutes. The small basin on his head judiciously goes down with him, drenching him and the floor with water.

"Julius, give him your bowl of water and clean this mess... And you!" The alpha turned his gaze to a sulking young Master. "I told you not to spill a drop. Get up and resume squatting before I break those legs!" Rufus buries his head in the book before being swayed by an innocent face. There, in the young man's room, he ensured the punishment was carried out.