Chapter 245 Chapter 244
The next few days in the weretigers’ hideout consisted of Rayena trying to break into Xenon's confinement even when Morvan tried dissuading her so many times. Eventually, he had enough of her stubbornness.
"The king has lost his mind! He won't recognize you if you walk in there. Do you want him to harm you?!" he cried one afternoon when she tried to slip in after they had finished feeding him.
He held her hand in a death grip, even as she struggled against him. "And how do you know that!?" Rayena cried, eyes blazing with anger.
Morvan’s jaw tightened. “Because every time we go there—every single time—he tries to attack us, thinking we’re prey. Why do you think he’s chained up!?”
Behind him, another metallic rattle rang out. Rayena flinched instinctively. She hated that she did.
Through gritted teeth, he added, "I've been by his side for almost a century, and he still attacks me. What makes you think it'll be different for you?"
Rayena tried to argue, but no words made it past her lips. She glared at Morvan, tears stinging her eyes. She knew she couldn't argue with him. He had more knowledge and experience.
"But… I can't leave him like this!" she cried, her voice breaking. The tears she fought so hard to keep at bay finally spilled from her eyes. "There has to be a way to help him. There just has to be!"
Morvan took a deep breath, calming his nerves. "Right now, there's none we can think of," he stated slowly, willing her to understand. "Even keeping him like this is a risk. I'm endangering the lives of every weretiger we hide here. Don't make it any worse, please."
The plea in his tone drained the last of her fight. Rayena pulled her hand free, turning away so he wouldn’t see the sob shaking her shoulders. Why did everyone keep telling her saving him was hopeless? Didn’t they understand that every hour he spent trapped in darkness gnawed at her too?
"I'm really sorry about all that's going on, but that's just where we are at right now. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make preparations for the king as the full moon is upon us again, and I fear he may go into a rut."
Rayena whipped her head to look at him. "Why? He still gets them?"
Morvan nodded, his face tight. "Yes, and they are unpredictable as always. But when they do happen, we need to produce a female that will help him through it."
"How... how have you been handling that?" she asked in a soft voice.
Morvan sighed. "Honestly, that's the hardest part of keeping a feral like the king. Even in his mindless state, he still rejects women. We have to take extra caution to have him not tear every woman beneath him apart while ensuring he sates himself till it passes."
Rayena swallowed tightly, listening with rapt attention as he continued speaking. "And with the state of things, we can't afford to lose more women to him. There's barely enough to help with the males around."
A full-body shudder overtook her as she remembered her first rut with him. It had taken her days to recover, and that was him at his best. She couldn't imagine how bad things would be for the women that would have been brought to him in this state, and he still rejects them.
How much pain must he be in? How much suffering was his body forcing him through?
“We’ve stayed too long here. Let's go.” Walking up to her, he patted her shoulders. "I understand your grief is making you irrational, but we can't afford to be reckless with Xenon's feral state. We don't want him causing more havoc to our already precarious state."
Rayena's gaze lingered on the door that held Xenon behind it, her chest tightening with unspoken pain. Her throat closed up, her lips already trembling as she held back sobs.
She wanted so many things. Had so many wishes. Mumbled so many prayers. Most importantly, she wanted to be with him. In any way.
If only wishes were horses, this beggar would ride.
"Okay, fine," she breathed out in resignation, lowering her head. A tear slipped out, and she let it fall, watching with a blurry gaze as it splattered on the ground. "Let's go."
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Soraya raised her hand and knocked hesitantly on the door to General Morvan's office, her heart climbing into her throat. It had taken every scrap of courage she possessed to seek him out like this, and the fear of how he might respond nearly sent her running.
"Who's there?" His deep voice rumbled through the wood, making her breath hitch.
"It's me… Soraya," she answered, her voice a little too shaky. A moment later, the door swung open, and Morvan filled the doorway. His brows pulled together in confusion. He offered a short greeting, which she returned with barely enough breath.
"Can I come in? There's something I want to discuss with you."
"Of course…" He stepped aside. Soraya nodded and slipped into the room, her gaze darting around the crowded space overflowing with scrolls. A worn map of the shifter realms hung behind his chair, stabbed with pins and marked with inked routes. Everything about the room felt rigid, disciplined—like him.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you?" she asked as he closed the door.
"No, not really. I was just making provisions for the king concerning his ruts." He approached her, voice taut with worry.
"Oh…" Soraya murmured, her cheeks warming. "I'm guessing Rayena can't?"
"It would be too much of a risk. The king is in a feral state and won't know when he's hurting her. I refuse to put Rayena in a situation that can be avoided."
"That's very thoughtful," she said, offering a small smile. He gave an awkward one in return.
"I'm just doing the best I can," he replied softly, then straightened. "If I may ask, what brings you here?"
Soraya’s stomach twisted. Her fingers fidgeted with each other, and she dropped her gaze. “This is… embarrassing to admit,” she began, voice low. “But I came because I need someone who can help me during the full moon. Being a werewolf, it's no surprise that I’ll go into heat then. I was hoping… you could help me with it.”
Morvan froze. His eyes widened, the breath visibly catching in his chest.
“Y-you want me to help you with your heat?” he stuttered out, disbelief etched across his face.
“You’re the only male I know and trust here,” she rushed out. “Of course, you don’t have to. I can find someone else, but… that’s exactly why I came to you.”
“Oh…” he breathed, rubbing the back of his neck and staring anywhere but at her.
Silence stretched between them, thick and awkward.
“If I may ask,” he said at last, voice low, “how have you been faring in the past?”