Chapter 39 CHAPTER 039
Castiel wakes up with a strange ache in his head. He groans as he pulls himself to a sitting position while his hand goes up to rub his temple. His skull throbs like someone has been hammering inside it all night.
For a moment, everything is blurry, and then his eyes move slowly around the room, confusion knitting his brows together as he realizes…this… isn’t his bedroom.
He squints at the ceiling, which is unfamiliar. Where is he? Fuck. He tries to think, but only ends up with a headache. Perhaps it’s time he finally stops his awful drinking habit. At least his clothes are intact. He needs to get out of here.
With that in mind, Castiel drops his legs from the bed, but in that exact moment, the door suddenly opens, and he sees a familiar redhead carrying clothes neatly folded in his hands.
Castiel immediately points at him. “You kidnapped me!” he accuses loudly. How fucking drunk was he that he came home with a total stranger? Castiel exhales sharply as flashes of the previous night start to creep back into his mind, and instantly, a bitter taste spreads across his tongue.
“Damn it…” he mutters under his breath as he runs a hand through his hair.
Soren smiles as he walks over to the bed and sets the clothes on the edge of the bed. “If I kidnapped you, don’t you think you’d be tied up somewhere instead of waking up in a comfortable bed?”
Well…that makes sense. Castiel looks back at the Beta. “Thank you for last night.”
Soren shrugs. “It’s nothing, and you’re right, we omegas should stick together,” he winks at the last part of his words while Castiel breaks into a smile. “Get changed and join me for breakfast. I could use the company, unless you are in a hurry to leave.”
“Give me a minute.”
Soren turns and heads for the door. “Take your time,” he says over his shoulder as he walks out.
As soon as the door clicks shut, Castiel lets out a sigh, and for a moment, he simply sits there, staring at the neatly folded clothes on the bed.
“An omega pretending to be a Beta… huh.” The words leave his mouth in a murmur, and a faint smile tugs at his lips despite the pounding headache. Now, that’s new. Excitedly, Castiel grabs the clothes and jumps off the bed, heading towards the door that leads to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Castiel walks out wearing a simple black shirt and a pair of loose pants that are too big for his body. He steps out of the room, and soon, he’s finding his way down the stairs, and instantly, he’s overwhelmed by the smell of coffee that makes his stomach growl in hunger.
Castiel follows the smell until he reaches a large dining area with food already set on the table and Soren sitting at the center.
“Do you eat breakfast alone? Where’s your fiancé?” Castiel asks as he makes his way to an empty seat and sits down. Instantly, a maid shows up and places a cup of coffee in front of him before leaving. Castiel doesn’t think he badly needs a coffee till now as he lifts the cup and takes a sip.
“Reign rarely has breakfast,” Soren retorts with a shrug and drinks from his own cup of coffee
Castiel places his cup down and leans forward, a curious glint in his eyes. “How does it feel being engaged to an Enigma? Is sex as great as they say? Caspian is dying to be in your place.”
In an instant, Soren spits out his drink and coughs violently, patting his chest as he slams his cup of coffee down. Castiel whips his head to look at him with a shocked look, but Castiel blinks innocently and says.
“…Was it something I said?”
Soren lets out another cough before grabbing a napkin and wiping his mouth, his face slightly red. “You—You really don’t believe in easing into a conversation, do you?”
Castiel shrugs, reaching for a piece of toast across the table as if nothing had happened. “It was a simple question.”
“Are all McLaren omegas this blunt, or is it just you?”
Castiel chews slowly, pretending to think about the question as he leans back in the chair. The oversized sleeves of the shirt slide down his wrists while he casually lifts his coffee again. “Probably just me,”
“I can see that. So, you’re also engaged?”
Castiel scoffs and bites into his toast. “You mean the pig that’s old enough to be my grandfather? Oh please, he’s lucky I haven’t killed him yet.”
Soren chuckles. “I’d be glad to help."
Castiel hums. “So, does your fiancé know you’re not a Beta?”
Soren's eyes widen, and instantly, he looks around his surroundings. When he finds no one in sight, he looks back at Castiel with a sharp glare while the omega’s lips form an O shape in realization.
“My bad, didn’t think it was a big secret,” he says, but when he looks up, he sees that the poisonous look from Soren’s eyes doesn’t soften. “I promise not to tell anyone. I’m really good with secrets, I swear.”
Soren finally sighs, staring down at his plate. “Is it that bad?”
“Of course not!” Castiel counters without missing a beat. “It was simply a lucky guess,”
“Someone could easily guess it, too, like Reign,” Soren murmurs under his breath, but at the same time, he catches the sound of loud voices.
“You expecting guests?” Castiel asks, but Soren frowns as he stands up and walks off. Castiel immediately empties his cup of coffee and follows after the Beta, and the noise leads them outside, and there, ranting at the guards, are Caspian McLaren and Vikar beside him with their guards, while Reign’s guards block them from getting close to the entrance.
Castiel snorts at the sight as he stands beside Soren. “Well, my happy, free days are finally over.”
Caspian looks at him with a gaze that looks like it can pierce through anything. “You really are the McLarn family’s biggest embarrassment, aren’t you, Castiel?”
Castiel crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. “I didn’t think that would come as a big shock, brother."
Vikar steps forward, but the Reign’s guards block his path. He looks at Castiel. “Darling, can we talk about this at home? Can we not create a scene here?”
Castiel glares at his so-called fiancé, the amusement on his face slowly fading into something colder. “Don’t call me that,” he snaps, like the word tastes disgusting in his mouth.
Vikar stiffens under the tone, but he keeps his composure. “Castiel, darling. We have been worried sick the whole night. Let’s go home and discuss this properly.”
Castiel lets out a harsh laugh. “Worried? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Castiel,” Caspian calls as if he’s controlling his outburst. “Since I’m feeling generous, I’ll ask just once: get in the car, and let’s go.”
“No,” Castiel answers without missing a beat, and then he turns to return to the mansion till Caspian’s voice cuts through.
"Perhaps you should think of what father would do to your little bartender friend if you don’t return home with us right this minute.”
Castiel’s steps stop instantly, and the arrogance on his face disappears so fast it’s almost frightening. Slowly, he turns back, his eyes locking onto Caspian. “What did you say?”
Caspian holds his gaze, unfazed. “You heard me.”
“You piece of shit,” Castiel spits, hands balling into fists at his side while his eyes turn murderous.
Caspian smirks, crossing his arms over his chest. “You disappeared all night, humiliated the family, and refused to come home. Did you really think Father would let this slide? As long as you come home with us, Father will overlook this, and we can pretend this never happened.”
Castiel’s knuckles turn white at how hard he clenches his hands. “Leave him out of this.”
Caspian raises a brow. “Then get in the car.”
Castiel lets out a slow breath through his nose. “Fine. I’ll go home,” he says through his teeth, and then he turns to look at Soren, who only watches the exchange quietly. He offers the beta a smile before reaching out and taking hold of both of his hands. “Thank you for last time, and thank you for breakfast. How about dinner next time, my treat?”
Soren looks at the unwanted guests standing on his porch, then he looks back at Castiel. “Do you need my help to get rid of them?”
Castiel blinks in surprise for a second before a grin slowly spreads across his face. “Oh? Are you offering to kidnap me again?” he teases, but when he sees the deadpan look on Soren’s face, he quickly shakes his head. “I can handle them. So dinner?”
Soren gives a little smile. “Yeah.”
“Great!” Castiel squeals before giving Soren a quick hug and then the next second, he’s running off the front steps to join Caspian and Vikar and with one final look and a wave, Castiel slips into the car that’s held wide open for him and soon, they’re driving off and instantly, Castiel’s face goes blank and he welcomes the heaviness in his chest and looks forward to what he knows is coming.