Chapter Text
Love was a violence.
One Namjoon knew very well.
At times, the omega found himself hoping love would grant him the peace and comfort he’d heard it could one day provide.
Wincing as the rope tied around his wrists dug deeply into his skin, Namjoon figured that wasn't going to happen for him anytime soon.
Not if the crowd currently watching him struggle against his binds had anything to do with it.
“Kim Namjoon, You stand here this evening under the parting request of Alpha Kwan Chul. Due to his last will and testament, we are gathered here to go through with his last bonding ritual.”
Mouth going dry as he growled, Namjoon shook his head and kicked against the iron grasp of the beta currently standing behind him. Protests muffled by the gag secured tightly behind his head, Namjoon glared as an older alpha a few feet away sneered down at him from atop his leveled podium.
‘Last bonding ritual? Please what a joke’ Namjoon scoffed internally as he stood his ground, the aforementioned ‘ritual’ ridiculous even to his own ears as he listened to the crowd cheer for his actual death sentence.
Glare growing hotter as he turned to stare down the crowd waiting for his demise, Namjoon reasoned it wasn't too far-fetched for these backward-thinking knotheads to be all too willing to throw an omega like himself away. Especially after the way Namjoon was resisting even now, his scent of fresh apples and vanilla growing thick and bitter as it flooded the air around him.
Watching as they grimaced and fidgeted under his heavily distressed scent, Namjoon felt satisfied to know he caused them at least the smallest discomfort.
No matter what, Namjoon wasn't going to go down without a fight.
And given his current situation, Namjoon was beginning to think a fight was what he was going to end up needing eventually.
Great.
“Now that the pleasantries have been announced, let us begin the ordeal. Guards, bring the omega forward and make sure the restraints are tight enough. We don't want him escaping mid-ceremony,” the gray-haired alpha spoke once the crowd had finally stopped cheering, his voice echoing straight through the air as Namjoon felt his body be moved for him.
Eyes snapping upward as listened to the older alpha order him forward, Namjoon felt his breath hitch as he realized the ‘ritual’ was finally going to start and with it, the end of his life.
Lips pulled into a snarl as he bared his teeth, Namjoon hissed as he felt the arms around him struggle to hold him steady; his feet digging right into the ground as he resisted every push and pull coming his way.
No way was he going to make it easy for them. No way Namjoon would go down without a fight.
Feet digging into the ground almost immediately after feeling his upper body pushed forward against his will, Namjoon growled louder as he refused to be moved.
“Let me go! Don't Touch me!” he spat as he struggled widely, the men holding him starting to huff and curse as their grip on the omega failed to keep him in place.
And why was Namjoon dead set on becoming a problem as he was tugged forward?
Well, maybe it had something to do with the six-foot deep hole in the ground the guards were currently trying to push him into or maybe it was the simple fact Namjoon didn't want to be buried alive next to the corpse of the man he despised most in this world.
Whatever the reason, Namjoon wasn’t planning on going anywhere anytime soon.
Not if he could help it, anyway.
“Guards, get him under control-,”
"Argh!"
Suddenly, the beta struggling behind Namjoon's frame yelped out in pain as he began to fall backward; the heel of Namjoons foot connecting loudly with the beta's shin once again for good measure as the omega felt the hold around his shoulders quickly lighten and soon fall away.
Upper body twisting around before the men could stop him, Namjoon reached for the dagger hanging loosely from the beta's hip; his hands wrapping around the smooth handle for the briefest second as he felt his hands struggle against the binds holding them together.
Stumbling backward as he felt the beta fall away, Namjoon cursed as he tried to pull the dagger free; the men advancing on him making him panic as he felt the blade finally come free in his grasp.
But unfortunately, that's as far as Namjoon manages to get.
Strong arms wrapping around him from behind, Namjoon gasped as an alpha he hadn't seen coming wasted no time in wrapping themselves around his frame; the alpha’s coarse fingers digging straight into Namjoon’s hair as he pulled the omega's head back with every inch of their might.
“Arrrgghhh!!!”
Scream ripped from his lips as he was tugged sharply by his hair, Namjoon panted heavily as the dagger fell from his grasp; the shocked murmurs coming from the crowd making him burn with humiliated rage.
So much for breaking free, the omega huffed angrily.
Above him, their face twisting into their own look of disapproval, The old Alpha stared down at Namjoon with utter discontent.
“Omega, you can not fight this, it must be done.” he spat as Namjoon growled, the omega’s scent growing distressed as the men around him slowly began to once again bring him towards the edge of the makeshift grave only a few inches away.
Shaking his head as he put up a fight, Namjoon glared at the man looming above him as words fell harshly from his lips.
“The hell it will! You have no authority to do this! This custom was outlawed years ago-” he yelled but the alpha was quick to silence him; the alpha's face now pulled upward into a sharp sneer as he pointed to where Namjoon dared not go any further.
“But it will be carried out today! Whether you like it or not, you will do your duty as this alpha's mate and do what is being asked of you without-”
"Kwan was never my alpha and I was never his mate!” Namjoon yelled as he cut the other off, the desperation in the omega's voice almost palpable as the fatigue started to slowly gnaw at his limbs.
Gods only knew how the omega was still standing.
Words hanging in the air as the crowd grew quiet, Namjoon watched as the men and women turned to murmur amongst themselves. He could only hope they could be reasoned with, could only hang on to the thought that maybe, just maybe, they’d see the error of their ways and finally let him go.
It's a hope that dies the minute Namjoon watches the crowd turn towards the older man standing on his podium, the dark robes clinging to the alpha’s frame billowing in the soft breeze as he reaches for something the omega count quite sees.
Eyeing the crowd as he chuckled darkly, the alpha shook his head as he reached to pull forward a scroll from behind his robes; the scent of birchwood and bourbon growing thick in the air as the older alpha glared in Namjoon’s direction.
"By the looks of this paper, signed and dated on the day of your union, I think you are sadly mistaken, omega," the alpha spat as he held up the rolled parchment of paper in his hand; the edges frayed and yellowed but all at once familiar as Namjoon eyed it closely.
Feeling his limbs freeze and his eyes grow slightly in size, Namjoon falls speechless at the sight of the paper held in the alpha’s hand.
His marriage certificate.
Shit.
“Mmmm, nothing to say? Just what I figured, an omega unclaimed and untamed...what more could we bring ourselves to expect,” the alpha chuckled as he mocked Namjoon loudly, the tone of his voice dripping with venom as Namjoon tried his best to ignore him.
He couldn’t believe out of everything the alpha could produce to bind him to this insane ritual was right there in the other man's gnarled and decrepit hand. Swaying carefully in the breeze as if almost to taunt him, Namjoon stared at the papers as he considered his options on what to do next.
He knew asking the townsfolk for help was out of the question, much less asking his family (or what was left of it) to petition for him to be saved.
No, Namjoon knew he was alone in this; knew it the moment the men had burst into his home to drag him before the people who were now too happily cheering for his end.
But of course, Namjoon’s life had not always been like this.
In fact, it had once been peaceful, or well, as peaceful as an arranged marriage to a lousy alpha could be but nonetheless, Namjoon had enjoyed it.
Or tried to anyway for what it was worth.
You see, Namjoon…was beautiful, and with that beauty came the cost of having it in the first place.
Always the perfect omega to every alpha's dream, Namjoon stood tall and immaculate; his honey-tan skin shining like gilded bronze whenever the sun above washed over him on cool summer days. With long black waves of hair framing his features, his almond-shaped eyes lined with dark and fuller lashes, Namjoon was the picture of perfection.
There was simply no competition when it came to his looks nor his intellect and this was something Namjoons parents were very proud of.
And very financially aware of too.
But of course, Namjoon was no fool. Even from a young age, the omega knew the way his parents shielded him from the world and the way they coveted him with a fear of being soiled or made ‘unclean’ wasn't the way parents were supposed to treat their son. Instead of love and comfort, Namjoon was met with rules and more rules; each harder to remember than the next as he was drilled on perfect posture and omega traits.
For years, perfection was instilled in him, his parents set on using him to climb their way up the social ladder they had always been beneath. As the years flew by and as Namjoon grew more and more beautiful with age, the omega watched as his parents grew bolder; their boastings soon heard throughout their town as they bragged to whoever would listen about the value of their perfect omega son.
Namjoon wonders if that's where all his troubles had started.
Growling as he struggled against his binds, Namjoon reasons yes, it probably was.
Why, you ask? Well for starters, life after presenting hadn't been what Namjoon's parents had promised him it would all turn out to be. No, on the contrary, life seemed far from the fairytale his beta mother had spun for him when he’d been a pup just barely old enough to understand the concept of mates and everything that followed after.
And really, how could Namjoon have ever believed his mother in the first place? How could he have been so naive to believe his mother's promises of the perfect life when she herself hadn't shared the same experience as he was ‘destined’ to live?
It was lunacy and yet, to Namjoon, it was the simplest normalcy.
And so, much to Namjoons dismay, the day came when the omega was set to be married; his relationship with his parents forever severed the minute he discovered the deal struck behind his back with an alpha he had never met or heard of.
He remembers the rage, the hurt that had surged through him the minute he’d been given the news; his parent's eyes glinting with barely-contained excitement as they told him about the perfect man who’d come to make him their mate and the wonderful life they were about to have together.
But of course, things weren't always what they seemed nor that simple. And unfortunately for Namjoon, this was something the young omega would come to find out harshly and entirely on his own.
It was then Namjoon realized it’d be useless to protest his sudden engagement. The papers had already been signed and with them, his life decided for him before he could even utter a sound.
And sadly, that was the norm for an omega like him. It was the way life for his kind had always been and would always be like. Just like his mother and her mother before her, Namjoon was doomed to the same destiny. It wasn't rare to be thrust into an arranged marriage at such an unwilling age, so really, why would Namjoon's life fare any different?
It's a question Namjoon tries not to dwell on most days.
Keyword tries.
And so, as he ignored the way his stomach dropped at the idea of being mated and no matter how much Namjoon dreaded the day; the moment came when the young omega was brought forward before the town and declared taken and set to be betrothed. Even now as he closed his eyes to take a broken breath, Namjoon swears he can almost hear the way the town had cheered for him; their smiles plastered on their faces as they celebrated his betrothal and congratulated his parents on a deal well done.
The omega doesn't miss the irony of having to stand before that same crowd today…. doesn't miss the way their cheers are now replaced with harsh glares as they called and cursed for his demise.
Namjoon thinks life's funny that way.
In some twisted, dark, and demented sort of way.
Lips pulling up into a deep frown, Namjoon closed his eyes as he drowned out the people around him; their voices soon falling to a dull buzz as thought back to the day his life was forever changed.
His marriage, or rather his life sentence, had been quick; a small ceremony his parents had thrown together after accepting the dowry Namjoons soon-to-be husband had so willingly offered them.
But what should have been a happy occasion was soon followed by the thing Namjoon dreaded most; a fantasy turned nightmare as the omega was given no time to prepare as he was taken from his home and handed over to an alpha he barely even knew.
It was then Namjoon learned the truth, had found the reason why he had been basically sold to an alpha who barely showed any interest in him.
You see, his alpha….was sick. Consumed by the type of sickness that sunk deep into one's bones and never quite left. An illness that burned for days even after drinking every potion or herb in sight and unfortunately for Namjoons alpha, there wasn't a cure in the world from stopping the sickness to continue.
To this day, the disease’s name sent chills down the omega's back; the way the pain and fatigue had haunted his husband making Namjoon pale briefly even now.
Yellow fever.
Once diagnosed, Namjoon had known there was no way to recover from this.
And unfortunately, Namjoons instinct had finally been right.
Within months, the disease had spread beyond the help of medicine and past the point of keeping hope alive. Like a plague, Namjoons alpha had grown pale and weak; his scent soon growing bitter the longer he stayed bedridden. Through it all Namjoon had tried his best to keep his husband comfortable but near the end, the town's leaders had deemed the issue too grave for only him to handle.
Much to Namjoons relief, the town leaders were quick to separate the two; Namjoon's alpha quickly taken out of their home in order to be taken care of by his most immediate family.
Leaving him to his own devices, the elders had instructed Namjoon to keep house until his husband was deemed better to return. He was a married omega now, it wouldn't be right for him to wander the streets now that his husband was sick; he had a responsibility, a job to keep his alpha’s reputation clean.
Namjoon thought it ridiculous of course but nonetheless stayed. Where else could he go? At least now he could keep to himself and wait out the days before the alpha returned to bother him.
Only….Namjoon’s alpha never really got better nor did he ever return to the house Namjoon was now stuck in.
It seemed, no matter how rich, Death doesn't discriminate.
It was a truth Namjoons late husband never understood and now, never would.
And so, after the alpha had passed, Namjoon was given his time to grieve; his alpha's estate now under his name as he was granted ownership of his late husband's affairs.
For a while, all was well, peace soon becoming a regular part of his routine as he enjoyed a life without any looming threat or obligations.
Or that is until Namjoon began to experience the opposite of peace and relaxation.
Instead of being granted the respectful silence a grieving omega was entitled to have after losing a mate; Namjoon soon found himself bombarded by numerous types of unwanted attention.
More some than others it seemed.
But to Namoon's dismay, there was one alpha who stood out amongst the rest for all the wrong reasons.
Persistent and unrelenting, Namjoon had been bombarded by an alpha who could not and would not take no for an answer. No matter how curt or fast he was to reject the man, it just seemed he was never fast enough.
Kwan Chul had been and would always be Namjoon's biggest nightmare.
A sick and possessive alpha, Namjoon had suffered the past few years pursued by an alpha who saw him as nothing more than a possession he could own or show off at will.
Whether it was obsessing over the way he dressed or the way he acted in the rare instance he stepped out of his home to try and rejoin society, the alpha had made it impossible for Namjoon to live his life in any type of way.
In some ways more than others, Namjoon grimaced as he felt his stomach suddenly twist with disgust.
Shuddering as he struggled against the men pushing him forward, Namjoon recalled the way the alpha had hounded him during the morning phase of his first husband's death. The endless sea of gifts and declarations of love giving Namjoon a constant headache as the alpha's burnt and sour scent clung to every inch of the obnoxious items dropped constantly at the omega’s door.
But the most frustrating thing of all, the one thing that drove Namjoon really crazy, was the way he had no way of putting a stop to this nonsense. For all intended purposes and as far as his parents and the town were concerned, Namjoon was up for grabs; a single omega living on their own without a mate and still in his pup-bearing prime.
Namjoon found it harder and harder not to gag every time he felt more like a broodmare up for sale the faster the days blurred by.
In the end, Namjoon managed to learn how to deal with the alpha's unwanted advances; had come to accept the fact he might never be left alone and should accept his situation as best he could. Because really, what else was he supposed to do? An omega like him, unmated and alone? What would he do….more importantly, where would he go?
It's a worry that keeps Namjoon up most nights, his mind running in circles as he wondered how on earth he could escape the hell that he was currently in.
But then, like an answer to his problems, something happened; something so eventful it damned Namjoon with the problem he was dealing with now.
Kwan Chul...died.
Shot outside a tavern after trying to force his bite on the wrong omega and now here Namjoon was, cursing and fighting not to pay the price of such a god-forsaken burden.
Safe to say it wasn't going too great.
“Get on with it already! What are you waiting for?”
Jumping as a sharp voice cuts through the crowd, the impatient tone of their voice makes the omega flinch as he takes in the way the crowd is quick to resume their jeers and chants for his demise. It's a sobering feeling, one he can't brace himself for just yet.
But nonetheless, Namjoon puts on a stoic face and ignores the crowd as best he can. It's an action easier said than done, Namjoon soon realized but that doesn't stop the omega from trying.
“Now people, we are here to complete a sacred right. Be assured, the omega will be dealt with accordingly.” the older alpha vowed suddenly as he turned to assure the townsfolk, his arms raising up to point at Namjoon as the crowd rampantly followed his gaze.
Blood running cold as the alpha's venomous glare landed on him directly, Namjoon braced himself for the words he’d been dreading to hear. He knew there was no getting out of this and yet, the omega still held out for some desperate type of hope.
A hope that is quickly extinguished the minute the older alpha moves to speak again.
“Men, Bring him forward. Force him if you must.” the older alpha spits out with finality; the words barely leaving his wrinkled and downcast lips before Namjoon was harshly thrust forward.
It was then the omega knew he was finally out of time, his lips parting on a scream as he kicked widely at the stiff ground beneath his feet.
“No! Let me go! You can’t do this!” he pleaded but it was no use; his cries falling on deaf ears as he was pushed and dragged forward.
Like an animal set free, Namjoon quickly lost his composure; his snarls growing louder in the small space as it rapidly filled with his distressed scent. Air growing bitter as Namjoon pushed and pulled, the omega fought with every bit of strength he had left.
He knew it was now or never and the omega was certain he was not about to be buried alive; not if he could help it in any way.
Curses echoing through the air as he was brought to the edge of the hand-dug pit, Namjoon prayed as loudly as he could to whoever was there to listen, his thoughts a whirlwind of a mess as he prayed to all the gods he knew and loved.
Desperate and afraid, Namjoon could only hope they'd listen and thankfully, the gods were quick to answer his prayers.
Just not the way the omega had in mind.
“I said let me g-”
"What in god's name is the meaning of this?!"
Cries dying on his lips in an instant, Namjoon felt the air grow stiff as a deep and booming voice suddenly echoed through the air; the crowd halting in their chanting to turn towards the end of the clearing from where the voice had loudly come from.
Heads whirling around as they tried to see who dared speak before the elder before them, Namjoon felt his eyes grow wide as a new scent quickly filled the clearing.
Scent of honeysuckle and wisps of sage drifting through the air, Namjoon felt the crowd's attention shift as he looked in the direction the townsfolk were now staring. Falling silent as he strained to see who could possibly be coming to his aid, Namjoon twisted and turned as he strained to look over the muttering crowd.
Standing on the tips of his toes, his hands still bound behind him as the men around him unconsciously loosened their grip, Namjoon peered towards the entrance of the clearing.
And that's when it happened.
The moment Namjoon saw the prettiest stranger he had ever seen in town before.
Breath hitching in his throat for a different reason entirely, Namjoon stood transfixed as he watched the stranger come nearer; the sight before him something out of a fairytale as he watched the man's every move.
And why, you ask?
Well, for one, the Alpha was as kingly as he was visually striking; his long black hair tied back neatly as it fell lightly over a set of broad and firm shoulders. The golden gleam of a family crest blinking brightly on his chest atop perfectly kept clothes, the stranger sat high above his brilliant white horse; his silhouette lined with the burning rays of the fading sun burning behind him.
Looking much like the savior Namjoon was looking for, the omega held his breath as he watched the stranger slowly come closer. Heart beating wildly in his chest for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint, Namjoon felt his limbs go limp as his body thrummed with something unknown.
He felt….electrified…..almost refreshed even after what he’d just gone through.
But whatever it was he was currently feeling, Namjoon was sure this stranger was solely the one to blame.
By the look of outrage growing on the stranger's features, it seemed Namjoon wasn't the only one left affected.
“What is going on here? Have you all lost your minds?!”
Sharp words of disbelief falling from the stranger's lips in a flurry, the crowd fell silent as the man atop his horse glared down in their direction. No longer as brave and bold as they had been a few moments ago, the crowd failed to answer the stranger's questions; each person turning to glance at each other in confusion as they quickly tried to find any justification for what they were currently doing.
Watching quietly as he saw the crowd grow uneasy, Namjoon wondered what the people would say. Would they try to explain themselves or make the stranger believe Namjoon was on board and this was all a simple misunderstanding? Would they cower and hide or own up to their crimes?
Whatever they chose to do, Namjoon was sure of only one thing. This mob had not been mindless. If anything the crowd had been and would always be first and foremost single-minded.
Namjoon just hoped the stranger was smart enough to notice.
“Well? Must I repeat myself again or will no one stand up to speak?”
Swinging off his horse in record time, the stranger landed on the ground with a silent *thud* beneath him; the long onyx cape secured around his shoulders billowing gently behind him as the wind slowly picked up speed. Brushing his hands off as he adjusted his stance, the stranger furrowed his brows as he waited for a response; his feature twisting with impatience the longer the crowd grew unsure on what to do.
For the briefest second, Namjoon feared no one would speak or come forward; the strangers' now looming presence making it hard for anyone to address him as shame began to seep through the air.
And just when he thought the silence would grow and answer for him, Namjoon felt dread bloom in his gut once a familiar voice broke the silence.
“And who might you be….sir? This town is not privy to the sights of newcomers so I fear an introduction is, for the most part…. Necessary.” the elder muttered as he slowly slinked his way out of the crowd.
Words uttered like a snake charmer selling his poison, Namjoon watched as the elder alpha stepped towards where the stranger was waiting; his eyes narrowed and dark as a thin smile pulled at the edges of his weathered and pale lips.
Brows furrowing deeper as his lips pulled into a taunt line, the stranger shook his head as he turned to meet the elder's gaze.
“My name is not the explanation that is needed nor is it necessary. If anything you should be giving me your name or better yet the name of the person who is in charge of all this commotion.” the stranger hissed as he took cautious step after cautious step, his gaze never leaving the elder’s own as the man grew nearer.
Eyes growing dark as he realized this was someone who wouldn't be so easily swayed, the elder alpha moved to put more space between them. Voice no longer trying to hide its venom, Namjoon watched as the elder dropped all pretense and showed the stranger who he was really dealing with.
“If no name is to be given then….why are you still standing here? You are no one to make demands outsider, especially not from us.” the elder huffed as he sneered cruelly, his voice dropping to a low octave as Namjoon felt the clearing grow deathly still.
Eyes burning bright as the sun cast them in a warm color of gold, the crowd watched intensely as the stranger quickly grew agitated; his round doe-like eyes turning to sharp daggers as he glanced briefly in Namjoons direction before moving back to stare at the elder head on.
He was frustrated, of course, Namjoon could understand that. But seeing someone stand up for him? Actually witnessing someone else experience the anger and share the same gut-wrenching frustration he himself was feeling?
Namjoon couldn't begin to explain the catharsis he was currently experiencing nor the other emotions now coursing through him.
A shame the stranger was too preoccupied at the moment to notice.
“Well ... .You certainly don't leave me with much of a choice now do you?” the stranger tsked before sighing deeply and turning back to glance up towards the path; his gaze moving from the elder to land on his horse still perched atop the hill behind him. Brows creasing slightly as he took a minute to think, the stranger weighed his options; his expression unreadable as he shrugged and turned to meet the elder's gaze once again.
“Fine. If a name is what you seek then my name is what you'll have….that is, on one condition of course.” the stranger spoke as he slowly moved forward, his words echoing through the clearing clear as day as the elder's expression quickly grew cautious.
“Oh? And what that might be?” he asked the stranger slowly, his tone doing nothing to hide his growing trepidation.
Brows furrowing as he watched the men discuss amongst themselves, Namjoon frowned as he noticed the stranger's expression suddenly change; the troubled lines etched onto his features soon morphing into a smug smirk the omega had not been prepared to see.
It was then Namjoon knew the man was up to no good, the mischievous glint in the stranger's eye confirming his suspicions as he cleared his throat in order to speak again.
“My name for his,” the stranger uttered simply, the crowd gasping out in unison as the stranger raised his arm and pointed straight at Namjoon's surprised and tense form. Mouth growing dry as he fell speechless, Namjoon stood stunned as he watched the stranger eye him closely; his gaze landing on Namjoon for a second too long before making its way back to the conversation at hand.
A conversation the elder was none too happy to be having if his expression and tone were anything to go by.
“Absolutely not. He has no name… you're wasting your time with him,” the elder practically snarled as the smirk he’d been sporting before was whipped clear from his face; his features quickly twisting into an awful expression as he moved to block Namjoons frame completely from the stranger's view.
Rolling his eyes as he scoffed in disbelief, the stranger shook his head as he gestured in Namjoons direction again; his voice growing louder as he tried to maneuver around the man now standing in his way.
“You’re a fool to believe that for a one-second,” the stranger spat as he grimaced at the other's words, the omega standing a few feet away living proof to him of just how wrong the elder was being.
Eyes growing wide as he watched the stranger defend him, Namjoon felt his breath hitch as he once again felt the presence of a thousand stares land on him; the crowd turning their focus back on him as the two men began to argue and grow agitated.
It was a feeling Namjoon would never get used to…
And one he hoped to never feel again.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself as he felt the air fill with heavy tension, Namjoon did his best to control emotions he’d never been troubled with before. Mind focusing on the air drifting lazily around him, Namjoon let the breeze caress him; the small traces of summer still clinging to the air making Namjoons muscles relax no matter the situation.
Only this time, instead of relaxing, Namjoon quickly catches something stronger dancing in the wind.
Eyes blowing wide as his lips parted on a silent gasp, Namjoon flinched as he felt his insides twist as he realized with a jolt just what it was he was smelling. Like bolts of electricity coursing through him in every direction, Namjoon shook as a wave of overwhelming emotion washed over him; his distress from earlier quickly cooling down as he felt his body slowly begin to relax.
Scent growing richer with every gust of wind drifting in his direction, Namjoon stared ahead as he realized the stranger before him was none other than an unmated Alpha; the scent of honeysuckle and sage sitting heavy on his tongue as Namjoon watched the alpha come towards the podium where the elder was now standing by.
“So, do we have a deal?” the alpha tsked as he stared at the elder, the crest etched over his chest shining brightly in the sun as he waited patiently for the elder to answer.
And for a brief moment, Namjoon grew silent as he found some hope. A hope that somehow in some way the men could come to an agreement of some kind and grant Namjoon his wish to finally be set free…
But of course, things were never that easy.
Not in Namjoons case, anyways.
“I think it best you keep on your way stranger, our business is none of your concern,” the elder spat cruelly as he declined the stranger's offer, his tone full of poison as Namjoon watched the alpha quickly move to close the space between them. Eyes burning brightly as he glared at the elder head-on, the alpha clenched his jaw as he took a couple of steps forward.
“Seeing as how I'm already here, the business is very much my own now. So again, what is his name?” The alpha spat as he came to a stop before the older male; the sound of his feet thudding against the hard ground the only thing audible as the alpha kept his frame tall and firm.
Eyes filled with fire as he stared the younger alpha down, Namjoon watched with bated breath as the elder cleared his throat loudly and pulled his lips into a downcast frown.
“This omega is here today to go through with their obligation to grant his mates' last rites. You will not have their name nor our time, so if you-”
"Last rites? What on earth could these last rites be? Does death not void such a bond for good? Or do you insist marriage stays intact even from beyond the grave?" the young alpha scoffed as he shook his head incredulously, his brows furrowed deeply as his lips pulled back into a sharp and intimidating snarl.
Growing flustered as the stranger stood his ground, the elder scoffed as he glanced between the young alpha and the crowd listening intently behind them. Emboldened by their poisonous atmosphere, his ego reassured as he stepped closer to the younger man, the elder smirked as he grew to intrude on the other's space.
"You have no say in what we can and cannot do here, straggler. We are free to pass this ritual whether you approve of it or not-"
"Oh, are you now? Surely you don't mean the ritual we outlawed almost a hundred years ago?" the stranger asked incredulously as he cut the older man off, the look on the elder's face one to remember as they slowly processed the stranger's statement.
His own brows furrowing as the crowd turned to stare at each other in confusion; Namjoon tilted his head and strained his ears to hear the conversation as best he could. What did the alpha mean?
Who had he meant by ‘we’?
It's a question the elder doesn't waste the time to ask, his eyes narrowing to thin slits as his voice dropped to a rough and barely audible whisper.
"We?" he spit out as his tone grew cautious, the look in his eye making the crowd uneasy as they all turned to take a better look at the stranger now looming before them.
Frown now pulling upward into a smirk, the stranger reveled in the sudden attention; his expression soon taunting the elder before him as he cleared his throat to make himself heard once again.
“Yes…..we. As in my father, the king, and his father before him,” the stranger tsked loudly, his words thrusting the crowd into a terrifying silence as they finally realized who it was now standing before them.
And just like that, Namjoon came to learn he was in the presence of royalty; the golden crest etched into the alpha's chest evidence enough of the alpha's presumed royal status. Lips parting as he gasped, his eyes growing wide as he felt the men stiffen around him, Namjoon did his best to breathe as he let the realization slowly start to sink in.
Too bad their town's elder wasn't having an easy time adjusting to the sudden revelation.
Much to no one's surprise really.
“T-the…the KING?! That's…that’s preposterous! Please sir you embarrass yourself-” the elder stuttered as he shook his head in disbelief but his words fall short once the royal cuts him off; the alpha no longer in the mood to discuss anything with the condescending elder stuttering before him.
“The only ones here in need of some embarrassment and shame are you and your people. To think you are so willing to bury an innocent alive….from where I come from, we have harsher punishments for the likes of you.” he spat sharply, his words cutting deep as the people around him flinched involuntarily.
Eyes going wide as he watched the alpha intensely, Namjoon fidgeted as he slowly began to tug at his ties; the skin of his wrists quickly turning bright red as he tried painstakingly to somehow miraculously twist his way out of the binds still holding him still while his captors remained distracted.
If he could just loosen the knot….slip a hand through or remove the binds from his aching wrists then maybe he could just-
Suddenly, Namjoon is thrown off balance as a sudden weight is abruptly upon him; the scent of honeysuckle and sage coating him entirely as he blinked back his startled surprise.
It seemed while he’d been occupied with his attempted escape, the royal had been busy with his own; the unmated alpha now somehow standing by Namjoons side as the alpha reached to take hold of his arm. Expression growing with alarm as he felt his lips part in surprise, Namjoon felt himself gently pulled towards the royal, his skin blooming with goosebumps as a stinging bolt of electricity shot straight up his arm.
It was then Namjoon realized the alpha was now holding him, his touch gentle yet firm as he began to lead Namjoon away from the glaring crowd. It seemed while Namjoon had been busy trying his disappearing act, the Alpha had perfectly completed his own; the sudden movement throwing the Omega off balance as the royal moved to quickly hoist him away.
But try as he might, the pair don't get too far; the elder turning towards them with a startling quickness as he grew set on making Namjoon stay.
Scent growing thick as his eyes burned with rage, the elder growled as he watched the royal hold Namjoon against his frame. In the blink of an eye, the elder was upon them, his scent making Namjoon flinch as the elder rushed forward and moved to take hold of the arm the alpha wasn't holding.
"Ah!"
Yelp leaving his lips as he was suddenly yanked backward, Namjoon felt the royal stiffen beside him in an instant; the alpha’s golden brown eyes suddenly growing wide as he turned back to try and see what had caused the omega to cry out in pain.
But as soon as the alpha’s gaze fell on the elder's hand locked tightly around Namjoons arm, the alpha didn't waste time asking useless questions; his scent growing bitter as his jaw clenched tightly and his eyes quickly grew dark.
Beath stuck in his throat as he was thrust between them, Namjoon stood silent as he waited for the royal to speak. Stressed and afraid, Namjoon hoped whatever the alpha had in mind, he’d do it without fear; his chance to escape growing smaller and smaller with every passing minute.
Good thing the alpha doesn't disappoint, the minute his strained words leave his tightly lined lips making the crowd go silent as he turned to face the elder head-on.
“I think it best you unhand him. Now. Or I won't hesitate to cut you down over something we both know is now none of your concern.” The royal spat as he let his hand fall from Namjoon’s arm, the alpha’s free hand now coming down to rest over the hilt of a double-edged sword Namjoon had not seen hanging loosely from the royal's hip.
And oh how Namjoon feared things were about to get very interesting.
Eyes furrowing into thin slits as he grits his teeth roughly, the elder shook his head as he refused to let the omega go; his hold on Namjoons arm making him wince in pain as the omega struggled against the other's grasp.
Features growing dark as he ignored Namjoon’s cries, the elder stood his ground as he tried to haul the omega to his side.
“I will do no such thing! He cannot leave this place, there is a debt that is owed-” he spat as he failed at moving Namjoon towards him, his words cut short as the royal decided he’d finally had enough of the chaos.
“Then I will pay the debt! Name a price and it's yours! If there is a contract to sign or a beast to defeat then I will sign it or I will slay it. Whatever it is you say he must do then I will do for him but I make myself clear when I say this omega will leave with me by whichever right you seem fit for me to fulfill!”
Voice booming across the clearing as he stepped towards the elder, the royal made his power known as he declared himself before the crowd; his words ringing loudly in Namjoons ears as he felt a sudden heat consume him from head to toe.
For some reason he couldn't explain, he felt drawn towards the alpha standing before him; the royal’s scent making him lightheaded and safe even as he stood before the people who had made him feel anything but.
It was an unsettling feeling, something he couldn't understand, and yet Namjoon couldn't bring himself to look away.
There was just something about this alpha…something in the way he moved and talked….something that made Namjoon yearn in a way he didn't know possible.
All in all, Namjoon found the alpha a thrilling experience.
Too bad his town elder couldn’t bring himself to really say the same.
Lips parting with a growl as his scent filled with disgust, it seemed the elder had finally reached his breaking point; his exasperation becoming evident as he began to hurl his insults and push Namjoon away.
“Oh, fine! If it's an omega you want then go ahead! Pay his weight in silver for all I care! I would ask for gold from a fool like you but that would be too good a price even for an omega like him, unmated and twice disposed of,” the elder spat as he roughly thrust Namjoon forward, the royal having barely enough time to spring forward and catch the omega before he hit the ground.
“Ooof!"
Grunt leaving his lips as he fell into the alpha's arms, Namjoon felt his cheeks grow warm as he inhaled sharply at the action; his mind going haywire once felt the sudden wall of muscle now resting against his back. Eyes blinking in confusion as he was quickly put back on his feet, Namjoon felt the air shift around him as he slowly turned to face the man who had caught him with such ease.
Only when he finally manages to land his gaze on the royal beside him does Namjoon notice the way the alpha doesn't glance in his direction; his thanks sitting heavily on his lips as he took in the way the royal glared at the elder with an expression the omega was sure could kill.
Given the situation, Namjoon wouldn't doubt it...
“You dishonor yourself, alpha,” the royal spit out after a beat of tense silence, his jaw tight and set as he slowly exhaled before turning to face Namjoons disheveled figure standing beside him.
It was then Namjoon got the chance to really take in the alpha’s appearance up close, the perfectly sculpted face peering down into his own making the omega blush as the pinkest lips he’d ever seen moved slowly to ask him questions he could barely make sense of.
Nodding his head as tried his best to seem coherent, Namjoon cleared his throat as he avoided the royal's stare; his mouth going dry as he licked his lips nervously before trying to answer the waiting alpha clearly.
“O-oh…yes, thank you,” he muttered slowly as he bit back a nervous cough, his head buzzing with static as Namjoon listened to the deep timber of the alpha's voice chuckle softly above him.
Black strands of hair swaying gently in the breeze, Namjoon stared wide-eyed as the alpha smiled down at him softly; the scent of sage and honeysuckle enveloping him fully as he watched the royal finally clear his throat.
“Alright then… let's get you out of here.” the alpha whispered once he’d gotten the omega's reassurance, the brown of his eyes shining brightly beneath the setting sun as the alpha took the time to make sure Namjoon wasn't hurt in any way he couldn't see.
Reaching out to reposition the omega’s dress sleeves that had been rearranged during his earlier struggle, the alpha took a step back once he deemed Namjoon well enough to stand on his own; a high-pitched whistle quickly leaving his lips as he turned to call his horse towards them once he’d cleared the omega of any injuries.
Catching on almost immediately as his head shot upward and his body turned their way, the royal’s horse huffed loudly as it quickly heard its master’s call; the sound of heavy hooves stomping down the path suddenly filling the air as Namjoon watched the majestic beast quickly coming their way.
Stark white hair flailing lazily in the breeze as its tail swung wildly behind him, Namjoon watched awestruck as the animal came to a stop right at the alpha's feet; the four-legged creature wasting no time before bowing its head as it waited for the alpha to address him directly.
Smiling softly at the horse's display as he reached out to pat the horse's head, the royal wasted no time as he moved to the horse’s side and reached for the satchel tied snugly around the horse’s middle.
Brows furrowing together as he reached into the bag as he searched for what he needed in silence, the alpha took his time before finally producing a small satchel of cloth held tightly in his grasp. Watching quietly as the royal brought forward a bag filled to the brim with silver, Namjoon felt his lips part as the crowd shifted around them; each more curious than the next as they strained to see what the alpha could possibly be hiding.
Strings tied atop the bag barely keeping the items inside, the crowd watched with bated breath as the alpha toyed with the bag in his grasp; a collective gasp filling the air as the alpha suddenly thrust the bag harshly into the elder's gnarled and waiting hands just a few feet away.
“Here. Keep the damn silver. We won't be needing much of it anyway,” he spat with finality, and just like that, the crowd laid witness as Namjoon’s life was done and paid for; his freedom now resting in the hands of the royal who had so brazenly come to his aid.
A royal who was now leading him away from the elders view as he moved to walk Namjoon past the crowd now whispering wildly behind them; their glares and troubled expressions turning to land on the elder standing shamelessly before them.
Looks of disgust and disdain etched deep into their features, the crowd grew tense with anger as they witnessed the elder clutch the bag greedily in his arms; the sound of cluttered silver echoing throughout the clearing making them frown and curse as they realized just how easily their leader could be bought or corrupted.
It leaves a sour taste in the towns peoples mouth, a taste of bitter shame Namjoon thought they more than rightfully deserved.
Good thing it wasn't his problem anymore nor would it ever be again.
“Omega…Please turn so I can cut your ties,” the royal suddenly whispered once they’d come to a stop next to the pale white mare, the sound of the alpha's voice soft and kind as Namjoon found himself nodding slowly before turning to give the alpha his back without a second's hesitation.
Jumping slightly as he felt the tip of the blade touch his skin lightly, Namjoon held his breath as the alpha worked silently; the rope tied around his wrists soon losing its strength as the alpha cut at them with skill.
Moving the blade slowly as he hacked at the binds, Namjoon felt his frame grow smaller once his wrists were finally set free in no time; the rope quickly falling to land at his feet as a sigh slipped past the omega's lips as a staggering relief quickly consumed him.
“Thank the gods,” Namjoon groaned softly once he felt his muscles relax, the skin on his wrists soon growing tender and red as he moved to cradle his aching hands to his chest. Brows growing furrowed as he grimaced at the pain, Namjoon took a deep breath and allowed himself the time to adjust; the pain he hadn't felt before now starting to creep deep into his bones as he allowed himself the brief and much-needed reprieve.
Watching him carefully as his golden gaze landed on the omega's reddened wrists, the alpha did his best to stand his ground; the primal urge to turn and punish the people responsible for the omegas maiming threatening to rise to the surface as he willed himself to remain calm and maintain his restraint.
Or whatever was left of it, anyway.
“Come, let me get us out of here, once and for all,” the royal sighed as he felt his alpha instinct finally kick in, his hands slowly reaching out to grasp the omega's own as he ever so gently began to massage the reddened skin. Wincing slightly as he felt the alpha's touch burn against his own, Namjoon bit his tongue as he let himself be tended to, his feet moving slowly as he hesitated for the briefest moment.
“Ok…but wait…I just…want to say something before we go,” he spits out as he came to a sudden stop, his hand still in the alpha’s grasp as Namjoon watched the royal stare at him closely. Lips pulling into a tight line, the alpha furrowed his brows as he wondered what the omega could be up to; the gleam in the other’s eye making him grow concerned as he fidgeted restlessly where they stood.
“Are you sure?” he asked slowly after a brief pause, his impossibly deep brown eyes searching Namjoons' features intensely as the omega smiled softly and gestured back towards the crowd still watching them a few feet away.
“Yes, I'm sure…just have some unfinished business, is all.” Namjoon whispered as he watched the alpha sigh softly at his words, the royal's stiff shoulders quickly falling flat as he frowned but released his hold on the omega’s wrist all the same.
“Ok then, do what you must…but I'll be watching.” the alpha stated as his face quickly grew serious, his hand once again returning to land on the sword hanging so bluntly against his hip.
Lips curling upward at the alpha's words, Namjoon felt himself grow giddy as he slowly nodded his understanding; his back soon to the alpha as he turned on his heels to make his way back down the path as far as he allowed himself to go.
Which surprisingly wasn't too far from where the royal and his blade stood quietly waiting.
Humming softly as he felt the breeze caress his now blistering skin, Namjoon felt his lips pull into a deep frown as from this distance he could see the crowd in its entirety; the town he had spent most of his life in standing still against the background as the sky above shifted into the colors of a burning and unyielding sunset. Mouth growing dry as he set his sights on the one person he wished to address, Namjoon felt himself inch a few feet forward, his steps coming to a halt once he met the gaze of the one person he was wanting to see.
Standing there covered in dirt and god knows what else, his limbs sore from resisting the inevitable, Namjoon smirked as he slowly began to walk towards where the elder was still standing; the edges of their town that had once held him captive no longer filling him with fear as he came to a stop just outside the small clearing.
Eyes burning brightly as he felt himself stand tall, Namjoon clenched his jaw as he eyed the elder before him; the bag of silver now laying open in his hands as he held a handful of coins in the other.
Figures.
“Well…Seems like you won't be getting that ritual after all,” Namjoon spat once he was sure the elder wouldn’t be the one to address him first; his pink-tinted lips pulling into a smug grin as he watched the elder's eyes narrow and fill with contempt as he fumed silently with rage.
“You shameless....mateless coward.” The elder cursed as his features grew dark; the sudden disgusted scent rolling off him making Namjoon instantly sick to his stomach as he blanched but willed himself to keep standing firm.
Growling darkly once he realized Namjoon wouldn't bend to his will or give him the reaction he was hoping for, the alpha snarled as he finally waved the omega away; his gnarled hand pointing down the way the royal had first stormed off in.
"The debt is paid. Leave and never come back," he spat hoarsely as he eyed the omega intensely, his words bitter and cruel as Namjoon did his best not to flinch or hurl at the bitter scent directed his way.
Grin never wavering as he stood his ground, The omega felt pride bloom in his chest when he managed to do neither.
"Wouldn't dream of it," he spat back just as harshly as he slowly began to walk away, his words weighed down with every inch of venom the omega could muster as he began to retreat backward up the path.
And with that, Namjoon turned on his heel and walked towards where the broad alpha was waiting for him; the omega’s smile growing wide as he finally felt the weight of a thousand stares start to melt right off his back.
Walking quickly as he spared the elder and the town a second glance, Namjoon chuckled breathlessly once he came to a stop beside the royal and his waiting mare; the bemused look on the alpha's face making Namjoon blush brightly as his skin grew warm under the setting autumn rays.
“Ready to go, omega?” he asked once Namjoon had managed to catch his breath, his scent lazily drifting in the breeze as he moved to secure the reins on his now neighing horse.
Chuckling breathlessly as he nodded, Namjoon walked towards where the alpha was standing; the air between them crackling with electricity as the omega reached out to take hold of the now-tightened reins.
“As I'll ever be,” he tsked loudly as his gaze met the alpha’s own and really, it was all the royal needed to hear; a grin growing on his lips as he moved swiftly to mount his horse and turn back to offer the omega his hand in record time.
“Then what are we waiting for?,” he teased as he held the mare steady and thankfully, Namjoon didn't need to be told twice; his limbs moving on autopilot as he stepped onto the stir-ups and hoisted himself upwards to settle himself right behind the alpha’s firm frame.
Yelping as he felt the horse instantly lurch forward once he was settled down, Namjoon had no choice but to wrap his arms tightly around the other’s middle; his face burning a brilliant crimson as he felt the coarse muscle thrumming beneath his grip.
And by all Gods, there was no way the omega was going to survive this.
But really, would he even mind it?
Ignoring the question as they dove deeper into the surrounding forest, the pair rode off as the trees hid their retreat from prying eyes and raced towards a future neither could have ever expected.
A future filled with twists and turns they couldn’t avoid until it was right before their very eyes.
Good thing they had each other to hold through it all.
Even if it takes them a lifetime to finally notice.
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