He once heard someone say, "Your body freezes when your worst nightmare unfolds right before your eyes. You might be smartest, the strongest, but you can’t do anything but helplessly watch like an audience of your own life."
And Zayden was no different now—frozen in place, tears turning cold before they even reached his cheeks whenever the shrieking wind brushed against his face, as if urging him to move, to react.
Rain began to pour, mixing with the blood seeping from Ren’s chest. Zayden kept his shaky hands pressed, too afraid it would worsen if he let go. His hair and clothes were drenched, sticking to his skin and his bitter tears blended with the cold rain, occasionally slipping into his mouth. He couldn’t breathe, but he forced himself to. He couldn’t give up like Ren did.
He had to fight.
For him.
For Ren.
For Eiran.
For them and their future.
Right... Eiran...
He recalled he had left him with the Archduke. That meant someone from his family would surely bring him to the palace...
At least he’s safe...
He bit his lips. What went wrong?... Just earlier, everything was like a dream come true. His gaze fell on the white snow, and his mouth filled with a sour taste.
For a long time, after watching his best friends take their final breaths in the dead of winter, Zayden had grown to hate snow. It took him years to recover from that grief. But if something were to happen to Ren now, maybe this time, he would never recover.
Another golden light flickered in the dark night from the distance, causing Zayden to snap out of it. The blinding glow shimmered before his eyes, keeping him from seeing Ren’s wound clearly.
Growling, he gently placed the man on the floor, heading toward the light. The person who attacked them was still nearby—waiting to finish the job. After all, the target was him, not Ren.
But he dared to hurt Ren...
Jaw clenched, Zayden raised his hand in the air. A scarlet light appeared around it, and slowly, someone was dragged out of the shadows.
A man.
The one who had injured Ren–who ruined the moment which was supposed to be the best moment of Zayden’s life.
Ren had kissed him, even if he hadn’t given a proper answer. They couldn’t even discuss about their relationship because of this person.
The man struggled in the air, a dark red bubble enveloping him, limbs flailing in every direction, panic flashing on his face.
"I-I!.." The man tried to speak, but his words died in his throat as a pair of chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles. In seconds, they were bound to the horse’s straps, forcing him to the ground, struggling in vain to rise.
It all happened so fast, the man could only blink when he came to the realization of what had just happened. He was told the General wouldn’t use magic! So why was he suddenly making use of his mana—which he wouldn’t use even on the brink of death?
Zayden turned, sprinting back to Ren. He simply couldn’t let go of this person. Not when they constantly kept trying to cause him harm. This time, he had managed to reach Ren. What if next time it was someone else, close to him?
And he needed him to learn the consequences of hurting someone he loved.
He picked up Ren in his arms, carrying him with ease. His hands trembled but he tried to keep the darkest turmoil of thoughts running in the back of his mind under control. He shouldn’t think negatively. Just because Ren was injured didn’t mean he would die. He couldn’t die. And Zayden wouldn’t let him disappear from his life like this.
Placing the unconscious omega on the horse, Zayden mounted the animal. Then, gently turned Ren, putting his arms around his waist before tying a rope around them so the young man wouldn’t fall off during the ride.
Pulling the reins, the horse snorted before charging into the mist, galloping across the snowy road.
The last time they rode the same horse, Zayden was the one clinging onto him. And this time too, he was the one praying for his life.
"Please, wake up," he whispered, burying his face in Ren’s neck, his body shaking in fear. He couldn’t lose him. Not when they have just begun to build something.
"Actually, no. It didn’t matter. I just need you to be fine. To live... With Eiran. Even if it’s... With or without me. So please. Please, hang in there," his voice cracked with each word leaving his lips.
If one were to hear him, they would think Zayden was not a dominant alpha as everyone said. Because no alpha would ever let go of their mate—let alone their fated mate.
The rain had turned the road slippery, causing Zayden to guide the horse astray from the normal path. The man attached to the animal was not safe from the friction of the road, occasionally bumping into trees—hitting his head or face against them. He groaned in pain, screaming for help, but there was no one passing through this deserted place.
That was why Zayden had brought Ren here in the first place—for some peace. But the infuriating shrieks of the man began to give him a headache.
He turned, glaring at the man rolling on the road. The man shut his mouth immediately, knowing better than to infuriate the General any further. He had only accepted this job for some extra money!
Who would have thought his greed would lead him to his death? There couldn’t be a better reason for Zayden to go through the trouble of bringing him away when he could have taken his life on the spot.
Was he going to be tortured? Who knew. It would not be so shocking if that was what awaited him. The Imperial General was known for having two sides: one that would protect his people at all costs, and one that would kill for them. Unfortunately, he had met the latter.
The Imperial General was famous for being merciless and cruel with war prisoners. Perhaps that was what he intended to do with him. Shivers ran down his spine at the thought alone.
Wrapping his arms around Zayden, Ren stirred. A groan escaped his mouth, his chest burning. His eyelashes fluttered, his vision too blurry. Maybe it was because his mind was fuzzy, or the rain stopped him from seeing what stood before him.
"Ren!" a shaky voice exclaimed. Zayden’s lips quivered, his breath caught in his throat, unsure whether to be relieved or worried.
However, the man didn’t reply. He had fainted. Again.