Help! Five Beast Alphas Want To Breed Me!!(BL)

Bram;

The warlock stares back, then he leans closer. Like he’s about to reveal some top-class secret.

I subconsciously lean in too, and his grin grows.

”They sent me to kill you.”

The silence that follows is ridiculous.

Not a single sound is made, but I can hear ringing in my ears and feel goosebumps rise along my skin as my heart picks up a dangerous pace.

I pull back slowly as I stare at him. I wait. I wait patiently for his laugh.

For him to swing a hand dismissively and say, ”I’m just messing with you.”

However, I get nothing.

Just that formerly annoying, now creepy grin on his face.

I feel my face lose all its blood as my throat goes parched.

”W-what?” I croak with my voice barely audible, and his stupid smile widens as he repeats himself.

”They sent me to kill you.”

I watch his laughter fade, and I feel sweat trickle down my back.

It’s not exactly the words that scare me. But how... serious about it he seems.

For a moment, I genuinely wonder if I heard him correctly. Or, if he’s not even really here and my mind has started making things up because of the insane hunger.

”They wouldn’t do that,” I mutter anyway, and the young warlock suddenly lights up like a child who has just been handed a new toy.

”Oh?” He giggles as he pulls away from the bars, and my heart keeps ramming in my chest as I watch him.

”Why not?” He asks almost mockingly, and I swallow.

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

I have them all in my head, but they refuse to make it past my lips.

”Why wouldn’t they ask me to come kill you, Bram?” He pushes, and I swallow.

Because why not?!

I helped them! I obeyed. I betrayed everyone for them.

I—

The answer suddenly doesn’t feel as convincing as they did a moment ago. So, I shut my mouth as a shameful, fearful heaviness begins to grow in my heart.

The warlock notices. Of course, he notices.

People always notice weakness.

”That’s adorable.” He mocks, and my jaw clenches.

”Stop messing with me,” I warn him, and his expression suddenly drops into a wronged one.

”But I’m not...” He whines, and then he smiles again.

A smile that unsettles everything inside me.

”You failed.” He then says flatly, and anger explodes inside me instantly.

”I didn’t fail.” I snap.

The response shot out of me instinctively.

Because I didn’t fail.

If he’s talking about me being in here right now, it’s because I was sabotaged.

There is a difference.

The boy raises an eyebrow at my outburst.

”Oh my...” He breathes dramatically as he holds a hand up to his mouth like he’s shocked.

”I was captured.” I spit defensively, and he shrugs.

”Because you failed.”

”I was ambushed!” I scream, and he pulls his lips into a small pout.

”Because you failed.” He repeats, and I see red.

”I almost completed my assignment!” I rage, and he pauses.

Then... he starts clapping. Slowly. Mockingly. With each clap, somehow more insulting than the last.

”Wonderful.” He says with a sweet cheer, and I grit my teeth.

This bastard!

Who’s this little brat to think he can judge me!? If he were in my shoes, would he survive half of what I have!?

”You people sent me into Gravemaw.” I begin, and he stops clapping.

”And?”

”You asked me to hurt Queen Cassia.”

”Or?”

”Or hurt one of the Alphas.”

”And?”

”I did. I completed the task you people gave me. I was careful and—” I point out, and the boy’s smile becomes almost sympathetic.

Then he whispers.

”And yet here you are.”

The words hit like getting cold water thrown in your face.

Because they’re true.

I am here.

Locked away. Alone, starving... and forgotten.

The truth of it makes something ugly twist inside my chest.

I look away as the warlock studies my face. Watching. Waiting.

Then he sighs dramatically.

”Do you know the funny part?” He asks, but I don’t answer.

The boy continues anyway.

”We expected this.” He says, and my brows furrow as my gaze returns to him.

”We expected you to betray us.” He adds, and my mouth falls open.

Th-they know??

”We expected you to reveal the Covenstead’s location. That’s why we let you know it in the first place.” He adds, and I stare at him.

Certain I’ve misheard.

”You what?” I whisper in horror, and his grin returns fully.

”We expected it.” He says with yet another little shrug like he’s discussing dinner.

”We knew exactly what you’d do.” He adds as he walks back towards the bars.

”What do you mean you expected it?” I ask in more fear than defence, and his lips turn downward as he tilts his head at me.

I stare into those golden brown eyes and see nothing but malicious madness in there.

”What part confused you?” He asks teasingly, and my eye twitches.

What does he mean, what part??

All of it! Every fucking part of all he just said!

”You said you expected me to betray you.”

”We did.” He replies dryly, and the feeling of insult that follows is undignifying.

”Why?” I manage to croak out, and he stares at me. Then he blinks.

Blankly. Like I’ve just asked the stupidest question he’s ever heard.

And that look on his stupid face irritates me.

”What are you looking at?” I snap, and he tilts his head further.

”You.”

”Obviously.” I bark, and he scoffs.

”No, I mean...” He laughs suddenly. ”You’re Bram.”

He then bursts into another fit of laughter, and suddenly, with everything in me, I want to throw a punch at that stupid face of his.

When he finally calms down, he wipes his eyes.

”Oh, that’s wonderful.”

”What is?”

”You don’t know.” He replies, and my stomach sinks.

”You really don’t know how people see you.” He adds, and I swallow.

Immediately, my defences rise.

”I don’t care how people see me.”

”That’s a lie.” He replies immediately, and I freeze.

Then he smiles.

”You care very much.” He whispers mockingly, and I look away.

So what if I care? Who doesn’t?

People pretend they don’t, but they’re all liars.

Everyone cares. Everyone wants to matter. Everyone wants to be chosen, wanted...needed.

The warlock’s smile eases into something cruel. Like a hunter studying a wounded prey.

”You spent your whole life trying to make people need you. You attached yourself to stronger people. You chased approval. As pathetic as it is, you chased...affection.” He begins, and something unpleasant twists in my chest.

I look up at him with rage and fury, mangling inside me, and his eyes light up when he sees the look in mine.

”Oh? That one hit.” He says softly, and I clench my fists so hard that my nails start digging into my palms.

”You know what’s funny?” He goes on, but I don’t answer.

He continues anyway.

”You actually thought the Covenstead accepted you.” He spits, and my heart falls instantly.

Then he starts pacing slowly. Like he’s performing for an audience.

Unfortunately, that audience is me.

”You thought Avaren trusted you.” He laughs after that one, and I look away from him as I grit my teeth.

”You thought the witches respected you.” He says, and that is followed by more laughter.

”But just like Calisí, they never liked you.” He hisses, and that one hurts.

A lot more than it should.

The warlock immediately notices, and his smile becomes vicious.

”There it is.”

The warlock leans closer to the bars, and this time, I close my eyes.

”You really believed you meant something to us? You thought... You were worth something?” He continues, and I gulp.

His voice is softer now. Mockingly gentle. Like he’s speaking to a child.

My face burns, because the truth is embarrassing.

I didn’t think they liked me. Not exactly.

But... I thought I had earned something.

A place? A purpose? Recognition... Anything.

The warlock snorts.

”As if the coven would ever trust you.” He spits, and I drag a shaky breath.

”She trusted me enough to stay amongst you, and learn your intentions.” I retort, clinging to whatever shards of dignity and hope I have left, but the warlock immediately bursts out laughing again.

”No, we didn’t.” He laughs, and I glare at him.

He then points at me.

”She put a collar on you. You crawled. You barked. You were a pet, not a guest. No one cares what a pet hears.” He mocks, and I swallow past my now throbbing throat.

The warlock shakes his head. Almost amazed.

”You were entertainment.” He chuckles, and the words slam into me.

Hard. Because suddenly...

I remember the looks. The discrimination wasn’t just from Calisi.

I remember the smirks. The amusement. The whispers... The laughter.

At the time, I’d convinced myself it was temporary. A test.

Something I had to endure. Something that would eventually earn me their respect.

Now? Now I’m not so sure.

The boy then sighs dramatically.

”You know what your real mistake was? You thought we saw you as one of us.”

I bit the insides of my lips, and this hurts more than hearing they want me dead.

Because death is simple. Death is quick.

This, on the other hand?

This is humiliation. The realisation that I never mattered.

That I was useful. Nothing more.

The warlock watches the understanding settle over me and smiles. Satisfied.

Then he casually drops another bomb.

”We let you reveal the Covenstead.” He whispers, and my head snaps up.

”We needed you to.” He adds, and I blink in disbelief.

What...does he mean?

”As any other traitor, you’re very predictable.” He says, and my stomach twists.

”We knew the moment things became difficult, you’d choose yourself. And you did.” He adds, and I hate how true that is.

The worst part?

I don’t even have an argument.

The warlock stretches lazily as he leans against the bars.

”We need Rhydian and Igma to find the Covenstead.”

He says dryly, and the words make me pause.

”What?”

”We want them in Jaggered Valley.”

Something cold crawls down my spine as I process the words, and the boy’s grin grows wider.

”We want them exactly where they’re heading right now.” He adds, and my lungs suddenly feel too small.

”What are you talking about?” I ask in utter confusion.

There’s no way they planned for me to break under pressure and tell Rhydian and Igma about their location.

If anything, they ought to be beyond certain that I wouldn’t do that. They made me swear I wouldn’t.

Now, he’s telling me they knew I would betray them, and their entire plan was banking on my betraying them?

That’s how they see me?

The warlock looks delighted by my confusion. Like he’s been waiting for me to ask.

”They’re walking into a trap.” He informs, and my heart skips.

They really place a bet on my—

”They probably think they’re rescuing Alana. How adorable.” He adds with a now vicious smile, and I gulp.

A trap.

The word echoes inside my skull again, and again... and again.

Everything suddenly fits together in a way I don’t like. A way that makes my stomach churn.

The warlock notices my expression and giggles.

”You’re realising something now, aren’t you?” He asks, and I stare at him.

”Do you understand why you’re disposable now? You’ve played your part, and there’s nothing else you can offer. Your time’s up, Bram. For failing in your mission and betraying the coven.” He says, and I nearly start hyperventilating as the words settle over me like a death sentence.

Because he’s right.

If Rhydian and Igma have already taken the bait... If the trap is already in motion... If everything is going according to plan...

Then what purpose do I serve? What place do I still have in all this?

The answer comes to mind immediately. None.

Absolutely none.

And judging by the way the warlock is smiling...

He knows it too.