It had been four days since Vel last spoke in her human form. Since that morning, she remained in the form of a white cat—her large lavender eyes filled with silence and her soft ears drooping when she felt sad. Kael had tried everything—talking to her gently, coaxing her with food. Things he had never done for any living creature before—he did them all. Yet Vel still hadn't returned to her original form. Whether she couldn't or simply refused to, he didn't know. And it frustrated Kael to no end.
Currently, Vel was quietly sitting on Erianne's lap. Or rather, Erianne was busily tying pastel-colored ribbons to Vel's ears and neck, giggling every time she managed to add another decoration.
Kael watched his sister with an exasperated look. "Riri, what is that?"
"This is Vel," Erianne replied without looking up, her eyes still focused on choosing the next ribbon.
"I know it's Vel. I mean—what are you putting on her? That can't be comfortable."
Erianne glanced up with an innocent expression. "Are you sure? Look, she hasn't moved at all. She's very cooperative."
"She's depressed, not cooperative."
Vel meowed softly as if supporting Kael's argument, then squirmed to escape Erianne's hands. But the princess was too quick. She caught Vel again and added yet another ribbon—this time at the tip of her tail.
Kael sighed deeply and turned his gaze to the far corner of the room—where a man sat casually on a chair, still covering his nose ever since he had stepped into the room.
Aldric Evandros, Emperor of the Riviere Imperium—not just a ruler with exceptional political acumen, but also a seasoned warrior. The wielder of Lux Aura—manifested as light and lightning, contrasting Kael's Nyx Aura of darkness. They were like Yin and Yang.
Aldric tilted his head, still covering his nose. "Kael, I appreciate your trust in bringing me into this secret, but … her scent is truly overwhelming. Honestly, I didn't expect this."
Kael gave a slight shake of his head, voice flat. "You think I don't know that?"
The soft and sweet scent from the first day had now evolved into something far more tempting—intoxicating … and torturous. For any Alpha, that scent was a call too hard to ignore.
Kael didn't want to admit it, but for the past three nights, he had bathed in cold water just to restrain his own Lunaris from reacting to Vel's. The primal urge to approach, to claim—was growing louder in the back of his mind.
And that wasn't the only problem.
The Rhionhart estate was not a safe place for an Omega—unless they were blood-related. There were many powerful Alphas living in this place, and all of them were sensitive to a scent like Vel's—especially when it was wild and uncontrolled like now.
Especially since Vel had already met his father. Vel was a ticking time bomb. Her scent was too strong, too raw—and Kael didn't know how much longer they could keep the rest of the truth hidden. If his father found out that Vel was a rare Omega …
Vel squirmed again—this time succeeding in escaping Erianne's lap. She jumped onto the sofa and curled up, hiding her face behind her tail.
Kael watched her, then took a deep breath.
"Aldric," he said softly, his tone turning serious. "There's something you need to know."
Kael stood from his seat, his movements steady. "Riri, take Vel outside for a moment."
Erianne, who was adjusting the last ribbon on Vel's neck, looked up with a raised brow. "Why? We're not bothering anyone, are we?"
"I want to speak with the Emperor alone."
Erianne blinked. The playful expression on her face vanished. She knew—if Kael was asking her to leave, then what followed wasn't trivial.
"I understand." She stood and gently picked up Vel, still curled like a favorite doll. "Come, sweetheart. Let's find some afternoon sunshine in the garden."
Vel didn't resist. Her eyes stayed closed as Erianne carried her out.
When the door shut softly behind them, silence fell.
Kael sat again. This time, his body leaned slightly forward, shoulders tense, as if bracing himself for what he was about to say.
"I didn't tell you everything before," he said quietly.
Aldric lowered his hand from his nose, his gaze sharpening. "About what?"
"Vel," Kael replied, his gaze briefly going blank. "The day I found her … I saw wounds all over her body."
Aldric narrowed his eyes. "Wounds? You mean—"
"Not minor injuries." Kael's voice dropped to a growl. "Not from a fall or a fight. These were systematic. There were faded marks on her wrists like from restraints. Whip marks, cuts—and in some places, her skin showed signs of forced injections. Rare Omega or not, no one should ever be treated like that."
Silence. The room felt colder than before.
"She's traumatized, Aldric," Kael continued. "I recognize that empty stare. That body that trembles for no reason. She's not just lost control over her form. She's terrified. Maybe … she still feels like she's trapped. That she's going to be hurt."
The emperor clenched his fist on his knee. "You think someone did this to her? Or a group?"
"I don't know," Kael said. "But if there's one victim who escaped … there could be more who didn't. Or who are already dead."
Aldric stood and began to pace, his gaze dark. "That means we're facing something bigger than just a rare Omega. This is—"
Before he could finish, a dark aura began to seep from Kael. Subtle at first, but biting—like cold magic rippling through the air.
Aldric turned sharply. "Kael."
Kael's jaw tightened, seemingly unaware that shadows were pooling around him. The flicker of rage had turned into something real—thick black shadows spreading from his body, warping the air. His Nyx Aura had fractured.
Cold wind gusted. The curtains fluttered. A vase in the corner cracked.
"Kael!" Aldric barked louder.
The voice snapped through the air like a whip.
Kael jolted, blinking. In an instant, the shadows retracted and vanished. His breathing was heavy. He shut his eyes.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to," he muttered. "I just… I can't stop remembering the look on Vel's face when I first touched her. I feel like I failed—as a commander."
Aldric stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"This isn't your fault. I'm the Emperor here—I'm the one who's supposed to promise safety to our people. So get a grip. Especially if you want to protect her," he said quietly.
Kael opened his eyes slowly. "I know."
Aldric studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I'll deploy the Shadow Unit to investigate Omega disappearances over the last few years. If this is part of a network, we'll find it."
Kael only nodded.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Aldric added softly, almost inaudibly, "You've changed, Kael. You're calmer. Usually, you'd have destroyed half the room just from a bad mood."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Would you prefer that now?"
Aldric let out a small chuckle. "No, of course not. But … I know the reason."
Kael didn't reply.
But his heart skipped just slightly.