Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 860: Different Or Alike ()

~The Eclipse Domain

The carriage jostled to a stop, rousing Neveah from a fitful sleep. The door slid open and Alessio peered in. "We’ll stop here for the night. You need to get some rest and a warm meal."

By her count, this would be their fourth stop. When they’d first begun their journey, Alessio made arrangements for nightly stops in consideration of her. Or at least he’d claimed it was.

Neveah wasn’t concerned enough to believe or doubt his words. They’d travelled through the night the past two days, with no stops, and at double their previous pace.

Though she hadn’t been told the reason for the sudden urgency, Alessio’s wolves scouting the path ahead had returned more often than usual in these days. Whatever their reports said, it’d made Alessio even more on guard than he always was.

Perhaps the roads ahead were dangerous. Or they’d caught the trail of rogues, or worse. She’d heard whispers amongst the attendants Alessio sent each night that rogue attacks had become the order of the day since Alessio seized the throne.

It was no surprise that rogues would be more rampant in the domain’s current state of unrest.

She hadn’t expected to understand the political situation as much as she did. If Alessio had claimed the throne by force, there would still be many loyalists to the previous King, which meant rogues were the least of his concern. He would still have many enemies lurking in the shadows.

The files containing kill orders surfaced in her mind. If those were true and were being executed, he definitely wasn’t the Eclipse Domain’s favourite person.

He was currently away from the safety of his palace to lead the Moon ceremony at this time. It was his duty as Alpha King, but also an opportunity his enemies would jump at.

She’d concluded this trip wouldn’t pass by without some disturbances. It was just a matter of waiting for the chaos that was sure to come.

But none of this mattered to her, anyways. Win or lose, it was all Alessio’s troubles to handle.

She sighed groggily, sitting up. After two nights in the cramped space of the carriage, her muscles felt stiff and she ached in various places.

She peeked out of the window. They’d left the dense foliage behind a while back and now travelled through small, cluster settlements and minor pack territories.

It teemed with rest stops as this route was often travelled by merchants trading supplies between the different Eclipse Packs.

The more populated the rest stops became, Neveah could tell they were getting closer to a major Eclipse Pack.

Hopefully, their destination was close by as well. She was beginning to tire of long, cramped hours.

Neveah slowly got down from the carriage. Alessio offered a hand in support, doting as always.

She ignored it, but he didn’t appear fazed by it. He stepped aside, so she could get down easier.

"Are you alright?" He asked in a tone audible to only them both, "You look pale."

Neveah shrugged visibly. "I’m fine."

She wasn’t. She didn’t think she would ever be fine. But she had to be.

It wasn’t like he didn’t know what her troubles could possibly be. Asking like he cared was just another representation of Alessio’s depravity.

"Come. You need to rest." He said, and then led the way to the inn.

It was a moderate sized building, but in a much better state than the last stops.

The doorbells jingled as Alessio pushed the door open. Inside the inn was much warmer compared to the chill of the night outside, and it was scantily populated with only a few patrons sitting around.

The patrons cowered at Alessio’s presence and out of the corner of her eyes, she caught the innkeeper backing away slowly.

But she wouldn’t get far. They never did.

The guards accompanying them approached the occupied tables, as well as the innkeeper. The guests would be escorted out soon and the inn evacuated.

What became of them after, Neveah wasn’t sure. But with how the attendants sent her way trembled all night long, she had a good idea.

Alessio was an extremely wary man. He was overly cautious and never took any chances. He seemed to understand his precarious position and what the current unrest meant for him.

In every stop they made, he made certain the inn was evacuated and guarded round the clock for the night. Even so, he barely slept.

He wasn’t a man to entrust his safety to anyone else. She wasn’t sure of much else but she could conclude he wouldn’t be an easy kill for his enemies.

Whether that worked in her favour or not, she didn’t know. At the moment, she was in no position to kill Alessio, not even for her own freedom.

The smell of freshly baked bread and sugary pastries filled the atmosphere.

Alessio led the way to a table where they sat. A short distance away, Alessio’s wolves stood guard.

The innkeeper was soon brought over by her arms. She was shoved forwards where she crumbled to her knees by their table.

Neveah pursed her lips in displeasure. He no longer bothered to hide his true nature from her now that they had come to the understanding that she couldn’t leave him by her own will.

He treated her with the same tender care as always. But everyone else...was a different story.

While Alessio’s tyranny was now a common occurrence, it left a bitter taste in the back of her throat and try as she might, she just couldn’t get used it.

She wouldn’t have ever considered herself the most empathetic in the bunch. But unwarranted cruelty was just disdainful.

For some reason, Alessio seemed to thrive on inciting terror. Intimidation and cruelty was the principle of his leadership.

She couldn’t remember why she knew there was a better way. But she did.

"Grr... greetings, Your Grace..." The innkeeper stuttered, bowing low. "My Lady," she added, glancing over at Neveah.

"What... can I serve you?..." She asked, trembling from head to toe.

Neveah averted her gaze. "I’m not hungry. I just want a warm bath and some sleep."

The innkeeper glanced over at Alessio uncertainly.

"Bring your best. She’s not picky." Alessio said instead.

"Of...of course." The innkeeper scurried away to fetch the meal.

Neveah’s hands clenched at her sides. "I said I was fine."

Alessio raised a brow. "Starving yourself doesn’t do anyone harm, but you."

"I want you to eat, Veah. You don’t look well and I cannot be at ease."

She glanced up at him, scoffing beneath her breath. "And if I say no?"

Alessio leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Then I can only blame the food... for not being up to your taste."

Neveah didn’t need to ask to know what he had just implied. If the food wasn’t suitable, it was the fault of the cook.

If she refused eating, the innkeeper and whoever was behind the meal in the back kitchen would bear the responsibility.

"How do you sleep at night?" Neveah asked beneath her breath, "I wouldn’t be able to..."

Alessio chuckled quietly. "We’re not as different as you think, Veah."

"In fact, we’re more alike than you would ever be willing to admit."

Her fists clenched tighter. Now, he’d become comfortable with dropping hints about her past.

Not enough to trigger an actual memory, but just enough to plant seeds of doubts... just the right amount to leave her questioning what exactly she believed herself to be, and the truth she couldn’t remember.

Because if there was one inarguable fact, it was that Alessio knew her. He did.

Did she know herself?

"Right." Neveah murmured, "Maybe we are."

The innkeeper soon arrived with the meal, placing it before Neveah with shaky hands.

"Thank you." Neveah murmured. Though it probably didn’t count for much seeing as the innkeeper was shoved away by Alessio’s guards.

Neveah ate in silence. She could feel Alessio’s eyes on her the whole time. She could picture the ghost of a smile on his lips.

He had her in the palm of his hand and he knew it.

She ate faster, stuffing her cheeks with the bread. It probably tasted as good as it smelt, but her tongue was too numb to sense it

Soon, she’d cleared the plates and stared up at Alessio.

"Good girl." He smiled in approval.

Her gut churned and she nearly emptied the contents of her stomach.

"Don’t...call me that." She snarled in a low tone. "Ever."

Alessio frowned but before he could say anything, two of his guards came over. They conversed in low tones and after, he led the way up to the rooms.

He opened the door and gestured for her to go in. "Get some rest." He said and then he was gone, back down the hall.

Neveah’s brows furrowed slightly. He would always linger to make sure she’d gone in and even long after so she didn’t sneak out.

He’d only leave when he’d sent up the attendants for the night. That way, she was always being watched.

Neveah exhaled slowly. Walking over to take a seat on the bed.

She was yet to exhale when a loud howl broke the stillness of the night.