TW : just for good measure, please take note that this chapter contains violence, a bit of blood, and also the mention of intended non-con, though nothing actually happens nor is there anything graphic.

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Dread churned in Felix's guts as he peered outside the window. His cabin was small, yet comfortable, with a large window that let the sunlight stream in. Beyond the water, however, a shore had come into view – the Conquerors' Capital.

It was almost time.

'KNOCK' 'KNOCK' 'KNOCK'

Juyeon entered the cabin, looking as regal and prim as always. They'd been traveling together for a little under a month, now, the sorcerer using his abilities to make the ship go much faster than it should be able to with its weight, but no amount of time spent together would ever endear the man to Felix.

The freckled boy knew for a fact that Wooyoung wasn't dead, else he'd have felt it. And, if he was still alive, then surely the others were, too. However, it didn't change the fact that Juyeon had cruelly left them to die, and Felix wasn't exactly the forgiving type when it involved the people he cared about.

"Still sulking, I see," drawled the sorcerer. "You needn't make such a displeased expression, Your Highness. The Capital is a majestic place built by the greatest architects and artists this continent has to offer – I'm sure you'll find it to your liking."

"The walls may shine with gold, but they can't hide how rotten the people inside them are," hissed Felix.

"I suggest you hold your tongue once you meet with the Crowned General. He's not the patient type, and he has better to do than waste his time taming you."

Felix bared his teeth at that. "Do not speak to me that way."

"You've sworn absolute submission—"

At once, Felix pounced on the man and roughly slammed him against the wall of his cabin, his sharp nails just shy of ripping his throat apart. The sorcerer gulped, his eyes wide as Felix snarled in his face.

"I may be bound by oath, but the moment I step foot within the Capital, our deal will become null and void," he warned in a low, threatening growl. "And you can be absolutely certain that I will fight back, and I will try to escape with everything I've got, and I will make your life a living hell until I succeed. I'm going to struggle for every step leading to your shitty palace and I sure as hell won't hesitate to draw blood if that's what it takes." His eyes flashed with barely unrestrained anger. "You may be immunized to my allure, sorcerer, but the same can't be said of those weak-minded men of yours – and I will laugh when they start tearing each other apart on their own fucking spears, do you understand me!?"

Juyeon merely glared, mumbling a few words under his breath – and then silver chains slithered from underneath the bed and wrapped themselves tightly around Felix's body, tying his arms against his chest and effectively sapping away any ounce of strength he possessed.

He immediately collapsed, hissing and gasping in pain as the chains burned his skin, and Juyeon dusted himself with a small scoff.

"I have not claimed the title of greatest sorcerer in the land thanks to mere tricks of hand, Your Highness. I daresay you should know better than to underestimate me the next time you'll feel like losing your temper." Readjusting his coat, his expression then softened the slightest bit. "There is a good life waiting for you, Your Highness, if you only do as you're told. Please keep that in mind."

Felix merely growled at him. "Any life bound within- within your walls will be worse than death."

Juyeon didn't reply, merely leaving the cabin without another look back. The moment he was gone, Felix let out a faint whimper, his tough façade crumbling as he slumped against the floor. The chains hurt, it was the purest silver he'd encountered so far, and he couldn't even muster the strength to move a finger, let alone get up and fight.

Still, he meant every word he'd told Juyeon – they'd have to drag him to the Crowned General unconscious if they didn't want him to cause any trouble.

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Felix woke up with the taste of blood filling his mouth.

He was no longer on the galleon.

Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position. There was an ache tearing into his muscles and a strange pressure sat on his chest, but he evaluated that, saved for some notable silver burns, he was ultimately uninjured. However, though he was no longer bound by chains, he was now stuck with another restraint.

A collar. Like some sort of pet to be kept on a leash, they'd attached a collar to his neck, the metal clasp digging into his throat and magic pulsing from it, completely cutting him off from his own power. When he tried to reach for his magic, it was as if he collided with an indestructible wall. He wouldn't be able to use his allure anymore, nor would he be able to shift.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Felix finally allowed himself to take in his surroundings. He was in a spacious room, which already surprised him a bit – he'd fully been expecting to be thrown into a cell or a cage, considering his past experience with the Dominion's brand of hospitality. And not only was it spacious, but it was also filled with sunlight that streamed from large, opened glass doors that led directly to a balcony.

Wary, Felix slowly got out of the bed he'd woken up in and walked up to the doors. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped outside... and nothing happened. Frowning, Felix fully stepped onto the balcony and made his way to the stone railing. He could feel a weakness now slithering in his bones – there was silver embedded in the floor, not enough to harm, but close enough to drain him of his energy.

When he placed his hands onto the railing, he felt it – the pulse of magic. An invisible veil rippled before his eyes before settling and vanishing again, and he then realized that he was still very much in a cage – the bars had simply become invisible to the eye. Scoffing under his breath, he then glanced below.

A bustling, modern city that seemed to expand for kilometers. Busy, crowded streets bustling with life, hundreds of thousands of people living in close quarters, though still separated from the higher class of their society by an additional wall that circled the Citadel – the heart of the Conquerors' Capital, and the Crowned General's home.

And far, far beyond the walls and the city and more walls, Felix could see it – the sparkling blue of the sea, calling out to him even more strongly than ever before. He didn't realize how much parting from it would hurt – he missed the sway of the deck under his feet, the sails unfurling under the strength of the wind, the scent of salt mixing in with that of the delicious food their cook prepared...

"There is no need for such longing eyes, Your Highness. I can promise you that you will be provided with everything your heart could possibly desire, and more."

Felix stiffened, his grip on the railing tightening. He was tempted to throw himself right over, though he knew the magical field surrounding it would only repel him.

"I have no need for whatever blood-tainted riches you could provide," he scoffed, not even sparing the newcomer a glance.

"Felix."

"Eric."

He'd been foolish, back then. Naïve. Felix had thought giving his true name to the Crowned General as a sign of good faith would encourage the peace talks, but the greedy man had merely used it like he'd used him.

"You say my name with such disdain," sighed the red-haired man, coming to stand beside him. "I didn't know you were even capable of such an emotion."

"How could I possibly speak your name with fondness when all I feel is pain every time I remember how you've mercilessly ripped me from my home and my family?"

"Felix—"

"Do not use that name!" snapped the wolfman, baring his teeth. "You have no right to speak it after betraying me so!"

Eric's traits hardened a bit at that. "Then I'll tell you like I told your brother: my ambitions to unite our continent will not be quashed for the mere sake of sparing your feelings. I will claim Fang Vale and I will spread the Dominion's rule because that is the duty the Gods inferred to my family, and I fully intend to see our work finally come to fruition!"

"You are a greedy beast, driven insane by the need for control – a megalomanic tyrant who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means spilling the blood of innocents in the process," bit out Felix. "I'd rather end my life right here and now than help you achieve this endeavor in any way!"

"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Yongbok." Eric took a step back, straightening a little – any trace of amicability was gone, now. "I had you brought here to fulfill a purpose, and you do not have a choice in this particular matter."

"My brother won't bend the knee in a hostage game," warned Felix. "He's stronger than that, knows better than that. He won't give up our home and our people merely in exchange for my life. You'd be better off killing me this instant and spare everyone the waste of time and resources."

"You are not here to fulfill the role of a hostage, Your Highness." Felix growled a bit when Eric gripped his chin and tilted his head up so their eyes could meet. "No, you can give me directly what I desire most. After all, you're a royal omega, aren't you?"

The blood immediately drained from Felix's face, anger faltering in favor of fear as he finally understood just what exactly the Crowned General wanted from him. With a curse, he ripped himself away from his grasp, taking a few steps back and glaring at the red-haired man with all his might.

"You are sick!" he hissed, his fur bristling with distress and hostility. "You'll even go as far as to force yourself on someone to satisfy your ambition!?"

"It doesn't have to be forced—"

With a snarl, Felix pounced onto the man. Though he couldn't shift or muster his usual strength, his nails were still sharp enough to cause lethal damage, so he aimed directly for his captor's throat. Without warning, however, a sharp, whistling noise pierced his sensitive ears. He lost all balance and strength, his sight blurring as he collapsed.

The infernal noise hit again, exploding in his skull and making him instinctively curl up on himself, gripping tightly his ears in a useless attempt to shield them. He was shaking and whimpering like a pup going through his first shift and, even when the noise finally stopped, he couldn't bring himself to move at all, his limbs locked into place. Another faint whimper escaped him when Eric began gently petting his ears.

"You can't escape, Yongbok. I need you here, so here you must stay," he murmured and, had it been anyone else, Felix would have thought he sounded apologetic. "Make yourself comfortable. If you need anything, just ring the bell near your bed. I'll see you at dinner tonight."

Eric then rose to his feet and, without another word, he left the balcony. Felix flinched as the door of his room slammed shut shortly after, his sense of hearing still incredibly sensitive after the hell it was just put through. Gritting his teeth, the freckled boy eventually mustered enough strength to move again.

He was still trembling as he silently returned inside and laid on the bed, curling up on himself. He carefully took off the bandana still tied around his head and pressed it against his nose, a small sob escaping him as Wooyoung's scent hit him.

The scent of his True Mate.

The scent of home.

I'll return to him, he thought to himself as more tears spilled out. No matter what it takes, I'll find my way back to him...!

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Though the last thing Felix wanted to do was to play along with Eric's games, he knew the smart thing to do was to bide his time and get to know his surroundings. He needed to familiarize himself with the Citadel, from its architectural layouts to its inner workings of civilian staff and trained guards. He also needed to learn as much as he could about the city outside, about the walls surrounding them, about all the potential escape routes on land and water alike.

As such, though he felt sick to the stomach, Felix dressed up in the garments brought by a maid. It was heavy with gold and endless layers of fine cloth, the robe almost brushing the floor as he walked. Though beautiful, it was quite unpractical and, for someone who wasn't used to wearing so many layers, definitely uncomfortable. Still, he refrained from saying anything and silently followed when two guards came to fetch him for dinner.

Unfortunately, the Citadel turned out to be much bigger than he first expected, and any potential exit he managed to spot was either heavily guarded or blocked by magical wards – in short, if he wanted even a smidge of a chance at getting out of there, then he needed to take out Juyeon first.

When they arrived at the dining hall, Felix made a point of walking with his head held high and his gaze focused straight ahead, not sparing a single glance for any of the other people already gathered there. His arrival obviously garnered attention, but he wasn't about to indulge their need for entertainment – if any of them tried to touch him, he'd bite their hand off.

He sat down in the chair to the left of the Crowned General, right in front of a man he was unfamiliar with. To the man's left was none other than the sorcerer, and to Felix's left was a man he'd met before, the Advisor if he recalled properly.

"Welcome, Your Highness," greeted plainly Eric. "Glad to see you join us."

"Not out of the goodness of my heart, I assure you."

Just because he had to play along for now didn't mean he had to play nice, and Felix certainly wasn't about to sugarcoat his words just to spare their egos. There was a snort further down the table, followed by the distinct sound of a slap, but Felix kept his eyes glued to the table before him.

Eric sighed but didn't linger on it. "To your left is my Advisor, whom you've already met – Haknyeon. In front of you is my brother, Sunwoo, who acted as a regent while I was away. Next to him is Juyeon, whom you've become acquainted with already—"

"Ah, yes. The man who left my friends to die even though he'd sworn not to kill them."

To say the silence that followed was awkward would be a dreadful understatement, but Felix didn't care much for it. Though he knew at least Wooyoung was alive, it didn't change the fact that Juyeon had acted like a snake and used underhanded methods to go against his own magical oath. Seemingly understanding that faking pleasantries wasn't the way to go, Eric gave up on introducing his men entirely and began discussing some political matter regarding the South with Sunwoo. Almost immediately, conversations picked up again, as if Felix hadn't even joined them in the first place.

When food was finally brought to them, Felix didn't bother even picking up his fork. He couldn't help but feel like cattle being fed in prevision for the slaughter, and the thought made him sick to the stomach, completely killing his appetite. After a few minutes or so, Eric eventually decided to say something.

"You should eat, Yongbok. I was told you barely ate anything on the way here—"

"And why should you care?" Felix let out a bitter laugh as a hush fell over the hall, the others immediately listening to their interaction. "Ah, yes, my mistake – you don't. All you care about is to keep me alive enough so you can try and take me against my will, sullying my body and stealing my dignity in addition to the home, the family, and the life you've already taken from me. Well, you know what? I hope you have fun fucking a corpse, General."

Unable to reign his anger in any longer, Felix finally snapped. Uncaring of the others openly gawking at him, he rose to his feet and began walking away, fully intending on returning to his room and stay there from here on out. However, just as the door came within reach... that terrible noise pierced his ears all over again.

With a sharp cry, Felix collapsed, his ears flat against his head as violent spasms ran through his body, pained whines clawing their way out of his throat. It stopped as quickly as it started but, though the infernal noise died down, Felix's shock didn't, and he couldn't immediately muster the strength to get up again.

Leather boots soon appeared within his blurred sight, and he gritted his teeth as he looked up to find the General staring down at him. He hadn't noticed before, but there was a small, cylindric pendant hanging around his neck – a whistle made of silver.

"Let me put this simply, Your Highness: though I'm trying my best to offer you the best of our hospitality and make your stay here as comfortable as manageable, my patience isn't limitless. Right now, you live in a luxurious room with a bathroom attached, a comfortable bed, clothes made of the finest silk, and you're also free to roam the Citadel as you please." His eyes hardened. "However, I'll have no qualms in sending you down to live in the coldest dungeon where you'll get doused in icy water every week or so, where you'll sleep on the rock-hard ground, where you'll wear dirty rags and where you'll be chained down like the unruly mutt you've proven to be so far. And trust me, I have no intention of letting you die, no matter how hard you might try to end yourself in some foolish, naïve attempt to live on as a martyr in your people's mind. Have I made myself clear, Your Highness?"

Felix couldn't afford to screw up right now. What little freedom he currently had was his best bet at escaping – without it, he'd truly become trapped. So, gritting his teeth, Felix lowered his eyes in a clear show of submission, clenching his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms.

"Crystal, General," he bit out.

"Good. Since you're not hungry, you're excused for the evening. Hopefully, you'll have more of an appetite comes morning."

He walked away, and two guards came up to help Felix back to his feet. He roughly pushed them away, rising up on his own and, though still a bit unsteady, he managed to walk out of the dining hall by himself. He could feel the gazes of the General's men digging into his back as he left, and he simply hoped they all felt guilty for being indirect accomplices to his misery.

Nights troubled by guilt-induced nightmares were the least they deserved.

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The days that passed were slow, and uneventful. To say it was driving Felix mad would be a dreadful understatement.

He quickly found out that in addition to the collar he was wearing, the magical wards blocking all exits, and the two guards following him whenever he left his room, he couldn't even step foot outside of the North wing of the Citadel. He didn't have access to anything beyond it, the wards cutting him off every time.

There was a poor excuse of a library only filled with children's books and other literary works that were completely irrelevant to Felix's quest for information. There was the dining hall where he hadn't stepped foot since that time, only eating in his room. There was also a very small garden with a single fountain in the middle, some rows of poorly treated flowers, and a few patches of dying, yellow grass.

The rest of the wing was made up of unused guest rooms or empty studies. The only weapons around were the swords the guards carried. Food and hygienic products were brought by various maids, but they didn't reside in the North wing and Felix had no clue of how they could possibly bypass the magical wards.

All in all, though he'd been there for a few weeks now, Felix had no idea of how he could possibly escape.

The only blessing in disguise was the fact that Eric had been seemingly too busy to drop by and visit him again since their last confrontation in the diner hall. Felix sometimes caught glimpses of him from his balcony, but the Crowned General stayed out of the North wing to tend to various duties that didn't involve the wolfman, thankfully. However, Felix knew it wouldn't take much longer for him to finally act – Eric had a plan, and Felix needed to stay on guard.

If only I could figure out just what exactly he has in mind... Even if he forces himself on me, it won't make us mates. How is he planning on forcing my hand?

Those were the thoughts completely occupying his mind as he stared up at the slowly darkening sky. Yet another day ending, yet another day wasted within his golden cage. The stars didn't shine as brightly as they did when he was at sea and, even with the moon growing fuller each passing night, Felix's powers were unresponsive, completely sealed away by this wretched collar.

With a sigh, Felix popped another grape in his mouth. He didn't have much appetite, still, but he couldn't allow himself to weaken if he wanted to be able to fight back. So, since he couldn't stomach full meals, he settled for eating various, numerous snacks throughout the day.

At least the food is good, he thought wryly.

And yet, as he bit down on yet another grape, something cracked between his teeth, and a disgustingly sweet, yet sour taste immediately filled his mouth. He gagged, spitting everything out, but dread filled him when he noticed the strange, translucent sphere on the floor – it was the size of about the quarter of his little finger's nail and, most importantly, it was cracked right in the middle.

Empty.

A strange numbness spread on the back of his throat and tongue and, without thinking, Felix hunched over and shoved two fingers in his mouth in an attempt to make himself throw up whatever he'd just been fed. Unfortunately, his gag reflex no longer worked, rendered numb by the substance he'd swallowed.

Felix stayed still for over a minute, breathing heavily as he tried to figure out just what exactly he'd just eaten. However, saved for the numbness, he couldn't feel anything. Feeling sick, Felix glanced at the plate of grapes next to him. He pried open a few of them and, eventually, he managed to find another that had been tampered with.

Prying it open, he found the exact same, translucent sphere – except this one wasn't cracked, and it was filled with a red substance that held no scent at all. With a growl, Felix threw the plate away and rushed back inside the room, intending on hunting down the Crowned General and demanding answers at once.

He barely managed to make it halfway to the door before a wave of dizziness washed over him. He held onto the bedpost to keep himself up, and he suddenly realized that he couldn't let Eric see him like this. If he knew Felix had taken whatever had been hidden in his food, then it would only push him to put his plan into action – but, if Felix made him believe that he'd found the substance before eating it...

He'd act rashly. He'd make a mistake. And if he made a mistake, then it would be Felix's best chance at getting out.

The freckled boy heaved out a shuddering sigh, putting the strange... pill, on his nightstand before laying on the bed. The dizziness had passed, but he'd need to amp up the act and truly hide whatever other effect might spring up come morning. If he charged after Eric now in an irate state, the General would know he'd succeeded – no, Felix was going to play it off as if nothing had happened and, hopefully, his captor would finally lose his composure enough to leave the perfect opening for the wolfman to make his escape.

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The next morning, Felix woke up with the sun, but he didn't feel any different than he usually did. He carefully cleaned up the grapes he'd thrown to the floor the evening before along with the broken pieces of the plate, and he also put the strange pill away in his nightstand drawer. After what, he went on with his day as usual. He washed his face, picked the less uncomfortable clothes he could find, and ate breakfast (though he thoroughly checked every bite to ensure he didn't eat another pill by accident). After what, he went out for his daily morning walk in the small garden, mindful not to mention anything to his guards.

After taking under ten minutes to take a tour of the entire garden, the freckled boy sat down on the edge of the fountain and pulled out the small book of poetry he'd brought along – one of the only works he was able to genuinely enjoy in what little his "library" had to offer. He'd already read the whole thing three times, but he needed something to keep himself occupied, else he'd go insane.

He was about halfway through when a familiar scent hit his nose.

"Oh, so the Crowned General finally deigns to visit his pet after all this time?" he drawled, not even looking up from his book.

"Believe it or not, but I came here out of worry, Yongbok. I heard from your guards that you had an issue with your food, yesterday evening?"

Felix immediately quirked a brow in confusion. "Issue? First time I'm hearing of it. The food was excellent, as per usual – the only good thing about this forsaken place, really."

"Is that so? My mistake, then." A hand suddenly extended itself to Felix, and he lifted an unimpressed glance at the General. "Would you care for a walk, Yongbok?"

"Not particularly, but I suppose I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Closing his book with a displeased huff, Felix rose to his feet and gestured for the General to lead the way. Really, it was a bit ridiculous to ask him to go on a walk when the garden was so small, it felt more like they were two fishes swimming around in a bowl. Still, he refrained from commenting on it.

After a minute or so of silence, they stopped near a bush of dark blue flowers barely beginning to bloom. Like the rest of the garden, they were in a poor state, but Felix assumed they would be quite beautiful if someone tended to them properly. Eric reached out, picking the most vibrant one and gazing at it deeply.

"Tell me, Yongbok. Are you familiar with this particular flower?"

"I'm afraid I'm not well-versed in botany, General."

"Hmm. Well, I'm not much of an expert myself, but I do know one interesting thing about these flowers: their pollen is... a rather potent aphrodisiac."

Without warning, he whipped out his hand, immediately spreading pollen in Felix's face. The freckled boy wheezed as he accidentally inhaled it, the sharp scent immediately burning his nose. He took a step back, swaying in place a bit as he coughed.

"Most importantly, its pollen is also the main ingredient of a very special potion my sorcerer has developed – one capable of provoking an animal's heat, namely."

Felix wanted to curse him out, but he swallowed down his bitter words as, without warning, a violent cramp made him bend over. It was so intense and so unexpected, he fell to his knees, tightly gripping his churning stomach as he pressed his sweat-coated forehead against the ground, a whimper escaping me.

"Funny thing is, the potion doesn't act up unless triggered by the natural form of the pollen. You may have thought you could have fooled me into believing you didn't ingest the potion, Yongbok... but once again, I've proven to be smarter than you. When will you learn, really?"

"Go- go to hell," spat Felix, heaving a bit.

Fuck, it hurt. Felix only had to suffer through one heat so far, which occurred when he presented as an omega, a few years back. After that, an omega only went through heats once they were mated, their biology adapting to favorize procreation. As such, he'd forgotten just how painful it could be.

Most importantly, however, he now understood exactly what Eric was planning – but it was too late to stop it, unfortunately.

"I've made a lot of research on your kind, Yongbok. I know how omegas get when in the throes of their heats – how desperate and vulnerable you become, craving attention as if you can't even breathe without it," mused the Crowned General, carelessly throwing the flower on the ground. "You can hate me to your heart's content but, ultimately, your instincts will win over, and you'll mark me as yours."

"I'll rip your throat out first...!"

Eric merely scoffed, and the cramps finally stopped. Felix straightened up, shuddering a bit in anticipation of more pain to come, and he glared at the despicable man before him with every ounce of hate and disdain he could muster. The Crowned General stared right back and, after a second, he gestured for the guards further away to approach.

"Take him back to his room. He's no longer allowed to leave it for any reason whatsoever."

"Yes, sir!"

Felix didn't stop glaring until the two guards firmly began dragging him away. He quickly started walking on his own again, not wanting to show any weakness, and it's only once he made it back to his room and the door closed behind him that he finally broke down.

Rushing to the bathroom, he threw up. Though the cramping fit had passed, he knew it was only the first of many. Cramps were the first signs of pre-heat, along with intense sweating, increased sensitivity, and decreasing appetite, amongst many other unpleasant things. Pre-heat period usually lasted two to three days, after which the full heat broke out – which could last for well over a week, at times.

Going through a heat alone was awful. Omegas weren't meant to be alone during those times because heats only began after they mated, saved for the first one – which was spent with fellow omegas they trusted to care for them in any way they may need. And, though he wanted to be strong, Felix knew Eric was right: his instincts were much stronger than any willpower he could possibly muster.

His vulnerable mind would beg for safety and comfort, latching onto any non-threatening presence in its vicinity. Felix could fight it for a bit, no doubt, but ultimately he would lose control entirely and, in order to satisfy his needs, he'd mark him and mate him for life – thus not only forfeiting any sort of hope for his future, but also for his people's future.

I can't let this happen... he thought, tears filling his eyes as he dragged himself back to the bedroom. I can't, I can't, I can't...!

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Felix tried to run, but the guards easily caught him, and then he was locked inside. He tried forcing his way through the magical wards, but it only resulted with nasty burns and a headache. He tried destroying the door, but his strength was quickly dwindling, and he didn't have anything heavy enough to break it down.

At this point, not many options were left.

Unfortunately, the moment the freckled boy tried to cut through his own wrist using a shard from the plate he'd smashed to pieces the day before, the shard was quite literally blasted from his grasp without leaving a single scratch. As it turned out, the collar not only prohibited him from using his magic – it also stopped him from intentionally harming himself, or worse.

If he couldn't kill himself, then the only chance left was to kill the General.

He broke one of the bedposts, picking the biggest wooden shard and sharpening it as much as he could. He gained many splinters from this endeavor, and he had to take numerous breaks because of the cramping fits becoming more regular, but he eventually managed to create a decent enough weapon.

So long as he could drive it through the General's heart, then everything would be fine.

He sat right next to the door, his eyes closed as he listened intently to whatever was happening outside. The makeshift wooden stake was held tightly in his hand, the wolfman ready to strike whoever entered his room next. He didn't know for how long he stayed in that position, long enough to doze off at the very least...

He was woken up by the sound of footsteps approaching and, soon enough, an unfamiliar voice echoed on the other side of the door.

"The Citadel is under attack. You must go aid in fighting off the intruders!"

"Sir, our orders—"

"Here, my brother's seal! The situation is dire, we need all the men we can – there's an important breach in the inner wall. Go at once while I gather everyone else!"

"Yes- yes sir!"

Felix tensed up, his grip tightening on the stake as he pushed himself into a crouching position, ready to attack. After a few seconds of hurried footsteps fading in the distance, the noise of the door being unlocked echoed. It was then pushed open, and Felix pounced the moment whoever was on the other side stepped.

He slammed the newcomer into the wall, pressing the tip of his stake against his throat, and it took Felix a moment to realize who it was.

"You're... Eric's brother," he remarked, narrowing his eyes.

Sunwoo stared back, seemingly unafraid despite his current position. "I'm here to help you, Your Highness."

"Lies."

"I'm not lying! He- here!"

Sunwoo fumbled with pulling something out of his jacket's pocket, and Felix's heart missed a beat when he recognized the item.

"That's... my brother's necklace..." he whispered.

"We're- we're working together to topple the Crowned General and get you out of here. This is a coup, Your Highness – your brother, your pack, and many of your people are right outside, currently fighting their way in," he explained breathlessly. "But we need to go now. It won't take long for Eric to come for you."

Felix didn't trust this man as far as he could throw him, but he couldn't sense any lies, and Chan's necklace was extremely precious – it was the courting gift he'd received from Minho when the omega accepted him as his future mate. As such, it couldn't be replicated, and Felix knew Chan wouldn't have lost it.

"Alright," he breathed out, releasing Sunwoo. "What's the plan?"

"A breach has been made in the wall surrounding the Citadel to attract attention, but we're going to escape through the secret tunnels," answered Sunwoo as they left the room, moving quickly. "The only entrance is in my brother's quarters, in the South wing of the Citadel. So, we're heading there."

"I physically can't leave the North wing," warned Felix.

"That's why a team is currently working their way to the heart of the Citadel, where the magical wards' generator is located. As soon as it's taken down, you'll be able to leave."

"Why can't I just use the same way you did?"

Sunwoo shook his head. "The wards have been created using wolf fur so it'd only work on you and your kind. In any case, it shouldn't be much longer, now – one of my trusted friends was in charge of taking them to the generator."

"What about the collar?"

"Another team is working on retrieving the key. Chances are that we won't be able to get it off of you before you make your escape, though." They eventually made it to the small garden Felix had come to love in his misery. "In any case, what we need to focus on right now is getting you out of here. A friend of mine, Kevin, is waiting right on the other side of that wall for you – the moment the wards are down, you'll climb over the wall and get to the other side, which is the East wing. Kevin will then guide you to the South wing."

"Why are you doing all of this?" couldn't help but ask the freckled boy, frowning. "He is your brother, is he not?"

Sunwoo sighed, shaking his head. "We may be related by blood, but he's long since cut our brotherly bond. He's completely lost his mind to his ambitions of grandeur, dead-set on fulfilling the ambition of generations long since gone, uncaring of whoever he might hurt in the process... I respect his wish of unity, but I do not believe in his methods, and I certainly don't endorse what he has planned for you."

Felix stared at the young man before him for a moment. His eyes were filled with resignation, but also determination – he was being completely honest. Satisfied, Felix nodded gratefully but, before he could say anything, the air around them suddenly rippled... and then the wards vanished entirely.

"Eric will definitely know you've escaped, now," warned Sunwoo, urging him toward the wall. "Move fast, don't stop until you've gotten out of here – Kevin will tell you the rest of the plan on the way."

"Understood. Thank you, Sunwoo."

"Of course. Hopefully, we'll meet under better circumstances at a later date."

With another nod, Felix then began climbing the wall. It wasn't high at all, merely meant to separate the different wings of the Citadel, and he quickly reached the top. However, just as he began his descent on the other side, a violent fit of cramps made him lose grip, and he made a nasty landing that completely knocked the air out of his lungs.

"Shit, are you okay? Come on, we've got to go!"

Cursing under his breath, Felix gripped tightly the arm that presented itself to him and he was soon pulled back to his feet. He recognized the man before him as the one who'd laughed, back during his confrontation with Eric during their only dinner together.

"Hi, I'm Kevin!" he grinned. "Now come on, let's get you out of here!"

"What do we do once we've reached the General's quarters?" immediately asked Felix.

"You'll use the secret passage to get to the tunnels – they'll lead you right outside the inner wall that surrounds the Citadel. Some of your friends are waiting for you there and they'll take you back to the port, where there's a ship ready to depart at a moment's notice. As soon as you're out at sea, you'll be able to disappear and shake the General off your trail."

"Ship?" repeated Felix, hope surging in his chest. "There's a ship waiting?"

"Yeah, a wolfman caravel or something."

Felix felt kind of stupid for getting his hopes up. Of course the crew of the Twilight wouldn't come, what could they possibly gain from getting involved in politics, anyway? They'd already been hurt enough by his deceit, they had no reason to come for him. 

Shaking off those thoughts, Felix focused on running alongside Kevin as silently and quickly as possible. The cramps had died down as quickly as they started, but they were becoming much more frequent, and he was starting to worry it might seriously affect his escape attempt.

They made it back inside and, without the wards, Felix was finally free to move as he pleased. They made it through the East wing in the blink of an eye but, as they finally reached the South wing, they were forced to slow their pace because of the number of soldiers suddenly filling the hallways.

"Damn it! I didn't think there'd be this many!" cursed Kevin, quickly reevaluating their route options.

"We can't waste time – the moment the General realizes I'm gone, he'll know immediately where I'm headed," warned Felix, biting his lower lip.

"This is the shortest route, but there's only two of us here and, no offense, but you're not exactly in the best shape to put up a fight right now. We'd need at least three of yours to make it through this blockade."

"Well, there's only two of us, but I think we can make it work."

Both Felix and Kevin startled at the unexpected voice, spinning around, and an immense joy filled the freckled boy when he found none other than Seungmin and Changbin right beside them. Tears brimmed his eyes, but he fought them back – he could cry later, once they were all back to safety.

"Guys," he choked out.

"Good to see you, Bokkie," smiled Changbin. "Now come on, we're getting you out of here. We'll take care of these guys while you two go for the tunnels."

"Wait, even with the three of you—"

"Can't you feel it?" then asked Seungmin, his eyes flashing yellow. "The Moon Goddess stands with us tonight."

Felix let out a sharp gasp as he suddenly realized that tonight was a full moon, meaning the wolfmen's strength was at its highest. Then, right before his very eyes, his two friends shifted into their wolf skins in a matter of seconds, tattered clothes left on the floor as beautiful, strong beasts soon stood in their place.

"Holy crap," whispered Kevin, in awe.

Felix reached out, gently petting Seungmin's head. "Be safe. Don't be reckless."

~We should be the ones telling you that~ mused Seungmin before abruptly taking off.

~Just make it out of here, Lix – we'll see you outside!~ added Changbin as the terrified shouts of the soldiers further away echoed.

He then promptly took off after Seungmin, and it didn't take long for the two wolfmen to start tearing the Dominion soldiers apart. Once certain they were properly distracted, Kevin and Felix started running again, cutting through the hallway to finally enter the South wing.

They climbed a few flights of stairs and finally made it to the Crowned General's private quarters. However, the moment they entered their study, they found none other than Haknyeon waiting for them, sword drawn, face unreadable.

"I see you've betrayed us, Kevin," he stated plainly.

"I'm doing what's right," simply replied Kevin, pulling out his own sword.

"I can't allow either of you to go any further."

"Well, I've never been good at following orders, have I?"

There was a bit of a stare-down before, at once, the two began exchanging and parrying blows. Felix quickly stepped away, not wishing to get caught in the crossfire, and he could only watch as the pair began dueling. They were both master swordsmen, that much was obvious, but they were losing precious time, and Kevin seemed to realize that.

"Pull the red book, it'll reveal the secret entrance! Go down through the tunnels and block the passage behind you!" he instructed. "Go!"

Felix didn't exactly want to leave an ally behind, but he knew there was too much at stake right now to play hero. So, with a stiff nod, he quickly moved to the shelves where numerous books were stashed, trusting Kevin to protect his back. And, though Haknyeon did try to get to him, Kevin blocked him every time, forcing him to focus on their fight rather than on the escaping wolfman.

Finally, Felix found the red book and pulled on it. There was a loud noise before the shelves slid to the side and, with one last look for Kevin, the freckled boy then quickly slipped through the secret passage. The moment it closed behind him, he was plunged into darkness but, thankfully, he could see in the dark. 

He quickly spotted a cord hanging from the ceiling and, without hesitation, he pulled on it. The ceiling right in front of the entrance almost immediately collapsed, effectively blocking it off and, not wasting any more time, Felix took off the other way.

He didn't know for how long he ran, mostly focused on trying to ignore the sharp pain jabbing his guts with each step he took, but the scent of fresh, nightly air eventually reached his nose, indicating he was close to the surface. At the thought of finally finding freedom again after all this moment, Felix picked up the pace.

The end of the tunnel was abrupt, and the only exit happened to be a hole above his head, blocked by a thick metal grid. It was a bit too high for him to reach, and there was no ladder to get up there, either. He cursed under his breath, quickly looking around in hopes of finding something that could help him climb before he suddenly remembered what else Kevin had told him about the plan.

I have friends waiting outside!

Thinking for a moment, Felix then let out two low whistles. He then waited, practically holding his breath... before a familiar face suddenly appeared above, eager eyes peering through the grid.

"Felix!" gasped excitedly Jisung. "Hang on!"

The grid was suddenly removed, and a cord was thrown inside. Felix grabbed it and began climbing up and, the moment he gripped the ledge, strong hands grabbed his arms and pulled him completely. He fell straight onto Jisung's lap, and he couldn't help but choke out a sob as he tightly hugged his best friend.

"I've missed you," he whispered.

"Missed you too, Lix. But we can reunite later, okay? Come on!"

Felix gave a quick hug to Jeongin too before the pair also shifted into their wolf forms. The freckled boy then climbed onto Jeongin's back, and the three of them promptly took off down the street. Felix couldn't help but bask in the feeling of the wind whipping his face and the moonlight bathing his body.

He'd missed this.

He hung on tightly as Jeongin ran, with Jisung guiding the way. They ran through the empty streets of the Conquerors' Capital, the scent of sea salt growing stronger with each second passing, almost strong enough for Felix to cry in longing.

And then, at last, they made it to the last wall.

The gates were wide open, for not saying they'd been practically blasted off their hinges and could no longer be closed. They passed through and finally reached the port, the three of them quickly making their way down the docks until, finally, a familiar type of caravel came into view.

Wolfmen didn't have much use for ships, but they still had a few of them, just in case, and they definitely came in handy tonight. As Felix climbed off Jeongin's back, however, a cramp much stronger than before suddenly pulled his guts apart, making him collapse with a pained cry.

"Felix!"

"C- Chris...!"

He let out a shaky breath as none other than his brother suddenly rushed to his side, carefully propping him up, mindful not to move him too much so as to avoid upsetting his body further. Felix winced a bit, but ultimately sank into his brother's warmth and painfully familiar scent.

"What's wrong?" asked worriedly Chan. "Are you hurt?"

"I was- I was made to ingest some- some sort of potion that can provoke an omega's heat. I've been- I've been in pre-heat for over a day, now."

Chan cursed under his breath, his angry tone greatly contrasting with the gentleness with which he pushed some strands out of Felix's face. Before either of them could say anything, however, a loud 'CRACK' in the air made all of their fur bristle and, at once, the intense sense of danger filled them. 

Dozens of soldiers had suddenly appeared out of thin air, blocking off all three streets surrounding them, and there were even large canons set up and aimed directly at the ship behind them. If they tried to make a single move to get on it, it'd get blasted to pieces in a matter of seconds.

"Damn that sorcerer," growled Chan.

"This farce of a coup has gone far enough." None other than Eric suddenly appeared a few meters away, with Juyeon right behind him. "Give up. You will all face trial for invading the Capital, while Yongbok—"

"You will not touch him," growled Chan, his hold on Felix tightening.

The King carefully handed his brother over to Minho, who'd silently joined them. The older omega gently manhandled Felix so he could pull him as far away as he could from what was sure to become a battlefield in the next few minutes, and the freckled boy felt like crying all over again.

They were outnumbered. He couldn't do anything to help, and everyone he cared about was going to get hurt because of him.

Chan abruptly shifted into his wolf skin, which was much bigger and imposing than any other wolfman's since he was a royal alpha. He growled and snapped his jaws a few times, Jeongin and Jisung quickly joining his side, the three of them forming a protective circle around the two omegas.

Seemingly unimpressed, and also appearing a little pissed, Eric pulled out the silver whistle from underneath his armor.

"Watch out!" exclaimed Felix. "He can—!"

'POW'

The whistle was, quite literally, blown out of Eric's hand. There was a moment of tensed silence as the item fell on the ground with a clinking noise, everyone able to see the still-fuming hole that completely ripped through it. And then, all eyes went up to the roof of the nearest building, where a tall figure with a smoking gun now stood.

"The next one will go through your skull, General."

"If I were you, I'd take his word for it – he never misses."

Felix suddenly felt incredibly dizzy and feverish, and it certainly wasn't because of his pre-heat. On the roof stood none other than Seonghwa while, right behind them, on the deck of the caravel, stood none other than Hongjoong. And then, without warning, all three troupes were abruptly thrown into disarray as gunshots and howls alike suddenly echoed all around, pirates and wolves joining the fray.

Seungmin and Changbin were back, and there were numerous other wolfmen Felix recognized as old friends from other packs. Then, there was also Mingi, San, Jongho, and Yunho busting skulls and kicking asses left and right – frankly, Felix still couldn't wrap his head around that one.

"Felix!"

"Lix!"

Two voices of two people Felix cherished dearly – but he only answered to one of them, practically flying out of Minho's hold to throw himself in Wooyoung's arms the moment the pirate came within reach. Wooyoung caught him, hugging him tightly as Felix finally let a few tears slip.

"You're okay," he choked out, inhaling deeply the scent of his True Mate for the first time in months. "Thank the Goddess, you're okay."

Wooyoung let out a small laugh. "I'm the one who should be saying that."

Unbeknownst to either of them, Hyunjin stood stiffly to the side, watching the heartfelt reunion with blatant bitterness. He only stopped glaring when Minho squeezed his shoulder, both in warning and in support, and he quickly snapped out of it – he could deal with his hurt feelings later, once they'd actually escaped.

"Felix," Hyunjin called out again.

The freckled boy finally reacted, pulling away from the pirate to beam at him. "Hyunjin!"

"Come here – I've got the key for this damn thing around your neck."

"Oh, bless you!"

Felix quickly came to him, and Hyunjin began carefully unlocking the collar. Retrieving the key hadn't been an easy feat, and he wasn't exactly fond of working with the pirates, but what mattered was saving Felix, so he could save his grievances for later. And, as soon as the collar was off, his efforts were rewarded with a strong hug, which he promptly returned.

Unfortunately, they were still in the middle of a battlefield.

"Watch out!"

"Wooyoung!"

Through the chaos that had taken over, the Crowned General had managed to slip past their defenses and reached them. Wooyoung had noticed at the last second, throwing himself in the man's path in order to stop him from advancing any further, but he wasn't as good a swordsman as the Crowned General, and he was quickly disarmed. 

Eric harshly kicked him in the side, throwing him to the ground. Just as he was about to bring his sword down on the pirate, however, he was harshly tackled to the ground by a gigantic, snarling wolf with a shiny white coat and familiar blue eyes.

No longer trapped by the collar, Felix was finally free to shift as he pleased, and he fully intended to make the most of it.

"You dare take me from my home and my pack, you dare harm me over and over again, you dare attempt to force yourself on me, and now you dare try to hurt my mate?" Not all wolfmen could speak while in this wolf skin, but it was a skill Felix had mastered quite young, and he definitely relished in the fear that finally sparked in Eric's eyes at his words. "Your greed is too great, General – I daresay it's come to bite you in the ass."

And, without further ado, Felix chomped down on the man's thigh. The General let out a sharp cry of pain, immediately attempting to pry his maw open, but Felix held on tight and only clenched his teeth harder. The taste of blood made him a bit dizzy, but he didn't care at the moment – all he cared about was to make this man pay for everything he'd put him through.

At that point, the battlefield had come to a standstill. Most of the soldiers had fallen, and the remaining ones had thrown their arms away once they realized their leader had been taken down. The sorcerer was out cold, blood coating his forehead, and the Crowned General was now the chew toy of a very pissed omega. However, as much as Felix had grown to hate the man, he didn't want to let that hate consume him and turn him into something he wasn't – a killer. So, with a huff, he finally released the man's leg and stepped back, easily towering over him.

"You have lost, General. And if you can't accept that and come for me or mine again, then I won't show the same mercy twice."

As if on cue, more soldiers suddenly arrived – however, they were guided by Sunwoo, Kevin, and another man Felix assumed was the one who'd helped his friends find the key to his collar. Their men quickly began rounding up the remaining soldiers, while Sunwoo, Kevin, and the third man – Jacob, if Felix recalled properly from briefly meeting him during the peace talks – came up to them.

Kevin and Jacob hauled the Crowned General away, the man barely even conscious anymore because of how much blood he'd already lost. The wound Felix had dealt wouldn't heal easily, and not without some lasting damage that would hopefully be a reminder of not targeting him or his family ever again.

"Thank you, for not killing him," said Sunwoo, bowing stiffly. "Though our brotherly bond may have been cut years ago... he's still my only family." He then straightened up a bit. "You needn't worry, however. He will face the consequences of his acts. I won't let him off easy for all the trouble he's caused."

"We'll be counting on you, then," joined in Chan, easily a few heads taller than Sunwoo in his wolf skin. "And, when the time is right, come to Fang Vale so we can discuss a proper peace treaty. You and yours will always be welcomed in our home."

Sunwoo bowed again, and he then began talking about how they didn't need to leave straight away, and how they were free to remain on land until they'd all regained their strength, and to gather all the supplies they needed for their travel back home, free of charge, and how... and how...

Wooyoung...

Felix was finally free again, and his True Mate was right beside him – he didn't have to fight or worry anymore. His body and mind finally caving in under the accumulated stress, he unconsciously shifted back to his human skin and fell straight into Wooyoung's arms, unconscious before he could even notice.

He was safe, now. He was home again.

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Yes, pretty much all of the action happened in this chapter. Sorry if it looked a little too fast-paced, but I didn't want to cut it and lose some of the momentum. I really hope you guys liked it - as always, a comment is super duper appreciated - and look forward to the final chapter next Friday!

AND DON'T FORGET TO STREAM YOU GUYS! THIS IS COMEBACK SEASON LET'S GOOOOO!