Chapter Seven

Oliver

 

 

 

Cool air wafts across my skin. I’m being carried by someone… a male; I can smell him. I’m too groggy to know who it is. I hear the clicking of Emerald’s heels nearby. Another cool breeze drifts over me, and I realize that I’m outside.

 

My vision clears, and I see that a large beta guard from the ship is holding me. We’re walking on the ramp with it retracting behind us. I turn my head and see that we’re just steps away from the ship.

 

What are we doing here?

 

Now I remember; Emerald has drugged me. My entire body still feels heavy. Yet, the drug must not have been all that potent. I’ve, perhaps, only been asleep for a few minutes.

 

Why did she do this?

 

I decide to stay still and quiet as we move onto the ship. Emerald is talking to someone, but I can’t make out who. There is urgency in their voices. Curiosity gets the best of me, and I look.

 

Calius is walking with Emerald with their hands clasped. They’ve plotted this all together, but why? I can smell how tense they are now. Emerald looks back at me and our eyes meet.

 

For a moment, I expect her to appear triumphant. She’s gotten me and slipped out of the castle without Benson knowing. She probably used the time when his father fell ill. It was just a tiny window, but they took it. But why?

 

“He’s awake,” she mumbles to Calius.

 

“Good,” says the captain, “then we haven’t given him too much.” Calius nods to the guard and avoids my gaze. “Take him to a lower cabin and spray scent blocker.”

 

“Why?” asks Emerald. “I get turned around when there’s scent blocker.”

 

“I know, my sweet,” says Calius as he kisses the top of her hand. “But, we can’t be too careful once Benson finds out.”

 

“I just need this to be easy,” she says. “No one to get hurt.”

 

“I want the same,” says Calius. Then, he looks back at the guard. “Make sure that the omega is comfortable and gets all of the food that he needs.”

 

What is this? Why are they taking me back on the boat? Why would Emerald care about me? Why is she worried about my safety? Is she worried about me being near Benson? I don’t understand.

 

“Where…” I mumble. “Are we… going…”

 

“Don’t say anything,” says Calius.

 

Emerald appears concerned. “It’s okay; I want him to know.” She runs up to me, and we look in each other’s eyes. “Oliver, I’m sorry.”

 

“What are you…. doing?” I wheeze from the arms of the guard.

 

“I haven’t been entirely honest,” she says. “My kingdom is a mess. The betas have ruined everything. All of the alphas have been murdered, not naturally dying away as many believe.”

 

“What?” I ask. “Why… me…”

 

“We need you in our kingdom,” Emerald says. “We haven’t any alphas, and this is the only way that we can bring order. We couldn’t have Benson rule our kingdom; it would be too much. So, we need a pup.”

 

She reaches for my shoulder, but I bat her away. She’s one of the last people that I want touching me.

 

“You want… my pup?” I ask, furious.

 

“I’m sorry,” she says with tears in her eyes. “We need a new king that the betas will obey.”

 

“How could you do this, Emerald?” I yell.

 

She doesn’t look back at me.

 

“Our kingdom needs this,” says Calius with a soft tone in his voice. “Things are too dire there.”

 

 “What about this kingdom?” I yell at Calius. “Benson trusted you to help save it!”

 

“I’m sorry…” Calius says with guilty eyes. “This isn’t easy for either of us.”

 

“You’ve been planning this all along?” I ask. “Ever since you realized that Benson and I have been together, haven’t you? You were only supportive of our relationship because you wanted my pup!”

 

Emerald looks at the floor. “Guard, please take him.”

 

“No!” I scream.

 

“Hurry,” says Emerald to the guards.

 

I start to think of my life in a foreign land where Benson isn’t around to keep me safe. I begin to shake with worry. Tears stream down my face, but my body feels too heavy to fight off the beta guard.

 

“Benson will find me,” I say as the guard begins to pull me away. “And he’ll kill both of you for betraying him!”

 

“He won’t,” says Calius from down the hall. “We’ve already set sail.”

 

I look out the window to see that we are far away from shore. In just a few minutes, the ship has sped away into the vast ocean. Benson’s castle shrinks away from my view.