Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 862: A Purpose ()

The sun had just descended below the horizon when the carriage rolled down the cobbled streets of the city.

Following the rogue attack, the rest stop had been cut short and they’d taken to the road the same night. After another day of travel, they finally arrived at their destination.

The Eclipse Claw Pack, Alessio had said. The name struck her with a distant sense of familiarity, but she didn’t dwell on it.

She’d grown accustomed to tethering on the tip of just knowing, but never truly remembering why or how she knew.

For a big city, Neveah had expected a territory teeming with life, especially with the approaching moon ceremony, but it was in fact the opposite.

A short time ago, they had been welcomed by a team of patrol wolves who now escorted them to the pack house.

Since crossing the border, Neveah had barely seen more than a few people on the streets. It was like no one dared venture out of their homes.

If it was in fear of Alessio, or this was simply how things worked here, she didn’t know.

The carriage finally rolled to a stop at a large mansion. Neveah alighted, glancing around.

The mansion was large even for a pack house. It was enough to accommodate a few hundred people with no trouble. It was nothing compared to the Eclipse Palace, but it was luxurious and imposing in its own right.

A group of shifters waited outside the mansion to receive them.

One in particular struck Neveah. A sense of dread pulsed within her as he drew closer to Alessio.

He bowed low in greeting, he and Alessio proceeded to exchange light conversation, and then his eyes shifted to Neveah.

He inclined his head to a bow in her direction, before accompanying Alessio over to her. The closer they approached, Neveah felt a cold chill run down her spine.

It was a familiar feeling to the man chained in the ice room, though not nearly as intense.

Once again...at the tip of just knowing. A familiarity that couldn’t be justified.

"Veah, this is Lado." Alessio introduced, "You’re previously acquainted. But he’s now the Alpha of Eclipse Claw Pack."

"Lady Neveah," The unsettling man, Lado greeted. "It’s a pleasure to have you back."

There was a look in his eyes that stirred unease within Neveah, but she suppressed it, replying with a quiet hum.

"Please, come in." Lado invited with a smile that looked more like a snarl to Neveah. "Rooms have been prepared for you to rest while preparations commence for the moon ceremony in 2 days."

He beckoned a young female huddled in the group that welcomed them and she hurried over. She stopped a short distance away, keeping her gaze fixed to her feet.

"This is Laila. She’ll see you to your room and tend to you for the duration of your stay." Lado introduced, gesturing to the young woman.

As his hand stretched in her direction, she flinched visibly. It was a subtle gesture but Neveah didn’t miss it.

"You’ll find she’s already familiar with your preferences. She used to be your attendant."

Neveah regarded the young woman with a curious look, but she cowered at Neveah’s gaze and so Neveah averted her eyes.

She was too closely entwined with Alessio now. The terror he incited at his presence was rubbing off on her. It was best she didn’t acquaint herself with anyone more than what was necessary.

"I want to rest now." Neveah murmured in a low tone, audible enough to Alessio alone.

Alessio nodded slowly and then gestured for Lado to lead the way into the mansion.

Neveah zoned out of her surroundings and just walked along with them until they got into the mansion and Laila was instructed to guide her the rest of the way to her room while Alessio went off with Lado.

It wasn’t long before they stopped outside a door. Laila pushed it open and then stepped aside, "I... I cleaned it up the way you prefer." She stuttered,

"The way I prefer..." Neveah trailed off, she stepped into the room, glancing around with a raised brow.

She turned to Laila. "Is this what I preferred? It doesn’t look all that familiar to me."

Neveah hesitated for a moment. "What do you notice first when you look at me?"

Laila retreated a few steps back and she didn’t meet Neveah’s eyes.

She could practically smell the terror radiating off her, like every word Neveah said pushed her closer and closer to danger.

Everything was off about the Eclipse claw palace. Neveah could feel it.

She smiled slightly. "It’s fine. I won’t force you."

"You may leave." She turned away from the cowering woman, walking further into the room.

Wooden floorboards, pastel colours, and the suffocating fragrance of flowers...

There was nothing familiar about the space. But she was used to meeting every situation with more questions than answers now.

Neveah was about to head to the washroom when she heard a thud behind her.

She turned, frowning to find Laila had dropped to her knees. She sobbed quietly into her palm, her shoulders trembling.

Neveah raised a brow, she walked briskly over to the door and shut it, turning the lock before she fully faced Laila, her brows furrowed.

Exhaling slowly, she crouched down and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I do not know how to offer you comfort. But if you have anything to say to me, now is the time." She said quietly.

Laila glanced up at her. The pain and desperation in her eyes struck Neveah and she recoiled slightly.

"I... you don’t remember anything do you?" She asked Neveah. "I thought, now that you had returned...we were saved."

Neveah shrugged casually. "Not yet. But maybe you can help me to help you."

Laila hesitated, "I...we were warned repeatedly not to say anything to you."

"If I leave without knowing, will that make life any easier for you?" Neveah asked. "If you say yes, I’ll forget everything I just saw and I will keep my distance for the rest of my stay here."

Laila sobbed quietly for a moment before she drew in a sharp breath, "It can’t get any worse than this, can it?"

"You know the answer to that better than I do." Neveah replied.

Laila glanced warily at the door before she turned to her. "The Eclipse Claw Pack was once ruled by Varlestons."

"Varlestons..." Neveah murmured, frowning slightly. That sense of familiarity was stirred again.

"After King Alessio’s rebellion, the Varlestons and the Eclipse Claw Pack were one of the only major packs to oppose his rule."

"Apha Varleston mustered other Alphas to demand emancipation from the Eclipse rule. He rallied considerable influence, including that of the Eclipse Hunt Pack. Alpha Dane and Luna Leen strongly supported the emancipation."

Neveah pursed her lips.

"Word reached the Eclipse Palace and Lado and his warriors were dispatched to the Eclipse Claw Pack..." She trailed off, her voice cracking.

"I...was forced to accompany him as his omega." She revealed softly,

Neveah could tell there was more she wasn’t saying. There was likely too much hurt and pain attached to the memories that she did not dare share them at the moment.

Equally, they didn’t have the luxury of time for personal grievances. Though Neveah already had a good idea.

"Alpha Varleston was brutally murdered by Lado." She sobbed softly, "Lucas Varleston was imprisoned and his wife disappeared on that night. She hasn’t been seen since then."

"Lado ascended to the position of Alpha and squashed the rebellion by rooting out all of Alpha Varleston’s most loyal subordinates. Almost all the packs involved had their Alphas replaced by forceful takeover with one of Alessio’s warriors. They’re everywhere... taking over everything..." She shuddered visibly, like her mind was momentarily consumed by the memories.

"Life in the Eclipse Claw territory has been hell. Even after the rebellion was squashed, everyone here lives in terror. Lado...he is a monster on the loose. He kills at will and seizes properties and women, regardless of their bond status. His subordinates leading other major Eclipse Packs are no different." Her voice trembled in disgust,

"Nothing and no one can control him. He only listens to King Alessio. But the King...he entertains Lado’s barbaric ways and has made no moves to curtail him."

"Each day, the death toll increases. Lado fears nothing and no one dares oppose him... anyone who has, was either imprisoned or beheaded."

"There’s almost no one left that dares speak up against him."

"At this moment, the Eclipse Hunt is the last standing pack yet to be suppressed by Alessio’s tyranny. But they are surrounded on all sides by Alessio’s loyalists. It is only a matter of time before they are suppressed and the Eclipse Domain becomes entirely his." Laila’s shoulders slumped in devastation.

"When we heard you were coming, we held onto some hope...you have always been the only one to stand up to the Rauls, Your Grace."

"But now..." Laila trailed off, breaking into sobs again.

Neveah heaved a quiet sigh, rising to her feet.

Was this all meant to be? Had she returned here for this purpose? Did she really have no choice but to lead a war?

Her thoughts were cut off when she picked up on familiar footsteps in the distance. "He’s coming. Rise and dry your eyes."