Chapter 7: We will find another way
"My lord, the mating ritual requires..."
"The ritual can wait." Ares cut the priestess off. "Get out!"
The command in his voice silenced the room, even the elders lowered their eyes.
No one dared to argue with the future Alpha. Not if they all wanted to keep their heads.
Ayla watched in stunned silence as they all walked out of the room including a frowning Damon whom Cassian had to physically propel outside.
Ares turned back to her once he had confirmed they were all gone.
His gaze dropped to where her fingers were clenched so tightly in the sheets that her knuckles had turned white.
"You are frightened." He murmured softly.
He reached up to brush it away with his thumb. The gesture was unexpectedly gentle.
"No one will be touching you without your permission, Ayla." He reassured her.
He got off the bed and began walking in the direction of the door.
"Why are you doing this?" Ayla’s question stopped him midstride. "This ritual is important. You heard what the priestess said so why are you stopping it?"
Ares could not answer her question because in truth he had no idea why.
Maybe it was the way she had jerked away from his touch or the way her own mother had brought her in that dress like a pig to the slaughterhouse.
"Rest, Ayla" He said instead and walked out, closing the door behind him.
...
"What do you think you are doing?" Alpha Kieran rounded on his son the minute he stepped out of the mating chamber.
He had just been informed by the priestess and a fuming Damon that Ares had ended the mating ritual for no reason.
"I will not fuck her" Ares said simply.
Damon gaped at his brother. "That will be a first"
"And why exactly won’t you "fuck" her?" Alpha Kieran asked ignoring Damon’s jibe.
Ares folded his arms, staying silent much to his father’s dismay.
"Well, if you will not then I will." Damon declared.
He made to re-enter the chamber but was stopped by Ares’ hand shoving his chest.
"You will not take another step." Ares snarled.
"Ares, what is the meaning of this!" Alpha Kieran thundered.
The last person he had expected such stubbornness from was Ares. Damon, he could understand but Ares?
This was so unlike him.
"She is untouched." Ares announced, staring them all down as if that was all the explanation they needed from him.
"Is that what she told you?" Damon scoffed. "You cannot possibly think we will take her word for it. She is obviously lying just so she can get out of this arrangement."
"She has no reason to lie."
"Brother" Damon turned to a silent Cassian in exasperation. "Please let Ares know that the prophecy says we could die if we do not go ahead with the mating ritual."
"We will find another way." Ares countered.
"There is no other way" Damon said. "If you are willing to die because you think you are being a perfect gentleman to Ayla of all people then I suggest you do not waste your time. She is not untouched and I can prove it."
"How exactly do you plan on proving this?" Alpha Kieran demanded.
"Why? Her sister of course"
"Willow?" Ares asked.
"Yes, Willow. Who better to tell us if Ayla is truly untried than her own sister?"
"Summon Willow." Alpha Kieran announced.
Two guards immediately marched off to do his bidding.
"I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation."
"You may be a beast, brother but I am not and I will not take an unwilling girl"
"Unwilling? Since when do Omegas get a choice?" Damon laughed. "You cannot be serious."
"Maybe we all calm down and resolve this as adults?" Cassian interjected.
"Of course, brother... ever the peacemaker" Damon mocked.
Willow walked in with the guards ending any further row between the brothers.
Cassian knew who Willow was.
Ares’ fuck buddy. He wondered what she would have to say considering he also knew she hated Ayla.
"You summoned me, my lord?" she bowed.
"Yes, Willow... we need your help" Alpha Kieran gestured to all three of his sons.
Damon stepped forward.
"My brother here thinks Ayla is untouched." He announced. "You are here to tell him he is being fucking delusional."
Willow glanced at Ares.
"I am sorry to say but Ayla is not a virgin." she announced.
"See?" Damon exclaimed.
Cassian on the other hand did not buy a word she said.
"How do you know this?" He asked.
Willow turned to him, startled at his question.
"I caught her one day going at it in the stalls with a boy."
"What boy?" Cassian asked again.
"Well, he... I did not see his face. It was dark"
"If it was dark and you did not see the said boy then how sure are you that it was Ayla you saw?" Cassian shot at her.
Damon rolled his eyes.
"For goddess sake, are we all forgetting the part where we are supposed to die if this does not happen?"
"We cannot take her word for it."
"No, it really was her. I remember now. I caught a glimpse of his face when he ran out of the shed."
"You said they were in the stalls." Ares jumped in.
Willow’s eyes shot to him.
"Yes, sorry... the stalls. He ran out but I think it was the healer’s son."
"The healer’s son? And you are sure of this?"
"Yes, it was the healer’s son. I am sure of it."
"Well, since we have all confirmed that Ayla has lied to you, Ares... the mating ritual will commence." Alpha Kieran turned to his son.
"Wait, father" Cassian stopped him.
He walked up to Willow.
"Look at me"
Willow raised her head.
"The healer’s son is a eunuch, Willow. He had an accident as a child that makes it unable for him to use his member."
Willow’s face drained of color.
" Did you just lie to your Alpha?"