Help! Five Beast Alphas Want To Breed Me!!(BL)-Chapter 187: I Can Only Hope

Zephan;

I stretch lazily as I see the flurry of people rushing about to get things done. Servants rush about with boxes, luggage, and scrolls, while guards bark orders to steady the carriages lined in neat rows.

It was too late for this much commotion, but then again, nothing about travelling with royalty was ever peaceful. I’d rather be fast asleep right now, but I know if I stay a minute more in my room, Father was going to come up there himself and drag me out by my ear.

I should know. We’ve played that game tons of times when I was younger.

I sigh in exasperation as I scan the lineup of carriages. Rhydian and Father are deep in a conversation at the front of the line, and my eyes narrow as I stare at them. They’re probably talking about some "great matter" I have no interest in or patience for this late at night.

I avert my gaze from them, and my attention is drawn elsewhere. Just beyond the lined-up carriages... across the courtyard, is Igma and Alana.

On the surface, it looks like they are saying their goodbyes, but when you look closely... at the way their hands linger on each other’s... it doesn’t look like goodbye at all.

Igma’s usually unreadable expression has softened... almost tender. And Alana... well, she looks like someone trying very hard not to float away.

A smirk plays on my lips as I realise that I haven’t teased, troubled or taunted Igma since I got here. She still looks a lot like that hyperactive, insufferable young girl who always had a knack for going up against men.

What better time to find out if she’s changed or not? At least, it’s more fun than watching all these people run around like headless chickens.

I move, casually counting my steps as I walk towards them, and just when I’m a few steps away, I speak.

"Careful, Igma," I call out as I approach, and Alana goes rigid.

"If you stare at her any longer, the moon might get jealous," I add, and Igma’s gaze snaps to me. I grin when I find that it’s as cool and sharp as ever.

"Still as insufferable as when we played Mindstones, I see." She replies, and I can’t help my grin.

Mindstones. Every time I remember this place... Every time I remember her, memories of the game automatically follow. Although Father ordered that I be isolated, this stubborn bud always found a way to scale the walls and sneak into my room to play mindstones with me.

She told me she knew what loneliness was, and she knew staying locked up in a room for days couldn’t be fun.

She was right. I was a lonely little boy in pain. Every day, although I never admitted it, I always looked up to her visits. She would sit and play mindstones with me for an hour every day, and each time, I always beat her.

The constant losses infuriated her, but she never stopped coming.

"Still undefeated," I reply proudly as I dip my head just enough to be polite, and although her scowl deepens, I can recognise that glint of familiarity in her eyes.

Alana steps back from Igma, her cheeks a faint shade of pink, and I raise a brow at how flustered she’s become.

"Relax, bunny. I have no interest in your business. I just came to say hello to an old friend." I speak, but she keeps her gaze on the ground.

"I see you’ve grown taller!" Igma says with a not-so-gentle punch at my arm, and she grins with satisfaction at how hard she hit.

"You’ve been waiting to do that, haven’t you?" I demand, and her grin grows.

"Well, I couldn’t do it while you were sick, and you never came back." She replies, and I smile softly at her.

I open my arms, and she chuckles lightly before accepting my hug, and I rub her back as she hugs me warmly.

"Good to see you in good health. I tried writing you letters after you left, but Aunt Liandria always intercepted them. She didn’t approve of our friendship." She informs, and I nod as some of my childhood questions get answered.

"Explains why I never got responses to my letter," I reply, and her eyes widen as she pulls away.

We don’t need words, as I know we’re both thinking the same thing, but I say it anyway.

"Your lunatic aunt has always been quite a bitch." I state blandly, and she punches my arm again.

"All these years couldn’t tighten your loose mouth!?" She demands, and I chuckle as I stare at her.

Alana suddenly mumbles something about checking on the travel arrangements before hurrying off, pretending not to trip over her own dress, and I smile. There’s definitely something going on between these two.

I turn to look at Igma, and as she glares at me, I bounce my brows at her.

"You’re glowing, Igma. Like an enchanted lover." I tease, and she rolls her eyes.

"Go to hell," she mutters, though the corner of her mouth betrays her with the smallest twitch. I chuckle as I turn back to the mild chaos up ahead.

"Already been. It’s quieter there." I reply, and before she can retort, Rhydian pops up in the distance and starts flagging Igma and me over.

"Looks like it’s time to move," I note, and Igma simply sighs as we make our way back to the carriages.

My aide, Tonye, walks over to me with a scroll in his hands, and I wait patiently for him to tell me which carriage is ours.

"Our carriage is the second one at the back, Alpha Zephan. Right before Alana and Bram’s carriage," He informs, and I instantly feel Igma tense up beside me.

Just then, Bram appears with a small bag draped over his back, and his big eyes, as usual, holding that infuriating "Ready to cry" glint.

I look over at Alana, who has a box in her hands but has stopped mid-step, and before anyone gets the chance to breathe out, Igma speaks in a voice low enough to make even the horses flinch.

"Alana will not share a carriage with him." She states coldly, and my poor aide shivers at the dangerous detachment in her voice.

"But... But it’s what the arrangements..." He begins, and she cuts him off.

"I don’t care what the arrangements are. Change them." She orders, and he looks up at me for help.

Bram, however, always the opportunist, steps forward, looking like the kind of bubble one would like to crush in that travel coat of his.

"Please, don’t trouble yourself," he whispers to Tonye, and Tonye’s brows crease in confusion.

"I wouldn’t dream of making Lady Alana uncomfortable," Bram adds, and I raise a brow. ’Lady Alana’!???

Now, that’s new.

"If it helps, I can share with someone else." He goes further, and instantly, I know what he’s playing at.

"Alpha Zephan... is it... is it okay if I ride in your carriage?" He requests, and Tonye’s jaw drops.

"What?! No. You can ride with..." Tonye begins, but I raise a finger to cut him off as I stare at Bram. Intrigued by the cheap antics he mistakes for manipulation.

I stare at the false humility, the downcast eyes. Bram is good... quite good... at pretending to be a wounded saint. To anyone else, he’d seem sincere.

But to play a snake... You need to be a lot... more.

I smile slowly as I watch triumph bleed into his eyes.

"Of course, Brad," I say in a perfectly polite tone.

"You can ride in my carriage," I add, and he blinks, momentarily thrown off by my easy tone. Or is it because I called him Brad?

"Really? I wouldn’t want to be a bother." He replies, and I wave a hand dismissively.

"Nonsense," I say, and his eyes widen in glee.

"It would be my pleasure," I add, and that’s all it takes for him to bow, murmur something courteous, and climb into my carriage, with smugness pulsing off from him.

As he gets in, I turn to Rhydian, who’s watching the exchange with clear curiosity, and Father, on the other hand, looks confused, but he says nothing.

I look back at my carriage, and as soon as Bram has settled himself comfortably while glowing with smiles, I turn to Tonye.

"Now," I speak in a tone that makes him straighten immediately,

"You’ll be riding with Alana instead. Make sure she’s comfortable and safe." I order, and he blinks in surprise.

"And you, my lord?" He questions, and I nod towards Rhydian, who’s still watching.

"I’ll ride with my big brother. He’s been dying for good company anyway." I reply as I turn back to Bram, and the appalled expression on his face almost makes me snort.

"Wait... you’re not..." He begins, but I furrow my brows in mock confusion.

"You asked to ride in my carriage. It’s all yours." I reply, and his jaw drops.

"Enjoy the solitude. It builds character." I speak as I move away from the carriage, and before he can protest, I open the door to Rhydian’s carriage, get in, and he gets in after.

He signals the driver to move, and the wheels creak forward, as the horses begin to trot. As our carriage moves past Bram’s, the expression on his face is worth more than gold.

The laughter that followed was quiet but immediate. Igma actually cracked a smile as we rode slowly past her. With one hand covering her mouth as she mutters to me,

"You haven’t changed."

"Wasn’t planning to. But thank you for the compliment." I reply, before turning to Rhydian, who’s sitting in the seat across from me.

"You’re going to become that boy’s nightmare." He laughs, and I smile as I look out of the window with my chin resting in my palm.

"I can only hope," I whisper, and I hear him scoff.

"What’s the point of hoping when you know?"