Help! Five Beast Alphas Want To Breed Me!!(BL)-Chapter 321: Suffering

Zephan;

Zethar hits the floor like a tree struck by lightning.

One moment, he was standing there, pale and shaking, staring at Elián as if the world had personally betrayed him.

And the next, his eyes rolled back and his body just... gave up.

There was no dramatic warning or heroic attempt to stay upright.

He simply dropped. And in this moment, staring at his motionless body on the floor, I know that I have never...ever felt this kind of fear before!!

The fear of losing him.

"ZETHAR—!" I yell in panic as I rush towards him on instinct.

Aunt Selthía follows closely beside me, as I kneel beside Zethar, checking to be sure that he didn’t crack his skull on impact.

Elián, who doesn’t look like he’s doing any better himself, sets the bowl aside and shakily stands up in worry.

"Lay him flat," Aunt Selthía orders, and I hear the fear in her voice.

We have no idea what is wrong with him, and the fact that he’s the twin who never seemed to get sick makes all that’s happening right now very concerning.

I grit my teeth as I move him. I position him on his side the way Zerana once taught us, in case Elián ever had a fainting spell.

Just then, we hear the pitter-patter of rushed footsteps.

"Is Elián okay!? What’s with all the noise—?" Zerana’s voice begins in panic, but she stops the moment she steps into the room and sees the scene in front of her. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

She stares at Elián, at Zethar, who’s still passed out on the floor, at me, and then up at Aunt Selthía.

"O...Kay..." She mutters under her breath in confusion, and I lock my gaze at her as she’s the only hope I have now.

"Help. I don’t know what’s wrong with him..." I whisper, and she lets out a breath.

She walks over to us and crouches beside Zethar— eyes gleaming with interest.

"Oh, that’s new," she says lightly, and I raise a brow at how... unbothered she sounds.

"Is... Is he okay?" Elián’s laboured voice questions, and I stare at Zerana, expecting a reply.

"Oh, he’s not okay... but he’ll be." She replies in a teasing tone, and anger sparks in my chest.

"Zerana, this is not funny. My brother is unconscious. He’s been vomiting all morning, and I’m worried he may have been poisoned." I scold, and she immediately fixes her expression and drops her gaze.

Elián makes a small, distressed sound from where he’s now kneeling with the bowl.

I turn to him and see his tired eyes wide with horror.

"P-poisoned?" He repeats, and I pause.

Fuck!

I shouldn’t have said that in front of Elián.

"No— Elián, Zethar isn’t poisoned. This is something else." Zerana replies, and I turn to her, wondering if she’s saying that because it’s true, or just because she doesn’t want Elián to worry.

Aunt Selthía immediately stands up and goes over to Elián.

She uses the sleeve of her robe to wipe his mouth and holds him to herself.

"You shouldn’t worry in this state, Elián. Zethar is fine... He’s just a... little drama queen sometimes." She whispers as she gently pats Elian’s back, and somehow... somehow, I know she is worried too.

She’s also not sure Zethar is fine.

"Yup. Zethar here just got overwhelmed. Nothing too serious." Zerana says as she presses two fingers along the side of Zethar’s neck, and I take a deep breath.

"Is it... is it because he saw me throwing up? Was he disgusted?" Elián whispers to Aunt Selthía, and I shut my eyes.

This boy has a knack for overthinking things, doesn’t he??

I soften my tone immediately, turning around and holding his gaze.

"It’s not your fault," I say firmly. "At all," I add, and this time, Zethar groans.

Barely conscious... Barely there.

"—hate... this..." he mutters weakly, and Zerana’s eyes flick back to him.

"Oh, he’s still aware." She whispers, and I stare at my brother in worry.

I gently brush his hair off his face, and Zerana pressed fingers against his wrists and temples.

"Pulse is fast. Temperature elevated. Blood pressure unstable but not dangerous." She sighs, and I’ve had enough.

"Zerana, what the heck is going on??" I question outrightly, and she gives me a look before looking back down at Zethar.

"Your brother is currently facing elevated echoes of Eliàn’s pregnancy symptoms. This will happen from time to time. Sometimes mildly... and sometimes... like now... he will experience twice whatever discomfort Elián is facing." She explains, and my jaw drops.

"Wh-what!?" I reply in confusion, as she nods.

Then she turns to Elián.

"You’re currently battling morning sickness?" She questions Elián, and the stunned bean simply nods.

"Yup. Whatever you’re feeling right now, your Alpha here is feeling twice as much. He’s currently enjoying the... wonders of motherhood with you." She replies as she pats Zethar’s leg, and my jaw drops.

"An echo of my bond with Elián?" I question, and she nods.

"Stars above... Zerana, you could have warned us." Aunt Selthía chimes in, and Zerana shrugs.

"Where’s the fun in that?"

Aunt Selthía shoots her a look sharp enough to draw blood, and Zerana holds up her hands.

"Alright. Alright. Fine. I’ll explain better."

She straightens, addressing the room like she’s about to give a speech instead of a diagnosis.

"This," she says, gesturing broadly at Zethar’s unconscious body, "is what happens when a Nagari twin who shares a mate tries very hard to pretend he does not." She says, and my gaze drops back to my brother, who has beads of sweat scattered across his forehead.

"...You’re saying this is emotional," I ask, and she nods.

"And biological... And magical. A truly unfortunate trifecta. The point is, this... echo path is open because he cares deeply for Elián, and inasmuch as he’s not saying it, he wants to be there for Elián." She replies, and Zethar groan softly— his hands crawling up to his stomach.

"Elián, on the other hand, is subconsciously calling for Zethar through the bond between you two because Elián needs both of you, and the bond knows that. Carrying this discomfort is Zethar’s way of lessening the burden without actively marking Elián. Although if he does mark Elián... the discomfort will drop significantly." She concludes, and I swallow.

Mark Elián? Zethar will never agree to it.

I look back at Elián and find him watching Zethar, horrified.

"He looks... awful." He whispers, and Zerana smiles.

"Honey, don’t pretend like this isn’t how you feel as well. He needs reprieve as much as you do." Zerana replies.

Zethar’s hand twitches, and I grab it without thinking.

The contact hits me like a shock.

There it is. The echo.

The same nausea twists my gut. The same dizziness. The same unbearable awareness of a body that feels wrong.

Only... mine is distant... Muted.

His is not.

I suck in a breath through my teeth.

"Oh," I whisper as the realisation dawns on me.

"Oh, this is going to be bad," I mutter, and I feel Aunt Selthía’s eyes on me.

"Zephan?"

"I feel it," I reply without looking at her, and Zerana nods knowingly.

"Of course you do." She replies, and Eliàn’s worried voice whimpers.

"Feel... what?" He croaks, and I hesitate.

... Then I decide honesty is better than letting him spiral.

"Everything he’s feeling," I answer.

"Just... quieter," I add, and

There’s silence before he speaks again.

"You both... are suffering because of me. This... this isn’t your baby, and I... I made you both have to go through all of this... let’s... let’s end the bond. I’ll... I can manage on my own, or I’ll send for..." He begins, but I cut him off, turning to him.

"I’m fine," I interrupt quickly. "I am very fine," I add, and when I look at him, there are tears in his eyes.

"But Zethar—"

"Hey..." I whisper as I move over to him.

"We’re not breaking our bond. You wanted to wait two months before calling Koda. We’ll do that." I whisper as I cradle his face, and his lips wobble.

He wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my neck.

"I’m sorry..." He cries, and I lift him, allowing him straddle me as I pat his back.

"This is cruel," Aunt Selthía mutters, and Zerana shrugs.

"Nature is not known for its kindness. Only its consistency." She replies, and I just hold Elián.

"I’ll... go get Elián cleaned up and get him another room to rest. Can you both handle Zethar?" I ask as I stare at both women, and they nod.

"It’s no problem. I’ll cast some stabilising spells on him, and we’ll... figure out a way to get him into bed. Make sure Elián rests and gets breakfast." Aunt Selthía replies, and I nod.

I stand up, and as I walk out of the room with Elián still strapped to me like a cuddly koala, I can’t help but think about my brother.

He’s going to hate this.

Having attacks like that from time to time? No wonder he fainted.

But wait... doesn’t this mean I indirectly will be caring for two hormonal, emotionally delicate individuals every once in a while!??

Fuck!

Like, Zethar wasn’t annoying enough as his usual self!!