Chapter 4: Calm Before the Storm

The grand palace of Mahabalesh had never been more alive. The corridors echoed with the murmurs of nobility, the rustle of silk robes, and the heavy scent of incense and sandalwood. Tonight, I would stand before my suitors—Alphas who sought to claim me as their own.

I stood tall in the central hall, my posture poised, my face an unreadable mask. I could not show weakness. If I wavered, they would see a broken Omega. But if I remained firm, they would see a prince.

A prince who could still command respect.

The first of my suitors arrived.

...............

The palace herald’s voice rang out as the first Alpha stepped forward.

"Raja Udayveer of Kaushal garh."

A man in his mid-thirties, dressed in gold-trimmed attire, bowed before me. His sharp, calculating eyes roamed over me, assessing. He was powerful, known for his cunning in battle, but he was also known for his ambition.

"A pleasure, Prince Jayant," he said smoothly. "I have long admired the beauty and wisdom of Mahabalesh. I would be honored to make you my consort."

I merely nodded, offering no words. My attendants noted his name, and the next suitor was called.

"King Shatrughna of Rajgad."

The air in the hall grew tense. Every eye turned to the man who had been the most controversial name on my invitation.

He entered, his presence commanding, his age betraying none of his strength. Eighty years old, but still as sharp as a blade. His eyes raked over me, his gaze slow, deliberate.

"An honor, young prince," he said, his voice deep, roughened by time. "You will find that I take care of what belongs to me."

My hands curled into fists beneath my sleeves, but I did not flinch.

"Let Virendra hear of this."

More suitors followed—rulers, warriors, and noblemen. Some genuine, some driven by power, others by greed. But none of them mattered. This ceremony was not for them.

It was for him.

For Virendra to know that I would never beg for him.

.............

As the night continued, I felt it—a gaze, burning into me. My breath hitched. It was not one of my suitors. It was something else. Someone else.

I turned sharply, my eyes scanning the grand hall.

And then, I saw him.

A lone figure stood in the shadows of a pillar, his stance rigid, his face unreadable. Virendra.

My heart clenched, but I forced my expression to remain cold.

"Watch, Virendra. Watch as I erase you from my life."

As I turned away from him, I knew one thing for certain—he would not let this go unanswered.

................

The suitor ceremony had ended, but the echoes of the evening still lingered in my mind.

I sat alone in my chamber, the golden silk of my robes pooling around me as I stared at the flickering flames of the oil lamps. The scent of rose and saffron filled the air, but it did little to soothe the storm within me. Tonight, I had stood before men who sought to claim me.

And yet, I felt nothing.

The attendants had left, the voices of the court had faded, but my thoughts remained tangled in the weight of the night.

...............

Raja Udayveer of Kaushal garh.

A sharp mind, an ambitious ruler. He had wealth, power, and experience. But could I trust him? I had seen how his gaze lingered, not with affection, but with calculation.

King Shatrughna of Rajgad.

A name that sent a shudder down my spine. An Alpha older than my grandfather. The way he looked at me, the possessiveness in his tone—it was suffocating. But he was feared, respected. His power alone would shake the empire.

And then, there were the others—some noble, some strong, some kind. But none of them were him.

My fingers tightened around the embroidered fabric of my robe. Why did my thoughts always circle back to Virendra?

...............

A soft breeze drifted in from the open balcony, and with it came a scent I knew too well. Spiced musk and leather.

My pulse quickened. He was here.

I didn’t turn, didn’t move, but I knew he was standing behind me.

"You look beautiful tonight."

His voice was quiet, rough with something unreadable.

I swallowed hard, keeping my expression calm as I spoke. "I did not invite you, Virendra."

"You didn’t have to.

Slowly, I turned, meeting his gaze. The firelight cast shadows across his face, but his eyes—they were burning.

"You stood there and watched," I said, my voice unwavering. "Tell me, did you enjoy the spectacle? Seeing your discarded Omega being courted by men who actually value me?"

His jaw clenched. "You don’t belong to them."

"And I belonged to you?" I laughed, though there was no humor in it. "You ruined me, Virendra. You took everything from me and left me with nothing."

His gaze flickered to my exposed scent gland—the place where his mark should have been, but wasn’t.

"Tell me," I whispered, stepping closer, "does it burn?"

He said nothing.

Good.

Let him suffer.

Because this time, I would be the one to walk away.

...............

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