Chapter: 55
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Documents were placed carefully on the desk for him by Barbara while he signed, and flipped them shut then passed them over to Clyde and proceeded to sign the next. There was an assortment of documents from his fathers estate as well as some from various business associates that he needed to deal with. He hadn't planned to spend his entire day signing documents and drinking firewhisky. He needed to get out of there and stretch his limbs, but knowing he had been away from his duties for quite some time, he must tend to the documents now, or else they kept piling up even more. And he would be a poor leader for all if he couldn't even deal with these small annoyances.

The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, he could feel its warm yellow glow through his office window, and his eyes ached in protest. His body aches, too. He hadn't slept well in weeks and hadn't taken care of himself since he went into Deep Sleep. That is, after all, when things became rather complicated. He had gone into hiding and sent himself to sleep in order to avoid his reality which had a betrayer of a Mate tagged in it. The same Mate he had spent an entire day in his arms and had woken up to his body warmth that morning. The Mate who had Marked him and he had done the same. Why does everything have to seem so complicated with him? Was he making a mistake? What if it's another plot with his mother to take back what they had lost? But, Conri knew that wasn't the case, since he would have felt it from him the second he woke up that morning.

He didn't feel any hostility from the Omega, rather he had only felt a broken Omega, one so afraid they didn't want to disentangle themselves from his sides. An Omega who craves the love and attention of his Mate. It hurt his heart, seeing him like that. As if he would die if he didn't cling onto him tight enough, and it made him wonder why he had stayed away from his Omega the times that he did. With how much he didn't want to leave his side that morning, or even do as little as disturb his sleep knowing how drained he must feel after the rough night they had, he was in his Rut and no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't say he was exactly gentle with him.

Still, how had he managed to survive without him?

Granted he was often checking to make sure he was alright, he had eyes and ears placed around him, feeding him information on how his days went, and letting him know when he was in trouble just like the time at the farm, still, he had stayed away from him. Why? Because he wasn't ready to confront the truth. Not ready to accept it. But this is something he will have to do eventually, and when he does, he needs to talk about things to make sure neither of them can misunderstand the other anymore. He needs closure so they can move forward. With nothing getting in the way of this bond, they had once again formed.

It's like they had both flipped open a new canvas, and it was now left to them to decide what pictures they wish to paint.

Conri sighed heavily when he signed the last papers and passed them over to Barbara, who nodded and began to walk out of his office, Clyde with her. He leaned back into his chair, taking a long stretch, his eyes shut tightly, and his hand reaching for his neck to undo his tie before pulling it loose. When he opened his eyes again, he saw his reflection in his large mirror sitting on his left side. His dark long hair, dark eyes, and angular features looked worn down, and the lines on his face were etched deeper and more pronounced. His skin looked duller than usual. It really worried him how much he had neglected himself lately, though he thought his eyes held the same amount of intensity and fire they always had. A sharp contrast against the soft brown skin. His jawline was firm, strong, and chiseled. A masculine look.

His lips were thin, yet sensual, and gave off a very seductive vibe. Though he didn't mind the overall ruggedness of his appearance; in fact, he found beauty in it, as it made him appear ruthless, although he knew many who would attest to that fact. His muscles were defined, yet not bulky, nor heavy, but powerful and muscular. His hands are rough with calloused knuckles, his fingers long, slender, slightly bony, and slightly arched. The scars from past battles that adorned his hands and forearms are visible on his skin as faint white lines across his skin. They seemed to blend into his pale flesh seamlessly. The man who looks at him doesn't notice. But a Mate with delicate fingers, tracing smoothly along his skin in gentle caress would. His attention was dragged from the mirror when he heard a knock on this door, but whoever was out there did not bother to wait to be invited in before they pushed the door open and stepped in, their presence causing the Lycan to jump to his feet, and rushed over to give hugs, and kisses to his fathers and Birth Omega.

"I knew something was different from the moment I opened my eyes this morning," Leonardo said as he wrapped his arm around his son's waist and pulled him close enough that he could smell the scent of his Omega on him, like the most expensive cologne. "What's the good news?" He asked when they separated from their embrace and he let go of Conri.

Conri only chuckled and moved over to embrace his other two Dads, then picked up his Birth Omega like he weighed nothing, twirled him around, emitting soft giggles out of him, then placed him on his feet and hugged him while pressing a kiss into his hair. Phoenix smiled at the affection and returned the hug. "Come on in, and have a seat, please!" He said as he ushered all three Fathers and Birth Omega into his private office. The office was decorated in a warm, comfortable atmosphere, full of comfortable furniture in varying shades of wood and fabrics.

The walls were painted in light, calming colors and were covered in various pictures of their family members, mostly his parents, twin sisters, their mates, and children, and of course, a few paintings of the Weretiger hung on the walls, and a large window sat at the far end of the room giving the view onto downtown River Bay skyline. A table filled with various bottles of wine stood between the two seats that faced the window. A fireplace filled half of the wall facing the sofa, a roaring fire burning brightly. Two windows took up both walls, the sunset spilling inside the office and warming up the space immediately. A large bookcase stood behind the couch, filled with books ranging from history to classics.

He offered his fathers their favorite drinks, and his Birth Omega his, before filling a glass for himself and taking a seat beside his Birth Omega.

"You reek of Fresh Herbs... only a Mate would leave such a domineering scent, to ward off all others," Phoenix commented as he took a sip of his drink. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the scent, as well as the flavor. "He's always had such a wonderful scent."

"I know, I could hardly keep my hands off him this morning," Conri muttered shyly, picking up his glass and placing it immediately to his lips.

"Like fathers like son," Phoenix commented with a roll of his eyes. "What did you do?"

"I had my Rut yesterday, and I would not accept any other Omega until Caleb walked into the room, and I took him," He explained, smiling smugly at his fathers.

Phoenix gasped and smiled grandly at him. "And then?"

Conri couldn't keep his smile hidden anymore. "I wasn't in my right mind, but somehow his scent guarded me toward him, and it was wonderful. I have never felt this close to him. I Marked him again, this time I acted as myself, and he-he did the same to me, right here," He pointed to the spot on his chest, and Phoenix gasped once again. "I woke up this morning remembering everything, unlike the first time." He added.

"It was the Witch's curse that made you not remember the first time you shared with him, but I'm glad all that is over now," Phoenix said as he patted the top of Conri's head lovingly.

"As are we," Leonardo answered before he took another gulp of his drink.

"I thought you hated him now? I mean you demoted him to be a servant." Kawan remarked with narrowed eyes while sipping his own drink.

"Ignore your father, he's only teasing you," Quillon interrupted before Conri could reply. "So, should we begin to prepare for a Bonding Ceremony then?" He asked and Conri smiled shyly.

"I will inform you all about that when we are ready... For now, we still have to talk, I need to understand him better, know why he did what he had done." He confessed looking away from them.

His fathers shared a glance before turning back to him, "Remember when I asked what condition you Mated with him for the first time?" Phoenix asked. Conri nodded as he took another sip of his drink. "You forcefully took him... He may have wanted his mother's plan to work since he needed to please her and make her happy, but that night, after you saved him, and healed his wound, he felt your Rut and your Lycan, and he ran upon receiving his first Heat, not the one his mother summoned, his Heat that was driven by your first Rut, and you chased him down and took him without his consent," He said as he put aside his glass of wine and crossed his arms and legs.

Conri furrowed his brows in confusion. "But, what does that have to do with his betrayal?"

"Everything, if you did not force yourself onto him that night, her spell would not have caught you, and you would not have become blinded by her curse, and Caleb, he would not have been forced into his past for Mariana to use his anger toward you for taking his innocence without his consent, to provoke his future acts!"

Conri's eyebrows rose high up to his hairline and his heart skipped a beat, making him gasp softly and sit straight and attentive. Although he hadn't told his Birth Omega in detail what happened on their first night, he wasn't surprised he'd learned these things. "What do you mean? Are you saying his acts were only influenced by his mother's curse and my forcefulness upon him?"

"No, he had acted for himself when he betrayed you. He was angry, at you, and his father, the two most important Alpha males in his earthly life!"

"But, I did no wrong-"

"You did!" Phoenix snapped, cutting his words off.

"I'm sorry," He apologized, his head hung low.

"You should apologize to him, not to us," Phoenix told him firmly, "You were never meant to hurt him in any way. He gave up thousands of years just for this one opportunity to be with you, coming down here to give up all godly powers just so we can be with our Mates, leaves a Demigod or in his case a god so vulnerable to temptation, so easily taken advantage of, so much less prepared to defend himself, therefore could not control the urges to act rashly. You may not know this, but we rely only upon our Mates' essence and love to grow and strengthen our powers and to use them."

Conri shook his head, "I don't see how that makes sense, he is a god, a deity! He is supposed to be untouchable, he cannot feel anything that mortals experience, he can do whatever pleases him," He said in frustration as he began to pace slowly back and forth in front of the chair, clenching his fists tightly.

"That is true, but he is human now, and humans are prone to emotions. And even gods can fall prey to those emotions, especially ones like the Scarred Witch. We are all susceptible to those emotions, and will more than likely act upon them even as gods..." Phoenix explained further. "But you should understand that we became more prone to these emotions as we, before coming down to be with our Mates, gave up a certain amount of our abilities, our powers. We took a form, we became your Omegas, we leave all controls with our Mates, and can only take that which is given to us. We trust our Mates completely and only act when commanded, or when provoked, like the time he killed one of Seamus's men. But, understand this, just a little ounce of hurt from a Mate can cause great damage within!" He said, raising his voice angrily to emphasize his point.

Conri fell silent at that, unable to think of what to say as he looked down, guilt settling heavily in his stomach. "I failed him first," He muttered.

"And he failed you in return," Phoenix said. "Just like his father failed him, and since he could not take out his anger on his father nor on the Alpha who forsake his father, he took it out on you... It was his choice to punish you, just as it was your choice to demote him."

"But, he could have killed me that night!" Conri snapped.

"Do you honestly think he didn't know you would dominate him in a fight?" Phoenix asked, and Conri swallowed hard, looking from his Birth Omega to his fathers.

"B-But-"

"How many times did he hit you that night?"

Conri furrowed his brows in confusion, thinking deeply. "I think once if I'm not mistaken,"

"And how many times did he hit Leon?"

Conri felt a fit of anger beginning to bubble within him. "So many times he could have killed him, and me!"

"Even in that state, he could not hit you directly, because he could not bring himself to do so... only in bed will a god bring forth blood from a Mate, by clawing in excitement or by biting to rekindle their bonds. His human mind has been corrupted by the Witch and his father's treatment toward him, yet a part was still reserved for you, Conri... But you held no part reserved for him which was why you shot him to death with your arrow!"

Conri sat slumped on his chair, shutting his eyes tightly when he felt tears starting to brim within. His eyes opened to the knowledge of his recklessness, and how little effort he put into controlling the ill treatments he dished out to his Omega. "I was reckless, and a fool."

"He was too," Phoenix said. "You both have made your mistakes, it is time to move on from the past, and find that Fate the Goddess foresaw when she made this Pairing." He said as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Forgive yourself, and forgive him."

Conri closed his eyes tightly as he took in deep breaths, trying to calm himself down from his Birth Omega's words before he opened his eyes and turned back to look at his fathers. "Thank you, for your guidance. I will follow your advice as always." He replied, and Phoenix smiled warmly at him.

"Now, I think you should know that I think Caleb would give me three grand babies since both your sisters only had a set of twins each... I mean I had you three as triplets and yet none of them wanted to give me back!" He whined and Conri chuckled while his fathers rolled their eyes dramatically at their Mates whining.

"Have you perhaps seen something?" Conri asked, but Phoenix did not reply, he simply shoved his question aside and went on to ramble on as if he didn't hear him.

"Let the doctors keep an eye on him, and please, keep him away from doing hard work, don't want to hear any bad news!" Phoenix muttered and got on his feet, his Mates stood with him. "We will take our leaves now, your fathers Ruts are due tomorrow, I need to get ready, they're monsters under the sheets, you already know that. They leave me feeling numb for days after!" He exclaimed and began to walk toward the door. "Take very good care of him, especially after you have had your Rut."

"Thank you, Birth Omega, and thanks, Dads!" He waved them goodbyes and slumped back into his chair while they departed from his office. Conri took a moment, and sat back there, reflecting on what his Birth Omega had said, and as he shut his eyes, his mind wandered easily into dreamland.

And he fell asleep.