The Rebel's Omega

The Emperor sat in his dimly lit chambers, the only light coming from a single flickering candle on the low wooden table before him. Dressed in white undergarments, his normally regal appearance was softened by the hour and his state of undress. His dark hair, usually tied back in a severe fashion, now fell freely over his shoulders, framing a face marked by tension and deep contemplation. He held a delicate porcelain cup, steam rising from the tea within, its warmth seeping through his fingers as he gazed into its depths, lost in thought.

The stillness of the room was interrupted by a voice emerging from the shadows. "What's wrong? You normally don't wake up this early." The voice was rough and somewhat brittle with a hint playfulness.

The Emperor didn't startle, his grip on the cup tightening as he sighed softly. "Hua Ren's situation disturbs me," he admitted, his voice carrying a weight of worry. "He has always been an honest soldier, devoted to me and the Kingdom. Surely, he would never betray me. The spies… they could be mistaken. If Hua Ren were truly a traitor, why would he return, knowing it would mean his death?"

"Who knows?" The voice responded. "I never quite liked that General. He's too rigid, too honest and fixed on justice. To make things worse, he has no weakness. If you ask me, I think this is the best opportunity you have to dispose of him once and for all. Utilize it."

The Emperor's brow furrowed as he mulled over the words spoken from the shadows. He set the tea cup down with a soft clink, his hand resting on the table's surface. "But he's still useful. He's powerful and efficient. He's the reason the rebels have been forced into hiding. They fear him."

"Can you not hear the problem in your own words?" The voice asked. "You said it yourself. The rebels fear him not you. It is supposed to be the other way around."

The Emperor went silent, realising what the voice said was true.

"And if you think he's innocent, how do you explain the foreign scent on his body?" The voice added. "How do you explain his sudden possession of a Celestial Weapon? None of it makes sense. You sent Hei Long to get the weapon and dispose of the all the villagers. Why did Hei Long die and Hua Ren get the weapon instead? Have you thought of all that? Maybe this is all a plan. Maybe he has been in cahoots with the rebels from the very beginning."

The Emperor's gaze flickered, uncertainty clouding his eyes as he considered the possibility. "I still think there's more to this. I've known Hua Ren since he joined the army. I've kept a close eye on him and his movements. If he was a spy for the rebels, I would have known. I've also tested him many times and he never failed. Not once. I refuse to believe that he's a traitor. I will make him explain in detail how he got hold of the weapon and also why he was covered in someone else's scent. As for Hei Long and the soldiers, he said Hei Long wanted to kill him." The Emperor turned his head, his dark eyes fixed on a long broken sword in the corner of his room which was shrouded by darkness. "Did you have something to do with it?"

A low chuckle escaped from shadows as the sword shook a bit. "I merely whispered a thing or two in that Berserker's ear. Who knew that it would lead to his death?"

The Emperor felt a sudden surge of fury as he glared at the sword. "I told you not to meddle!"

"And I told you that I do not like the Ivory Warlord!" The voice of the sword retorted. "He cannot be controlled and I do not like those that cannot be controlled! He doesn't have a single weakness! You've bestowed him with wealth but he donates it to orphanages and opens legal businesses for his family which shows that he's not greedy. You gifted him countless Omegas but he never touched a single one which means that he's not lustful. He has never been romantically involved with anyone. There's nothing we can use to control him. All he knows is to fight, save people and serve you so yes, I do not like him and I want him dead!"

The Emperor's gaze dropped to the table, his hands clenching into fists. "So what if he cannot be controlled? His loyalty and devotion to this Kingdom binds him to me. He follows my orders and only mine!"

"Oh really?" The voice chuckled, its tone sly and sinister. "What do you think will happen once he finds out the truth about you?"

The Emperor tensed, his fingers trembling as they gripped the edge of the table. His heart, which had been beating steadily, now pounded erratically against his ribcage.

The voice slithered through the air, a dark chuckle resonating as it wrapped itself around the Emperor’s thoughts like a coiling snake. "Will he continue to follow your orders?"

The room seemed to grow colder, the shadows lengthening as the voice pressed on. "Tell me dear Emperor," it mocked, a chilling amusement threading through every word. "Will your precious General still be devoted to you? Will he stay by your side and worship you? Will he do everything you say regardless of the consequences?"

The Emperor's breath caught in his throat. Beads of sweat began to form on his brow, his body betraying the fear that was slowly creeping up his spine. The candlelight flickered wildly, casting erratic shadows that seemed to dance in tune with the rising panic within him.

The voice wrapped tighter around him, squeezing the air from his lungs. It was as if a serpent had slithered into the room, its cold, scaly body curling around him, suffocating him with the weight of its words. “What will Hua Ren do,” the voice hissed, “when he sees you for what you truly are?”

The Emperor’s vision blurred as anxiety clawed at him, his chest heaving with shallow breaths. His hand, slick with sweat, slipped from the table, and he struggled to find his voice, to push back against the encroaching darkness. “Enough,” he finally choked out, though his voice wavered, lacking the authority it once held. “Enough…”

But the voice only chuckled again, a cold, cruel sound that echoed through the chamber. “You cannot hide the truth from him forever, Your Majesty,” it taunted, its presence looming over him like a specter. “Sooner or later, he will find out and believe me, he will run away. Just as your brother did. Only I will remain with you."

The Emperor closed his eyes, trying to steady himself. "You want Hua Ren dead or controlled, is that it?"

The voice hummed. "The latter is impossible."

"It isn't." The Emperor insisted. "A man cannot be without a weakness. The scent on him, it wasn't sweet like an Omega's and Betas do not have pheromones."

The voice suddenly gasped. "An Alpha!"

The Emperor nodded.

Without warning, the voice erupted into a frightening cackle, a twisted, bone-chilling laughter that echoed off the walls like the rattle of bones. "Amazing! Amazing! Why didn’t I ever think of this? Surely, the Ivory Warlord is unique. He does not care for the softness and sweetness of Omegas and goes for hard, crude Alphas. Amazing!"

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he replied, his voice steady. "It is only a theory, which I will test starting today. If it fails, then I will order his death."