Free Web NovelChapter 168: Chapter 168
"Where did you go?" Valentin demanded, seated on the ground but still having the willpower to cause a scene.
Alexander fell silent, he just stood off to the side watching the fallen Alpha with unblinking eyes.
Valentin sighed and pushed to his feet, putting some distance between himself and the shallow ditch. "Nevermind, let’s get going, you’ve already wasted enough time." He said huffily, dusting off his clothes the best he could with the limited lighting.
Alexander once again couldn’t bring himself to say anything, he had been walking as usual then after a while he noticed that he couldn’t hear the other’s footsteps and just as he was retracing his steps to find him, he heard him scream and immediately dashed in the direction he had heard it from.
How was he the one wasting time? What was Valentin even doing here? It was in the opposite direction from the path they had been taking.
He said nothing about this though, knowing that it would only spiral into an endless argument that he would most likely lose. So he stepped forward and caught his roommate’s wrist wondering if he should just knock the other out again to make the journey easier.
Valentin was shocked by this but he didn’t pull away, not because he wanted to hold Alexander’s hand but because he would rather not get lost again. Their journey continued in considerable silence, Valentin still grumpy at the embarrassing incidents he had to endure.
He only pulled away when he heard voices and saw lights ahead, and it wasn’t the gradually fading lights in the sky but the orange-hued lights of campfires. He hurried forward with his heart in his mouth, immediately forgetting about Alexander. freёwebnoѵel.com
As soon as he stepped into the clearing, he was tackled to the ground by none other than the idiot he had been so worried over. He was brought up to speed in no time, relieved beyond measure that none of his friends had been hurt.
Claude had found a comfortable spot to sit in a little distance away from the others so that Henri’s sleep wouldn’t be bothered. He was waiting for the Omega to wake up and once that happened, they would immediately be riding back to the Academy.
Claude only looked up from his immersive task of watching Henri sleep when Alexander strode up. "I heard Langen’s behind this, don’t you owe me an apology for doubting me?" Alexander drawled.
Claude only spared him a glance before returning his gaze to Henri’s sleeping face which was illuminated by a nearby campfire. "I still don’t trust you so I’m not apologizing." He said flippantly.
Alexander only chuckled at this before walking over to the Head Chancellor who was at his bowing best to request a horse to ride back to the Academy. There was no reason to remain at the campsite, the rest of the students would also be dispersed the next day, it was big enough of a deal to end the highly anticipated camping trip earlier than planned.
Henri woke up with a start, his eyes flicking open to find a painfully familiar face looking down at him, his attention was quickly taken up by the lively crowd around them though.
"Your Highness, you’re awake," Claude said happily, making no moves to put him down.
Honestly, Henri was still sleepy, sleepy enough that he wasn’t as mortified as he should be waking up in an Alpha’s arms in front of so large a crowd. "Put me down," He requested quietly, still sounding drowsy. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Claude did as he said, rising to his feet as well. "Ready to return to the Academy? The others are fine and are already gone." He said shortly.
Henri blinked blearily at the unfamiliar crowd who were settling in like they intended to spend the night here, he absolutely didn’t want to deal with any of it. His head was foggy and sleep was only a partial cause of it, the thought of his bed felt like heaven at the moment.
"Sure, let’s go." He agreed, hiding a yawn behind his hand. What time was it? Had he been asleep long? Was those group of seated people all tied up? Did he just see the Head Chancellor bustle past?
Questions after question faded in and out of his foggy mind, another yawn slipping past his pouty lips. He was in no state to ask them out loud though so he let Claude take his hand to guide him to a horse neighing at the edge of the campsite.
"Would you mind if I rode with you?" Claude offered.
Henri just blinked blankly at him for a few seconds, did he look like he was fit to ride a horse by himself? He was falling asleep and waking up every other second. "No, help me up."
Claude easily lifted him up to the horse with a twitch of his lips, Henri was always very agreeable when he was sleepy, it was nostalgic to see that, that hadn’t changed.
Claude got on the horse behind him and took the reins, starting off with a slow walk on the horse. As much as he wanted to get Henri to a place more comfortable, he also didn’t want to jostle him too much. And although it was dark, the slew of horses that the Head Chancellor had brought with him had more or less cleared a path that led straight to the exit.
Merely a few minutes into their walk, Henri had already slouched against him, his head lolling backward against his shoulder. Claude worried that their impromptu dip in the lake had given Henri a cold and that was enough to wipe the soft smile that had formed on his lips when the Omega had fallen against him.
The journey was uninterrupted and although the horse was moving at a slow pace, it still made good time. When Claude got down from the horse, Henri had roused again, he helped him down the horse, having to hold his waist to steady him.
Louis came hurrying over, holding Henri’s face to get a better look at him. "I’m so relieved that you’re alright."
Henri blinked the drowsiness away from his eyes, grey stare mostly glazed over. "Louis? What are you doing here?"
Louis retracted his hands at the outright glare he got from Claude, laughter bubbling up from the overwhelming relief he felt. "I was just waiting for you, let’s go inside together."
