The Beta Dominates Alphas

Chapter 147: [Bonus Chapter] Following The Right Path (2)

"Seven Arms" and a few other mutants were huddled around an empty iron pot, trying to get every last drop of sauce. As Ren came closer, Seven Arms looked up, sniffing the air with caution.

Ren’s grip on his blade tightened, ready for a potential threat.

However, Seven Hands just casually swished his tail, mumbling, "Oh, it’s that decent alpha," then resumed his pot-licking. "Never mind, just forget about it."

In the end, no strong mutants bothered to react.

Warily, Ren observed them, making sure to tread quietly. Together, they navigated around the clueless mutants, making their way back to the safety of Kestrel’s ’den.’

The further they ventured into the den, the deeper the darkness enveloped them, making it almost impossible to see. The only sound that filled the air was the consistent dripping of water, giving away the nature of this underground maze. The passages snaked in countless directions, all leading to a grand, mysterious temple hidden at its heart.

Suddenly, a creature bolted out from one of the corridors. He was small, about the size of a human toddler, but he skittered with lightning speed on all fours.

Reacting instantly, Ren raised his leg, knocking him away, and with a swift motion of his blade, he cut off his head. The creature let out a deafening shriek as he sprayed a cloud of putrid blood. Ren acted fast, shielding himself and making sure none of the disgusting liquid landed on Kestrel.

Kestrel nestled against him; her eyes were shut and she appeared unresponsive.

Ren searched for a safe corner and gently laid Kestrel down. Fumbling in his pocket, he pulled out a flashlight, quickly turning it on to get a better look at her condition.

She appeared exhausted, her skin a ghostly pale and her clothes soaked in sweat. As he watched, she bent over, looking like she might throw up, but she seemed so weak, as if she hadn’t eaten for days and had nothing left in her stomach.

When Kestrel finally looked up, she caught Ren’s eye and, even with her visible exhaustion, gave him a feeble smile.

Her head was pounding, but bit by bit, Kestrel’s fragmented memories were returning. She recalled the danger she had been in, almost becoming a permanent part of this subterranean realm as one of its grotesque inhabitants. But she had survived, her mind still intact, and that meant everything to her.

She also remembered finding an object that once belonged to her mother. The realization hit her that her mother had journeyed into this very place, the Eyehole. This discovery solidified her belief that she was on the right path.

She had followed a trail, guided by the wooden box that had held hints of the Mary’s shipwreck, the Erdtree, and now the Eyehole. This was the same quest her mother had embarked upon but couldn’t finish—a quest to find answers that had always eluded her.

Kestrel had known from a young age how dangerous this journey would be, especially since her brave parents had died tragically in a man-made fire in their quest for the same truth.

Kestrel had always mentally prepared herself for the worst. But having come so far, inching closer to that truth, she felt a sense of accomplishment. freewebnøvel.com

And the best part? She wasn’t doing this alone anymore. She had companions, loved ones, and most importantly, a trustworthy alpha by her side.

Genuine smiles were rare for Kestrel. Yet, in that dimly lit space, against the moist, cool walls of the cave, her weak smile glowed, radiating a beautiful warmth.

Rubbing her stomach and looking up at Ren with a hint of playfulness, she murmured, "I’m starving, Ren. Got any sweets this time?"

Kestrel’s older memories had come back, but there was a gap in her recall. She had no idea what took place after Ren had been put to sleep, right up until the time they reunited. Everything after they got split up was foggy. She felt like she had been in a strange trance recently, with her psychic abilities taking a huge hit, morphing her into some kind of gigantic beast.

The only thing she could piece together was wandering aimlessly in this underground place, not eating a thing, until she bumped into Ren.

With her head clear now and her memories back in order, one overwhelming realization hit her: she was starving. It felt like forever since she had last eaten, and her body felt drained. Her arms and legs were like jelly, and she was super weak.

Ren frantically checked all his pockets, only to find out he wasn’t in his regular clothes but instead in the alpha suit that Kestrel had given him. The candies he usually had on hand? Gone. They’d dashed into this den so quickly that he only had the flashlight strapped to his shoulder and the knife he was gripping. No sweets.

He leaned in, whispering to Kestrel, "Just hang in there a little longer. We’ll find something for you to eat soon."

Surrounded by shadows, the two of them, fresh out of a clash, were really close. Kestrel, looking drained, nestled her head against Ren’s shoulder and mumbled, "Can we chill for a sec? I just want to rest on your shoulder."

As she breathed out, her breath lightly grazed Ren’s skin.

Ren stiffened a bit.

Lately, their psychic minds were always in sync, and they found themselves physically close more often than not. Their skin brushing against each other, it was like a live wire connecting their psychic vibes.

Suddenly, Ren felt a sharp sting in his head. It was like he was feeling the pain Kestrel was going through, all thanks to their psychic link. It was as if he was walking a mile in her shoes.

Kestrel’s psychic landscape was in chaos. Ren got it now. The agony Kestrel was going through was so fierce that even a strong alpha like him felt overwhelmed when he tapped into it.

She had broken free from whatever weird force had been messing with her and had snapped back to reality. That whole ordeal had shaken up her psychic landscape, leaving her feeling super weak, drained, and hurting a lot.

But Ren felt a bit useless since he was an alpha and didn’t have a clue about psychic grooming. The only thing he could do was let her rest on his shoulder for a bit.

"I really want something sweet," Kestrel’s voice sounded distant, "like candy."

"I got you," Ren answered, his voice filled with worry. "I’ll find you tons, okay?"

Kestrel, sounding a bit dazed and resting on his shoulder, asked, "I can’t put the pieces together from after we split. How’d you get here? How did we team up again?"

The silence hung heavy, the blackness around them deepening its weight.

"What went down when we were apart? I need to know," Kestrel prodded.

"..."

"Ren, why are you shutting me out?"

The reality was that Ren struggled to find the right words. The memory was vivid: Kestrel had pulled his face close and kissed him, and she had gotten a lot... well, up close and personal with him.

It was an awkward memory to recall, especially since Kestrel now claimed she had zero recollection of it. How was he supposed to retell such an intimate moment?

Feeling cornered and embarrassed, Ren instinctively brought up his hand in the dimness, hiding his flushed face.