Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 201: Angered

Chapter 201: Angered

Rian stood frozen for a moment; his eyes wide with shock as he took in the sight before him. Knox huddled in the corner, looked utterly vulnerable, his body trembling as Ragel loomed over him.

But what astonished him more was the blood dripping on the floor.

Ragel’s teeth were sunk into his arm, and blood was trickling down from the wound, staining the floor and Knox’s clothes. The intensity of the pheromones in the room was overwhelming, making it difficult for Rian to think clearly. Yet forced himself to move, to act, lest the younger alpha would die from blood loss.

It was his first time seeing an alpha biting his arm off rather than losing himself in the pheromones of an omega in heat. Even Rian was pressed down, affected by the lavender scent of Knox.

"Oh, f*ck. Get off him, kid!" Rian’s voice was strained as he lunged forward, grabbing Ragel by the shoulders and pulling him away from Knox.

Ragel snarled, his eyes glazed with the haze of his rut, but he didn’t resist as Rian dragged him to the other side of the room. Rian’s heart was pounding in his chest as he looked back at Knox, who was barely conscious, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Rian quickly assessed the situation.

He cursed through gritted teeth after seeing the metal cuffs on Ragel’s feet. He was shackled to the other room, the chains clinking as he moved.

Rian needed to get Knox out of here first, away from the overpowering scent of Ragel’s rut and Knox’s heat, which were creating a dangerous mix of pheromones in the confined space.

"Knox, hang in there," Rian muttered, scooping the omega up into his arms. Knox was feverish, his skin burning hot to the touch, and his scent was so intense that Rian had to grit his teeth to keep his own pheromones under control.

He had his shares of omegas spending their heat with him, so he knew how to handle them somehow, thankfully.

He carried Knox to a room down the hall, one that was less saturated with the oppressive scent of pheromones, and gently laid him on the bed.

Knox’s eyes fluttered open, glazed with fever and confusion. "Rian...?" he whispered; his voice weak.

"Yeah, it’s me. Don’t worry, Azrael will be here soon," Rian replied softly, brushing the hair away from Knox’s damp forehead. His face was sweating profusely, not only his face but his body as well. "You’re going to be okay. Stay here for now."

Knox’s hand reached out, grabbing onto Rian’s sleeve with surprising strength. "Ragel...he’s...he’s not himself," Knox murmured, his voice trembling. "Don’t...don’t hurt him..."

Rian nodded but he didn’t promise. If Ragel turned violent, then he would have no choice but to fight back.

He left the room, closing the door behind him to keep Knox safe from the intense pheromones in the hallway. Rian returned to the room where Ragel was chained, his eyes narrowed in determination and caution.

He still had no idea what was happening, but the way Knox pleaded for Ragel’s safety and the shackles, was enough for him to see that the younger alpha was a victim too.

Ragel was still caught in the throes of his rut, his body tense and breathing heavy. Rian knew he had to act quickly before the situation escalated further. He grabbed the white sheets in the other room and tore them, then he used them to wrap in Ragel’s arm, which was really badly bitten; his skin was torn.

"Damn...are you okay?" Rian asked, letting out a scared sigh. Ragel’s eyes were hazy, possibly because of the rut, but his lips were as pale as sheet already. He wasn’t acting violently, rather his body was greatly weakened.

He’s not a doctor, but he knew it was bad. "F*ck, just how long have you been biting yourself?! This much blood...it’d be funny if you die from loss of blood from your own bite!"

Rian searched for the shackles’ key, but he couldn’t find it. So, he ended up using the safe in the room to break the wall where the chain was embedded. "For f*ck’s sake, whoever did this, they’re insane!"

Surely, no one would install a chain that long in their room for no reason, so Rian could tell it was installed specifically to hold Ragel. Thankfully, the metal safe was useful, after several hits to the ring bolt embedded in the wall, it finally shook and loosened.

Rian did it, so he couldn’t help but muttered in disbelief, "Why the f*ck that kid didn’t think of doing this?! Ugh, I’m cursing too much today..."

He grabbed the chains and threw them out. Then, he quickly ran to Ragel, scooped him in his arms, and bolted down the stairs. He halted at the front door after realizing that he was leaving Knox alone.

For the tenth time, Rian cursed loudly.

Fortunately, he moved away from the door in an attempt to go back to Knox, because if he hadn’t, he and Ragel would both be in heaven after getting hit by it.

Kayden and Azrael arrived.

Azrael, who made the door fly away, appeared with murderous intent; his eyes were wild as he scanned the house, his nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of Knox’s pheromones.

His grey eyes darted on Ragel in Rian’s arms.

Ragel’s eyes were dulled, but they flickered with recognition after seeing Azrael. He parted his lips to say something, but he ended up just nodding slightly. His body was still trembling with the intensity of his rut, but it was too weak for him to act on it.

Rian, relieved, quickly asked Kayden, "He’s losing blood. He needs to get to the hospital." He turned to Azrael who was stunned after hearing his brother was dying.

"Where is he?" Azrael’s voice was low and dangerous, his eyes locking onto Rian with a look that could cut through steel.

"He’s safe, in the room down the hall," Rian replied quickly, stepping aside as Azrael brushed past him, his focus solely on finding Knox.

Kayden quickly aided Ragel, his brow furrowing in concern. He asked Rian, "What happened?"

Rian shook his head, still trying to process everything that had just occurred. His voice was hurried, "It’s a long story. We have to get this kid in the hospital first, doc."

"Right," Kayden agreed, giving Azrael a meaningful look.

Azrael looked away and dashed to where Knox was without saying anything. He heard the car engine revive before he reached the room Rian told him.

His heart was still pounding in his chest.

Azrael could barely contain his fury, and despite his worry for Knox, he couldn’t help but be mad at his actions. Why would he go with Lyssana, of all people?!

Azrael pushed the door open and entered with hurried steps. His breath hitched when he caught sight of Knox on the bed, wrapped on the sheets with only his head out, and curled up in pain.

"Knox..." Azrael’s voice was thick with emotion as he crossed the room in an instant, kneeling beside the bed. Knox’s eyes opened slowly, and when he saw Azrael, a faint smile touched his lips.

"Azi..." Knox whispered; his voice hoarse.

Azrael’s hands trembled as he cradled Knox’s feverish body in his arms.

The sight of the blood-stained clothes and the sweat-soaked hair clinging to Knox’s pale face only deepened the storm brewing inside him. Anger, sharp and searing, flared up at the thought of what Knox had gone through. But it wasn’t just directed outward at those who had hurt him; a part of it simmered, unspoken, at Knox himself.

Why did he have to be so reckless? Why does he always put himself in danger?! Azrael’s jaw clenched as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

The urge to shout, to demand why Knox had put himself in such danger, was almost overwhelming. But he couldn’t. Not now. Knox needed him to be calm. So, he swallowed the anger, burying it deep within, and focused on alleviating the pain his husband was experiencing.

His touch was feigning gentleness as he wiped away the sweat from Knox’s brow, his movements steady even as his heart raced with fury and fear.

"Why did you do this?" Azrael muttered under his breath, his voice a low rumble, barely audible.

Knox stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open to meet Azrael’s intense gaze. He could feel the anger radiating from Azrael. His hand shakily reached for Azrael’s, seeking reassurance. "I...w-wanted to help you..."

Azrael gritted his teeth as he stood, Knox in his arms. As he walked to the door, he replied coldly, "I don’t need your help."

Knox winced at Azrael’s words, the coldness in his voice cutting deeper than any wound. He knew Azrael was right—his reckless actions had only made things worse. A pang of guilt settled in his chest, and he lowered his gaze, unable to meet Azrael’s eyes.

Despite the anger he felt from his husband’s pheromones, the scent relieved him of his suffering. He wanted Azrael to touch him more, but he kept his desire to himself, afraid to be rejected.