Trapped in the Beastworld Breeder System (BL)-Chapter 35: Warlord Thalos

Chapter 35: Warlord Thalos
After Roger left, Lucien continued drinking the wine without any idea of what exactly was mixed into it or what it would eventually lead to.
Watching this only tightened the knot in Aries’s chest and further reinforced the plan he and Kenzie had put together so carefully.
As the party gradually deepened and the night wore on, the atmosphere growing louder and more indulgent, Kenzie leaned slightly toward Aries and spoke in a low voice. "I think now is the time for you to leave and try to enter his room before he goes back."
Aries, whose gaze had been fixed on Lucien the entire time, slowly turned his head toward Kenzie and sighed quietly. The moment had finally arrived—the moment they had been preparing for over the last two days.
There was no turning back now. All that remained was for him to execute the plan properly and ensure that nothing went wrong, especially considering the gravity of the mission it involved.
"Alright. I’ll go now," Aries said softly. He rose to his feet, composed himself, and bowed respectfully to Kenzie before turning and walking toward the entrance.
Most of the guests wouldn’t notice his departure. Even if they did, they wouldn’t question it. One was not expected to leave a gathering midway while the king was still seated unless it was for something trivial, like using the toilet. That was exactly the excuse Aries offered to the guards stationed at the gates before stepping outside.
The moment he crossed the threshold, it felt as though a suffocating pressure lifted from his chest. Still, the relief was short-lived. The knowledge that Lucien was considered his mate, combined with the terrible act he and Kenzie were planning against him, weighed heavily on his heart. The plan itself was bad enough, but the bond between them only worsened the guilt curling deep within him.
Aries released a slow sigh as he walked away from the hall, setting his steps toward Lucien’s temporary lodging within the palace. Lucien had once mentioned that he did not reside in the palace normally, but now circumstances had forced him to stay, and involuntarily, a temporary residence had been prepared for him.
As Aries treaded through the long corridors of the Everrie Palace, his thoughts were so consumed by worry and conflict that he failed to notice the figure ahead of him. Turning a corner too quickly, he collided with someone head-on.
Aries’s eyes widened as he staggered backward, nearly crashing to the floor. Before he could fall, a firm hand wrapped around his waist, pulling him forward and steadying him against a broad chest.
His heart thudded violently as everything happened too fast for him to fully register. Once his balance was restored, he slowly lifted his head to see who was holding him so tightly, and was met with an unfamiliar face.
For a brief, alarming second, he had expected it to be Lucien, and that thought alone had filled him with panic. When he realized it was not, confusion settled in instead. Still, he made no outward reaction.
"Thank you for saving me from falling," Aries said politely.
The man holding him was clearly a wolf beast, much like the others Aries had seen. However, there was nothing about his face that suggested royalty. Aries had seen the king and the princes before, and this man bore no resemblance to any of them.
That ruled out the royal family entirely. Still, the fine boots, tailored clothing, and commanding presence suggested nobility of some sort.
Aries was pulled from his thoughts by the man’s thick, deliberate voice.
"You’re welcome," he said, his gaze fixed intently on Aries’s blue eyes.
His stare lingered longer than necessary, as though searching for something hidden beneath the surface. Then he added, "Though I don’t think I should accept that thanks so easily. You are quite a beautiful one. Tell me, who are you to Kenzie?"
The way the man looked at him felt unsettlingly predatory. That was when Aries realized the hand around his waist had not moved. He attempted to step away, but the grip tightened slightly. Aries lifted his head and looked at the man in confusion.
"My lord," Aries said calmly but firmly, "I do not know who you are, nor do I wish to. So, why should you concern yourself with my relationship to anyone? I have thanked you for your assistance, and I would like you to let me go now."
He spoke exactly what rested in his heart, his tone clear and unyielding. It seemed to work.
The man’s face tightened, his brows knitting together as his hand finally loosened around Aries’s waist. Aries wasted no time in stepping away, putting distance between them in case the man reconsidered.
After a brief pause, the man spoke again.
"I am the war lord of the wolf empire."
His words, and more importantly, his title left Aries stunned. The shock was so sudden that he simply stared at the man, his eyes widening in disbelief. It was almost unreal to him that he had randomly crossed paths with someone who fought wars for the Wolf Kingdom itself.
A war lord. Someone whose hands were stained with battle and blood, someone who commanded armies. And yet, for reasons Aries could not comprehend, this very person was standing before him, trying to pry into his life.
As astonishing as the revelation was, Aries found that amazement was not the dominant feeling settling in his chest. Instead, irritation followed closely behind it. Stress crept up his spine, and disinterest hardened in his gaze. Of all the things he needed at this moment, of all the complications already weighing on him, the last thing he wanted was a war lord taking personal interest in him.
The war lord, seemingly unbothered by Aries’s silence or lack of enthusiasm, continued calmly, his voice steady and authoritative.
"So," he said, tilting his head slightly, "does that give you enough reason to tell me about yourself?"
"Unfortunately, no," Aries replied. His tone was flat, his words firm and unyielding, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Thalos’s brows knitted together sharply at Aries’s response. The displeasure on his face was immediate and unmistakable. He stepped closer, invading Aries’s space, and Aries instinctively backed away.
But before he could create enough distance, Thalos suddenly took a brisk step forward—one Aries had not anticipated. There was nowhere left to retreat. In the next instant, Thalos cornered him and seized his hand, his grip strong and unrelenting.
"Since you’ve refused to tell me," Thalos said coldly, his voice dropping, "I have no choice but to take you back with me. I believe you’ll find yourself more cooperative then."
"I don’t understand," Aries uttered, his brows furrowing deeply as confusion and anger surged within him. "Why would you take me against my will simply because I’ve refused to answer you?"
What kind of power was this? The way authority was wielded so casually was infuriating.
But Thalos showed no concern for Aries’s feelings.
"Yes," he replied dismissively. "Since you won’t answer now, you’ll answer there."
Without waiting for another word, Thalos bent forward, clearly intending to hoist Aries onto his shoulder. Aries reacted instantly. He kicked out in resistance, but Thalos caught his leg before it could connect. The sudden struggle threw Aries off balance, and he was on the verge of falling when a commanding voice cut through the tension.
"What is happening here?"
The sound of that voice brought immediate relief to Aries. A sense of calm washed over him as recognition set in. He knew that voice—knew the face attached to it far too well for the short time they had spent together.
Thalos, who had not been afforded that luxury, turned to face the speaker. In doing so, he loosened his grip. Aries seized the opportunity without hesitation. He slipped free and rushed toward Lucien, positioning himself behind him. Thalos moved as if to follow, but Lucien spoke again, his voice sharper this time.
"Have you gone deaf, Thalos?" Lucien demanded coolly. "Or are you rebelling openly now? I am quite certain I asked you a question you have yet to answer."
Thalos’s teeth clenched tightly as his hands curled into fists at his sides. His temper was being tested to its limits. Had this been anywhere else, had servants not been moving about and witnesses not been present, his reaction might have been far more violent. But this was the palace. And Lucien, drunk or not, was still a prince.
"Sorry, Second Prince," Thalos said stiffly after a moment. "I’m afraid your voice was too low for me to hear."
"Yes," Lucien replied with a faint, cutting smile, "and I must have been too small as well, since your eyes couldn’t see me."
"Yes, perhaps," Thalos answered, his tone clipped as he begrudgingly acknowledged Lucien’s words.
The unspoken hostility between them crackled in the air. Even Aries, who had only just begun witnessing their interactions, could sense the deep-seated anger and rivalry simmering beneath the surface.
Standing behind Lucien, Aries clutched tightly onto the fabric of his upper garment, his fingers curling as if anchoring himself. Lucien turned slightly, glancing back at him, and asked quietly, "Are you okay?"
It was then that Aries truly noticed how drunk Lucien was. His eyes were tinged with red, unfocused yet strangely sharp. Aries couldn’t understand how he was still standing so steadily when any other drunk man would have been swaying or collapsing by now.
With a final, frustrated glare, the war lord turned away and left. Soon, only Lucien and Aries remained in the corridor.
"I’m okay," Aries said softly, forcing the words past the tightness in his throat.
"Good," Lucien replied. He began to turn away, but his steps faltered. He staggered suddenly, nearly losing his balance, and Aries reacted quickly, reaching out to support him.
Seizing the moment, and the opening, Aries said gently, "Why don’t I help you back to your room?"