Of Helpless Prayers

[NOUR]

"So, he truly is your mate?" Anhora asked as if to seek answers for the omegas who were still trying to come to terms with that reality. Having Enforcer Grant on this side of the realm just wasn't the norm and their curiosity was well placed this time.

"Yes, he is. If he will have me, of course," Grant said softly and Nour could see the hearts in the omega's eyes. They looked like they wanted them to be together because then it would mean that they wouldn't be looked at differently.

As much as they hated Nour for being mouthy, they all were aware that no one would ever be able to speak up for the omegas more than Nour ever did. He was always genuine despite the hate he always got.

At that moment, the only thing that Nour could think of was whether the enforcer was ever truly genuine about wanting them to bond. It was more than they could ever see but then maybe he was hoping for too much.

"Okay, let's go to my house then—" Nour began, seeing as the attention on him was making him uncomfortable. There were things he needed to work out with Grant and they could finalize it at the omega's house, seeing as they were close to it, right?

"No," Grant said instantly, making Nour raise a brow. 

Sure, the mate bond was making them feel so many things when they were this close to each other, but he couldn't deny that the enforcer was a blaring red flag than the bruises that his father had inflicted on the man.

"What?" Nour asked, even though he wasn't in the mood to debate with Grant.

"I mean, since you're my mate. I would like for us to live under the same roof. My roof, specifically. Let me take care of you like a mate should," Grant said softly and proudly like he was happy to be mated to Nour and wanted to be with the man.

For a moment there, Nour felt the butterflies, especially when Grant held onto his hand gently and the sparks began flying. It was a good feeling, and almost felt like home, one in which he would be safer and loved. It was tempting to lean in, but what if he did?

"Alright. I'll come with you," Nour said, ignoring the warning bells that were going off in his head.

He knew this man wasn't good for him, he knew this man would break his heart again, but he needed to get out of here, and away from the hundreds of questions that the omega had. He wanted to take a break from their broken reality. 

So, he followed Grant, their hands entwined in each other's, enjoying the warmth and the sparks that came with their mate bond. He did feel bad for Grant though given how his father had touched the man up. 

And in that moment the young prince let his heart lead the way. He let his guard down, something that he never did, and maybe that was why he looked like he religiously did trust the man who had come to him on their first night, smelling like other men.

'I'll be okay, right?' Nour asked himself, even though he knew he could take on the man. He was more worried about his heart being broken again. He had suffered too much to go through it again, and yet he had a feeling that he was hoping for too much.

Was he, though?

The walk to Grant's house was not that long, though the silence between them was scary for a moment. It was too eerie like there was a horror waiting to happen. 

"Get in there and be quiet," Grant whispered when they got to his door, Nour pushed the mahogany door and walked in, the hairs on his back standing like he knew that shot was about to happen.

He wasn't sure what it was that he was meant to hope for, because when Grant's mask dropped, so did Nour's heart. The man before him was no longer the sweet enforcer he had followed home.

In his place, was someone that Nour had somewhat sadly expected, but at the same time, hadn't expected. The young prince had been in denial and the fates had brushed off that denial in an instant.

"Did I do something wrong?" Nour asked, playing it low. He couldn't imagine what could have angered the man, because frankly, he was just a mate who had happened to be with the monster he was mated to. But was that the case?

"I'm sorry I disappeared. I just needed to think about some things," Nour said earnestly, the truth in his eyes hiding the anger and scorn, not to mention the disappointment he was feeling when he looked at Grant. 

How a man could be that pathetic was beyond Nour, but then he had been roped into this by the universe and he had to see it through, right?

"Did you tell on me to the king?!" Grant bellowed, roughly slamming Nour on the nearest wall, his hands on the young prince's neck, choking the life out of the man who had dared to hope. 

Perhaps hope was something that Nour shouldn't have had, despite the sparks they were both feeling, right? Or was this just Grant testing him?

Even then, why would he think that Nour had gone to the king when omegas weren't allowed to be next to the king himself?

"What?" the young prince asked like he didn't know that the man looked like shit thanks to his father. But then Grant also needed to be thankful because he was alive. After all, Nour had practically told his father to leave the man alive.

 Oh, how his mate was an unthankful piece of shit right now.

"I asked, did you, or did you not fucking tell on me to the werewolf king?" Grant asked as he pressed on Nour's neck, making it hard for the young prince to breathe. 

"What? Why would I even do that?" Nour asked. He could feel his wolf getting angry, gearing up to tear Grant into pieces but Nour wouldn't let that happen. He could hold on for a little longer, right?

"So, you're going to play dumb, huh?" Grant asked as he roughly threw Nour against the wall on the opposite side of the room, ignoring the harsh sound of broken bones, and the whimpers from his mate who had been cut in several places.

"I don't know what you're talking about, please." 

However, Grant chose not to listen. Instead, he lashed out at his mate, a poor man who hadn't done him any wrong.

"I know, baby, I know," the enforcer said when he paused to look at Nour's bloodied and swollen body that looked worse than Grant's; for some sick reason, that pleased Grant.

"It hurts, please," Nour pleaded, when Grant sat on him, ignoring the pain that he had just inflicted on his very innocent mate.

"Fucking sleep, don't leave this house, or I'll do worse to you," Grant said, right before he picked up a wooden piece near him, and smashed it on Nour's head, forcing the prince to sleep instantly.

However, just as Grant opened his door to walk out, he ran into a very pissed-off Delbert Cornell.