Chapter-14: The Bishop's Preachings And The Showcase Of Alphas Weapons

"Argh!" Hael woke up clutching his heavy head, "It feels like my head is being hammered, damn it, ungh!" 

He tried to sit up squeezing his eyes and rubbing his temple with the hard end of his palm.

"Hael," Irwin immediately embraced him, "Do you know how worried I was all this time? If the Bishop didn't tell me that this is the side effect of you getting direct blessings from the Moon Goddess... I thought... I..."

Irwin tightened his grip around Hael, his nose stung with a sharp pain as his endeavor to not cry was failing with his overwhelming emotions waiting for his younger brother to open his eyes after almost seven hours of him blocking out.

The Beta sat beside him all the time holding his hand tightly praying to the Moon Goddess.

Meanwhile, the Bishop called the Alphas to his office and asked them about Hael's situation.

Arik and Maven explained everything from Mr. Lucian's attempt to sell the Omega without registering him in the cathedral on his eighteenth birthday and how Hael got pregnant to the present.

Lying and trying to cover up anything before the Bishop was a futile act because of his power the 'eyes of judgment' that could discern everything.

This holy power was given to the first three in the line of hierarchy in cathedrals by the Moon Goddess herself. The Pontiff (Pontifex), the Archbishop, and the Bishop.

The Pontiff has the highest authority in the cathedral and also has equal power as the president of the country because of his enormous holy powers that could even bring back a person from the brink of death.

Normally, one country has only one acting Pontiff at the cathedral of their capital city.

"I will have to inform this to, his Excellency, the Pontiff. I assume you don't have any objections," The Bishop stated, "...also because the Omega was against your punishment and her holiness, the Moon Goddess signed us with her spellbinding, I will withdraw the order given to the Popes."

"Thank you, Father." Arik bowed showing respect.

"Instead, I want you to mark him immediately to let him have a smooth pregnancy period and ease his labors during birth. Most of the Alphas are ignorant of the importance of mate bonding throughout Omega's pregnancy and postpartum period these days which is increasing many miscarriages and infant death rates. You should take double the care in this situation and protect your mate at all costs, understood?" 

The Bishop adjusted his eyeglasses looking seriously at Arik.

"Yes, Father. I understand," Arik obediently nodded.

"And you as the Omega's brother you should be aware of your family's situation. How can you be so clueless till now? Even after the Moon Goddess changed the rules and introduced harsh punishments to protect the Omegas there are still some wretched children who commit such unforgivable sins, as a responsible devotee of the Moon Goddess Selene, you must not only be committed to your self-growth but also help the society by weeding out such devils."

Maven immediately bowed his head in guilt, "I am sorry Father. It's my fault. I will never repeat such a sin."

"It's good that at least now you realized your wrongs and repenting. But make your heart strong, your family is going to face a severe punishment by the Pontifex, he is not someone who forgives anyone committing an offense against the Omegas," 

Bishop advised as he stomped his seal on a letter and handed it to the Pope beside him commanding him to deliver it to the Frostburgh's cathedral.

Maven nodded still downcasting his head.

The Bishop got up from his seat, moved towards Arik, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Alpha Arik, your mate is a special one who received the blessings of the Moon Goddess directly. Only the Pontifex is given such a divine blessing. It shows how much her holiness loves that child. You are from the prestigious blue-blooded family, losing control over your desires and mating an Omega without marking..." The Bishop sighed shaking his head and added, 

"...this is very unbecoming of you, child."

Arik clenched his jaw and nodded quietly.

"You can leave now. The Omega must be conscious," Bishop returned to his seat, "Before leaving escort Hael to the winery and let him take a vial of his desirous wine."

Arik and Maven stared at each other in shock hearing that cause only the Bishop or the highest authority above him were only the ones permitted to enter the winery and they decided who would get a specific wine.

But to choose one himself it had never happened till now.

Both the Alphas exited the Bishop's office and headed towards the private guest room where Hael was resting.

They got worried for the Omega when he lost consciousness and Arik instantly carried him to the guest room under the Bishop's guidance.

Before the Bishop checked and confirmed that it wasn't anything serious Arik emitted such sour pheromones in anxiety that several Popes had to bring him out of the room forcefully and cool him down making him understand that his sour scent could harm Hael and make the babies uneasy.

Later the Bishop took the Alphas to his office to hear their side and preach them a long lesson which he did until now.

The Popes from before saw the tired bodies and withered faces of the Alphas and chuckled among themselves knowing how their Bishop counselled them for hours.

"Brother Irwin, what happened?" Hael questioned patting the Beta's back.

"You lost consciousness after the bright white light and woke up now after nearly seven hours," Irwin broke the hug and explained cupping the Omega's cheeks.

"What? Seven hours?" Hael shouted.

"Why, what's wrong?" Arik and Maven who just came there hearing Hael's scream barged inside the room.

Hael gave a glance and ignored them right after recollecting his chat with the Moon Goddess.

Irwin shook his head signing the Alphas that nothing transpired.

>>>Ugh, this Moon Goddess spoke all highly but didn't give me any power in the end, humph!

<<<My sulky child, I can hear you.>>>

Hael's irises expanded, and he started looking here and there searching for the Goddess.

"Why? What's going on Hael?" Irwin held the Omega's hand getting concerned.

"Didn't you hear anything?" Hael questioned.

"Hear? No, I didn't hear anything, Hael," Irwin replied.

Hael looked at Arik with a question mark.

"I... too didn't hear anything, Hael. Must I hear something, tell me," Arik knelt on the floor giving his full attention to the Omega.

Hael faceplamed shaking his head.

<<<You can't see me, Hael. I am talking with you through your mind. gave the wish that allows to talk me anytime in any cathedral, remember?>>>

>>>Oh, that's why. But why am I knocked out for seven hours after coming back from your inner realm?

<<<Your human body couldn't handle the pressure of divinity in my inner realm, that's why I sent you back early.>>>

"Hael, are you feeling unwell?" Irwin queried seeing him being all silent.

"Uh, no brother Irwin. I am fine, I am just feeling a little ache in my head that's all," Hael smiled to ease the Beta's worries.

"Mav, go call the Pope to heal Hael's pain," Arik instructed.

Maven nodded and was about to leave when,

"No need." Hael stopped him, "Brother Irwin, can we go home? It's already this late, we shall come back tomorrow for baptizing, I am too tired for that ritual now."

"Ah, that is not necessary, Hael. You have been blessed by the Moon Goddess directly so the baptizing is completed. We can leave after the Bishop gives you the holy wine and holy water," Irwin briefed.

"Oh, okay. Then, let's go, brother," Hael tried to stand up.

"Hael, the Bishop has given you permission to enter the winery and select a wine you wish," Arik conveyed.

<<<Excellent! Hael, child aren't you good at making drinks in your second life? I am excited to see what you're going pick from the winery.>>>

>>>Are there many varieties in the winery? But why should I pick one specifically? Is it important, Moon Goddess? Isn't it only to stop the heat cycles?

<<<Yes, every holy wine has that use but it also some other you will know when pick one, child.>>>

>>>Now, you got me all curious, Moon Goddess.

The Moon Goddess chuckled at his remark.

"What?" Irwin had a surprised look.

"Yes, also the pope has given us your holy water vial, here take this," Maven fished out the bottle from his coat pocket and handed it to the Omega.

Hael took it and observed it for a moment, "Brother Irwin, is this the one with which we can burn down vampires?" 

"Right, this is the holy water, given for our protection." Maven brushed the Omega's hair.

"Vampires?" Arik and Maven glanced at each other, "Did you see-" 

Maven was cut off by Irwin, "How can we see vampires in Sigor, Mav? Hael asked me about the history of vampires yesterday so I told him some information and he was dissatisfied that only Alphas get holy weapons so I told him we get holy water instead of it."

"Hael, you want a holy weapon? You can take mine." Arik closed his eyes extending his hand, a light blue sparkle gleamed on his open palm, and in an instant, a dagger in a sheath embedded with the rarest red-beryl gemstones appeared.

"No. You can have mine," Maven also closed his eyes extending his hand, the same thing happened and a claymore with its scabbard decorated with valuable and rarest tsavorite materialized in his palm.

"Uhh..." Hael had a 'what the fuck are these two doing' expression on his face still he was amazed by the holy weapons.

"If I take them then what're you going to fight with when you confront vampires?" Hael inquired.

"I can fight bare-handed, Hael," Maven announced proudly.

"Weapon isn't necessary for me," Arik declared, honestly. "Anyway, Alphas present their weapons to their mates as a token of love, so you have the right to take it."

Hael was about to take the dagger that caught his attention but stopped his hand in mid-air after listening to the Alpha.

"What mate? What token of love?" The Omega raised a brow with a 'are you fucking serious' expression written all over his face.

"In your dreams, humph! Brother Irwin tell this high-handed, self-centered, and overbearing Alpha to leave, I don't have anything to do with him," Hael made a little moue at Arik turning away his head towards the Beta.

The Alpha's wolfy ears appeared and dropped lifelessly as Arik's face puckered, ready to cry, he was still kneeling in front of the bed near the Omega.

Maven saw his friend close to bawling his eyes out. He knew how much the Alpha tried to find Hael without getting any sleep, without working as a workaholic, he felt bad and decided to help him a little.

"Hael, I know you can't forgive us both and we won't force you to do it too. But for the sake of your children, you need Arik's scent and his mark. The Bishop also ordered him to mark you as soon as possible to ease your pregnancy."

"What, mark him? I don't agree with it. After witnessing firsthand how much Hael suffered after his 'drug influenced cruel mating' I don't want Arik anywhere near him, get it, Maven Lucian?" Irwin fired up.

"I... Hael, listen to me, please. I never want to force you with anything you don't want to do. If you don't want me to mate you, I accept. If you don't want me in your life..." Arik gulped down his tears, "... I accept."

"Arik!" Maven was shocked.

Arik shook his head signing him to not say anything.

"That night... I know one thing for sure if it wasn't you even though I was drugged I wouldn't have mated anyone. It's because of you that I lost my control, and I am not blaming you, by telling this. I just want you to know, I am not such a bastard to get swayed over my desires... I am not my father, I will never become him."

Irwin felt bad after hearing it, as his cousin he knew what Arik went through in his childhood and what his ideals were as he grew up yet he doubted him nonstop till now.

"I still feel like a shit by the way I treated you that night... It wasn't me... I am not like that. I know not even millions of my sorries can heal the pain you endured. I want to show how sorry I am through my actions... that's why I am asking you to give me one last chance but..." 

Arik exhaled trying to control his tears, "I understand if you don't trust me enough to give it. If you don't want to then I will not coerce you again. But for our children... how about a temporary mark?"

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