Chapter Text
Caleb woke up to the bleary sight of Molly shuffling his cards. The purple tiefling’s slightly distressed Alpha scent tickling his nose. The mage groaned and uncurled himself from his previously curled position on the comfortable bed. Putting his hand to his head at an attempt to soothe his pounding headache. His cheeks were flushed from the heat of the day, and the sensation of his clothes rubbing against his oversensitive skin made him want to rub his flesh off.
Molly's ears perked up at the sound of movement. He smiled when he saw the mage sitting up and tossing his legs over the bed.
"The mad fire wizard, rising like a phoenix," Molly said with a smile; head down, gazing at his fortune cards. He smelled of slight distress and concern
"How you feeling?" Molly added while tilting his head. Caleb’s cheeks were more flushed than usual, and his scent was a bit stronger. He tried to control it. His sweet scent would be a clue to anyone what his designation was. Hopefully his grime would cover it up.
"Ehh," Caleb groaned; his head was still in his hands, and it was pounding. Molly's overpowering Alpha scent of leather and pine needles was not doing him any favors. The mage's cheeks were flushed, but he could easily blame that on his overnight sweating. It was summer time so the air was quite warm in this cabin. He was a ginger and the sun was one of his greatest enemies most days.
"Eh, sounds about right," The tiefling had said with an easy smile on his face. The carnie had seemed to be always smiling, always level-headed, unlike Caleb himself. How could someone be so happy?
"I'll say this," Molly stated while stretching his long lithe limbs. "We've got questions," Molly added with a frown, his hands on his hips. The frown was quickly replaced with another one of the tiefling’s easy smiles as he laid his hand on the mage's shoulder. The tiefling’s strong scent was much closer now, it was giving Caleb an even stronger headache. His heart fluttered at the way Molly’s form towered over his. All 177.8 centimeters of Alpha.
"But hey, well done," Molly said after a small pause. Caleb quirked his eyebrow. The mage felt he hadn't done anything right in years, mostly nothing has gone right for him. It's what he deserved. He didn't deserve anything better, not when his parents' screams and Frumpkin's yelps still echoed in his mind most nights. How could he escape the monster he once was?
"You made it to a new day, and each day is a new opportunity to be someone...well new," Molly said smoothly. His blood red eyes bore into Caleb's sea-blue ones intently. Caleb averted his gaze to stare at the door, where he could hear the chatter of the rest of the Nein. He must tell them his origins now. He had already created mistrust between him and Beauregard, if tensions rise between him and the rest of the Nein that could lead to more harm to him. He can't have 5 people, mostly Alphas, constantly working against him.
Hopefully it would be 4, if Nott would look at him same ever again. The thought of 3 Alphas coming after him, holding him down. Their combined strength would leave him as no match for them. They would rip off his clothes layer by layer while he writhed and moaned beneath them, struggling under their grip. They would spread his legs and-
Molly extended his hand, and Caleb grabbed it. The tiefling quickly pulled the small mage up. The Bloodhunter's other hand was on Caleb's back to steady him. The touch sent sparks through his body, he wanted so badly for Molly's hand to travel lower and-
What was he thinking! He had only met this so called "Fortune-Teller" Exactly 80 hours, 5 minutes, and 7 seconds ago!
Caleb opened the door and his nose wrinkled. He was instantly hit with the smell of Alpha. He couldn't help but grimace, hopefully they would think it was due to his fitful sleep.
"I think you owe us some words, trash wizard," Beau said, trying to be playful but her tone sounded dangerously close to concern.
"You are right. I do." Caleb replied calmly. He tried to stop his voice from wavering, and he thought he's succeeded.
"I have not been entirely honest with you, but that ends today," the mage said firmly. He sat in the chair that Beau kicked towards him.
"Let me tell you a story."
_
Caleb sat still and silent, waiting for the Nein to react.
Beau spoke up first.
"Wait so the dude that's currently starting a war was your mentor and he manipulated you and 2 other guys to kill a bunch of people from your hometown?" Beau asked with a quirk of her eyebrow. Her voice rising with each word. Her scent was thick and overpowering. It smelled like anger. It made Caleb's mouth water and he wanted to kneel and let her use him in any way she wanted-
What was he thinking? Mating with Beauregard of all people! With how angry she is she would most likely make sure it would be painful. He would rather take Molly, the carnie seemed like he would make sure he had a pleasurable time.
"Correct" he replied blankly.
"How many Vollstruckers does he have?" the monk asked, crossing her arms.
"I don't know the specific number, but there is many. The most notable are Astrid and Eadwulf of course." He muttered the last part while looking down on his lap. His pants were clutched tight in his hands. He tried not to lift his head, lest the Nein would see his dilated pupils, and hear his hyperventilating breaths. "They're quite the deadly duo," Caleb said, trying to attempt a chuckle that turned out very dry and humorless. He hoped the others could not smell him. Please let his scent remain faint.
"So are they after you now?" Fjord asked. His voice was gruff and dry from his sickness. His face was still greener than usual, but at least he was not on the verge of death.
"They are now," Caleb mumbled as he was finally able to calm his senses and lift his head. His mind flashed to the paper slip that carried his name, burned in the fire along with Owelia.
"Great, now we've got more problems to deal with," Beau added while throwing up her arms in the air.
"Hey! it's not Caleb’s fault that a bunch of crazy psychos are after him," Nott growled indignantly while glaring at Beauregard. Her ears were lowered, body ready to pounce. She was fierce for a Beta, Caleb always liked that about her. She gave him a reassuring but concerned smile and went back to glaring at thw monk. How could she smile at him when she just learned what a monster he once was? How could she be concerned about him when their entire group was in great danger by just being with him? She had to be mad, just like he was.
"The goblin girl is right, magic man. It was truly your best decision to escape," Molly said reassuringly. The purple tiefling smiled at him the same way his goblin friend had. That sent another spark of pleasure down his body, straight to his core. He mentally slapped himself as he looked down to see a damp spot spreading on the crotch of his pants. Nein, nein, nein-
"Yeah, and you could probably bring your parents back right?" Jester said while grinning and rubbing Fjord's blanketed back. "Right?" she asked with a tilt of her head while looking at everyone in the room who noticeably averted her stare.
"Ughhh," Fjord groaned as a wave of sickness hit him again.
"See? Fjord agrees!" The blue tiefling said excitedly. Oh how he yearned for the naivety she had.
After a pause Nott hopped off the table and walked towards Caleb. He felt her put her clawed hand on his knee and use her other hand to tilt his face so he was looking at her.
"Hey, once your powers get stronger you'll be able to take an army of those nut jobs no problem," Nott reassured while grinning up at him. He smiled back at her, but it was an empty smile. No matter how many Vollstruckers he defeated he would never forget the smell of burning wood and flesh after that night, not even if he killed Ikithon.
"Danke Nott," Caleb replied while getting up from his chair. His head started swimming the second he got up. He felt his pupils dilate, the black nearly swallowing the blue. His cheeks burned as he finally realized what was going on with him this whole time. This wasn't supposed to happen for a week at least!
The mage frantically tried to cover his wet spot with his coat as he swayed on his feet.
"Cay-leb, are you alright?" Jester asked while getting up from her seat to steady him.
"Ja, I'm fine," Caleb said while shooing the blue tiefling’s concerned hands away. His words were betrayed by the way his eyes unfocused as he took in the Alpha scents of the room. Even Fjord's scent which was full of distress and sickness and misery filled him with pure undying want. He needed to lock himself in that room now!
"Are you sure? You look like you're burning up," Nott said while pointing to Caleb’s red face.
"I just need, some...time...to rest," the wizard managed to choke out before he dropped to the floor.
His vision blurred as he finally blacked out.