[BL] Alpha, You've Got the Wrong Mate!

Chapter 363 — You Need to Leave

Zion watched everything unfold from his place in the court.

His childhood friend, once known for his unwavering composure, stood on the verge of breaking after discovering his lover’s betrayal. The Emperor, who would normally have acted without hesitation in matters involving enemies of the Empire, seemed unusually lenient. And the Crown Prince—who never lacked an opinion and was often the first to voice it—remained silent.

The entire situation felt wrong.

Dangerously wrong.

A growing unease settled in Zion’s chest.

The more he observed, the more convinced he became that the man responsible for so much suffering might actually be forgiven.

And that was something he could not allow.

Not after everything that had happened.

Not after the lives that had been lost.

Not after the pain so many families—including his own—had endured.

To the people in this room, Ren might be Zayden’s lover.

To Zion, he was the Grim Reaper.

A name tied to grief, bloodshed, and countless funerals.

The thought of that man receiving mercy made his stomach churn.

Which was why he had already taken matters into his own hands.

Earlier that morning, before the court had even assembled, he had ensured the news spread throughout the Empire.

Every major city.

Every town.

Every marketplace.

The story was already being printed and distributed across Revhara.

The people would know.

They would learn that the infamous Grim Reaper had been captured.

That the man accused of killing countless Revharan soldiers was sitting in a dungeon beneath the capital.

And once they knew, they would demand answers.

They would demand justice.

Perhaps even demand blood.

Zion lowered his gaze, hiding the satisfaction flickering within it.

If the court hesitated, the people would not.

If the Emperor wavered, public pressure would force his hand.

And if anyone in this room was secretly considering forgiveness...

They would soon realize that such a choice no longer belonged to them alone.

Once the meeting finally came to an end, night had already fallen over the palace.

Yet despite hours of arguments, accusations, and demands for punishment, no conclusion had been reached.

The Emperor had refused to make a decision.

Instead, he had dismissed the court with a single order:

Wait for the results of the investigation.

The announcement had only fueled the ministers’ frustration. Many left the hall with dark expressions, muttering their dissatisfaction beneath their breaths. Others openly voiced their outrage, convinced that delaying judgment would only give the prisoner more opportunities to escape punishment.

But Zaphyr remained firm.

Until he possessed undeniable proof, he would not pass a final verdict.

The grand hall slowly emptied, one official after another departing into the dimly lit corridors of the palace.

The dungeon door creaked open once more.

Ren immediately lifted his head despite the pain shooting through his neck. The bruises covering his body throbbed with every movement, yet he paid them no mind. His crimson gaze instinctively searched for a familiar figure.

"Zayden..."

The name escaped his lips before he could stop himself.

A laugh echoed throughout the dungeon.

It wasn’t Zayden.

The faint hope lingering inside Ren’s chest immediately wavered as he recognized the man standing by the entrance.

Zion.

The knight looked down at him before shaking his head.

"You’re still waiting for him?" he asked, sounding almost amused. "After everything that happened?"

Ren frowned.

"Where is he?"

The question left his mouth without hesitation.

For a moment, Zion simply stared at him. Then another laugh escaped him.

"He won’t come."

Ren’s fingers tightened against the cold floor.

"He will."

The certainty in his voice surprised even himself.

Or perhaps he simply wanted it to be true.

After all, despite everything that had happened, despite Zayden’s fury, despite the dungeon and the chains and the accusations, Ren still couldn’t imagine the alpha abandoning him completely.

The thought hurt too much.

Zion’s smile gradually disappeared.

"You really don’t understand, do you?"

The knight slowly approached him.

"He won’t come because he’s the one who sent you here."

Ren’s heartbeat faltered.

For a brief moment, he forgot how to breathe.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

Zayden had been angry. Furious even.

But sending him here didn’t mean he wanted Ren dead.

It didn’t mean he hated him.

"Zayden promised he wouldn’t hurt me."

The words sounded weak the moment they left his mouth.

Even Ren knew that.

His heart had been filled with nothing but fear since the moment the guards dragged him away.

A fear he desperately tried to ignore.

Zion scoffed.

"Then you’re even more foolish than I thought."

The knight crouched before him, his expression becoming serious.

"Do you know what they’re discussing in court right now?"

Ren remained silent.

"Your execution."

His breath caught.

The dungeon suddenly felt colder.

"My crime?" he asked quietly.

"Spying."

The answer came without hesitation.

Ren lowered his gaze.

Spy.

Was that what Zayden believed?

That every smile had been a lie?

That every moment they spent together had been part of some scheme?

His chest tightened painfully.

No.

Zayden knew him.

At least... Ren thought he did.

"He knows I love him."

The words escaped before he could stop them.

For the first time, Zion’s expression shifted.

Something flashed through his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

"Love?" he repeated. "You think that matters now?"

The knight reached into his pocket and pulled out a key.

Ren watched in confusion as Zion unlocked one of the chains around his wrists.

The metal restraint fell to the floor with a loud clang.

His eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

"You need to leave."

"What?"

"You need to escape before they decide your fate for you—death."

Ren stared at him as though he had lost his mind.

"Why would I run? I am innocent."

"Are you deaf? I just said—if you stay here, you’ll die." The certainty in Zion’s voice sent a chill down Ren’s spine.

"No."

"You still don’t believe me?"

"Because you’re wrong."

Ren shook his head.

"Zayden is angry because I lied to him. I understand that."

His voice trembled despite his efforts to remain calm.

"But he wouldn’t kill me."

Would he?

The doubt slipped into his mind before he could stop it.

For the first time, Ren found himself wondering whether he truly knew what was going through Zayden’s head.

The realization terrified him.

Zion noticed the hesitation immediately.

"Believe whatever you want," he said as he unlocked another chain. "But the paperwork is already being prepared."

Ren felt his blood run cold.

"What paperwork?"

"The court’s orders for your execution."

The words echoed through his mind.

Execution. The possibility suddenly became real. No longer a distant fear. No longer a nightmare.

Something that could truly happen. Something Zayden might allow to happen. That thought hurt more than the bruises covering his body. More than the chains. More than the humiliation.

Slowly, Ren pushed himself to his feet. Not because he believed Zion. Not because he wanted to escape.

But because there was only one thing he needed right now.

Answers.

He needed to see Zayden.

Needed to hear the truth from his own lips.

And if there truly was a misunderstanding between them, then Ren would clear it up himself.

No matter what it took.

Behind him, Zion watched the omega disappear into the darkness of the corridor.

A satisfied smile slowly formed on his lips.

Everything was unfolding exactly as he had planned.