NOVEL NEXT chapter 17
The unexpected visitor left me momentarily speechless. The last time I’d seen Salman was before I fled the oasis—at my mother’s funeral. Years had passed, yet I recognized him in an instant: his grown face was so like my uncle’s.
“Sa-Salman?”
I stammered his name, and he replied with a bored sigh.
“So even manifesting as an omega didn’t make you any dumber—you can still recognize me.”
I almost glanced around the hut. Kamar wouldn’t have heard—he’s lost his memory. Should I have asked? It hardly mattered. The immediate priority was sending Salman away. I swallowed and spoke.
“How did you even get here…? Did something happen to Uncle?”
Despite my worry, Salman’s nonchalant expression reassured me.
“That old man’s the same as always. …Hey, your life’s a real drag. You’ve been living alone here for nearly seven years.”
I had no answer and bowed my head. I didn’t care why Salman had come; I only wanted him gone.
“So… why are you here, exactly?”
I asked cautiously. Instead of answering, he peered around. He made a circuit of the open oasis, then circled the hut itself. My heart pounded as I tried to guess what he sought. Suddenly, Salman strode into the hut.
“Ah!”
I gasped and followed him in. Inside, he prowled the cramped space, frowning and stroking his chin. I hovered on the opposite side, ensuring he wouldn’t look under the bed, and spoke.
“Um, what’s wrong? Are you looking for something?”
He scowled, then stepped toward me. I stepped back; he frowned in irritation.
“You said travelers passed through here, right? Ghurab told me.”
“Y-Yeah… just once.”
I nodded, and he fixed me with a relentless stare, as if checking my truthfulness. My chest fluttered. Then, straightening, he continued casually.
“There’s nothing here. I don’t know why Father got so worked up—worried you’d been seen in contact with someone.”
“Oh…”
At last I understood why he’d come. Ashamed of troubling my uncle, I bowed my head.
“Sorry.”
“Of course you are. Do you know how much of a pain you’ve been? Dragging me all the way out to this dump to check on you…”
He slumped his fist onto the neatly stacked dishes. Pots and bowls crashed to the floor. I hurried to pick them up. He clicked his tongue overhead.
“You’re so pathetic. Why do you even bother living? I’d have hung myself.”
I said nothing and continued gathering the shards. After a pause, he barked again.
……
I remained silent. Salman muttered a curse. As I picked up the last dish, he stomped down hard.
“Ah!”
I cried out. Satisfied, he pressed his boot into my hand.
“Now you’re reacting. Dimwits like you need a beating to snap to. How’s that? Think any clearer?”
He ground my knuckles underfoot. My rough, calloused skin tore and bled.
But as pain clouded my vision, I caught sight of the man under the bed. I snapped alert.
No.
My lips mouthed the word urgently. Any moment, Kamar would burst free. I shook my head frantically. No—please. Please don’t come out. You promised.
I saw Kamar grit his teeth. For a moment, his usual purple eyes flickered golden, and I smelled something sweet, unfamiliar.
“…Huh?”
Salman paused mid-curse. He, too, smelled it. He looked around, baffled, then glared down at me.
“What is this? You? This smell—filthy brat, you’re in heat, right?”
Salman spat beside me.
“You dirty omega tricks—think I’d fall for it? Trying to press that nasty body on me… If it weren’t for Father, I’d’ve killed you by now!”
He lifted his foot from my hand and kicked my head. I crumpled without a scream. My mouth cut—metallic blood tasted in my throat. Tears welled as I clamped my hand over my mouth. Then footsteps receded. Salman had left. I dared to lift my head—and saw Kamar darting after him.
No!
I grabbed at Kamar’s leg. He staggered and paused, looking down at me. I shook my head desperately. Don’t go— it’s okay now. It’s over.
Kamar ground his jaw but moved to step outside again. I clung to him.
“Let go! You’ll let him escape!”
Kamar shouted. I froze—Salman’s car was already gone. Kamar shook me off and dashed outside, but the engine’s roar had vanished. Exactly as I’d feared, he returned in a rage after a while.
“Why did you stop me? If I’d caught him, I could’ve killed him!”
He raged, and I forced calm.
“You can’t kill people.”
“He deserves it!”
“No, don’t—”
I tried to restrain him. But it only fueled his anger. He glared at me and shouted:
“If you hadn’t grabbed me, I’d have snapped his neck! Why did you do that? Look at you—covered in blood. I trampled him, beat him, and you just watched. Do you know how that feels?”
His eyes were blazing gold, and the scent around him deepened. My heart pounded and my head swam. I found the words with difficulty.
“But if Salman is dead or hurt, Uncle will be sad… Uncle is taking care of me…”
My weak rationale angered him further.
“Taking care of you? Get a grip—that’s abandoning you! Leaving you alone here for seven years! Just you and that skin-and-bones cat, trading tapestries for scraps once a month—that’s ‘taking care’? If you actually believe that, you’re crazier than I thought!”
I’d always thought the same myself—so why couldn’t I answer? Perhaps his furious words left me empty. All I could say was:
“You’re going too far.”
“My words are mild compared to what your life is!”
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, pacing the cramped hut. I knew I had to soothe him.
“It’s okay. I’m fine. Don’t be so angry… I’ll stay here, and you’ll go.”
At that, he froze in his tracks. His face was oddly still.
“…What did you say?”
His voice lowered. Guilt struck me, but the moment had passed. He demanded again:
“Say it—what did you just say? You must’ve misheard.”
I hesitated—should I deny it? But I couldn’t hide the truth any longer.
“You’ll leave, and I’ll stay here.”
……
“That’s final.”
Quiet but firm, I drew the line. I had to wake from this sweet fantasy. Salman had jolted me back to reality. Such happiness couldn’t last. I needed to see clearly.
Kamar stared, pale and shocked. Disbelief lingered in his eyes, and I fell silent.
“…You want to send me away like that?”
He asked softly. I answered honestly.
“I don’t want to part… I’ll cry a lot when you’re gone.”
“Then what did you just say?”
He fought his anger, voice trembling. I bit my lip and whispered like a sigh:
“But it’s already decided…”
“You…!”
He shouted again. His eyes flickered fully gold, and the air around him swelled with scent—overwhelming, stifling.
Ah.
My vision blurred; my mind went foggy. Blood thundered in my veins and my pulse raced. My skin stung with heat. My knees gave way, and I sank to the floor.
“Yohan?”
Kamar called, alarmed. He rushed to me, but my condition worsened. Through the haze, I knew: the heat cycle had come—at the worst possible moment.