Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 173: You Are Meant For Greater Things

The night was deathly quiet, broken only by the faint gasps of the cold draft that crept through the cracks above the pit.

Rhaegar lay motionless, his breathing shallow as he pretended to sleep along with the others. Around him, the muted snores and restless movements of the other boys provided a hollow soundtrack to his anticipation.

Tayiid sat across the pit, his back to the wall, as stoic and calm as ever. His expression gave nothing away, though Rhaegar could see the tension in the way his fingers traced the handle of the makeshift blade resting on his lap. This was finally the night.

As agreed, Rhaegar did not eat the food served to them the entire day with the intention of staying alert for what was about to come. Pretending to be asleep just like everyone else, he was afraid his nervous, loud heartbeat could be heard even outside the prison. Waiting was exhausting and every minute seemed to last an eternity.

And then, they came.

The guards’ footsteps were heavy against the stone above; in the quiet darkness of the night, they reminded of the giants’ march. Rhaegar kept his body still, his eyelids lowered just enough to watch the scene unfold.

"Time to get the big one," a guard muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. It was evident that he was drunk.

There was the sound of rope being unwound, the thick hemp slithering like a snake.

They lowered the rope into the pit, its end dangling just a few feet above the ground. Tayiid rose slowly, his towering frame casting a shadow over the sleeping boys. He didn’t look back at Rhaegar.

Gripping the rope tightly, Tayiid gave it a testing tug before wrapping it around his strong waist and tying a knot. Rhaegar’s heart pounded as he watched his friend move upward as the guards began to pull, his large body disappearing into the world above.

And the moment Tayiid vanished from view, chaos erupted.

A sharp, guttural cry rang out, followed by the sound of flesh meeting flesh. Tayiid had struck. The guards shouted in confusion, their voices laced with panic as the unmistakable clang of weapons filled the air.

Rhaegar sprang into action. He darted toward the ropes hanging in the center of the pit, his pulse racing frantically.

As he grabbed hold of the rough hemp, he glanced upward, his eyes searching for any sign of Tayiid. The fight was happening just beyond the edge of the pit, hidden from his view, but the sounds were enough to paint a vivid picture of the chaos.

And then, he started moving too.

The climb was brutal. Every pull on the rope burned his palms, the coarse fibers digging into his skin despite the ragged coverings Tayiid had given him earlier in preparation. His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed through the pain, fueled by the thought of freedom and the faint hope that Tayiid was still alive.

Halfway up, Rhaegar froze as a guard’s scream pierced the night. It was followed by a sickening gurgle, then silence. freewebnoveℓ.com

Was that Tayiid? The thought sent a wave of panic through him, and for a split second, his grip faltered.

"Focus," he muttered to himself, gritting his teeth. "Don’t look down. Don’t think. Just climb. You’ve been training for this for the last two years."

The higher he went, the harder it became to breathe. The air felt thinner, the pressure of his fear pressing down on him like a physical weight. But he refused to stop. He couldn’t.

Finally, his fingers brushed against the edge of the pit. Summoning the last of his strength, Rhaegar hauled himself up and collapsed onto the cold, hard ground.

The sight that greeted him was both horrifying and awe-inspiring.

Tayiid stood in the center of the carnage, his clothes stained with blood. Around him lay the bodies of the guards—five in total—all motionless, their weapons scattered across the ground. The Tharahan blade in Tayiid’s hand dripped crimson, the makeshift weapon proving deadlier than Rhaegar had ever imagined.

’This is the real power of the beast... What can he do when he finally shifts..?’

Tayiid turned to him, his chest heaving with exertion. Despite the blood on his hands and the wild look in his eyes, his expression softened slightly when he saw Rhaegar.

"You made it," Tayiid said, his voice rough but steady.

Rhaegar nodded, his breathing still labored. "You... you killed them all."

Tayiid wiped the blade on his tattered shirt and grinned lightly. "I told you I would."

The boy staggered to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. The reality of what they had just accomplished began to sink in. He was free. For the first time in over two years, he was standing outside the pit, breathing the open air.

The stars above seemed brighter than he remembered, their light casting an eerie glow over the scene of their escape. Yet, there was still a long way ahead of them.

"What now?" Rhaegar asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tayiid looked at him, his gaze filled with a mixture of pride and sadness. "You leave," he said simply.

Rhaegar’s brow furrowed. "Leave..? What about you?"

"I stay," another brief reply. "There’s still work to be done."

"But—"

Tayiid raised a hand, cutting him off. "Listen to me, Rhaegar. You’re free now. You’ve got a chance to escape this cursed place and start a new life. Don’t waste it."

Rhaegar clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. "You can’t do this alone! You’ll die if you stay here!"

"Maybe," Tayiid admitted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But if I can take down even a handful of slavers, it’ll be worth it. And if I am lucky, I can pull out the rest of the guys from the pit, too. Someone has to try. Someone has to do it."

Rhaegar shook his head, his chest tightening. "Then I will do it with you! You are the reason I am standing here, let me at least help you with others!"

"Do you know how to fight?" The older boy asked in an almost mocking tone and Rhaegar felt a sting at his own incompetence. Slowly and with a heavy load of regret, he shook his head no.

Tayiid placed his large hand on the boy’s shoulder and smiled somewhat softly. "You have your own path to follow. Leave Erelith, find safety, and live the life Laesh and the others never could. If anything... Come back when you’re stronger and put an end to this once and for all."

Rhaegar swallowed hard, his throat burning with suppressed emotion. He wanted to argue, to convince Tayiid to come with him, but he knew it would be futile.

"Promise me," Tayiid said, his grip tightening on Rhaegar’s shoulder. "Promise me you’ll run and do your best to survive."

Rhaegar hesitated, then nodded. "I promise."

Tayiid’s smile widened, genuine and full of warmth despite the blood and chaos around them. "Great men know when to take a step back and admit their weakness. I am not a great man, but I am a greater beast. You have more man in you, Rhaegar. You are meant for greater things."