Chapter 39

Doflamingo was staring at a fancy card, looking almost troubled. They had arrived back in Dressrosa hours ago. Law had been worried when they left without Ace, but his father reassured him that Ace was safely with Yamato. He had even shown Law a photo of a very grumpy Ace, curled up in a bunch of blankets, eating cookies.

Doflamingo had chuckled, saying he had to dodge a plate to get that photo. Law had wished for a copy, but unfortunately his mobile had been confiscated.

"So what has you looking worried?" Law finally asked, slouching back against the couch.

"Fufufufufu, wouldn't you like to know?" Father teased, putting down the card. "One of Big Mom's children is getting married."

Law rolled his eyes. "There's a wedding almost three times a year with that lot."

"And as always we've both been invited," Father said. "Might actually help you meet a proper Alpha."

"We do this every wedding. You try introduce me to other Alphas, and yet I still don't care about them," Law said, reaching up to his neck. "And besides, I'm mated now."

"I'll be killing that savage mutt after what he's done to this family," Doflamingo growled, walking up to loom over him. "He murdered Trebol and Gladius. Two of my family members. Diamante's death may not have involved him, but three of my family members are dead, Law. And I take that very seriously."

Law did feel a little bit saddened by Gladius' death. He had taught Law how to shoot a gun. To aim and reload and conceal it whenever he went out with it. Gladius also used to try help him with his homework after school when Law had been little. Gladius hadn't been very good at it, but he had tried.

Him arguing with Diamante at the dinner table over maths had been one of the most entertaining things ever. Lami had tried to help, but she had never been good at counting, so ended up saying all the wrong numbers. Their mother had laughed herself silly. Doflamingo had slipped in behind her and hugged her, grinning. He had looked so much more relaxed back then.

Law missed those days.

On the other hand, Law gave no shits about Trebol's death. The man had been horrible, cruel and disgusting. He had always insulted any Omega he came across, including Law's mother, and the pair had gotten into more fights than Law could count. His father had always been furious, and had even punched Trebol once for a snide comment.

Diamante's death hurt too, because Diamante had surprisingly been always gentle with him and Lami. He had made their mother laugh often too, despite also getting on Doflamingo's nerves by flirting with her. Harmless flirting, but still.

But Diamante had only been kind to the family. Anyone outside of it would always face his full cruelty.

"I had to bury three of my pack members because of that little red headed shit," Doflamingo continued. "I'll make sure to snap his neck. You're strong. It will be upsetting for you, but you will get over it."

"You're being cruel."

"Cruel? What would have been cruel would have been to leave you to Teach's men. They would have used you, Law. I saved you. Not your mate. Me."

"You enabled them," Law sneered. "You heads of the gangs allowed everyone to mistreat Omegas, just because we feel good when people have sex with us, and can give birth to children. Besides, despite what you may think, I have gotten stronger. This family trained me to defend myself, remember?"

"We're going round in circles once again, Law," Doflamingo said. "So how about I change the subject?"

There was a dangerous undertone to his father's voice, and it made his Omega shy away. His Omega wasn't bothered dealing with this, and Law could feel the anxiousness his own Omega was suffering through. It made him shift uncomfortably. Father noticed it, and his Alpha softened considerably.

Doflamingo stroked his hair, but his voice remained hard. "Where is Corazon, Law?"

Law recoiled from his touch. "Leave him alone, Doflamingo."

"That little thief will never be left alone." Father bared his teeth. "I will never stop haunting his steps after he took you from me-"

"You took his children away from him too!" Law spat.

"He deserved it!"

"Uncle Cora didn't deserve to be raped, over and over again and had his children stolen from him!" Law yelled. "You're such a hypocrite!"

Doflamingo growled lowly. "He started it."

"And now you sound like a five year old." Law scowled. "I will never tell you where he is. Not when he's finally safe from you."

Doflamingo kneeled down, and much to Law's confusion, his father reached out to cradle his face. His hands were soft, and his father's face was twisted in pain.

"Law, you aren't a parent. What he did to me, especially when we just lost your mother and Lami..." Doflamingo trailed off, shaking his head, but Law could see he was shaking all over. "It was agony. I felt like I was being torn apart. Corazon, someone I trusted because he was my little brother, did that to me. He took you from me."

Father suddenly tore away from him, standing up. "I won't let that happen again. Nobody is taking my family from me again. Never again. I won't show Corazon mercy this time-"

Law blanked, before snarling. "Mercy-"

"I'll kill him. I'll kill him and that mutt and I'LL KILL EVERYONE BEFORE I LOSE YOU AGAIN!" Doflamingo roared, grabbing the coffee and throwing it against the wall, smashing it to pieces.

The coffee table went flying after it, crashing into the wall, cracking both it and denting the wall. Law flinched, startled, because it wasn't easy to make his father snap. Not like this-

Footsteps hurried towards the room, and Baby-5 shoved open the door. "Young Master?" She startled.

Doflamingo growled at her. Law grimaced, because he didn't do that to the family, only when he was seriously agitated would he get annoyed at them. But never growl.

"Baby-5, leave." Law got to his feet. "He's losing it."

Baby-5 hesitated but backed off. Law dismissed her and approached his father, letting his Omega side ooze out some comfort. He grabbed his father's hand and nuzzled it, his scent soaking into the room.

His father whimpered.

Law couldn't help but stiffen at the noise. But he was distracted by his father collapsing to his knees and dragging him into a hug.

"My pup," Father whispered. "My pup. My pup. My pup."

Law stroked his father's hair, hoping to ease him. "You need to talk to someone, Father. A professional. This isn't healthy-"

Father's grip tightened around him. "I can't lose you too."

"I'm still here." Law nuzzled his scent gland, earning a heart wrenching sob. "Please, talk to me at least."

"He took you from me. They're all trying to take you from me," Doflamingo growled, his voice darkening. "I won't let them. I won't let them take my pup. Not my last pup."

Law pulled back, grabbing his face and yanking off the sunglasses. Doflamingo startled, whimpering again, but Law ignored it.

"I'm not a pup anymore!" Law snapped, ignoring the wide eyes. "I'm your son, yes. I always will be, but I'm not a pup you need to coddle and protect. I'm presented. I'm an Omega, I'm the leader of the Heart gang, I'm a doctor and I'm a fucking adult. I have been for years!"

Doflamingo stared down at him with strange, blank looking eyes. The bastard wasn't even listening. He was lost in his own head. Unfortunately his gaze darkened and he stood up, snatching up Law's arm as he marched out the room.

"I should have done this a long time ago," he said, but Doflamingo sounded so tired when he spoke.

His father took him to the back of the mansion, where the guests Doflamingo was intimidating would reside. Law's brow furrowed. Those rooms had more security focused on it. Law was probably getting locked in one of them to be kept an eye on.

Doflamingo pushed him into a bedroom, and Law realised instantly that it had no windows. The door slammed shut behind him, and Law heard the locks being turned from the outside. Law cursed, kicking the door.

"You can't just lock me up!" Law spat.

There was no reply. Law then realised he couldn't hear his father at all. There were no footsteps, or anything that would signal someone would be outside his room. Law snarled, kicked the door again, then began to search for the hidden cameras he knew would be hidden in the bedroom.

.::.

"Why do Omegas get fucking kidnapped all the time?"

Kidd stared at the mobile tracker, scowling at the fact that Law's was back in Dressrosa. He had no idea what had happened to Law or Ace during their escape from Teach's club. He was also unsure about what to do next.

"Should we inform Law's gang?" Killer asked.

"Law doesn't want them out of Zou until his father was dealt with," Kidd admitted, grimacing.

"Then how about the Straw Hats?"

"I don't want that idiot messing in my affairs."

"Revolutionaries?" Killer offered, and Kidd could just feel that smirk.

He laughed. Killer did too.

Stupid Revolutionaries.

"Whitebeard gang?" Killer said, growing serious once more. "The situation with Fire Fist is a bit delicate."

"I don't want to be the one to tell them he's fucking pregnant!" Kidd cried. "How are you supposed to tell someone like fucking Whitebeard he's going to be a grandpa? I'm not that crazy!"

"Yeah, that's true," Killer said, wincing. "So what do we do?"

"Like hell if I know. Blow up more shit?"

"If the Whitebeard gang finds out we kept Fire Fist's pregnancy hidden from them we are going to be murdered," Killer said, frowning heavily.

Kidd scowled. "Do you want to be the one to tell them that Phoenix is going to be a daddy?"

"Hell no."

"Thought so."

"Maybe we could send a messenger?"

"I'm not evil enough to send some random fucker over to Sphinx to tell a boss that his currently kidnapped son is pregnant," Kidd snorted. "I know I'm bad. But jeez."

"This is a problem..."

"Just a little bit yeah... Fucking Omegas need to stop being kidnapped."

"...Yeah..." Killer squirmed.

"Yes, that means you too, Killer. Don't think I forgot. I almost went feral trying to save your ass."

"Thanks for that by the way."

"Yeah, no problem."

.::.

It took five days for Sanji's heat to end. Pudding was exhausted, but satisfied, as she approached her mother who was snacking away on cakes in her private lounge. Her siblings heads turned her way, noses sniffing. Most of them look surprised, and she laughed at their expressions.

"Ah, Pudding!" Mama greeted happily. "That took some time. How did it go?"

Pudding smiled. "Perfectly. I made sure to mate with Sanji at least once a day, just like you said to."

She wandered over to the spare chair and sat down, munching on a cookie. "I'm exhausted after all that. I swear, I will have no idea what to do if he isn't round with my pup in the next few months. I don't know how you manage your Omegas, Mama!"

"Mamamamama! They can sure be energetic during their heats," Mama chuckled. "And it won't be your fault if Sanji's not pregnant. It's hard to overcome the mating mark. Not impossible, but difficult. You smell of black tea and blueberries though, so obviously his scent has rubbed off on you."

"My scent's all over him too," Pudding said, leaning back in her seat. "So when will our wedding be now?"

"All the invitations have been sent out. Your wedding will be in four days," Mama grinned. "It will be a wedding to remember. Mamamama! A glorious tea party!"

Pudding smiled sweetly.

They were going to have such a lovely red wedding.

.::.

Sanji jolted awake, gasping for breath. A cold sweat trailed down his neck, leaving him shivering, even as he curled up into a ball.

Nightmares.

How could this get any worse? He was trapped, locked up in Totto City. Collared not only by the leather around his neck, but by the locks on his doors, the assassination threats on his pack's loved ones, and now his own nightmares.

In his nightmare Pudding tossed him into a cell. Not just any cell. The cell Sanji had spent months locked away in by his own father who would come in and berate him, beating him into the ground, yelling at him for not being strong enough.

The cell his brothers would come into and torture him far worse than his father ever did. Beat him black and blue, breaking his bones, leaving him bloodied and broken. He had screamed for his pack, but Zoro appeared at the cell doors, telling him how much of a traitor he was. That they weren't mates, that his mate wouldn't be so weak as to be overwhelmed by another Alpha. How Sanji was useless.

He tried to tell Zoro that he was drugged with suppressants, but Zoro scoffed and left him behind. Left him locked up with his family's abuse.

He was thankful he woke up. But not to the damn room he had been locked in. Sanji hadn't left it the moment of had woken up in here weeks ago. He hadn't been allowed. When he tried the guards reminded him of his pack's loved ones.

Sanji threw away the blankets, his stomach lurching. He rushed into the bathroom and emptied his stomach. He shook all over, and could hardly breath.

His Omega whimpered from within, confused and lonely.

Where was Zoro? Why wasn't his mate here with him? Zoro had never left them alone to a heat, and he had been forced to have his with Pudding.

Pudding was a lovely Alpha, but she wasn't his mate. He didn't love her.

Sanji slumped against the toilet and shuddered.

If not Zoro, why wasn't his father at least here with him? His Omega cried mournfully. They wanted their family. Sanji sobbed, curling up, clamping his hand over his mouth to muffle his cries.

The only relief he had was that Pudding had told him that the Vinsmokes had no idea which room he was being held in.

That was the only happiness Sanji had in all of this.

Pudding had betrayed him. She had told him that she drugged the chocolates he taste tested for her. Drugged him with suppressants. He had been so scared something had been going wrong with his body and it had all been her. She had terrified him with the thought that he couldn't have a pup.

All because her mother wanted him to marry her. To unite with the Vinsmoke family.

Sanji buried his head into his knees and cried.

The Wardens of Strar is officially out now on Amazon in ebook and paperback! Just search for The Wardens of Strar on Amazon and it should come up if you're interested in a dark fantasy story!

The Wardens of Strar:

Yasmiel is a young huntress from the quiet village of Horntale. When her life becomes entwined with the Wardens of Strar and the God of Death, she has to fight to save her family from the approaching darkness.

With the God of Death's undead army, the Mortem, hunting her at every turn, she must rely on the help of the Wardens of Strar, their Commander, and the mysterious voice inside her head.

But will she save her family and uncover the secrets of their past? Or will she be lost to the darkness forever?