The next morning, the three men were sitting at a random pub in a small town far west from the pack. They hadn’t been able to talk much on the way here since they had to run in their wolf forms. Kyle and Alex could talk to each other using the pack link, however Kai was left out of any conversation they might have been having considering he was no longer connected to the pack. The entire way here, Kai rode on Kyle’s back in complete silence, seemingly not wanting to talk to either man.

“What can I get for you boys?” A young, busty bar maiden asked, her eyes sweeping among the three before landing on Alex with expressed interest. She immediately perked up at the sight of the strong Alpha.

“Just bring us whatever you got and make it snappy,” Kai said, his voice laced with snarky malice. The maiden glared at the Omega before quickly walking away.

“Damn Kai, who pissed in your boots?” Kyle said with a small chuckle.

“You know exactly who pissed in my boots you giant mutt,” Kai retorted, shaking a finger at the Beta before continuing, “you know who we are seeing and you know exactly how I feel about him.”

“Okay, can someone please clue me in on what the hell is happening? Seriously Kai, you drag me out into the middle of nowhere without as much as a simple explanation.” 

Kai turned to Alex who had just spoken and gave him a weird look. It was obvious to the Alpha that Kai was extremely uncomfortable, but before the Omega could say anything, the maiden had returned with three glasses. After setting them on the table, she set a hand on Alex’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.

“This is our finest mead brewed right here in shop! I am sure that it won’t disappoint you fine gentlemen.” The three men could tell that this “fair” lady was putting an air on to seem impressive. Even her accent changed when at their table to be more suitable, pretending to be an educated woman rather than a simple bar maid. She had her eyes set on one man and her claws were already digging in, quite literally.

“Not to be rude, but can you please fuck off.”

“Kai!” Alex and Kyle said in unison before the bar maiden let out an angry “humph” and walked away, her eyes shooting daggers into the little Omega.

“We have more important matters than sitting and watching this jerk getting hit on by some bar maiden.”

“Ah, I see so you're…” Kyle started to say before getting kicked in the shin.

“To answer your question, we are here to get some materials that we will need to take care of our issue. The person we are going to see is a bit… well he’s a bit over the top to put it politely.” 

***

The three men woke up to find themselves hanging upside down in what looked to be an underground mine shaft. The area that they were in now was a massive cavern in the actual shaft where the center was a small island surrounded by deep seemingly bottomless pits. The only thing connecting the island to the surrounding parts of the cave were dozens of railways that all converged to the small island. 

In the center of the island was a large throne made out of solid gold and adorned with jewels of every shape and color imaginable. Surrounding the throne were gold and silver trinkets that were piled up high. In all senses of the word, it was a mound of treasure. 

“Seriously Kai, what the hell did you get us into?” Asked Alex. The Alpha had every right to question the Omega. This whole trip was one big mystery leading up to this morning when Kai led them to the entrance of a giant mine in the middle of the woods where they were immediately ambushed by unseen assailants. That is how they found themselves hanging upside down above a giant bottomless pit.

“Just keep quiet and let me do the talking Alpha. Don’t say a word, no matter what happens. Understood?”

Before Alex could respond, they heard a minecart approaching the island from one of the railings. As the cart got closer and closer they started to hear chanting from all around them and it was then that they realized that all along the cavern walls were stands of tiered seating built into the walls. In the seats were tiny green men who were all naked except for tiny loincloths that covered their bits and pieces. They had jagged teeth and dark black hair that went in every direction. In each of their tiny hands was an equally tiny weapon that they would lift up everytime they let out a chant. 

“Seriously Kai? Trolls?”

“Alex, shut up. These are not people that you want to piss off.” This time it was Kyle who spoke up to try and quiet the Alpha. He knew from the stories that Kai told that trolls, in particular this group of trolls, were very dangerous and would not think twice about killing them.

The chanting grew louder and louder as the approaching minecart came closer and closer until finally the group of three could see what the trolls were chanting for. As the minecart came into view from one of the cave tunnels, a loud bellowing voice silenced the surrounding trolls.

“Who dares disturb slumber?” The voice said in a guttural troll dialect. As the cart stopped on the island, a giant troll stood up from the cart and stepped out looking at the three intruders. He stood at least eight feet and every part of his body was covered in hard muscle. Like the small trolls around him, the only thing that was covering his body was a piece of loincloth tied around his waist. It was in vain though, as even an idiot could see that the troll was well endowed.

“Hodag, please it’s me,” Kai said in the same guttural troll speech that the giant troll had spoken. Hodag squinted at the small Omega before a look of recognition flashed on his face.

“Ah the small wolf. Family didn’t recognize you. Apologize for the rude welcome. Wasn’t expecting company.” Hodag said before walking over to the Omega and cutting him down with a sharp knife that he pulled out of the side of his loincloth. Once he set Kai down, he took his hand and walked him over to the throne before sitting down and patting his knee, “sit small wolf.”

Kai didn’t say anything but rolled his eyes before jumping up to sit on the large troll's lap. This happened every time, so the Omega was used to the treatment.  

“So what does small wolf want this time?” The troll asked, pulling the Omega in close and putting a large hand on Kai’s lower back.

“I need some tools.”

“Payement, money or body?” Hodag asked, rubbing his large hands up and down the Omega’s back. Alex couldn’t understand what the pair was saying but he couldn’t help getting angry at the situation. Kai got so angry at a bar maiden flirting with him and now here he was seemingly doing the same thing with some troll. Kai could feel the anger the Alpha was feeling right away and knew that he had to do something quick in order to avoid any hostile situation from happening.

“We can discuss that later, Hodag, but for now can we go look at your stash?”

“Sure, sure small wolf,” the troll said, pushing Kai from his lap, taking his hand, and leading him back to the minecart that he rode in on.

“Oh and please treat my friends nicely,” Kai said before getting into the cart with the troll. Hodag only grunted before the cart zoomed along the rails in the direction it came.

After the two men, who were still tied up, couldn’t see the cart anymore a group of trolls dropped from the seats above and started to cut the pair down. Once back on the ground, they were approached by a troll who looked completely different from the rest. He was dressed from head-to-toe and his hair was neatly done into a ponytail. He wore large, thick framed glasses and he carried a book with him instead of a weapon.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, good sirs, master is a little protective of his territory but he means no harm. My name is Blemmyes. If you will follow me, I will have lunch set up for the both of you to enjoy.” The troll said in the same shifter language that the pair were accustomed to.

“Yes, thank you Blemmyes. I am Kyle and this is Alex.”

“Ah the cousin and the idiot, I have heard much about you both,” Blemmyes said before walking away to a minecart on the other side of the small island and gesturing for the two of them to get in.

Alex turned to Kyle and whispered, “idiot?” Kyle just shook his head and pushed the Alpha towards the mine cart. It was a tight squeeze for both men to get into the cart, which was much smaller than the one that Hodag had rode in on. The men filled the cart so much that Blemmyes had to sit on the edge of the cart, his feet dangling over the side.

“Sorry for the tight fit. We aren’t used to visitors,” the small troll said before the cart lurched forward and sped off into a dark tunnel.

QOTC: Honestly, this has been one of my favorite chapters to write yet. What has been your favorite chapter so far and why?