Content Warning: 18+

Zayden gathered a group of knights and headed toward Liam’s mansion.

Not for an official visit, but one in disguise—to find out whether Yusha was truly there or not.

He had instructed Enzo to create a portrait of the omega using his magic and distribute it among the knights, ensuring they could identify the man properly, leaving no room for mistakes.

Zayden was that type of commander—the type who made sure every operation was successful. And he had never failed a single one since being granted the title of Imperial General.

"Make sure to return with good news. If you find him, bring him back," Zayden ordered, standing by the gate while the knights held the reins of their horses.

"What if Lord Liam doesn’t let us?" one of them asked.

Zayden shook his head, letting out a dry laugh.

"Arrest him. Or... I don’t know. Fight him. I want that omega in my mansion as soon as possible."

The knights bowed and mounted their horses. Moments later, they departed for Liam’s mansion, unsure whether they would find what they were looking for there.

"Why are you going to such lengths for Yusha?" Enzo asked, looking up at the alpha.

"My wife said he wants his friend home," the general shrugged, grinning. He didn’t look serious—not in the slightest.

Had Enzo not seen him guide the knights and work on a proper plan from dawn until now, he would have thought Zayden was merely joking, not taking Yusha’s situation seriously at all.

"Was that a joke? He isn’t your wife," Enzo rolled his eyes, turning with the help of his cane as he began to walk away.

"Yet! He will be!" Zayden argued.

Enzo glanced up at him, eyes filled with doubt.

"Soooon!" Zayden averted his gaze. He and Ren still hadn’t talked about marriage. "...And right now, we are in our dating phase!"

"Of course, of course. Just say it. He doesn’t want to marry someone like you," Enzo teased with a smile.

Zayden clicked his tongue.

"Hoooh, what kind of friend are you, Enzo? You should be taking my side, telling me that surelyyy Ren will agree."

"I am not into supporting anyone’s delusions," Enzo replied cheerfully before turning down the hallway. "I am going to see what Eiran is up to. You should check on your ’wife.’ Isn’t he supposed to go into heat? What if another alpha—"

"Shhh! Don’t even say that!" Zayden raised a finger, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Just go."

Yet he was already rushing back toward Ren’s bedroom.

Enzo giggled at the sight of a flustered Zayden. It was, indeed, an amusing sight.

Then, he exhaled sharply. His hand had been trembling the entire time, yet he had managed to keep his composure.

The only person he had ever told about his strange fear of alpha pheromones was Yusha. Had he told Ren, he would inevitably let Zayden know, and that would only burden him with immense guilt for not having been able to help his childhood friend sooner.

Zayden didn’t appear like it, but he had a heart of gold.

***

Zayden knocked twice before standing outside Ren’s bedroom. When no answer came, he pushed the door open slightly. The omega’s pheromones hit him immediately, warm and overwhelming, sending a shiver through his body.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him a little too quickly, heart pounding as the lock clicked softly.

The air felt heavy—thick with Ren’s scent, sweet and intoxicating, curling around his senses like smoke. It clung to everything within the room, seeping into Zayden’s lungs with every breath.

"Ren?" Zayden called, panic edging into his voice.

The bed was empty.

His chest tightened as his gaze darted around the room.

That wasn’t right.

During his heat, Ren never strayed far from the bed.

Had something happened to him?

Zayden bit his lip, unease rising sharply.

The omega’s pheromones were everywhere—stronger than Zayden had ever sensed before. Ren had to be here.

But where?

"Ren!" Zayden called again, louder this time.

He followed the scent instinctively, his steps growing more hurried until it led him to the far corner of the room.

The closet.

Zayden froze, brows knitting together.

The door was shut.

After a brief hesitation, he yanked it open.

"Ren!" Relief rushed out of him in a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Finally, he could breathe again. "What are you doing in here?"

The omega was curled inside, naked, skin flushed and damp with sweat, silver hair clinging to his forehead. Slowly, his eyes lifted—unfocused yet bright—and then he smiled.

Almost... proudly.

"Look," Ren said quietly, his voice warm and hazy. "I didn’t let anyone know I am an omega."

Zayden stared at him, stunned.

"What...?" He swallowed hard, struggling to process the sight before him. "Ren, this isn’t—"

He stopped.

Something was wrong.

He had seen Ren in pre-heats before, even in full heat. But this—this was different.

The scent was deeper, heavier, wrapping around him and tugging sharply at instincts he fought to restrain. His body reacted instantly, but he held himself back, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood.

"You locked yourself in here?" Zayden asked slowly, kneeling in front of him. "Why?"

Ren’s smile faltered, just slightly.

"What do you mean?" he whispered. "So no one would find out, of course. So no one would smell my pheromones."

Zayden’s chest clenched painfully.

That made no sense. Every room in the mansion was constructed to prevent pheromones from escaping—an imperial law strictly enforced.

So why was Ren saying such strange things?

"...You didn’t have to do that," Zayden said at last, his voice softening. "You’re safe here."

Ren’s gaze flickered—and suddenly, the ache for touch overwhelmed him. Slowly, he reached out, guiding Zayden’s hands to his chest, pressing them against his nipples.

He giggled softly when Zayden’s slightly cold fingers met his burning skin.

"It tickles," he said, laughing again.

Zayden’s breath caught when he felt his skin brush against Ren’s. His finger slightly touched the nipple bars he had put on his nipples last night, causing the omega to let out a soft moan.

Instead of pulling away, his lower body ached instinctively, chasing more contact like it was air. But he held back.

The omega’s skin burned beneath his palms, his scent spreading more by the second, seductive and addictive. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Z-Zayden, it hurts here," Ren’s hand wrapped around his already hard cock, motioning up and down. "A-And it’s itchy here." With his other hand, he pressed his finger against his hole, playing with the leaking slick.

Zayden’s face turned dark red—almost scarlet—he couldn’t breathe.

This wasn’t simply want anymore. It was need, desperate and unfiltered.

Then, it finally clicked.

Ren wasn’t hiding because he was afraid—he was hiding because he dreaded how badly he needed an alpha right now.

The alpha tightened his jaw. Slowly, he drew Ren out of the closet and into his arms, shutting the door behind them as if setting him free from a prison.

"Enough," he murmured, voice low and steady despite the storm raging in his body.

Ren whimpered at the sound, fingers fisting into his clothes, and that was all it took.

"Z-Zayden, it hurts," Ren complained again, his eyes damp now.

The alpha pressed his forehead to Ren’s, surrendering at last.

"Shhh. I will help you so don’t cry," he whispered, gently licking the tear at the corner of the omega’s eyes.