Chapter Text
“Does the Royal family know that you hide in corners and spy on them?”
The deep voice startled Peter, and he whirled around to stare up and up at the Alpha that had somehow snuck up on him.
“Does the Royal family know that you hide in corners and spy on them?” he retorted, and the Alpha grinned down at him, flashing a set of fangs long enough to make Peter’s heart jump to his throat.
“Easy little Beta.” a big hand at his waist turned Peter back so he was looking through the curtains again, spying on the parlor where the ruling Betas and the visiting Alpha King were talking. “I won’t tell on you, if you don’t tell on me.”
“Right.” Peter swallowed nervously. The Alpha thought he was a Beta. The suppressants were working. “Neither one of us will tell.”
“Have you heard anything good?” The Alpha pressed closer, his chest brushing against Peter’s back as he leaned in. “Anything about the Omega Prince?”
“Uh– no?” Peter was a terrible liar, and was glad it was fairly dark in the little alcove to hide his red face. “But I’m trying to find out things about the Alpha Prince. I know plenty about the Omega already.”
“Like what?” The strangers arm came to rest on the column next to Peter, surrounding him with a wash of warmth and the heavy scent that could only be Alpha, thick and musky and oh why was it so good?
“Tell me things about the Omega Prince.” the Alpha suggested, twitching the curtain aside enough so he could get a glimpse into the room as well. “What’s he like?
“Why so curious?” Peter asked defensively, forgetting for a few seconds that the Alpha didn’t realize that he was the Omega Prince. Not with the suppressants, and not in the dark.
Take it down a notch, Peter.
“Maybe don’t sound so jealous with in the first five minutes of a date.” the Alpha suggested, laughing good naturedly and squeezing at Peter’s waist with his free hand. “I’m all for possessive little Beta’s but other Alpha’s might hate that.”
“I can promise you–” Peter couldn’t help the arrogance in his tone. “–that I couldn’t care less what you or any other Alpha thinks of me. Also–” after a few seconds of thought. “–this isn’t a date.”
“Brat.” the Alpha grinned against and motioned back to the room. “So what has your secret sleuthing uncovered?”
“Not a whole lot so far.” Peter admitted. “But it will be less, now that you are talking in my ear.”
“Apologies.” another chuckle, low and warm. “I’ll try to keep it down. Budge up so my ass doesn’t stick out of this cozy little corner and give us away.”
Peter had to muffle something of a squawk as the Alpha patted at his butt to move him further into the alcove.
“Are you always this forward with Beta’s you find?” The question came out much less snarky than Peter intended, the shock of not only being touched so casually, but also so intimately by a stranger enough to make him speechless.
“Only the pretty ones that don’t have the common sense to kick me out.” the Alpha was laughing again, close enough now that Peter could feel his shoulders shaking. “But don’t worry little Beta, I have no intentions of compromising your virtue. You just picked the best spot to spy from, so now you have to share it.”
“I’m not used to having to do anything.” Peter tried to bring his usual haughty edge back to his words, but it was difficult with the Alpha this close, looming over him. “In fact, I never do a single thing that I don’t want to.”
“My god, what a boring life.” the Alpha groaned in annoyance and Peter started to argue with him, but shut up abruptly when the Alpha clapped a big hand over his mouth. “Shh. I think they are getting to the good stuff.”
“I think a year.” the Beta woman was saying quietly, rubbing a hand over her forehead, obviously worn out by what had been hours of talks. “I can’t think– I mean, forcing him into more than that is just cruel. It’s bad enough that he has to go through this at all, much less for a lifetime. It is feasible that a year would give us the time to make a better arrangement.”
“It takes at least a year for a child to be conceived depending on the heat cycle of the Omega.” a louder voice, brash and blunt. “Longer if he is infertile or reluctant. How are his cycles? Has he had an Alpha before, or is he pure? How often does he go into heat?”
Peter jerked a little at all the invasive questions, and he felt the Alpha stiffen behind him as well, the hand falling from his mouth when he tapped on it. “It isn’t right for them to talk about an Omega like that.” he whispered, more embarrassed than he could admit over hearing the private details of his life churned out for a strangers ears. “As if he is a piece of meat. Talking about his cycles as if all he is good for is breeding.”
“I hear that.” the Alpha agreed. “But I imagine the Omega’s family talks about the Alpha the same way, don’t you? Asking if he is fertile, if he could give them an heir?”
“Alpha’s are brutes.” Peter scoffed. “What would they care? Most of them only manage to think far enough ahead to their next meal and their next knot.” After a beat, remembering that his unexpected companion was in fact, an Alpha, he added, “Um, I mean no offense?”
The Alpha put his face in Peter’s hair to muffle his laughter. “Are you serious with that, little Beta? We don’t think further than our next meal and our next knot? Is that really what you think of Alphas?”
Peter’s face flamed red, hearing the coarse words turned back on him. “I suppose I could have said that better. That was– that was crude.”
“Nah. It’s always better to speak your mind.” the Alpha was still laughing. “I’d much rather someone be blunt with me, then hiding secrets behind pretty words, hm?”
His nose was still in Peter’s hair and when he breathed out, Peter shivered over the warm breath over his ears and down his neck. “Are you cold?” the Alpha’s voice dropped then, a rumble that Peter could feel clear to his toes. “Want me to hold you?”
He sounded as if he was teasing, but Peter wasn’t entirely sure, so he mustered a little bit of his usual snootiness and replied, “Asking the strange Alpha that is already standing entirely too close to me in a dark corner while spying on Royals hold me?” Peter tsked in disapproval. “I think that is a little too bold, even for this fairly out of character moment.”
“Of course not.” the Alpha was teasing him and Peter flushed in pleasure over it. No one teased him. Not like this. Not while flirting. “This is obviously very out of character for such a proper Beta. What was I thinking?”
“Honestly.” Peter knew his smile was obvious in his tone. “What were you thinking?”
“Such a posh thing.” Almost admiringly, from the Alpha. “Raised right, weren’t you? Do you live here in the–”
Peter reached up and behind him to shut the Alpha up with his hand and bit back the desire to whimper at the feel of rough lips against his palm.
Since when did he ever whimper in front of an Alpha?
“They’re talking again.” he said in explanation when the Alpha made a sort of hmph? into his hand.
“I will not put my nephew through this farce for any longer than necessary.” Ben was saying firmly. “A year is more than long enough to work out a better treaty between our territories. If there is no child and no proof of a bond within a year, we should let them nullify the marriage and go their separate ways.”
“So if the Omega gets pregnant, there’s no way for him to nullify the marriage?” Peter whispered, and then jerked his hand away with a squeal when the Alpha licked at his palm. “What was that for? Did you just lick me?”
“I was trying to get your attention quietly, but that hilarious squeal probably gave us away. Now the whole castle will be onto us.” the Alpha jabbed him in the ribs, and every Princely instinct in Peter’s body told him to turn around and slap the Alpha as hard as he could for taking such liberties with his person–
–but instead Peter giggled softly because it had tickled, so of course the Alpha did it again, and again until Peter grabbed at his hand to make him stop.
“Why are you wearing gloves?” he asked, running his finger tips curiously over the soft leather. “And a hood?” he reached behind him and tugged at the material he had felt brushing against his wrist when he had shut the Alpha up just a minute before. “What’s all this for?”
“Because unlike you, I know how to dress for espionage. All black, a hood to disguise my face, gloves so I can be stealthy. Standard dress, wouldn’t you say?”
“You make a habit of spying on people?” Peter knew the Alpha was lying but was too amused by the whole situation to call him on it.
“I would make more of a habit of spying on people if you were around to hide in with me.” the Alpha answered promptly and Peter tried not to laugh at him.
“Your son–” May again and Peter went quiet so he could listen to his aunt. “will be good to my nephew? Kind? We have encouraged him to read, to study. He is not like other Omegas, you know. Not only is he is very smart, but he doesn’t have a submissive bone in his body and he needs an Alpha who understands that, not one who will try to bend him to his will or some outdated trope about Omega’s being lesser citizens.”
“I can’t say my son is a kind man, or that he will be a good Alpha.” the visiting King didn’t even hesitate over the words, and behind Peter, the Alpha gave a barely legible growl. “But he has gone too long without a bond, and when he rages now, it is harder to pull him out. He is one bad day away from fully feral and–”
“–and this is the son you would demand be linked to my nephew?” Ben snapped. “What of your other son? The Beta? Why wasn’t he part of this instead? I will not have my nephew bonded to an Alpha who could snap one day and hurt him!”
“There has to be both an Alpha and an Omega on the throne.” the King pointed out blandly, and Peter wanted to curse over the truth of the statement. “An Omega can’t rule alone, just like an unbonded Alpha can’t rule alone. And only an Omega will bring my son around to his senses. Most days he is fine. But on the days he isn’t–” a long pause. “Your Omega will be good for him.”
“No! I will not trade his life off to make sure some Alpha stays sane!” May was furious, and they could just barely see her pacing in the parlor. “It is not his job to deal with a mate that is borderline feral! It’s not his job to–”
“It is the Omega’s job to mate and produce an heir with my son so our Kingdoms can continue existing the way they have for centuries.” the King’s tone was flat and final. “It is either this treaty, or war.”
“It sounds as if the Omega Prince is getting the worse end of this deal.” Peter whispered, feeling sick to his stomach. “Sold off to breed with a wild Alpha? Trapped in a bond until a child is conceived? It’s practically slavery.”
“The Alpha is being forced into this too.” came the quiet answer. “Don’t forget that.”
“How do you figure?” Peter put his forehead against the cool column and tried to tell himself not to vomit, anxiety clawing up his throat and making him gag. “How is an Alpha forced into something like this? How can an Alpha be forced into anything?”
Silence behind him for a long minute, then a heavy sigh. “Alpha’s are controlled easier than you would think. Maybe even easier than Omega’s are.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I envy you, you know.” Peter hadn’t realized he was still running his fingers over the Alpha’s hand until gloved fingers linked with his own, slowing the nervous motion and laying over his stomach comfortingly. “Do you know why?”
“No.” Peter said shortly, pressed their hands together, feeling like he shouldn’t be encouraging the Alpha to touch him, but needing the physical contact to keep him grounded. “Why would you envy me?”
“As a Beta, you don’t have to deal with any of this.” the Alpha lowered his voice so he was speaking right into Peter’s ear. “You are free to do what you want with your life and your biology plays very little part in it. I don’t know how difficult it is for an Omega, to be ruled by a biology that demands submission. I can only imagine it’s a real bitch.”
“Well said.” Peter said dryly. “Eloquent.”
“Hush.” the Alpha squeezed at his waist lightly. “It can’t be easy being an Omega. But I can tell you that being ruled by a biology that pushes you towards instability the older you get is like walking towards prison every day of your life. Omegas can live their entire life unmated, and they might struggle with loneliness, or getting through their heats without a bonded partner, but they will survive. They always do. An Alpha has to mate, we have to have a partner that can calm our feral side or we literally drive ourselves over the edge. It’s a whole other kind of hell, to depend on someone else just to keep us sane.”
“I’ve never thought about that.” Peter muttered. “That sounds awful.”
“Of course you’ve never thought about it.” the Alpha was still speaking into his ear, his breath hot on Peter’s neck. “Little Beta, you never have to think about things like that. That’s why I envy you.”
“You will give my nephew a year.” Ben said in his famous this discussion is over tone, and they fell silent again to try and listen. “And then, child or not, bond or not– we will have worked out a different treaty. If somehow they fall in love–”
“In love.” the Alpha King laughed over that. “Unnecessary.”
“–in the off chance that your son is a true mate–” May raised her voice and Peter tried not to smile. The Alpha King was about two seconds from getting slapped if he didn’t watch his business.
“–yes, a true mate.” Ben agreed. “If your son is my nephew’s true mate, then we will have no reason to change the terms of this contract. But if not, this one will be null and void, is that understood?”
“That is reasonable.” the King grunted. “Hand me a pen so we can sign this and be done. The entire territory is celebrating this treaty, and I would like to have a drink at some point before the sun rises.”
The quiet scritch of pen against paper filled the parlor, and in the little side area, Peter barely dared breath until the document had been folded up and put away, his Aunt and Uncle shaking the King’s hand before leaving the room.
“Do you believe in that?” The Alpha asked then, rubbing his thumb in circles over Peter’s stomach. “True mates? A soul match between a mated pair?”
“No.” Peter said honestly. “The idea that only Alphas and Omegas are allowed to be soul mates is insulting to the other genders. The entire line of thought that the perfect Alpha can turn an Omega’s eyes gold? Ridiculous. I’ve never met an Omega who’s eyes turned gold. I don’t believe in that fairy tale. It’s scary enough that Alpha’s eyes turn red, wouldn’t it be worse if Omega’s eyes turned colors as well?
“Red eyes scare you?”
“Have you ever looked in the mirror while you were angry?” Peter returned. “That red doesn’t bother you?”
“Our eyes turn red for reasons other than anger.” the Alpha countered. “In fact, if I wasn’t wearing my stealthy spy cloak and you turned around and kissed me, they would probably turn red right now.”
“Are you asking me to kiss you?” In the back of his mind, Peter knew he should have been more worried about all of this– about being in the dark with a strange Alpha, with letting the Alpha touch him, with the way their conversation had gone from joking to talking about true mates and now– “Are you asking me to kiss you?” he said again.
“Of course not.” the Alpha shook his head quickly, the edges of the hood brushing Peter’s hair. “That would be so terribly forward of me, it might just earn me a slap from a prim and proper Beta like you, wouldn’t it?”
“I shouldn’t even be in here with you at all.” Peter grinned when the Alpha huffed in mock annoyance. “Much less letting you kiss me.”
Petulantly, “Well, you turned me down for holding you, so I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised you’re turning me down for a kiss.”
“You’re literally holding me right now.” Peter gestured to the arm wound around his waist. “Don’t complain about things that you wanted to happen.”
“Oops. My bad.” the Alpha let go abruptly, and Peter didn’t realize just how much he had been leaning on the Alpha until he suddenly dropped to the floor in an ungainly heap and a startled ack that had the other man nearly howling.
“Are you alright?” the Alpha was laughing too hard to even breathe, covering his face with his arm so he wouldn’t make any noise, kneeling in their little hide away to grin down at Peter. “Aw honey, I didn’t think you would drop that fast.”
“You’re a bastard.” Peter wheezed, rubbing at his butt where it had bounced on the stone floor. “Who does that? Who drops someone just to be an asshole?”
“Alpha’s do that.” came the impudent response, and Peter was just starting to form a retort, but only managed a quick breath in instead when the Alpha reached up to cup his jaw, turning his face into what little light there was to get a better look at him.
“Damn, you are a pretty thing, aren’t you?” the Alpha peered closer, the edges of his hood almost touching Peter’s face. “Look at those freckles and those pretty eyes. You shouldn’t be lurking in corners, sweetheart, you should be out dancing with everyone else. What are you doing back here hiding?”
“I–” Peter licked his lips nervously, and there was a flash of red beneath the hood that made his heart rate skyrocket. “Um– I wasn’t hiding, I was just– I was trying to–”
“Settle, little Beta.” the Alpha whispered. “I won’t hurt you.” the hood came back enough to show Peter a pair of hazel eyes, mouth parted in a smile, fangs that hooked just a bit at the tips. “Just trying to look at you a little closer is all.”
Peter was suddenly very glad for the suppressants that muted his Omega biology, glad that the Alpha wouldn’t be able to scent the interest and the arousal pouring off of him.
This wasn’t normal for him. He couldn’t stand Alphas. They were all boorish and crude, every one of them treating him as if he didn’t have an original thought in his head, as if the only thing valuable about him was his Omega biology or his status as Prince.
The last Alpha to come to the castle asking about him had snatched Peter’s book from his hand and suggested that Peter “be a proper Omega and show me around my future home.”
Peter had snatched the book back and bounced it off the Alpha’s head, screeching at him to not be such a neanderthal, and stormed away to let his Uncle Ben and Aunt May deal with a thoroughly insulted and furious Alpha.
He couldn’t stand Alphas.
But oh he liked this Alpha. This one made him laugh, teased him and then talked with him, touched him as if they were just normal people that could be casually affectionate, touched him as if Peter was just normal and not a Prince to be stared at but kept a safe distance from.
Then it was with just a hint of sadness that Peter realized that this was the first time in his life he had ever been treated like he was normal at all, and it was almost pathetic how much he enjoyed it.
Staring up at the Alpha that was still touching him carefully, running gloved fingers over his jawline and cheekbones, tracing the lobe of his ear and playing with his hair, Peter made up his mind.
Tomorrow his life would be over anyway, given away to an Alpha only a few inches from feral, trapped into a marriage for at least a year– so tonight he could do this. He could take just this one tiny moment for himself and give in to this pull between himself and the Alpha.
“What are you thinking about?” the Alpha whispered, and Peter took a slow, calming breath before baring his teeth enough to show off his own little fangs, and when the Alpha growled low in his throat, Peter whined right back.
“Oh.” a rough breath from the Alpha. “Not a Beta at all, are you? Not making pretty noises like that.” the Alpha inched closer and Peter tipped his head back so their noses would meet and rub together. “I should have known you were an Omega, beautiful as you are. What are you doing scenting like a Beta, hm? Who are you hiding from?”
“An Omega draws a lot of attention, especially with all the Alpha’s from the visiting territories.” Peter swallowed nervously. “I wanted to be able to walk around without anyone noticing. Wanted to be able to watch what was going on without anyone really noticing me.”
“What were you trying to figure out?” the Alpha wanted to know. “Why the need to spy on the Royals?”
“Why the hood?” Peter returned. “And why were you so eager to spy on the Royals?”
“Would you believe I’m nosy as hell?”
“I would believe that.” Peter grinned.
“Would you believe I saw this–” the Alpha patted at his butt playfully. “–sticking out and couldn’t stay away?”
“I would believe that too!” Peter laughed then, and motioned to the hood. “Why the hood, though? I don’t believe your excuse about spying. I told you why I am using suppressants, why are you wearing a hood?”
“Somethings are better left in the dark.” it sounded like regret in the Alpha’s voice, but then he changed the subject and smiled again, and Peter got another glimpse of the wicked fangs. “Do you have a name, little Omega?”
“What’s in a name?” Peter shrugged off the question, lips twisting into a wry smirk, gearing himself up for the Alpha to make fun of him, or ignore the reference. “That which we call–”
“– a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.” the Alpha finished, and Peter’s mouth dropped. “If you’re going to quote poetry, make it less cliche, hm?”
“You’ve read Shakespeare?” Peter knew it was rude to not hide at least a little bit of his surprise, but he couldn’t get over his shock. “I have never met an Alpha who could even read, much less one who read poetry.”
“I feel you meet terrible Alphas.” the Alpha’s hazel eyes sparked teasingly. “I might keep a little Romeo and Juliette in my repertoire when I set about seducing Beta’s who aren’t really Beta’s. Tell me, little one, is it working?”
Peter chewed at the inside of his cheek anxiously, then whispered, “Perfectly.”
“Yeah?” the Alpha’s hand fell to his neck, smoothing over the curve where neck met shoulder, where a mating bite would go, or for Beta couples– a collar signifying that they were bonded. “Can I kiss you?”
One more night before I have to give everything up.
“I can’t think of a single reason why you shouldn’t kiss me.” Peter showed the Alpha his fangs again, a clear flirtation, and then had to clench his fists against a shudder as the Alpha bared his own, the curved tips looking wicked when the light caught them.
“Come here.” a hand at his thigh, slipping up and around his waist, and when the Alpha coaxed him forward, Peter went willingly, scooting up to straddle the Alpha’s thighs until they were nearly chest to chest.
“Perfect.” the Alpha murmured, and Peter wanted to absolutely purr under the praise. “You’re perfect, little Omega, come here.”
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The first press of the Alpha’s lips against his own made Peter gasp, and the second made him only made him sigh, melting further against the Alpha’s chest in a silent plea for again.
The third was just a touch, a question if they could continue, since Peter hadn’t kissed back yet. “Alright?” the Alpha bumped their noses. “Omega?”
“More.” Peter was a little dazed, overwhelmed by the feel of the Alpha beneath him, of the scent of the Alpha around him but he wanted more. “More. Please.”
“You’re sure?”
Peter kissed the Alpha instead of answering, crushing their mouths together in an uncoordinated but enthusiastic embrace, moaning when the Alpha’s tongue tangled and curled alongside his own.
“More.” he demanded. “Yes.”
“Bratty thing.” the Alpha grinned, let his fangs scrape at Peter’s bottom lip just to feel the Omega tremble in his arms. “Bossy.”
“I’ve been called high maintenance.” Peter squirmed when the Alpha’s fingers slid beneath his tunic to play at his waist, the leather butter smooth against his skin. “But never in this sort of circumstance.”
“And have you ever been–” the Alpha cleared his throat tactfully. “In this sort of circumstance before?”
“Will you leave if I say no?” Peter asked slowly, pulling away to try and see the Alpha’s eyes. “Is that– is it a problem? Would you leave?”
“Little Omega.” the Alpha bent his knees, sliding Peter from his thighs right into his lap, smiling when he landed with a quiet ooph. “I can’t think of a single reason why I would want to leave this spot even one second before I have to.”
“Kiss me again.” Peter slid his arms around the Alpha’s neck. “Right now.”
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“Sweetheart–” the Alpha broke what must have been their hundredth kiss when sunlight started filtering through the heavy curtain around their corner. “The sun is coming up.”
“Not yet.” Peter shook his head and pressed close again, squeezing at the Alpha’s biceps and sighing over the muscles, pursing his lips for another kiss. “We don’t have to stop. Not yet.”
“Busy old fool, unruly sun,” the Alpha quoted softly. “Why dost thou thus, through windows, and through curtains call on us? Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?”
“John Donne.” Peter frowned, even though he was more than a little bit impressed with the Alpha’s answer. “You turn me away with poetry? It’s almost cruel.”
“I don’t want to turn you away.” the Alpha surged forward again, capturing Peter’s mouth, teasing at his lips with his tongue until Peter whined and rocked forward, rolling their hips together just to hear the groan breaking from the Alpha’s throat. “Baby boy–”
A jolt of heat clear to Peter’s toes, and he swayed a little, dizzy with want. “Say it again. Say it again.”
“Baby boy.” murmured into his throat, the Alpha’s lips over his pulse and Peter placed shaking hands over the hood, wishing he could at least run his fingers through the Alpha’s hair, could pull at it like the Alpha was pulling at his.
“Sweet Omega.” damn near a growl. “I wish I could scent you, honey, I bet you would have me addicted, desperate for every bit of you.”
“The suppressants will wear off in a few hours.” Peter moaned at the prick of fangs at his skin, turned his head to offer more, arching his back so the Alpha would do it again. “Then you can scent me and we can–we can–”
“Ah, baby I can’t.” the hand at Peter’s waist tightened to nearly painful. “I can’t. I have something I have to do today, and I can’t stay with you.”
Peter knew if it weren’t for the suppressants he would be able to physically feel the disappointment rolling from the Alpha. It was flattering, how badly the Alpha wanted him, how badly the Alpha wanted this, but–
“I shouldn’t stay either.” Peter muttered, cursing at himself for forgetting, for losing himself in a few hours that never should have happened to begin with.
He was supposed to better than this. Stronger than this. An Alpha had never made him tremble before, no Alpha had even made him look twice before. This morning he had cursed Alpha’s entirely, stood at his window and watched the lines of people arriving from the Southern Territory for the wedding and hated all of them and the Alpha they served but oh– oh this Alpha quoted him poetry and kissed him until he was weak, and held him as if he were precious–
The Alpha he was promised to would never do those things.
“Stop that.” the Alpha’s rough lips over his cheek. “You’re thinking too hard and your nose is starting to wrinkle.”
“My nose does not wrinkle!” Peter huffed. “That’s rude! Don’t say that!”
“The sun comes up and suddenly you are haughty and posh again.” the Alpha pulled his hood further over his face as their alcove brightened further. “Your nose wrinkles when you think and it’s adorable. Do I have to kiss you until you’re whimpering again to get you back to a pliant, sweet little Omega?”
“I don’t think I am ever a pliant, sweet little Omega.” Peter hated that he wanted to giggle at the Alpha’s near insult. What an odd way to flirt with each other. “And if you keep saying things like that I’ll be an Omega that bites you.”
“Baby boy.” the Alpha practically shouted with laughter and Peter stuck a hand into the hood to muffle him. “I would love for you to bite me with those darling fangs sometime. But I do have to go. I’m sorry. I promise I’m sorry.”
Peter swallowed back the urge to protest, reminding himself that the Alpha was right, and that really he should have been the one to put a stop to all this hours ago, and slid off the Alpha’s lap, standing to his feet shakily.
“Can I see you?” Peter blurted. “Just– your hood? Will you take it off for me? Just for a minute?”
“It’s better if I don’t.” the Alpha said firmly. “Trust me on this one, little Omega. Alright? Let’s keep this sweet between us and not bring anything ugly into it.”
“Alright.” a reluctant sigh, and Peter looked down at his feet. “I don’t know what you mean by bring something ugly into it, but I suppose I’ll–”
“One last kiss.” the Alpha stood up straight, taller than Peter by at least four inches, if not a few more, and nearly twice as wide at the shoulders, filling their cramped little space and making Peter want to drool. “One last kiss and let’s say goodbye.”
Peter didn’t even hesitate, stepping close and wrapping his arms around the Alpha’s neck, dragging him into a fierce kiss, nipping at the chapped lips and nuzzling their noses together, bunching the cloak between his fingers to hold the Alpha as close as he could for a long minute.
The Alpha sighed longingly against his mouth, then pushed Peter away with a gentle pat to his butt. “Go on, baby boy. Before we get caught and really get in trouble.”
Peter walked backwards down the hall, unable to tear his eyes away from the Alpha until he reached the door that would lead him up to his rooms, a back set of stairs that would let him sneak right into his bedroom with no one to know he was gone all night.
There at the door he stopped and waved, feeling inexplicably sad over saying good-bye, knowing that this was the first and probably last time he would ever feel this good in an Alpha’s presence, wondering at the ache that settled low in his chest and seemed to tighten with every breath.
“Bye.” he whispered, and the Alpha lifted a hand to wave as well.
Peter yanked the door open before he could change his mind, and ran for his room.
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“Where were you all night?” Thomas shouted when Wade finally made an appearance in their rooms. “If I find out you were out drinking and whoring the night before we are supposed to–”
“Don’t worry.” Wade tossed his cloak on the bed, stripping out of his clothes and heading for the waiting bath. “I wouldn’t mess up your treaty by showing up scenting like someone else.”
“You better not do anything to mess this up.” Thomas said threateningly, turning his back so he didn’t have to see the myriad of scars that crossed his oldest son’s skin, the evidence of a fire almost two decades ago. “A broken treaty means war, and the Beta Royalty are already nervous as it is.”
“That’s not my fault.” Wade grunted, wincing as the soap stung his skin. “You should have married Francis off to them instead of me.”
“You will not start this again!” Thomas snapped. “You will not try to cause trouble! If you weren’t so wild and could control your rages, I wouldn’t have had to peddle you off to some unsuspecting Omega!”
“You could have just let me be.” Wade dunked his head under the water to wash away the suds. “I was perfectly happy pretending that I wasn’t your son. You didn’t have to come and find me. It will be years before I start dropping towards feral!”
“You know damn well you have only a year at the most!” Thomas hissed, then grumbled something about ungrateful and obnoxious and started pacing the length of the room. Wade only rolled his eyes, wrapping a towel around his waist and crossing to the vanity to get the medicated salve to rub into his scars, hoping to ease the itching enough that they wouldn’t bother him through the ceremony.
“Were you and my mother true mates?” he asked suddenly, and behind him, the old Alpha King stopped pacing to stare at him. “Or were you and Francis’ mother? Or any of the other Omega’s you took to bed?”
“Why would you ask that?” Thomas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What brought this on?”
“I’m only curious.” Wade stared into the mirror, at the mess of scars and ruined skin, the bare scalp, and fought the urge to flinch away from his own reflection. “Have you ever seen an Omega’s eyes turn gold?”
“The idea of true mates is ridiculous.” Thomas snorted, and waved the question off. “An Omega bond is necessary for Alpha’s, otherwise we would skip all the high maintenance drama of an Omega and take Beta’s as mates. True mates is some romantic notion made up to make Omega’s feel as if they have a greater purpose in life than to serve an Alpha. I’ve never known an Alpha that had an Omega claim him as a true mate. Ridiculous.”
Wade tried to ignore his father’s harsh words and closed his eyes, letting himself think about the sweet Omega who pretended to be a Beta, about the slim body that had fit so well against his own, the lips that had parted with soft gasps and pretty sighs as they kissed.
And then he let himself thing about the dark brown eyes that had ringed gold at that very first kiss, and had been shining solid gold, lighting in the early morning sun as they had said goodbye.
My mate.
His chest hurt, ached even at the thought of never seeing his secret Omega again, of having to bind himself to a different Omega for the sake of peace between the territories, and for the promise of his own sanity.
As if I won’t go mad knowing my mate is out there and not in my arms.
“Do I have to do this?” he whispered. “Do I have to?”
“Yes.” Thomas nodded his head firmly. “Between your rages growing more frequent, and the unrest between our Kingdoms, you have to do this. You know what the other option is, and it’s not one that I would wish on you.”
“Right.” Wade’s hand tightened on the vanity until it cracked beneath the pressure. “The other option. Being put down like a dog because I’ve gone feral.”
Thomas only grunted in agreement, and Wade reached for clean clothes, pulling on layer after layer until not one piece of skin was showing, securing the hooded cloak over his shoulders and hiding his face.
Then he forced the thought of gold eyes and sharp little fangs from his mind and straightened with a resigned sigh.
“Let’s get this over with.”