Chapter Text
After days of trekking through the damp and eerie Darkwoods, the group arrived at the castle, the grandeur of its stone towers starkly contrasting with the decay of Derry. The air inside the castle walls, usually a mix of polished stone and royal scents, was now thick with the combined aromas of their journey: damp earth, forest pine, nervous Omega, determined Alpha, and steady Beta. The guards at the gates, their Beta scents wary, eyed them suspiciously but recognized the royal crest on Steve's tunic and allowed them entry without a fight. The castle was buzzing with activity, whispers of their return spreading like wildfire through the corridors, carrying a mix of excitement and apprehension.
The moment Queen Karen laid eyes upon Richie, her face crumpled with relief. She had lost so much weight since he'd been taken, her skin had turned pale and her eyes were sunken, her Beta scent thin with prolonged worry, but now she looked alive again, her scent surging with maternal joy. She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce embrace that seemed to swallow him whole, her Beta scent enveloping his Alpha. "My son," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion, "My lost Alpha. You're truly here."
"Mom," Richie breathed into the Queen's embrace, feeling the warmth of her love after years of cold, lonely nights. His Alpha scent softened, a deep purr of contentment. "I'm okay," he murmured, his voice muffled by her shoulder.
The Queen pulled back, her eyes brimming with tears, her Beta scent shimmering with overwhelming emotion. "You're more than okay," she said, her voice shaking. "You're home. Our Alpha prince has returned."
Eddie Kaspbrak stood at Richie's side, his heart racing, his Omega scent a nervous flutter. He'd never seen so much opulence in one place, never felt the weight of so many stares upon him, so many unfamiliar Alpha and Beta scents. The whispers grew louder as they approached the throne room, the grandeur of the space making his Omega instincts feel small and insignificant. But Richie's hand in his was a reassuring constant, his Alpha scent a powerful, grounding anchor, a reminder that he belonged here, by his mate's side.
King Ted Wheeler looked up from his throne, his expression a mix of shock and anger, his Beta scent hardening with authority as the group approached. "What is the meaning of this?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the grand chamber. But his eyes grew soft, his Beta scent softening with disbelief and hope, as they landed on Richie, the crown prince he had thought lost to the Fae.
The Queen stepped forward, her voice trembling, her Beta scent radiating maternal pride. "My love, it's our son," she said, her hand on Richie's shoulder. "He's back. Our Alpha has returned."
The King's anger melted away, replaced by a look of disbelief and hope. He descended the steps of the throne, his heavy footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. His Beta scent now radiated profound relief. "Is it true?" he asked, his hand reaching out to touch Richie's cheek. "You've returned to us, my son."
Richie nodded, his own eyes welling up with tears, his Alpha scent a mix of joy and a touch of the wild freedom he'd known. "Yes, Father," he managed to say. "Thanks to them," he added, gesturing to his friends and siblings, his Alpha gaze resting fondly on Eddie Kaspbrak.
"And who is this?" King Ted's gaze fell upon Eddie Kaspbrak, curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar young man beside Richie. His Beta senses registered the Omega scent, but it was intertwined with Richie's Alpha, a confusing mix.
Eddie Kaspbrak swallowed hard, his Omega scent spiking with nervousness, his grip tightening on Richie's hand, seeking reassurance. "Eddie Kaspbrak, Your Highness," Richie announced proudly, his Alpha scent swelling with possessiveness and pride, "My Mate."
The King's hand froze in mid-air, and the room grew tense, the collective scents of the court holding their breath as the revelation hung in the air. The Queen's eyes darted to Jane, who had been quietly observing from the shadows, her expression unreadable, her Beta scent a calm, knowing presence. "Is this the one you saw, Jane?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hand, her Beta curiosity alight.
"All those I saw are here," Jane confirmed, stepping into the light, her Beta scent of ancient knowledge and quiet power filling the space. Her eyes searched Eddie Kaspbrak's, and she gave a small nod. "Yes, he is the one. The Omega of the prophecy."
"What do you mean, 'all those you saw'?" her mother, Lady Joyce Byers, asked, her Alpha scent sharp with demand for clarity, her eyes darting around the group, trying to piece together the puzzle.
"Jane," the Queen began, her voice measured, "you had a vision of the ones who would help Richie and the kingdom."
"Yes," Jane said, her eyes never leaving Eddie Kaspbrak's. "Two couples, strong and united, who would help restore peace to the kingdom. Richie and Eddie," she nodded to Richie, who had a firm grip on Eddie Kaspbrak's hand, their Alpha and Omega scents a clear testament to their bond, "and Will and Mike." She paused, looking over at Steve and Eddie Munson, who had just entered the throne room, their eyes wide with amazement at the scene before them, their own Alpha and Omega scents subtly reacting to the unfolding prophecy. "And a third couple, not so clear, but with a bond that could be felt even in the fog of prophecy."
Will and Mike exchanged a surprised look, their hearts racing, their Omega and Alpha scents flaring with sudden, bewildered recognition. They had never considered themselves as a couple in the grand scheme of things, but as they looked at each other, they realized that maybe their friendship was something more, something deeper that had been there all along, a profound Alpha-Omega connection. "What do you mean?" Will stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper, his Omega scent trembling with a mix of shock and dawning realization.
The Queen took a deep breath, her eyes shifting between the two of them, her Beta scent now filled with profound wonder. "Jane's visions have never been wrong," she said solemnly. "They are a gift from the old gods, a way to guide us in times of need. If she says you two are meant to be together, then it is the will of the ancients. An Alpha and an Omega, destined."
Will looked at Mike, his eyes searching for an answer to a question he didn't dare voice aloud, his Omega scent pleading for understanding. Mike's face was a mask of shock, his eyes wide and his jaw slack. He hadn't expected this, hadn't even allowed himself to dream of such a revelation. They had been friends since childhood, their bond forged in the fires of fear and the warmth of shared experiences. Love had never been a part of the equation, not in this way.
"But... but we're just friends," Will managed to say, his voice betraying the turmoil he felt, his Omega scent tinged with confusion. "Aren't we?"
Mike took a moment to process the information. The revelation hit him like a sledgehammer, but as he met Will's gaze, something clicked into place. The way Will's eyes searched his, the way their hearts had always beaten in sync when faced with danger or excitement, the way they'd leaned on each other when all else had failed. He felt his cheeks flush, his Alpha scent warming with a sudden, overwhelming rush of affection and recognition, as he realized that maybe, just maybe, there was something more between them, something undeniable.
Without thinking, he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to Will's. It was a kiss filled with years of unspoken truths, a kiss that spoke of a bond that went beyond friendship, an Alpha claiming his Omega in a moment of pure instinct. Will's initial shock melted away, and he responded, his Omega scent blooming with joyful surprise, his arms wrapping around Mike's neck as they deepened the kiss. The room around them seemed to fall away, leaving only the warmth of their connection, their Alpha and Omega scents intertwining.
"Hey, bro, that's kind of private," Richie called out with a smirk, his Alpha scent a mix of teasing and genuine happiness, breaking the tension. The group of friends pulled apart, their faces flushed and eyes wide, the reality of their newfound feelings swirling around them. The Queen's gaze softened, a small smile playing on her lips as she recognized the bond that had been foretold, a prophecy unfolding before her very eyes.
The next day, with the blessings of the ancient prophecy and the support of their families, Richie and Eddie Kaspbrak were crowned King and Queen of Hawkins, their Alpha and Omega scents mingling in a powerful display of unity and love. Will and Mike, their own Alpha and Omega bond now openly acknowledged, stood by their side, ready to guide them. And they lived happily ever after, their kingdom forever changed by the power of love and destiny.