Chapter Text
When the alpha prince finally returns to his private library, he closes the double doors behind him, spins around, and presses his forehead against the cool wood. The frustration inside of him has been building for too long now, and he tries his best to ignore the slightest sting behind his eyes now that everything is starting to catch up to him.
There’s only a few more conversations of feigning interest and forcing a smile that he can bear before he knows he might snap. Though still, he attempts to control his breathing, and reel the prickly cedarwood scent exuding off of him back in, until it can return to its more neutral and pleasant scent when calm.
“I take it that the queen’s search for your suitable mate is still ongoing?”
Minho had been far too caught up in his mind to even notice that his personal advisor had been awaiting his return. His scent suddenly bleeds pain as he whirls around and looks over to the reading corner where Chan is currently sitting with an amused look on his face, though it immediately falls at both the sight and smell of the prince’s distress, prompting him to discard the book in his hand and sit up in the plush armchair with a hard look of concern.
“I can’t keep doing this, Chan,” Minho shakes his head as he speaks and takes a step away from the door to begin pacing the floor. “At this point, these suitors are wasting their time more than I am my own, and I don’t know if they’re too polite, too blind, or too arrogant to realise it!”
Though a rumble had threatened to settle in his chest at his frustration, Minho suddenly exhales hard and stops in the middle of the floor. Every unsuccessful meeting he’d been forced to sit through rushes through his mind in one agonising blur, and as he lifts his eyes back up to Chan, he can only hold a pitiful look.
“...Is there something wrong with me?”
By no means had Minho wanted his voice to sound so weak- but if there was one person in the entire castle he’d choose to be so vulnerable with and speak such concerns out loud, it would be the alpha with a comforting ocean scent who was hurrying to get out of his chair and rush over to him.
“Minho- what?” He asks quietly, his eyes taking in every inch of the prince’s face. “Why would you think that?”
Turning away from his advisor, Minho resumes his pacing. His thick, heavy boots thumping against the red and white patterned rug beneath them being the only constant sound in the space between them until he gathers his thoughts and speaks again.
“I know mother only chooses the best for me, so why is it so difficult for me to find something, anything, in their lives that could spark my interest?” Minho reaches the end of the dark oak bookshelf that spans the wall, and turns around to retrace his steps. “The issue is, every time I walk into the room to see who is awaiting me…” He pauses and stares at the wall ahead of him with an empty expression. “...I just feel nothing.”
Standing a little ways across from him, Chan can only let out a soft sigh.
With being the royal advisor to the prince for years, he knows better than anyone how much of a romantic the prince really is. Too many of the books lining his library’s shelves hold stories of love at first sight, utter devotion, and- most treasured of all- the tales of fated mates.
It’s been five years since the Alpha prince turned twenty one- the age a royal is expected to take up a mate, yet Minho has been nothing but grateful that his parents have allowed him to continue the search for who will stand beside him when he is due to take up the throne, himself.
However, as years have ticked by unsuccessfully, Minho can’t help but worry for when the time comes that the king and queen will no longer be able to delay the inevitable, and will instead be forced to choose for him.
The difficult thing Chan is now faced with, is figuring out a way to comfort the prince without resorting to empty words.
The alpha thinks over a few ideas before a rather daring suggestion barrels to the forefront of his mind. He’s not sure how Minho may react to his proposition, but as he takes one look at the prince in such a troubled state, he decides that keeping it to himself could potentially cause more harm than good.
“Minho,”
At the sound of his name, the younger alpha lifts his head to see Chan has walked over to be stood in front of him. He can feel his advisor’s eyes watching him carefully, and tries not to shy away from such a piercing gaze.
“I believe there is a way that you could ease some of your frustrations, whilst also getting to experience a night meeting potentially dozens of interesting people to share company with.”
In all of the time that Minho has known Chan, he has witnessed the more diffident side to him only a handful of times. Now, when he notes the slightest hint of apprehension in the older alpha’s voice, Minho can’t help but furrow his eyebrows as he too attempts to decipher the other's expression closely when he speaks.
“What are you suggesting?” His question easily conveys the uncertainty clouding his mind, preceding his further unease as he wonders whether he should be reassured or anxious when he watches Chan’s lips curl up into a more relaxed smile.
“On the outskirts of this village is a tavern by the name of ‘Haven’.” After the prince gives no reaction, Chan lowers his voice even though the two of them couldn’t possibly be heard if anyone were to have been standing, or passing through, outside. “Haven is a place where class does not exist. A place where alphas, betas, and omegas can take time away from their responsibilities and just- mingle with everyone and anyone they choose.” He lets his words sink in for a moment before adding, “Everybody, is a nobody.”
It slowly clicks in Minho’s mind just what Chan is actually suggesting he do, and within seconds his ears are flaming a bright red and he finds himself trying his hardest to keep his eyes on the man in front.
“So um,” Minho awkwardly clears his throat. “You’re saying that I should go to Haven to…get laid?”
Noticing how fidgety Minho has now become, Chan waves his hands in a placating manner.
“It’s not just for that!” He attempts to reassure. “There’s absolutely no expectations for anything in there. Sometimes people have just gone in to breathe, you know? You can be as sociable and as forward as you like, or you can find a quiet corner and simply observe everyone around you.” The advisor then claps a hand on the prince’s shoulder and gives a gentle squeeze. “Trust me, the people in there are anything but judgemental.”
The prince slowly narrows his eyes with an inquisitive tilt of his head. “...And how is it you know about this place?”
Now it’s the advisor’s turn to cough out an awkward laugh as his demeanour becomes shifty. He gives another squeeze to Minho’s shoulder and retracts his hand before taking a few steps back.
“This is not about me, Your Highness.” He is quick to dismiss, holding back a laugh when he sees Minho’s visible irritation at him pulling the royal card as a means of distraction. “This is about you and how it could do you some good.”
At the reminder of what he’s been dealing with lately, Minho sighs in defeat and walks over to collapse in the chair that lies opposite to where Chan had been sitting earlier.
“I don’t know, Chan,” He grumbles, lolling his head back against the cushion. “I’m not sure if this is the right way to go about it.”
Chan moves back to sit opposite Minho and leans forward while resting his elbows on his knees to clasp his hands in front of him.
“Listen, I can’t guarantee that if you go all of your problems will be solved,” He begins- ever the realist. “But, I do think that at the very least, it could give you a space to breathe and take some time away from everything that’s going on right now.”
From where he’s still sitting, Minho looks over towards the tall, rectangular window and contemplates what harm a night outside of the castle could truly do.
It’s true that he can already feel a pull towards the promise of experiencing a moment to breathe. And even if whatever happens will only be a fleeting, temporary fix, Minho can admit he is more than willing to take whatever he can get.
“Fine.” Minho nods, turning back to his advisor with determination set in his voice and his expression. “I’ll go to Haven tomorrow night, and you will be covering for me.”
The grin Chan directs at him is almost blinding.
“It’d be my pleasure, Your Highness.”
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Although the morning had the prince contemplating whether he really would be going through with the plan Chan had thought up, he noticed that as soon as the sun had been starting to set his whole body was itching for him to get out of the castle.
When the moon was beginning to rise, Minho received the all clear from Chan by way of his advisor poking his head into his quarters. It was more than appreciated since he could still feel the nerves swirling in the back of his mind- but Chan’s exaggerated fawning over how he looked for the night, he could have gone without.
After the prince had ordered the older alpha away with flaming red ears, he gave one last look over himself in the mirror before he slowly crept out of his bedroom and into the softly lit hallway.
Surprisingly, sneaking out of the castle had been much easier than Minho had been expecting.
Chan had provided him with the perfect route out into the gardens, and he felt as though it hardly took any time at all before he was mounting the final wall that stood between the castle and the quaint village.
As soon as his feet hit the ground, Minho felt a rush of exhilaration. Almost as though his body was aware of something that would be happening, while his mind was yet to catch up. He waited a couple more moments crouched down behind the wall until he decided that he was in the clear, and was free to begin on his journey.
For all of the times that he’d walked through the village, Minho had always stuck to the main pathways. But now, had Chan not explained it all to him prior, he never could have imagined just how many back alleys he would have to travel through before he was arriving at a small stretch of forest that preceded the tavern.
He ducks around a multitude of thick tree trunks and soon comes face to face with Haven.
From the outside, it doesn’t look as otherworldly as Minho had been picturing when talking to Chan. Instead it looks rather cosy from where a mix of dark coloured softwood planks and durable stone make up the exterior, and lanterns hanging from the overhang cast the surroundings in a soft, warm glow.
Minho takes a second to breathe, then forces his legs forward until he reaches the thick wooden door. He has to use a little more strength than he expected to push it open, and once he steps forward and it closes behind him, he remains in place at the entrance step to take in the ambience.
As he looks around, he realises he’s already in the heart of the tavern- a large open space that’s bustling with people already mingling. In the far right corner, there’s a small raised stage where three musicians are playing a jovial tune that has the open floor filled with people dancing either on their own or pushed up against others. Around the makeshift dance floor there are dark coloured tables and chairs- some of them inhabited by groups, couples, and others sitting by themselves with their eyes on what’s going on around them. Clearly, Chan was telling the truth when he said Haven offers the chance for individuals to just sit and exist unburdened from the outside world.
The smell of alcohol, woodsmoke, and heavy pheromones then reaches him, and Minho can’t help but wrinkle his nose with a small smile at the intensity.
Within the castle, the prince has become so used to the myriad of scents, and so he tries his best to decipher the multiple of unfamiliar and dull scents until one scent in particular hits him and has his whole body shivering.
The peach in the air is almost sickeningly sweet, and Minho swears that he can feel himself salivating. He’s never smelt anything so desirable, and he tries and fails to locate the source from how his eyes are now scanning the room with more purpose.
“You want a drink if you’re gonna just stand there?”
Minho doesn’t react, choosing to remain in place while his attention continues to flick from table to table until his head snaps to his right at the sound of a sharp whistle cutting through the air.
When he realises that the smiling barmaid is looking at him from where she stands behind a wooden counter, an array of dark coloured bottles lining the wall behind her, Minho tries to school his expression.
Though her question hadn’t necessarily been rude, Minho has never been spoken to in such a way, nor has his attention ever been called for by a whistle of all things. Surprisingly, instead of being offended or even thinking to politely correct her for how he ought to be treated as a royal, Minho’s whole body fills with warmth as he comes to a realisation.
Here in Haven, he is not a prince who has to be feared due to the intimidation that comes with his royal status. Now, he can simply just exist in this space without anyone regarding him with any preconceived judgments.
He ducks his head a little in embarrassment, wondering if the first impression someone in here will have of him is how odd he looked simply standing on the entrance step, and awkwardly approaches the counter to sit himself atop of a large wooden barrel.
“Sorry.” No sooner than the apology has left his mouth does he hear a light scoff in front of him.
“Absolutely nothin’ to apologise for,” The barmaid assures with a friendly wave of dismissal with her hand, and the smell of her rich black cherry scent drifts over towards him. “A lot of regulars still walk in looking like first timers. It’s just the enchantment that comes with this here tavern.” Her airy chuckle has Minho at ease immediately, and he watches as she rests her hip against the counter and angles her body so she can gesture to the selection of drinks. “What can I get you, handsome?”
The bold compliment has Minho a little flustered, but he quickly finds that he enjoys that while such an interaction would typically have the seller watching Minho like a hawk, nervously sweating incase something wasn’t to a member of the royal family’s liking, the barmaid is treating him like he is just another customer.
Because here, that is truly all he is.
After he spends too much time mulling over the options, he asks for the barmaid to choose for him and relaxes when she happily takes up the request.
She hands him a tankard filled with a red, almost black, coloured liquid, and when Minho takes his first sip he awes at the taste of such a smooth rum with the faintest trace of spice.
The barmaid offers a playfully cocky shrug in return, and leaves him with an encouragement to enjoy his night and soak up whatever Haven presents him with.
Turning away from the bar, Minho plans to look back over to the stage and watch the group of musicians as they play, when his whole body freezes as the movement of his eyes suddenly stops, and locks onto the most beautiful man he’s ever seen sitting alone at the end of a booth.
With his eyes blown wide and his lips parted in shock, Minho can feel the way his heart is almost threatening to burst out of his chest.
Long, curly black hair frames a soft face perfectly. The man’s chubby cheeks and button nose are striking, and his lips are pulled back into a devastatingly heart-shaped smile. But what captures Minho most of all are his eyes. Even from where Minho is sat across the room, he swears they hold stars as they shine in the warm lantern glow.
Before he even realises what he’s doing, Minho is standing from his chair and crossing the floor to reach him.
It’s only when he’s arrived at the table next to the man that he suddenly comes back into himself and slows to a stop. However, his approach had caught what he now realises to be an omega’s attention, and his heart skips a beat when wide, doe-eyes meet his, and the man’s pouty lips form a soft ‘o’ as he then raises to a stand in front of Minho.
Minho feels like he can’t speak. Even when he had no interest in a suitor he could always keep the conversation going- but right now, he doesn’t even think he could voice a single, coherent syllable.
It’s then he notices that the scent of peaches is so much stronger.
Instantly his mind is filled with an aching, longing want.
“Hi.” The omega’s voice is deeper than Minho had been expecting, but is still soft with a timbre that exudes warmth.
“Hi.” Minho returns. If he could focus on anything but the man in front of him, Minho would take a moment to wonder when the music became so quiet, and when everything suddenly melted away leaving the two of them feeling like the only people in the world.
The heart shaped smile is now directed at him, and Minho wills himself to push past the haze swirling in his mind so he can focus on what is being said to him.
“First time here?”
Blinking rapidly, the prince manages a shaky nod. “Y-Yes,” He gulps, stunned that he’d just stuttered on such a simple word, “Something like that.”
The omega lets out a gentle chuckle, and Minho wonders what he can do to hear such a sweet melody on repeat.
“I’m still quite new to a scene like this too,” He admits, and breaks eye contact for a fleeting moment to retrieve his drink from the table he’d been sitting at. After taking a sip, he looks back towards Minho. “I’m Jisung.”
Jisung. Minho rolls the name over and over in his mind- thinks about how suitors have come and gone and their names have hardly ever stuck in his mind. But, something about the omega in front of him has the prince thinking that such a beautiful name and face will be circling around his mind indefinitely.
“...Minho.” The alpha speaks quickly, having realised he’d spaced out a little.
“Minho,” Jisung repeats, and the prince swears his name has never sounded so sweet on another’s lips. “Are you here alone tonight, Minho?”
“I am,” Minho nods, casting a brief look at the table Jisung had been sitting at. “A-are you here alone too?”
“I am,” Jisung echoes. There’s a playful smile on his face as he steps back and gestures to the chair opposite him. “Would you care to keep me company?”
Minho hopes the excitement at the offer doesn’t show too much on his face. He can only imagine what Chan would have to say if the alpha had joined him tonight and could witness how he’s currently acting.
“Of course.” Minho nods, and motions his hand towards the table as though asking for the omega to be seated first. Jisung grins at the gesture and sits, waiting for the alpha to settle in before he leads their first topic of conversation.
Though the prince has met so many people before who are clearly well versed in conversations from countless years of experience- as well as those who have probably been scrutinised all their lives with the expectations that come with mixing with other royals or members of the nobility- never before has Minho found talking with someone he’d just met to come so naturally.
Despite knowing that while in here he is not to be treated like a prince, Minho wonders whether Jisung is doing so on purpose, or whether he truly doesn’t know that he’s currently in the company of royalty.
Either way, Minho loves how at ease he feels the more time he spends in the other’s company.
Jisung firstly asks about what brought Minho to Haven, and the prince is pleased when his reasoning of wanting to get away from his responsibilities doesn’t need further explanation- instead, the omega simply smiles when the question is turned back on him and answers he was wondering whether he might find something worthwhile.
When he brings his glass to his lips, looks over to Minho with a heavy gaze, and purposefully adds ‘or someone’ onto his sentence before taking a drink, the tension that had unknowingly been building since the moment they first laid eyes on each other suddenly becomes palpable.
The smell of juicy peaches drifts over to the prince, and he swallows hard when the spice in his own scent mixes deliciously in the air.
“And have you?” Minho asks, his voice a tad huskier than before from the desire beginning to claw at his throat. “F-found someone that might be worth your time?”
“I think I have.” Jisung answers. His half-lidded gaze sweeps over Minho- all the way down his chest right back up to his eyes in a slow, controlled manner, and the prince wonders if this bold demeanour of his will be maintained, or will crack when he finally gets his hands on him. “...Do you think you might have found the same?”
From where one of his hands rests on his thigh underneath the table, Minho digs his nails into his black trousers to hold himself back from springing to his feet and dragging the omega into his arms.
He knows that this feeling between them is more than just a result of desperation or convenience. If he dwells on it, he can almost feel as though there’s some kind of supernatural pull bringing them together, and he’d be damned if he passes up such an opportunity now that it’s right in front of him and ready for the taking.
“Yes.”
Though his answer was short and simple, it’s more than effective. And the alpha notices a surge of excitement course through him when he watches the cocky persona of the omega begin to crumble as a pretty pink blush settles on his cheeks despite his desperate attempts to maintain his smirk.
Minho cannot wait to ruin him.
“Would you like to go somewhere a little quieter?” Jisung proposes, then gives a small gesture with his chin towards the crowd- his eyes never straying from Minho’s. “Or maybe somewhere a little more private?” His eyes coyly drop to the table top, but at his next words the prince knows it’s purely a calculated move. “I’m not sure about you, but I’m not all that keen on sharing.”
Minho has always known that there was an incredibly possessive side to his alpha- one that has always been dormant because of an unknown missing piece. Now though, he feels an urge creeping to the surface, an excitement coursing through his veins at the idea of getting to keep such a beautiful omega to himself, and away from everyone else unworthy of getting to witness such perfection in such a ruined state.
He leans over the table and holds a sly smirk when the omega looks up at him through his eyelashes.
“I’d be the luckiest man alive if I got to keep such a pretty thing like you to myself, even if only for tonight.”
Now that the prince’s initial shyness is starting to melt away, and the domineering side to the alpha is being unveiled, the omega’s lips twist up in an evidently flustered manner as he moves back to press his body against his chair. “I’d love to be yours tonight.”
The admission is softly spoken, yet it resonates as though Jisung had whispered it directly against Minho’s ears.
“You already are.” Minho returns with a smirk, and the excitement and anticipation is easily reflected in the omega’s eyes drilling into the prince’s.
Just when it looks as though Jisung is about to rise from his seat, Minho surges forward to stand directly in front of him. The omega’s lips part from the abrupt motion- but when the alpha offers his hand, he’s soon lifting his left hand to his lips to hide his giggle as he reaches forward with his right to allow Minho to pull him up to stand.
The moment they touch for the first time shocks the two of them. Something as simple as their hands making the gentlest of contact has a powerful surge rippling through their entire bodies, and though it’s so sudden and overpowering- something that should prompt a myriad of questions and possible fright persuading them to break contact- it only serves to intrigue the two.
At the spark, Minho couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp, wondering if Jisung may have felt the same. But the second his eyes dart from their joined hands to the omega’s face, he finds Jisung is already staring back at him with his mouth agape and eyes blown wide.
Not a single word has time to be spoken as Jisung lets out a shaky exhale and immediately turns on his heel to pull Minho towards the stairs.
They sprint up to arrive at the raised wooden platform that overlooks the dancefloor. There’s a row of rooms lining the hallway, and they pass two closed doors before coming to a third room where the door is wide open similar to other rooms further onwards.
The room is minimally decorated. A large bed sits in the centre with two wooden nightstands positioned either side, while a small wash area is sectioned off in the right corner with two floor to ceiling walls covering what can be seen of a sink and what must be a small shower bath.
Minho can hardly focus on the room the second he registers Jisung is letting go of his hand to close and lock the door behind them. The alpha mourns the loss of contact instantly, and hastily turns around to seek closeness as he walks towards the omega until his back is pressed up against the solid oak door.
“I-I’ve never done this here before.” Jisung admits, swallowing hard. “In fact- I haven’t done this in years,” He then clarifies, his breathing hard as desire is overtaking his mind the more the rich, woody cedarwood scent fills the air around him. “I’ve never wanted someone like I want you so badly right now.”
There’s a sick satisfaction that curls deep in Minho’s stomach at the idea that not only is he worthy enough to share a first experience at Haven with him, but also that the alpha is more than prepared to attempt to surpass anything or anyone Jisung has ever encountered before.
He reaches his hands up to settle at the omega’s waist, and his alpha relishes how tiny his waist is that was unfairly concealed by the baggy linen shirt he’s wearing. He grips his skin a little tighter and drinks in the stuttered moan that sounds just inches from his lips.
“I wanted you from the moment I walked in here.” Minho crowds into Jisung’s space, his lips curling up into a delighted smirk when he notices Jisung is pushing himself closer. “Your scent captured my attention instantly, and when I finally laid eyes on you- I can easily say that through all of my life I have never seen somebody as beautiful as you.”
His sincerity is both dripping from his words and from the hungry look in his eyes that has Jisung whining in anticipation.
“Please,” Jisung begs, easily observing how the desperate tone of his voice affects the alpha. “N-need you.”
Minho yearns for the omega just as much, and so surges forward and kisses Jisung hard.
The second their lips touch, something inside of the alpha seems to snap.
His heart jumps in his chest as a force so powerful surges through his entire body like nothing he’s ever experienced before. Every nerve feels as though it’s been electrified, and he’s suddenly burning.
A flood of smoky, noticeably peppery tinged cedarwood is released into the room, the alpha’s scent smothering the omega whose eyes almost roll back in his skull from the heady aroma.
The prince slides his hand up against the back of Jisung’s head into his hair, his fingers tightly fisting the strands before harshly tugging to elicit a stuttered gasp. Granted entrance, Minho’s tongue slips into the omega’s mouth and he completely dominates their messy kiss- laving over the roof of his mouth and along the back of his teeth as though Minho’s alpha has taken over and is trying to claim his omega from the inside.
With his hand still at the back of Jisung’s head the prince is able to notice how much he’s leaning into him. How the omega is practically melting into Minho’s hold as their mouths meet again and again, a constant dance of passion and pure need.
When Jisung hums against his lips, Minho lets out a low groan, feeling as though the smell of sickly sweet peaches is only becoming even more addicting as their lustful kiss grows in intensity. The sound of their mouths joining and separating is obscene, yet it only serves to heighten their arousal, and has the citrusy undertones of Minho’s cedarwood seeping into the air.
As the lust in the alpha’s scent hits him, Jisung easily falls pliant. A mountain of strength is required for him to lift his arms up so he can successfully drape them around Minho’s neck and pull him even closer.
Feeling like he’s still not close enough, Minho steps forward and the sound of the door thudding under their weight is muffled by the wet sounds of their mouths smacking together, and the sultry mix of high-pitched whines and low, gruff moans.
At the first brush of their hips, Jisung’s whole body shudders. He almost loses the ability to reciprocate the fervent kiss with how his mind is beginning to fog with pure lust, but his body seems to be running on instinct as he lifts one leg off of the ground to knock against the alpha’s body.
Without breaking the kiss, Minho bends down just enough to grab the underside of Jisung’s thigh, and- sinking his fingers into the plush skin- he hikes his leg up further so it can curl around his hip.
He sensually rolls his hips forward and the moment their straining cocks brush together, a burst of peppery cedarwood and tangy peach surrounds them. A little too overwhelmed from the potent smell, and from the way his whole body is vibrating with pleasure, Jisung breaks the kiss as his head drops back- trapping the alpha’s hand that acts as a cushion between the back of his head and the door.
At another slow grind of his hips, Minho smirks as Jisung lets out a strained moan.
“Fuck, you sound so pretty when you’re falling apart for me,” His words are almost spoken through a growl as he forces Jisung’s head back down so their heavy gazes can meet.
If he thought the omega looked beautiful before, it’s nothing compared to the picture of bliss he’s managed to elicit so soon, and his arousal only deepens when he thinks of what his omega will look like after he’s truly gotten his hands on him. “Don’t you know I’ve barely even started with you, Omega?”
The slightly degrading way Minho is speaking to him has Jisung squirming as he desperately nods his head. In an attempt to show his desperation, Jisung bucks his hips forward and feels a sense of pride when he makes the alpha groan hot and heavy while his head falls forward to Jisung’s shoulder.
His moment of weakness is short lived and in one swift motion Minho sweeps Jisung off of his feet so he’s holding him up against the door. Such a show of strength from the alpha has slick leaking from the omega, and the scent of velvety peach becomes dizzying.
Jisung lolls his head to the side and moans high in his throat when Minho’s hot tongue slides up his neck to lave over his scent gland, and when a burst of rich peach coats the alpha’s tongue he digs his fingers into the supple skin of Jisung’s ass. Immediately, his eyes blow wide when he feels the subtle wetness of Jisung’s trousers.
“Fuck.”
“Minho,” Jisung keens, sliding his fingers into Minho’s hair to ground himself. He gasps when the faintest hint of teeth skim over the textured skin of his neck, and he rushes to pull Minho back to look at him. A whimper slips past his lips when he takes in how Minho’s pupils have expanded to give his eyes a dark, piercing look, and how his chest is heaving as though his only source of air is the omega held up in his arms. “Alpha.”
A borderline primal growl threatens to leave the prince’s lips, though he suppresses his alpha by pressing his lips against Jisung’s as he spins around and blindly walks the pair deeper into the room.
His knees soon knock against the wooden frame of the bed, and despite the deep carnal desire that’s overtaken his mind, Minho still takes great care in placing Jisung gently down onto his back- crawling on top of him when they simultaneously kick off their shoes and situate themselves to be in the middle of the bed.
Minho sinks his teeth into Jisung’s plush bottom lip, feeling the vibrations of his needy whine at the pleasurable pain. He soothes his tongue over the sting, and pulls back panting. “You smell and taste so fucking sweet, Jisung, fuck.”
From where the alpha is looming over him, Jisung eyes take in how Minho’s shirt is hanging down at his neck, and what he can see of the alpha’s built chest has him salivating as he hastily lifts his hands up to unbutton his linen shirt.
Even with how charged the air is- thick with the smell of their arousal and the detectable excitement in their pheromones- the two can’t hold back from giggling at their haste to undress each other.
However, when they’ve both been stripped down to their undershorts, the breath is stolen from the prince’s lungs as he takes in the sight of the half naked omega below him.
His dark, curly hair is perfectly fanned out on the crisp white sheets below him. His golden coloured skin is flushed from his face to his waist, with sweat beading down his topline and over his defined pecs. And then, when Minho’s eyes continue their pathway down his body, he swallows hard when he sees the soaked patch on his undershorts- from the tip of his cock right down to between his legs where slick has begun to slide down his thighs.
His staring is abruptly interrupted when Jisung sits up and pulls Minho down to immediately bury his face into the scent gland at the alpha’s neck. When the omega suckles against him, Minho has to steady himself on the bed with a firm hand next to Jisung’s waist, noticing how the subtle citrusy edge to his scent is now detectable as it powerfully releases into the air.
Just as he had started to smooth his other hand down to breach the waistband of Jisung’s shorts, Minho is stunned when the omega bats his hand away. Not only is his alpha surprised at the omega’s brazen gesture, but also because he, as a royal, has never received treatment like it.
While in Haven, however, he’s finding that he loves how refreshing it is to be treated just like anybody else.
The omega looks smug as he encourages Minho to sit up against the headboard, and he keeps his heavy gaze fixated on the alpha while lowering his body until his face is hovering above Minho’s waistband.
“You first.” He teases, and before Minho can even process what’s about to happen, he’s being stripped of his shorts and he throws his head back as Jisung sinks down and completely engulfs his hard length into the warm, wet heat of his mouth.
Summoning as much strength as he can, the alpha raises his head to watch Jisung- already finding the omega staring at him through his eyelashes. Keeping eye contact, Jisung begins to slowly bob his head along Minho’s cock, moaning around him at the heavy weight against his tongue. Eager to impress, he wraps his hand around the base and begins to slide his hand up and down at the same speed he moves his head.
“Fuck,” Minho curses, unable to say anything else at the intensity of Jisung’s eyes on his, the sinful image of his cock sliding in and out of the omega’s stretched mouth, and the pleasure coursing through his body as Jisung harshly sucks around him.
The alpha can’t remember the last time he accepted a service for his rut- never having found any desire to spend days with one or even multiple omegas since any kind of meaningful connection always failed to be established- but even so, he can’t think of anything that could even begin to compare the way Jisung is making him feel right now.
Minho reaches to tangle his fingers in Jisung’s hair, groaning low when he feels the vibration of a pleased moan against his sensitive cock. He gives an experimental tug, lifting Jisung so only the head of his cock rests against his plush lips, and his breath stutters when he pushes the omega back down and his throat easily takes every inch of him. He holds Jisung down, his cock fully stuffed inside, and the smoky notes of his cedarwood swirls when he notices the slight gloss to his eyes as they look back at him.
Jisung swallows around him, and despite the alpha’s hold on him, he moves on his own accord and resumes a quicker pace than before, his hand squeezing intermittently at the base and eliciting breathy moans that only encourage his efforts.
Drool slips from his mouth down his chin, and he slurps around the hard length in his mouth, suckling at the head and groaning at the musky taste while his tongue laps up every pearl of precum that oozes from the tip.
He can already tell the alpha is getting closer to bliss, his breathing much more ragged and his grip tightening in his hair.
Minho waits until he’s just about to teeter over the edge before he abruptly pulls the omega off of his cock- his alpha having taken control and offering little to no concern of how rough he may be being.
Jisung barely has a chance to catch his breath, nor fully blink out of his daze, as Minho is curling his hands around his wrist and yanking him forward. Again, the omega is given no opportunity to try and catch himself since Minho is already manhandling him exactly the way he wants.
The alpha strips him of his shorts, wraps his arms around Jisung’s thighs, throws him upwards, and soon has him positioned so the omega’s slick entrance is positioned directly above his face.
Jisung cries out at the first drag of a hot tongue against his hole, and he quickly scrambles to take a hold of the headboard. Nothing but desperate whines and whimpers then follow as Minho continues to suckle at his rim, prodding his tongue against him until it gives just enough for it to slip inside. Minho growls at the syrupy taste filling his mouth, and he swallows every drop with the desperation of an alpha long deprived of such an addicting taste.
With Jisung’s thighs quivering against his head, Minho pulls back just enough to suck in a gasp- not fully having realised how in need his lungs had been of oxygen- and turns his head to nuzzle against the scent glands at his inner thighs. Peach surges into the air, the smell deepening in intensity when Minho licks over it to catch the drops of slick that had slid down his thighs.
“Alpha.” Jisung keens, high and whiny in his throat. He’s hiccupping on pleasurable sobs, feeling the way his thighs are shaking from where he’s trying not to crush Minho with his weight, but every time he lifts himself too high the alpha gives a quiet, warning growl and forces him back down.
It’s the most animalistic Minho has ever felt outside of his rut, and he can’t believe how intuitive everything feels between him and Jisung.
After he’s just managed to catch his breath, the alpha immediately resumes his attention at Jisung’s hole, feeling how much the muscle gives under his tongue from his diligent efforts. He coaxes Jisung to begin riding his face, lifting his arms up and down to shift his body forwards to then let the omega fall back. He can tell that the added stimulation is bringing the omega closer to an orgasm, but the moment he notices the omega is about to reach for his own cock, he growls and quickly directs Jisung’s hands to his back- roughly pinning his overlapped wrists to his lower back with one hand.
Jisung chokes out a sob, able to do nothing but let the alpha take, and take while pathetic, broken pleas spill from his lips.
Everything is ridiculously overwhelming- the dry, peppery smell of cedarwood filling his nose, the density of the arousal in Minho’s pheromones, and the relentless build of pleasure with every audible slurp and firm drag of the alpha’s tongue over his hole.
The coil in his stomach pulls taut, and Jisung comes with a sharp, drawn out moan. Slick gushes out of him, and ropes of come streak against the wooden headboard in thick hot bursts.
Minho laps up every drop he can reach, but soon the haze eases just enough for his alpha to fixate on soothing the overwhelmed omega, and he tenderly lifts Jisung off of his face to lower him down onto his back on the bed. He gives him a moment to catch his breath, and lets his eyes shamelessly take in his flushed cheeks, tightly closed eyes, and his red, swollen lips that are currently parted as he heaves in every breath. Minho’s eyes hungrily move lower, and he’s swallowing thickly when he looks at the omega’s spent cock laying limp against his hip, and slightly stretched hole still leaking with slick.
His attention is quickly grabbed by the omega letting out a soft gasp, and when the prince lifts his eyes back up to meet Jisung’s, he finds the omega is gaping at him.
It’s then Minho realises how debauched he must look.
Slick is sliding down from his nose to his chin in thick shiny droplets, and he’s certain that his eyes must reflect the intensity of what his alpha is feeling. He can feel the heat thrumming underneath his skin, and is sure his whole face is flushed a deep red.
They both move wordlessly, meeting in the middle for a messy, lust driven kiss, and Jisung moans hot and heavy against the alpha’s mouth as he tastes himself. Despite the way his body feels so weighted, Jisung manages to lift himself to straddle Minho’s waist, their lips still meeting and separating with an incredibly easy rhythm.
When Minho’s hand settles at either side of his hips and he pulls Jisung closer, the omega notices the straining cock underneath him, and he shallowly swivels his hips until the impressive length is slipping between his cheeks- the glide made even easier with the addition of his slick.
“Minho,” Jisung gasps, cupping the alpha’s jaw and moaning when his hardening cock brushes up against Minho’s soft stomach. “Alpha, ngh, please.”
Minho breaks their kiss to look up at the omega, smirking at the neediness in his expression.
“What are you asking me for, sweetheart?” He asks, and inhales the rich peach scent that releases at the petname. “I can’t know unless you tell me.”
It’s bordering cruel, especially from how worked up Jisung is as he pants and whimpers as another slow roll upwards has Minho’s cock teasingly sliding over his hole, yet Minho can feel that the omega is relishing in the tension- at the momentary denial of what he craves most.
“Want-” His words trail off into a moan as the prince slides his hand around to the plush of Jisung’s ass and squeezes. “W-want your knot, Alpha.” When Minho raises his eyebrows, Jisung swallows hard and blurts a high-pitched ‘please’.
Satisfied, Minho takes a hold of Jisung’s cheek and brings their faces close together until the words he speaks sound right against the omega’s mouth.
“I’ll give you my knot.” He says, low and breathy as he steals a slow kiss before continuing. “When you sound this fucking sweet how could I possibly deprive you of anything.”
Jisung’s omega takes over at the alpha’s words- filling his mind with the excitement that he’s on the verge of getting what he wants, and he quickly springs into action. He manages to knock the wind from Minho’s lungs as he rolls over onto his front, arches his back, and holds his ass in the air as he presents for the alpha.
A moment passes where Minho can do nothing but blink, staring at the divine picture in front of him, but the needy whine from Jisung instantly pulls him from his stupor and he positions himself beside the omega to push two fingers into his awaiting hole.
Jisung moans at the intrusion, the squelch of his slick then joining the lewd noises as he fucks himself back on the circling digits.
His desperation only grows, and just as Minho plans to push in a third to stretch him out further, Jisung flings his arm back to grab hold of his wrist. Minho freezes, and when he shifts his gaze to Jisung’s head he almost drools at the sight of Jisung looking over his shoulder back at him.
There’s tears clinging to his lashes, and he lets out a small pitiful whine that has Minho’s alpha heavily concerned. He moves closer to Jisung’s face, planning to ask if Jisung has changed his mind and wants to break or even stop altogether, but the omega quickly beats him to it.
“I-I’m stretched enough.” He says, his eyes flicking between Minho’s.
“Are you sure?” The alpha replies. He leans forward and nuzzles his cheek against Jisung’s, smothering the omega in his strong, grounding cedarwood scent, to then pull back and watch his expression attentively to check Jisung is still fully lucid. “I don’t wanna hurt you sweetheart.”
Peach sweetens in the air again at the nickname, and Jisung attempts to shake his head the best he can whilst his chubby cheek is squished into the sheets.
“I wanna feel you,” He slurs, heat pooling in his belly when he watches Minho clench his jaw. “W-wanna feel you for days.”
Assured, Minho’s alpha takes back over, and a low rumble settles in his chest. He kisses the omega deeply before giving a firm nod of his head.
“I’ll give you anything you want.” Comes his mumbled reply. He swiftly positions himself behind the omega, settles a hand at his waist, and collects just enough slick to coat his heavy length before he’s aligning the head of his cock to his hole. There’s slight resistance as he pushes forward, but he continues to push through the tight muscle- the copious amount of slick easing the glide.
Jisung’s lips part in a silent moan at the sensation of the alpha stretching him so well, and the slight burn has his own cock leaking from where it slightly brushes against the sheet below him.
The moment Jisung’s hole begins greedily sucking him in, Minho grits his teeth and groans. The heat is nothing like he’s ever experienced before, and his whole body feels nothing short of overwhelmed.
When he’s finally buried to the hilt, he pauses completely. The two of them struggling to breathe at the dizzying pleasure.
A mix of ripe, sugary peaches and dry, smoky cedarwood is fully unleashed into the air and, paired with the myriad of emotions present in both of their pheromones, the alpha and omega know they’re both just moments away from reaching pure bliss together.
Now able to take in a slow, calculated breath, Minho’s mind clears from the initial overwhelm. But within seconds, his alpha takes back over- now purely dedicated to give into his omega’s desire and provide him with exactly what he asked for.
His pace is hard and fast from the start, pleasure shooting through his entire body at every rough thrust forwards. He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip, and growls low as his grip tightens around the omega’s waist at either side.
The way Jisung feels around him is intoxicating, and the sound of skin harshly slapping together echoes around the room- often joined by heavy panting and the omega’s garbled moans.
Since previously edging himself Minho is incredibly worked up, already feeling the heat swirling in his lower stomach with every drag of his cock against Jisung’s walls. He quickly notices how Jisung is barely able to meet his thrusts, his knuckles paper white from where he’s desperately fisting the sheets.
The two of them are struggling to catch their breath, their chests heaving with aborted gasps at the intensity. Minho can tell Jisung’s body is almost completely devoid of strength, and so moves his hands upwards to take a hold of Jisung’s shoulders, and he yanks the omega up so they’re both kneeling, swiftly repositioning one of his hands at Jisung’s lower stomach where he feels his cock bulging.
“Can you feel me filling you up, Omega?” He growls, sliding his other arm up and around Jisung’s neck so he can push Jisung’s head back to rest against his shoulder. Like this, he can feel the warmth exuding off of him, and can hear every choked gasp and garbled plea. “You’re taking my cock like you were fucking made for me.”
He murmurs the filthy words against the shell of Jisung’s ear, his hot breath fanning over his sharp jawline. Nuzzling against the omega’s neck, juicy peach explodes into the air, and the potency has his mind spinning. His teeth ever so slightly graze against his scent gland, and although he’d managed to control his alpha to keep the contact brief, it has the omega gasping as his hand flies back to scramble for purchase on the alpha’s hip.
“You want my knot?” He asks, the smack of his hips against Jisung’s ass almost loud enough to drown out his babbled pleas, “You want me to give you my knot and fuck you full of my pups, huh?”
A sharp cry is torn from the omega’s throat as he comes on the spot, clenching hard around Minho as white hot pleasure engulfs him.
Minho stills his hips against Jisung’s, having felt the way Jisung suddenly became boneless in his arms. He loosens his hold just enough to help lower the omega onto the bed while his body continues to convulse at the force of his orgasm, but before he can speak Jisung is shifting below him.
“Wan’that.” He slurs, turning his head on the bed to try and catch the alpha’s eyes despite the tears obscuring his vision. “W-wan’ Alpha’s pups.”
Although Jisung isn’t in heat and so can’t get pregnant, Minho happily indulges the omega’s- and his own alpha’s- euphoric fantasy.
Back in their original position, the prince resumes his fast, brutal pace.
With the alpha fucking into him so relentlessly, Jisung can only garble out a moan- completely at Minho’s mercy as he takes all that he’s given, his whole body still shaking in oversensitivity.
His arms are completely limp from where they lay either side of his head- his body only held up by the alpha’s fingers digging into his sides.
Knowing he’s at the precipice of pleasure, Minho pushes through the burning at his core, his body and mind desperate to give his omega exactly what he needs. A throaty growl escapes him when his thrusts begin to stagnate from his knot beginning to form and catch on the omega’s rim, and Jisung sucks in a gasp when he feels the additional stretch.
“A-Alpha,” Jisung chokes. “I can take it please, please pup me.”
The ragged desperate beg pushes Minho over the edge as his knot locks and he comes deep inside the omega- a strained moan escaping his lips. Every nerve is set alight at the pleasure that washes over him, and- similarly to the omega before- the overwhelming bliss steals the strength from his entire body.
The alpha collapses onto Jisung, promptly rolling them onto their sides with a hushed apology for jostling the weak omega. He sucks in a harsh breath, and his instincts quickly prompt him to try and soothe Jisung any way he can.
With his alpha more in control, Minho finds he uses his mouth a lot more than he expected. While his hands are smoothing up and down the omega’s bulging waist and the weary muscles of his arms, thighs, and what he can reach of his legs, the prince’s face remains tucked into Jisung’s neck.
He’s continuously nuzzling against his scent gland- mouthing at the textured skin before moving down to lick along his collarbones, and back upwards. He then laves his hot tongue over his scent gland and pauses when he feels the subtlest of vibrations.
That’s when he realises that Jisung is purring.
Warm, earthy cedarwood exudes from him, enveloping Jisung in a heavy veil of his scent. Right now, nothing else matters except for keeping his omega feeling safe, satiated, and comforted while in his arms.
Eventually, Jisung summons enough strength to take the alpha’s hand from his waist, and he lifts it upwards to his face to rub his nose over the scent gland and lightly suckle against it- the grounding aroma deepening in intensity.
Knowing the omega is just as affected as him has a sleepy smile overtaking Minho’s face as he rests his chin atop of Jisung’s fluffy hair. His heart feels at peace where it beats at a relaxed, steady pace, and he allows his eyes to flutter shut in pure tranquillity.
Their slow breathing soon syncs, and the two bask in the comforting silence as the fog in their minds begins to clear.
Now a little more aware of his surroundings, Minho notices the gentle warmth Jisung provides while nestled in his arms, and he selfishly wishes he could have the omega with him just like this for the rest of his life.
In all of his years, the prince has never known peace or happiness quite like this moment.
After a little while, Jisung shifts and notices the pressure has significantly lessened at his rim. It appears Minho notices at the same time, and quietly asks if he would be alright to pull out- his whisper hoarse after the lengthy disuse of his voice.
With his face turned away from the alpha, Jisung's bottom lip pushes out in a soft pout, but he still responds with an affirmation.
Though he couldn’t see his expression, Minho can still detect the subtle reluctance in Jisung’s pheromones, and he settles a gentle hand on the omega’s waist as he slowly pulls out- watching Jisung's body language intensely to make sure he’s not causing too much discomfort.
Once separated, Jisung is turned over with the prince’s assistance, and he welcomes the slow and sensual kiss to his lips.
It works to distract his mind from how gross the feeling of the alpha’s come leaking from his gaping entrance is, and he cups Minho’s jaw to keep the other close as they continue to let their mouths move against each other- both of them relishing in how perfectly they fit together with the omega’s plush bottom lip sliding against the alpha’s fuller upper lip.
Soon enough, Jisung pulls back with a heavy sigh, allowing himself to steal one last chaste peck before he drops his head back to the sheets.
“As much as I’d love to never leave this moment,” He begins, chuckling when Minho’s eyes light up and sweet cedarwood surrounds him at the thought, “I probably should be getting back home. I wish I could stay out longer, but I don’t think I should risk it.”
Minho unfortunately realises the same for himself- almost like he’s had to remember his life outside of the tavern.
“I understand.” Minho replies, letting his eyes take in the beautiful sight below him from where he’s still slightly leaning over Jisung. The two of them make no move, and they both smile before leaning in for another lingering kiss.
“Okay.” Jisung laughs, pushing the alpha back with a palm to his built chest, he lets his fingers trail over his pecs before he begins to sit up- the smell of rich peaches follows when Minho tenderly takes his wrist to assist him. “I’ll shower first?”
Minho nods, and once Jisung is up from the bed and the sound of water running soon fills the silence, the prince settles himself against the headboard and stares at the wall in front of him.
Though Chan had given him some idea of what Haven had to offer, Minho could never have imagined what he’d be met with after walking inside. From the way he got to experience what it was like to be treated like anybody else, to meeting the most beautiful omega he’d ever seen in his life- an omega he knows will ruin anybody else for him- who allowed him to feel a joy so unadulterated, so intense, he’s certain nothing in his life has ever come close to.
However, now that the omega is out of his hold, and an emptiness begins to settle in his chest, Minho wonders how on earth he’s supposed to return to his normal life.
A sense of dread starts to fester, his alpha growing unsettled at all of the uncertainty, but just as quickly as it had formed, it disappears the moment Jisung emerges from the shower space with a fluffy towel around his waist.
He casts a brief glance to the alpha, swiftly looking away with pink cheeks Minho knows isn’t just a cause of the shower, and he swiftly redresses himself, holding the towel up to cover his upper half as though making sure the stray water droplets still in his hair aren’t able to dampen his shirt.
“I-I really have to go.” He speaks softly, his eyes flicking between the prince’s.
As though Minho had been able to read his mind and hesitancy, the alpha moves off of the bed to stand in front of him, gently cupping his chubby, flushed cheeks in his hands before he leans down and seals their lips together in an easy, delicate kiss.
It soon teases on the edge of heated, both of them seemingly too willing to let their alpha and omega take over and keep them together, but their lips pulling back into amused smiles is quick to obstruct their kiss.
“I have to leave.” Jisung chuckles, grinning up at the alpha with heavy eyes.
“Okay.” Minho nods. He lets his thumbs caress his soft skin, before they finally lift off and fall back to his sides.
“Goodbye, Minho.” Jisung whispers, as though speaking any louder could disturb the peace of the moment.
“...Goodbye, Jisung.” Minho replies just as gently, holding a fond smile as Jisung twists his lips in a shy smile and hurries out of the room, having dropped the towel at the door before he closed it behind him.
The click of the door is almost deafening in the prince’s ears, and before the dread can seep back in now the omega has left, Minho forces his feet forward to carry him towards the shower space.
His alpha makes his disappointment to rid the smell of the omega known- every glide of the unscented bar of soap feeling like an erasure of Jisung as his mouth turns down in a hard frown.
With a heavier heart, Minho returns to the bed and tugs his clothes back on. Like Jisung, the last item of clothing left is his shirt, but he is stunned when he realises that it’s not his shirt that’s been left on the bed, it’s Jisung’s.
It only takes him a second to realise that the omega had purposefully swapped their shirts- clearly a calculated gesture that’ll give them both a token from this moment, and he shakily lifts the fabric to his nose- his eyes closing in bliss at the heady peach scent clinging to it.
Minho keeps it held at his face for the entire journey home, uncaring for how he may look while only wearing a thin vest on his upper half, and he once again slips into the castle unnoticed, quietly making his way back up to his quarters.
He crawls into bed without undressing, wanting to keep as much of the omega’s scent on his body as possible, and he settles his head on the pillow with his hands tucked under his chin and Jisung’s shirt still held tight in his grip.
That night, he dreams of golden skin, wide glimmering eyes, and a heart shaped smile- all while surrounded by the sweet, enchanting smell of peaches.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
For the first four days since Minho’s night with Jisung, the prince had been living in bliss.
The drastic change in his demeanour was very quickly noticed by the staff, and after they’d been seeing their prince wearing a constant frown and look of tiredness every day, all were exceptionally pleased to finally see him holding a content smile whenever he passed them by.
He’d been engaging in conversations much more often, and had soon found himself falling back into his old playful self. The morning after his night at Haven, Minho had joined his parents for breakfast rather than keeping himself confined to his quarters, and had even kissed the king and queen on the cheek before he left the dining hall.
While their son’s actions were a complete surprise to them both, neither were prepared to ask about his happier mood with being far too scared to spoil it. Instead, they simply let their son be, and observed his behaviour with a weight lifted off of their shoulders.
Meanwhile, that same day, Chan had followed the prince up to his study after breakfast, and had pestered him for details until the younger alpha had cracked and spilled everything from the moment he’d arrived at Haven to the moment he’d left. After the full recount of the night had been given, Chan had remarked that he could still smell the omega on him, and had then teased Minho relentlessly when he noticed a crumpled shirt was draped over his lap from where the younger alpha was sitting at his desk.
The knowing looks and suggestive smiles continued as the days progressed, though Minho could hardly bring himself to feel anything close to irritated at him. He owed everything to his advisor after all.
However, everything came to a head just hours into the fifth day since Minho had met Jisung. He’d woken up feeling as though a fire was threatening to consume his body from the inside out, and could barely make out his surroundings from how badly his head was spinning.
His rut hadn’t been expected to hit for another month, but the prince knew that the cause was all because of a certain omega still plaguing his mind from the moment he woke up, to the moment he went to sleep.
For the six days following, Minho had experienced one of his toughest and most frustrating ruts since his presentation. Even the thought of considering a different omega for servicing him had his alpha snarling, and though he attempted to ride it out alone in his bedroom, nothing could bring him even a semblance of relief. Now that he’d experienced the taste of such sweet peaches, the alpha was at a complete loss.
He ended his rut feeling somehow more frustrated than before now the scent was barely traceable on Jisung’s shirt- and almost like nothing had happened, the prince was right back to moping about the castle.
Luckily his mother and father had held off any more meetings with suitors, having decided their son could use a break to collect himself after such an intense rut.
It had been almost three weeks later when Minho is told by his mother that they will need to resume the search, and when Chan comes into his office to tell him someone is waiting for him in the garden, Minho suppresses a growl at the abruptness- annoyed he didn’t have time to prepare for what would probably be another painful, unsuccessful meet.
He forgoes changing out of his clothes, not wanting to make the poor omega wait any longer- even if he did consider taking his sweet time in the hope that the omega would grow tired of waiting and would leave on their own accord.
Reluctantly, he follows his advisor out into the gardens, but is confused when he’s led towards the maze rather than the grand gazebo some of his previous meetings had been held at.
They make their way through the tall hedges, and Minho can’t help but wonder why Chan is continuing to walk at his side instead of having left him before the opening. His confusion only deepens when Chan pauses at the entrance to the heart of the maze, and turns his back against the grassy boundary with a stern expression.
“I’ll make sure that no one else comes near, Minho.”
Observing the older alpha’s demeanour, the prince finds himself to be a little hesitant to step around Chan and meet the omega he assumes is already waiting for him.
Could they be expecting for something so scandalous to happen that they asked for this meeting to be so carefully hidden from anyone else?
The prince takes in a long deep breath before he walks the last few steps that bring him to the view of the white marble fountain that marks the middle of the maze. But, instead of being met with the face of what he had presumed to be a very eager omega, he feels his knees threaten to buckle as he takes in the sight of a very familiar head of hair opposite him, as the omega that has been plaguing his mind for almost an entire month now is stood at the side of the fountain facing away from him.
At the sound of footsteps that have suddenly halted, the omega turns around and Minho fails to control his joy at finally having the one he’s longed for within his reach.
“J-Jisung,” Minho gasps. There’s a surge of joy present in his pheromones, and warm cedarwood billows around him as his body lurches forward.
However, when he sees the small step Jisung takes backwards, the alpha’s face is quick to fall. Taken aback, Minho attempts to scent the air to try and gauge what Jisung is feeling, but his dejection only grows when he notices the small patch covering the scent gland at the omega’s neck. The prince tries not to let his frustration of being deprived of the sweet scent that still lingers in his mind bleed into his own scent, and he instead remains where he is and watches as Jisung nervously wrings his hands together.
“U-Um, good morning, Your Highness.” His voice comes out shaky, and he quickly lowers his head in a gracious bow. With his gaze directed at the floor, Jisung misses the way Minho’s expression holds a clear devastation at the sudden formality the omega is addressing him by, and from just how timid Jisung looks while talking to him. “I must apologise for coming here unannounced and bothering you, but…I-I really needed to see you.”
Minho’s mind is torn between wondering if he should be excited that Jisung needed to see him, or cautious because of how uncomfortable the omega appears to be.
“No apology is needed, Jisung.” The prince firstly assures, trying to keep his tone lighthearted so he doesn’t scare Jisung away despite how much his alpha is longing to pull the omega into his arms and soothe him. “And please, just ‘Minho’ is fine.”
Jisung nibbles at his lower lip, looking unconvinced as his eyes shift between the prince’s and the floor.
“It’s only us here,” Minho starts, but he trails off when he notices the way Jisung’s hands are trembling from where he’s holding them at his waist. Slowly, as though he was approaching a skittish wild animal, the alpha takes a step forward and tenderly holds out his hands for Jisung to take.
At first, the omega doesn’t move- seemingly too worried that he may overstep a royal boundary. However, after a moment of visible consideration, he reaches forward to slide his fingers over Minho’s palms until the prince can gently curl his fingers around his hands in a comforting, tight grip.
When the comforting smell of cedarwood hits him, Jisung’s eyes dart upwards to the prince’s, but he rushes to avert his gaze back to the floor at seeing the pleased, rather fond smile the prince was directing at him.
“Thank you, Jisung.” The prince’s gratitude is spoken in such an earnest voice that the omega can’t help but blush- the pretty pink hue quick to settle on his chubby cheeks. “Would you like to sit down by the fountain?” Minho then offers, receiving a timid nod in reply.
The alpha gives a small squeeze to his hands, and keeps a hold of one of them to gently lead the omega over to one of the few white wooden benches that border the fountain. He gestures for Jisung to sit first before he follows- and, once they’re both settled, he slowly draws his hands back to his lap to give Jisung some space.
“W-Well,” Jisung pauses, taking a moment to inhale a shaky breath before trying to exhale the best he can. He appreciates how Minho makes no effort to try and rush him, and- when a small cloud of the alpha’s soothing pheromones drift over to him- he’s surprised to find the tension in his shoulders slightly eases. “Two weeks after we, um, spent the night together, I noticed that I started to feel a little…off?” He casts a brief glance towards the prince to find him listening attentively, and focuses his attention back on his hands fidgeting in his lap.
“I didn’t really think much of it- assuming it might have just been a repercussion of not being around you anymore,” At the soft admission, Jisung again attempts to brave meeting Minho’s eyes, and forces himself to push past the anxiety beginning to cause a lump in his throat. “But then, my brothers told me that they had noticed something new was coming through in my scent.”
Immediately, Minho feels his heart leap in his chest.
He knows that an omega’s scent changing can only ever mean one thing.
Jisung can tell the realisation has dawned on the prince instantly, and he winces as his shoulders shoot up to his ears.
“I met with the village physician the day after and they told me I was pregnant,” Jisung’s voice wobbles at the word, and he feels a strain persist with how much dread he’s feeling at not being able to understand the alpha’s true reaction to the news. “I-I was completely shocked and almost couldn’t believe it because my last heat had been a month before that night, and my next heat wasn’t supposed to happen until a month after that night, a-and yet,” He swallows hard when he finds the prince is staring at him blankly- his only movement being a series of rapid blinks. “It happened outside of a heat.”
Since he was a child Minho has known of the tales of fated mates and how they come to be. Omegas who experience the divinity of laying with their true soulmate, are blessed by the moon goddess with a boundless fertility, and so are able to conceive without being in heat.
While he’s too deep in his mind, only able to release a shaky exhale with how overwhelmed he feels, Minho completely misses the way his lack of response serves to increase the omega’s worry.
Having taken the prince’s silence negatively, Jisung feels tears prick at his eyes at the idea that Minho is anything but pleased with the news. He ignores the pain in his heart at the thought of his potential soulmate rejecting him, and instead focuses on the bigger, more pressing, issue.
“I-I’d understand if it would be too scandalous for a prince to have laid with an omega from the village,” He babbles, having angled his head away from Minho meaning he misses the way the alpha has snapped his head towards him at the clear devastation in his voice. “And even if you might have been okay with me keeping the pup, I would understand if you can’t- or even if you wouldn’t want to-” He quickly corrects himself, “provide any sort of financial support, a-and I would be able to support the pup myself.”
Minho’s eyebrows raise in a sad curve as he processes Jisung’s words. “Did…” He pauses, “Did you only come here to ask about financial implications?”
The omega unintentionally sends out a burst of panic twinged pheromones, and assuming that he may have offended the prince, Jisung whirls his body around with a frightened gasp.
Before he can even think to blurt out an apology, Minho shoots out to grab Jisung’s hands and counteracts any alarm in his pheromones by pumping out as much of his woody and grounding scent. He succeeds in eliciting a deep, albeit shaky, exhale from the omega, and finds his mind is quick to focus on how endeared he is by Jisung- how this shy and timid side of the omega is so different to what he met at Haven.
“Jisung,” He speaks softly, the corners of his lips turning upwards in a hopeful smile. “If you would be okay with it…could the pup know their father?”
Jisung gapes at him- his mouth opening and closing with aborted syllables before he swallows hard and chokes his words out, “Y-You’d be okay with them knowing who you are?”
When the prince only holds an expression that looks as though he’s insinuating something even more, Jisung tilts his head- slightly hesitant to voice what he’s thinking incase he’s mistaken.
“You’d,” He momentarily pauses, “You’d want to visit them?”
With a gentle laugh, Minho shakes his head from side to side and shuffles forward just enough so their knees press together- a shock of electricity rushing through them at the further contact.
“If you’d be okay with it,” He watches Jisung’s expression closely as he speaks, “I would love to raise the pup with you.”
Jisung can do nothing but stare, struggling to process what’s just been said. After a few heavy seconds, a soft whimper escapes him as the first tear spills over and slips down his cheek.
Minho’s heart swells in his chest as he can detect the pure joy in the omega’s pheromones. He quietly coos when more tears follow, and he lifts his hands up to cup Jisung’s jaw, wiping them away while he releases more of his calming scent to help him regain a more calmer pace of breath.
The omega is still struggling to settle on one emotion. He’s both relieved and delighted that the prince doesn’t despise the situation he’s found himself in, but is instead relishing in it- even showing an earnest want to be involved with raising their pup. However, the elation soon dwindles, and Jisung begins to spiral with the uncertainty of what will happen now.
“M-Minho,” Clearing his throat, Jisung lets out a light chuckle when he watches the alpha’s eyes light up at the sound of his name, and the noticeably sweeter smell of cedarwood reaches him. “How would it work? You wanting to raise the pup with me, I mean.”
“Oh,” Minho replies, as though he’s just now realising the situation is a little more complex. “Well, I’m overdue choosing a mate,” He begins, his lips pulling back in a wide smile as he caresses his thumbs over Jisung’s soft cheeks. “And since the moment I met you, I knew there wouldn’t be anyone else I’d want to share the rest of my life with.”
The skin underneath his hands warms instantly, and the prince suppresses a fond laugh when Jisung’s lips twitch in a shy smile and he pulls his head back and out of the alpha’s grasp.
Despite his pleased blush, the omega sighs and shyly looks back at Minho.
“I-I don’t know if that would be what’s best for you,” Jisung admits, his pheromones carrying his clear dejection as he continues, “I mean, shouldn’t you be choosing another royal o-or nobleperson? Not just, y-you know, someone you met in the village?”
Minho is quick to shake his head, wanting to soothe the crestfallen look on the omega’s face, and he gently takes a hold of Jisung’s hand to hold in both of his own.
“I couldn’t care less about anything like that,” He assures, his kind eyes conveying his sincerity, “I just want you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you for even a single moment since that night,” He then admits, his demeanour growing a little shy as he shrugs, “Besides,”
From where he’d momentarily moved his gaze to the omega’s hand enveloped in his, he slowly lifts them back up to the omega’s face, his heart rate picking up when he notices the subtle hope reflected in Jisung’s eyes and from the way his shoulders have lifted.
“Fate has brought us together, has it not?”
Jisung’s whole body sags, his voice small as he speaks, “...You believe that?”
Warm, grounding cedarwood swirls around them as Minho’s eyes take on a noticeable shine, and he nods without hesitation.
“Ever since I can remember I’ve always loved to read the tales of fated mates, how some people can be so lucky to have been blessed by the moon goddess to find their perfect match,” He lifts his hand back up to Jisung, tenderly tracing his knuckle over Jisung’s cheek to then tuck loose strands of his long hair back behind his ear. “And from the moment our hands touched, I felt something I never had before. I had that feeling, that hope, that maybe I had been lucky enough to have been chosen.”
Jisung lightly sniffles, curling his fingers around Minho’s wrist as his omega yearns to be closer to the alpha- his touch eliciting another wave of grounding cedarwood. “It sounds a little grand when you put it like that, don’t you think?”
The alpha’s eyebrow quirks in a playful challenge, and he ever so gently squeezes at the omega’s cheek. “You deny it?”
“No,” Jisung replies, though he finds he’s able to respond with a teasing lilt. “I believe it to be fate too.”
Minho grins, and slowly removes his hand from Jisung’s face, though his scent dulls a little when he notices the omega sigh as though something is once again weighing on his mind.
“I must admit though, it was a shock to find out who you really are,” He admits, chewing on his bottom lip before continuing. “Even though I conceived outside of my heat I wondered if the moon goddess had really given me a prince for a mate. I-I only found out because I overheard some people talking about your search for a mate in the village and the things they said aligned with what little I knew about you.”
“For that I’m sorry,” The prince apologises, now feeling a little guilty for withholding his status despite how he couldn’t possibly have predicted a situation like this. “But I was hoping that night wouldn’t be our only time together- I guess I just wasn’t sure how to go about trying to find you again.” He then lets out a small sigh. “It hadn’t even been a week since I’d met you that I suffered one of the worst ruts I have ever experienced.”
His eyes lower from the omega’s eyes and zero in on the small patch covering his scent gland. “...All I could think about was how heavenly your scent was.”
Jisung’s cheeks once again darken in colour, and he subconsciously raises his hand up to cover where the alpha’s eyes are drilling into his skin.
“Please.” Minho’s beg is barely above a whisper, but he can tell the omega has heard him when his eyes dart to meet his own.
Jisung finds himself unable to look away as he slowly peels the patch from his neck. The prince’s eyes almost roll back into his skull as a rush of the juicy peach he’d been dreaming of is finally released, but when he catches the faintest note of sweet vanilla, his alpha briefly seizes control and a pleased rumble settles in his chest.
He swallows hard, sure his pupils are blown wide as they flick between the omega’s neck and his eyes.
“May I?” He practically chokes, still cautious about overstepping despite how much he yearns. His mouth salivates as Jisung nods and slowly leans forward, baring his neck for the alpha.
A breathy moan is elicited when Minho’s sharp nose nuzzles against his scent gland, inhaling as much of the heady aroma as he can. The prince gives into his urge and mouths against it, the dizzyingly sweet mix coating his tongue making his whole body shudder in pleasure.
He can already feel his mind slipping away, his senses completely overtaken by the potency of the rich taste and smell surrounding him. With everything else dulled, he’s only able to be pulled from his daze when he registers two gentle hands being placed on his shoulders to push him back, and the sound of the omega’s giggle becomes discernible.
“Minho.” Jisung shyly smiles- the call of the alpha’s name a subtle warning that serves to remind the prince exactly where they are.
Swallowing hard, Minho takes in a shaky breath with his gaze unable to shift from the blushing omega in front of him.
“Thank you,” The words are spoken hoarsely as he continues, “You don’t know how much I’ve missed your scent, how much I’ve missed you.” He then stresses.
Minho allows himself to take a moment to look at Jisung, watching his expression closely as he speaks.
“Jisungie, w-would you do me the honour of becoming my mate?”
The subtle pink at Jisung’s cheeks turns crimson, and the joy he feels is uncontainable as his lips pull back into a wide heart-shaped smile.
“From the moment I met you, I knew that no one else would ever be able to compare to you,” The omega confesses, his pheromones carrying nothing but sheer delight as he answers, “I’d love to be your mate, Minho.”
The prince feels the elation coursing through his whole body- the very depths of his soul warming with a radiant joy like he’s never experienced before. Jisung looks just as delighted in front of him, his eyes crinkling with a pure unadulterated happiness.
“You don’t, maybe, have to announce it like r-right now, do you?” The omega then asks, though any hint of worry is quickly soothed when the alpha’s calming pheromones wash over him.
“Eventually, but not right now.” Minho responds, the soft timbre of his voice assuring Jisung completely.
“Okay, good.” Jisung nods, letting out a small chuckle before a heavy sigh follows. “As much as I’d love to stay here with you, I-I think I’d like to go back home now, maybe curl up in bed and try to process everything from today.”
“Of course, Jisungie,” Endeared, Minho nods, smoothing his thumbs across the omega’s knuckles from where they rest in between their bodies. “I could come by the village and see you again tomorrow?”
Jisung can’t help the small scoff that passes his lips, and though his omega jumps at the alpha’s eagerness, he playfully raises an eyebrow. “How about two weeks from now?”
He’s stunned when the prince whines in complaint, but Minho soon relents with a playfully clipped ‘fine’ mumbled in response.
There’s a visible hesitation that passes over the prince before he slowly lifts Jisung’s hands up to his lips to place a lingering kiss to his knuckles. As he raises his eyes, his earthy scent blooms in the air when he notices Jisung’s lips twisted in a shy smile as he attempts to duck his head and hide how bashful he is at such a tender show of affection.
“I’ll see you in two weeks time.” Minho agrees, grinning when Jisung nods and steadily brings his hands back to his body.
It’s subtle, but when Minho detects the smallest trace of a clean and salty scent, he remembers the nearby presence of his advisor and politely asks for Jisung to follow his lead as he walks them to the break in the hedge walls.
At the sight of the alpha and omega, and the joy he can sense through both their scents and pheromones, Chan grins at them both and graciously accepts the prince’s direction for Jisung to be inconspicuously led out of the castle.
Just as Jisung is about to take a step forward to the advisor, Minho’s body acts before his mind could catch up and darts his hand out to take a hold of the omega’s wrist and pull him back into his body, immediately nuzzling against his neck to cover Jisung in his strong cedarwood scent.
Despite being caught off guard Jisung melts into the alpha, but when he pulls back and his hand is once again lifted to Minho’s lips for another kiss to his knuckles, Jisung suddenly becomes very aware of the other alpha’s presence and steps back from Minho, letting out a small huff through his nose while his lips curl up in a coy smile.
Minho nods to Chan at the assurance he’ll soon return, and fondly watches his soon to be mate fall into step alongside his advisor until they turn from the maze and out of his sight.
With a full heart and a delight at noticing how the enticing peach and vanilla scent is still detectable in the air, Minho wanders back to the bench, almost collapsing against it as his mind replays everything from the moment he laid eyes on Jisung at the fountain, to the moment he was no longer in sight.
He doesn’t know how long he spends daydreaming, staring blankly upwards at the clear blue skies above him, but eventually he hears footsteps approaching him, and before any words are spoken the fresh and inviting smell of the ocean reaches his nose.
Minho laughs to himself, lolling his head to the side to look over to his beaming advisor now standing at the edge of the bench.
“Might I assume that the ongoing search may no longer be necessary?”
Still lost in joy, Minho can do nothing but sigh.
“Chan, if I didn’t already, I now owe you my life.”