Micha
Ugh… why do I feel so sore? Ronak shifted slightly in his sleep, and my shoulder that touched him flinched with pain. I peeled my eyes open, but had to do a double-take when I looked at my skin. Wh-when did this happen?!? I don't remember getting into trouble with Ronak! I definitely didn't drink anything but water, so there should not be any gaps in my memory…
Ronak let out a big yawn from beside me and snuggled his head a bit closer to me. I immediately got my answer when his sleepy lips started exploring my tender shoulder, and he softly nibbled on my skin. Th-this weirdo!
Is that all he did?! I slid my hands around on my body and let out a relieved sigh. I seemed fine. This weirdo just used my shoulders as a chew toy. Which isn't riveting information, but tolerable. I didn't realize I was so sleepy last night. I guess after all the stress and tension left my body, I was feeling rather calm. Then I got a whiff of Ronak while sitting next to him, and that's all I remember.
Gosh… I really stink at this relationship stuff. First, I upset him when he told me he loves me, and now he's probably upset because I only slightly ranked him above chocolate cake. It's his own fault for asking me such a question, though. Can't I like Ronak, and have my chocolate cake?
"What are you thinking so hard about so early in the morning?" Ronak grunted into my back as he stretched his arms out next to me.
"Thinking about you…, and what you did to my shoulders," I grumbled the last bit. I can't believe him.
"Mmm, a sleepy omega got me all riled up because of their black panties." Ronak reached a hand down and tugged on the thin lace side of my underwear. I-I guess this pair is particularly scandalous… "I had to be all alone and turned on. You're lucky that's all I did to you." A shiver ran down my spine, and I nervously fidgeted.
"D-don't we need to be getting ready for the academy?" Ronak's hands were getting a bit too handsy, and we had somewhere to be. He needed to stop before we both ended up having to leave the estate feeling frustrated.
With a long sigh, Ronak brought his hand back up to my chest. "You're a brat." I let out a shocked squeal as Ronak bit down hard on my neck. H-hey! I don't need another mark for others to see!
It was too late, though. I knew the moment Ronak pulled away that there was quite a visible bite mark on my neck. "I-I'm not a brat!"
"Mmm, you're a massive one." Ronak gave me a dull look and fled the bed with a slight grin. G-get back here! You can't just bite me and run! If anyone's a brat, it's you!
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My heel nervously tapped the floor, waiting for alchemy to get done. It felt like the longest day ever! "What's wrong, Micha? You're making it difficult to focus on our assignment." Ronak's quill paused, and he glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow. Oops…
"S-sorry!" I forced my foot to hold still, but that didn't stop the nervous energy swirling around my chest.
Ronak let out an annoyed sigh. "I asked you a question. What's wrong?"
"N-nothing…" Okay, it wasn't anything, but I couldn't tell him here! There were too many listening ears. Ronak grunted at my response and stood from his chair. His hand reached down and grabbed the red scarf he had given me, hauling me to my feet. I yelped, mostly in surprise, and Ronak lightly growled. I really did feel like a kitten getting picked up by its parent.
"Walk." What? He gently pushed me towards the door, causing me to stumble, but Ronak quickly caught me so I didn't fall. My face felt like it was on fire as everyone in the room, the professor included, watched in shock as he forced me out of the room.
"Ronak! What are you doing! We can't just leave the room! The professor is going to be mad!" I nervously fidgeted with my hands as Ronak stopped just right outside the closed door.
Ronak folded his arms and looked down at me with a perturbed gaze. "Talk"
I was a bit nervous and embarrassed to admit it to him because he'd probably think I was overreacting. "I-I just remembered that I hadn't read my parents' letter that was delivered over the weekend. I'm just worried about what they said…" My voice became small and timid as I listened to myself. They had read mine and Ronak's letters… My stomach churned just thinking about them reading Ronak's. H-how would they accept the truth? Would they be mad? Wh-what if they never talk to me again…
My negative thoughts were interrupted as Ronak patted my head. "Is that the only thing bothering you?"
"Yes."
"Stop worrying about it. The worst thing that will happen is them being mad at you." Th-there's worse than that!
"You make it sound so simple! Wh-what if they disown me for being a bad son?!" I placed my hands on my racing and looked up at him with wide, concerned eyes. He didn't have the best relationships with his family; it was easy for him to be dismissive. "I-I've never gotten in trouble or done anything against my parents' wishes! Wh-what if they can't forgive my actions?!" Tears welled in the corners of my eyes, but Ronak stopped them by rubbing the sides of my face while watching me with a gentle gaze.
"Stop worrying about something silly. If your parents are anything like you, I doubt you have anything to worry about." He pulled me into a hug, and the scent of his pheromones helped to ease my nerves. He wasn't actively producing any for me, but he just always had a light scent of cherry wood around him. "You'll be able to read your parents' letter soon, but for now, you have an assignment that you haven't started."
"I-I've started it…" I mumbled into his chest. I might have looked it over, and thought about it a little…
"A terrible liar as always. Come, you have work to do." Ronak ushered me back into class, and it felt a little better getting it off my chest, but it didn't fully remove the anxiety I was experiencing. I-I just had to know what my parents wrote…
It was utter turmoil watching the clock slowly tick. Just how long was this class?! At least I started on the assignment, but at this rate, I would definitely have homework.
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"You've been driving me crazy all day with your anxiety, and now you're not even going to open it?!" Ronak snarled at me as I stared at my parents' letter on the coffee table. I had pulled my knees up on his office sofa and was fiddling with the hem of my pants. He makes it sound so easy…
"I'm scared…" I wanted to open the letter, but at the same time, I was concerned about its contents.
"I'm aware." Ronak dryly grumbled. "Just open it. Otherwise, I'll open it for you."
I cautiously picked up the familiar green envelope that was addressed to me with a beautiful raven wax seal on the back. The scent of ferns hit my nose, but I wasn't soothed by the smell; instead, it just made me worry more. I almost didn't want to know what my parents had to say.
I carefully pulled the wax seal off and opened the envelope. Fear gripped my stomach as I opened the letter. W-why was it so long?
To Our Son Micha,
How dare you? The nerve it must take to send us letters not detailing what's happening is astounding. I thought we raised you better than that! You don't need to hide the truth from us, sweety. Did you think that we would never hear about what happened because your father is a lord? I would like you to imagine how embarrassed we were to attend meetings at the Viscount's manor, and have so many people asking us how you and the archduke met. We didn't even know what had occurred. It was incredibly awkward to have to answer questions when we ourselves didn't know the answers! We were blindsided, and then to make it worse, we received another letter from you that was brief and nonchalant. The archduke had to write us a letter about you for us to get an inkling of the truth! Honey, you'd better sit down and explain your side of things; otherwise, there will be consequences when next we see each other. It better be thorough and precise. None of this 'How's Clara doing? Is her horse doing alright after I healed its leg?' business. We want the truth.
My goodness, just thinking about the letter the archduke sent to us is enough to make one's heart flutter, and such sweet words weren't even for me. I just hope that they're true. Your father has been sent into a fit of rage over the entire situation. He's rather upset that someone had the nerve to violate you, no matter what rank they have socially. I agree with him, though. Are you okay? How are you faring in all of this? Are the archduke's words real? Does he truly care about you and treat you kindly? We know what sort of reputation he carries, and it isn't a positive one. He isn't hurting you or using you, is he? Your father wanted to march to the capital the moment he read the two letters, but I managed to calm him down. I'm a bit disappointed, though, as your mother, I thought I taught you better. I know I'm recessive, and don't know all the ins and outs of being a real omega, but I thought I warned you about alphas. Though it sounded like you didn't have much choice in the matter. The archduke did mention that he did forcibly mark you…
Please, please, please don't do anything else stupid like rush into a marriage or, good heavens, get pregnant. Don't you dare do something like that. Your father would literally go postal. The last thing you need while the dust settles is rushing into something else. I raised you better than this. We raised you better than this, and I doubt your father would be capable of remaining sane if you do something else shocking. He might just march to the archduke's territory and start stirring up a ruckus.
I do hope that you're safe and in good health. While your father is struggling, I understand that sometimes things don't turn out as planned. I refuse to abandon you like my family did to me; however, I expect answers, and good ones. Please thank the archduke for taking his time to write to us and allowing us to use his magnificent bird. I just hope that everything he wrote is true.
All the love in the world,
Mother and Father
P.S. Clara's horse is doing just fine, and the snow has only begun to cover the ground. Your father and I would be faring much better if you didn't cause us problems. What happened to our sweet boy who never caused a fuss? You need to do a bit more than simply apologize for your poor behavior when we see you.
By the time I reached the end of the letter, I was a mess of tears. "I-I'm a b-bad s-son!" I managed to blubber through my tears.
Ronak had left his seat the moment I started crying and pulled me into his lap. "Hardly." He kissed the top of my head and gently rubbed my back. "If you're a bad son, what does that make me?"
"Y-You n-need to stop asking me s-such loaded questions w-when you don't want to h-hear the answer." I rested my head against his chest as tears continued to flow, and fiddled with the letter in my hands. I can't believe I thought lying to my parents was the only option I had. I'm a fool.
"Pft! Tell me how you really feel." He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me tightly as his pheromones surrounded me. "I only read the end bit, but please inform your parents that everything I said is true. I love their son a lot, even when his eyes are full of tears." He released me from the hug, but brought his hand up to wipe away some tears. I squirmed around a bit as he licked the side of my face. Gah! That always tickles Ronak! "I think you need a good rest. Then once you've calmed down, you can respond to your parents' letter. I don't want your father marching all the way to my dukedom in the snow; I'll never hear the end of it." I sadly chuckled and nodded my head. All I wanted in this moment was a warm bath and for Ronak to cuddle me until I fell asleep.
I didn't put much thought into it as I snapped my fingers and teleported us to our room. Ronak ended up crashing into the bed with me, landing on top of him in a sad heap. "S-sorry," I whined.
Ronak snickered and brushed my fallen bangs out of my face. "That was unexpected. Maybe warn me in the future." Ronak kicked off his shoes and pulled mine off as he nestled both of us into bed. Mmm, snuggles just like I wanted. Ronak's getting pretty good at reading my mood. "So many tears." He mumbled as his warm yet soft tongue ran across the side of my head again. "Your face is going to be all puffy and swollen." Th-thanks… Just what I wanted to look forward to…
"I-I've never d-disappointed my parents before…" I nuzzled my face against Ronak's chest as I continued to cry. My parents had never needed to be that harsh with me before, especially my mother. She was always kind and patient, but hearing that she refused to abandon me made me feel guilty. I-it wasn't my fault! I wasn't even the one to make the decision. It was Ronak. His selfish decision was doing nothing but giving me grief. "I-it's all your f-fault." I sniffled.
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Ronak
I didn't like the feeling overwhelming me at all. Micha's small frame shook against me with every sad wail, and it was like a dagger was dug into my gut with each tear that fell from his face. My fault, huh…, but I don't really regret my actions…, and yet seeing him this upset is tearing me apart. I simply wish there were a way we could have avoided Micha being hurt like this. "I know… It'll be okay…"
Micha looked up at me with his big, wet eyes, and I reached over to wipe away a fresh tear. He was making an absolute mess of my shirt, but I didn't care. I just wish he'd stop crying. I didn't get to read all of his letter, but it seemed like his parents were mostly disappointed with his lack of communication. It was a bit hard to surmise how they felt about our bond… Well… his father seemed rather pissed about it. I've heard that alphas become rather upset when their omega children leave the nest. Too bad, though. Micha was mine now. He can't take Micha back, and he better not think about it. He might be Micha's father, but I won't tolerate it.
Fuck… did I feel… a little guilty? I shouldn't, though… Yeah, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I just had to have him. I had to make Micha mine. There was a chance that he would slip away, and I'd never see him again. I just wasn't willing to risk it. If faced with the same decision, I'd mark him again. There's not a fiber of my being that wouldn't mark him.
"Take a deep breath. It'll be okay. I'll personally see to it that everything works out." He didn't need to fret over something so minor. His parents weren't disowning him or tossing him aside. We could come to an agreeable understanding. I'd make sure of it.
"H-how?" Micha's big golden eyes blinked multiple times as a few tears fell down his face. I… don't fucking know! I only just started thinking!
My face scrunched up slightly as I faced the truth of not knowing what I was doing. I hated dealing with other people, and especially when people had heightened emotions. I dealt with Micha just fine, because he was my omega, my responsibility, but I wasn't sure how I was going to react to his parents… I didn't want to, but I needed to make things work between us. Otherwise, Micha could come to resent me, and I wasn't going to tolerate such a thing happening. "We'll figure something out." I just needed more time to think of a solution.
Micha didn't seem very satisfied with my response, and a little hiccup escaped him. I pulled him closer to me as uncertainty started to wash over him, and let out a soft, grumbling growl. We'll figure something out, we have to.
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Micha
Despite all the cuddles, I was still feeling rather upset. Tears had stopped flowing, but the turmoil of feelings inside me was still raging. I-I can't believe I thought avoiding the problem would somehow make it better. My parents had every right to be furious. I would be beyond furious if my child did that to me. I might as well have thrown mud in their faces.
Ronak carefully moved a strand of hair out of my face. He seemed slightly distracted. "You wouldn't have to be so upset had I done things correctly…, but I don't think you would have given me the time of day…" He let out a heavy sigh, and I grabbed his hand. His guilt was clear as day to me as his crestfallen eyes refused to make contact with mine.
"Y-you're not wrong…" I wanted nothing more than to wipe my hands of him and never see him again. Had he started pursuing me in a serious way, I would have run for the hills. "I-it's not like I put that much effort into resisting you…" I would have to be in complete denial to say that I wasn't attracted to Ronak. Simply too many of his pheromones send me into a triggered heat, and his body… well… that gets me all worked up too…
"I appreciate you trying to shoulder some of the burden, but I asked you to turn around with every intention to mark you. I didn't do it in the heat of the moment… I knew full well what I was going to do when I got into that bath with you. I intentionally tricked you so I could make you mine." It hurt hearing Ronak explain it like that. So he did plan it out… I shouldn't be too surprised. Ronak is incredibly calculating and thorough in all of his actions. Doing anything in the spur of the moment seemed out of character for him. Yet… he was feeling all sorts of guilt… How odd…
"Do you regret what you did?" Was that why he was feeling so guilty? Does he regret marking me?
Ronak reached up and gently ran his pointer finger along the bridge of my nose before poking it. "Not particularly." Then… why's he feeling guilty?
"Do you wish we did things correctly?"
He raised a slight eyebrow as if my questioning was confusing him. "I'm sure I would have lost patience and taken a similar route had we attempted to do things correctly… The only thing I wish was for you not to feel so sad about the whole ordeal." Oh… So that's why he feels guilty. He doesn't like me being upset. I wasn't sure if I was happy or disappointed in finding out the truth, but knowing that Ronak didn't regret us made me a little pleased. I guess he was the one who kept saying that he loved me…
"Heh, of course you would have lost patience…" I brought my hand up and rubbed some of the crusty tears from my face.
"How could I not when such a cute omega is before me?" Ronak teasingly pulled on my bottom lip.
My cheeks turned a bit pink, but I avoided his gaze. "You didn't think I was cute when we first met," I grumbled. Ronak bullied me for weeks before his magical change of heart.
He let out a bit of a sigh and forced my head to turn back to him so I could see him. "Must you always make me admit the embarrassing truth? How would you feel if an alpha pretending to be an omega started appearing around you, smelling like the best alpha you've ever smelled? Hmm? Would that make you want to be friendly, or would you be pissed that they were possibly in a relationship with the alpha that you wanted?" Oooooooh… When he explains it like that… it sort of makes sense… Not that it excuses his rude behavior… "Especially when the bastard that was pretending to be an alpha was oddly… pretty." Ronak pinched my nose with a scowl. "I can't fucking believe anyone fell for your lie! You don't even look like a damn alpha! I thought I was losing my goddamn mind!" Ronak let go of my nose and angrily pinched my cheeks as the tops of his turned pink.
"Yeeeh, alpahs duuummm." Ronak scowled at my comment and released my face. "Most of the omegas knew… Some didn't know, but they had a habit of figuring it out eventually." Some, like Jade, had to be expressly told, though. Hmm, I guess it was a mixed bag of who knew, and who didn't…
"Anyway," Ronak slightly glared at me as he pulled my chin over to look at him. "The moment the puzzle pieces clicked into place, I couldn't deny my attraction to you. No matter what, I just had to have the shy little no-name noble from who knows where, who gets riled up when mad, and makes amazing potions that even impress me. Even though he needs to be monitored when it comes to sugar, and has a tendency to cry over everything, I wouldn't change my decision then, and I wouldn't change it now."
"S-sometimes you say such embarrassing things…" My face was bright pink after hearing him say such things about me. Though I-I don't need to be monitored!
Ronak's eyes drifted away before slightly returning. "Do you wish I had never marked you?"
My eyes instantly darted to his pretty crimson ones. Does he constantly have to ask such difficult questions? I-I guess at this point there's no denying it. "Wh-while I wish you had gone about it differently… N-no…" I didn't hate being with Ronak… He could be quite the crab sometimes, but… he also had an incredibly sweet side to him.
"Went about it differently?" Ronak seemed almost confused by my comment.
"Yeah… W-would it kill you to try, and be a little romantic with that sort of stuff?!" I wouldn't hurt him to try, and woo me a bit before doing such things. H-he did put in a bit of effort when proposing to me, but his confession in the library sucked, and the way he forced me to admit that I liked him was completely unromantic.
"I can be romantic." Ronak grabbed my waist and pulled me a bit closer with an intense look in his eye. M-more like you're a horny rabbit… Don't tell me that Ronak thinks that romance was simply the act of making love!
I reached down and grabbed his wrist before he tried anything. I just wasn't in the mood. "Yeah… b-but I sorta like it when you say embarrassing things…" They make my heart flutter, and my breath catch in my throat. It was a bit strange to hear Ronak be so intimate and honest with me, but I really enjoyed it. Like I was the only person in the world to hear Ronak be so sweet and kind. Ronak let out an almost pained sigh, which made me giggle. "You don't have to do it all the time… just when you feel like it." Besides, if he started spouting sweet things all the time, my heart might give out. I preferred it when Ronak did it in the moment.
"I think I can handle that." Heh, oh good. He didn't sound terribly enthused, but I was glad that he was going to put effort in.
A silence fell between us, and I nervously glanced around. "Wh-what am I going to do?"
"Respond to your parents." I flinched nervously, and a slight scowl appeared on Ronak's face. "Did you learn nothing?"
"I-I'm just nervous…" Once again, I didn't know how to respond to my parents… I didn't like being in trouble at all. It was the worst. How did some people make their parents mad, and not care?!
"I'm aware, but you're not going to avoid it. You're going to write a response."
"O-okay…"
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"How do you expect me to focus like this?" After washing my face and changing into comfortable clothes, we returned to Ronak's office. He moved the sofa over slightly and sat down between it and the coffee table. I watched him in confusion until he grabbed my wrist and dragged me down to sit between his legs. Th-this was not what I had in mind when I agreed to write a response.
Gerard handed Ronak a document, and he lazily looked it over behind me. "I'm just here for emotional support. I have a feeling you'll run if you're left to your own devices." B-but this is awkward. No matter how many circles you rub into my back,th-they won't… th-they only make it sorta pleasant… Gah! I'm so weak to Ronak! How has he learned to counter my behavior so efficiently?! J-just what are alphas?! Does our bond really tell him all sorts of stuff about me?
I had sorta melted against the coffee table as he rubbed my back. I-I didn't want to admit that he was doing a good job, so I let out a bit of a grumble. "Fine, b-but no peeking!" I arranged the paper in front of myself and picked up the quill, but before it even touched the ink, I let out a big sigh. "I don't even know what to write…" I glanced over at my mother's letter still sitting where I left it earlier, and bit my bottom lip. I needed to tell the truth…, but the truth was embarrassing!
"If you don't start, you never will." Ronak gently nudged my arm and resumed rubbing my back. "At least sit up and try. It will be easier once you start. I might have asked the kitchen staff to make you something, but you can't have it until your letter is done." Talk about piquing my interest. It was rare for Ronak to give me treats so willingly. I wonder what kind of dessert it is…
I dipped the quill into ink and let it hover above the paper for a second before I started writing. First, I profusely apologized to my parents. I should have never lied to them in the first place. I tried explaining how everything was just as much of a shock to me as it was to them. Everything happened so fast that I was still trying to process it. I-I just hoped that my parents could understand why I struggled to tell them the truth. I didn't do it intentionally, but unfortunately, I didn't know how to articulate what had happened.
Then came the most difficult part. Ronak. I told them about how we share three classes, and how our relationship was non-existent before the dungeon accident. I didn't really want my parents to know that Ronak had hurt me. I know I needed to tell them the truth, but I didn't want them to end up hating Ronak in the process. That felt like something Ronak and I would continue to work through as our relationship evolves. Not something that I needed my parents' input on. I definitely knew that if my father caught wind of it, he'd never accept Ronak, and I didn't want that…
I explained what happened in the dungeon in better detail. How Ronak jumped in after me and ended up discovering that I was an omega. How we were stuck there for a week, and during that week, Ronak experienced a rut, which caused me to go into heat. I didn't provide many more details than that. It didn't take a genius to know what would happen between an alpha in rut and an omega in heat. My parents could fill in the blanks on their own.
I told them about how I tried pretending like nothing had happened. How I tried to ignore and run away from Ronak multiple times, but it didn't work, did it… I did the difficult job of explaining to my parents how Ronak tricked me and force-bonded with me. I told them that I was furious. That I was absolutely seething with anger as he stole my future and made a life-changing decision for me. But like an annoying mold, Ronak started to grow on me. I told them about how my anger towards him started to melt away the more I got to know him. He even went as far as risking his life to save me from a nightwalker; how could I ignore that?
Gosh, all this was doing was dredging up old emotions for me. I'm sure Ronak didn't enjoy getting dragged along as my emotions flicked from one to the next. It was rather cute how he'd rub my back when I got sad or pat my head when I got angry. He definitely made sure I didn't feel alone…
I continued and explained that while at first it was difficult, Ronak was doing his best to make me comfortable and happy. That he wanted to be a good alpha for me. I explained that his feelings for me had advanced at a far more rapid pace than mine were, and we were trying to figure things out together. Even now, I still couldn't properly express to Ronak how I felt. I was a disaster of feelings when it came to him.
Lastly, I explained that while I can't change the past, and how things happened, I was trying to make the most of it with Ronak. I didn't want to live my life feeling bitter and angry about what happened. I… wanted to make the most of it with Ronak… No matter where that took us.
Now that all the big things were out of the way, I was able to write about a few more casual things. I briefly told them about his birthday party and how he received the title of archduke. I wrote that while it wasn't technically official, he had given me a ring, and asked me to give him a proper chance. Then I mentioned the few dates we've been on and the dinner I had with his family. Ronak flicked my ear when I started snickering over the pillow fight we got into. I told my parents that while Ronak wasn't aware, there would probably be more pillow fights in the future.
To end my letter, I profusely apologized again for causing my parents grief and stress. I told them that we weren't rushing into anything despite the imperial family trying to pressure us into marriage, and we definitely wouldn't be starting a family anytime s-...
"R-Ronak…" My quill hovered above my almost completed letter as my brain sorta froze. I quickly glanced around to make sure we were alone. Gerard must have stepped out while I was focused on writing.
"Yes?" Ronak leaned forward and peeked at my letter.
"Ummm… I-I know th-that maybe n-now isn't the time to bring this u-up… b-but umm…" I had to set the quill down before my shaky hand got ink all over my letter's last page. "Y-you haven't exactly been trying to p-prevent a-any… ahem!" My face was bright red as I stared at my letter, and my voice awkwardly squeaked. "P-pregnancies…" I managed to squeeze the word out of myself, but it came out as an embarrassed whisper.
A snicker came from behind me, and Ronak pulled me back so he could tickle my ear with his nose. H-how was this a laughing matter?! "For someone who knows so much about the body, I'm surprised you don't know the answer," Ronak whispered into my ear in a teasing manner. "Since you're a male omega, your heat cycle has to be occurring for anything to happen. Until then, I can fill you to the brim." His teeth caught my earlobe, and he gently nibbled on my ear. I let out a loud squeal and tried to crawl under the coffee table to escape Ronak, but he simply grabbed hold of my hips and dragged me back to him. "You might be a rare type of omega, but I thought for sure you would have known this about yourself."
"M-my parents are recessive!" I nervously squealed as Ronak pulled me against him.
"Doesn't matter. Now finish your letter, and stop escaping." He brought his legs up over mine, completely trapping me in place. There was nowhere for me to run. The iron cage I call Ronak had trapped me in its grasp.
H-he expected me to finish my letter like this?! Gah! H-how did Ronak always find the courage to say such embarrassing things?! I-I never learned much about being a male omega because there just wasn't much information out there! H-how did he supposedly know so much?! "D-did you look up information or s-something?!"
"Mmm, I had to ask the imperial doctor a question, so I figured I'd ask some other ones while there… I figured I didn't need to fuck up further by accidentally getting you pregnant, but there wasn't much information to glean. Besides the fact that you can't get pregnant unless in heat." W-was he stupid?!
"W-we've done it a few times while I've been in h-heat!" I wanted nothing more than for him to release me so I could go hide behind his desk or the opposite sofa. I didn't like being held down while having such an awkward conversation. It was awful! The only silver lining was that I didn't have Ronak staring me down the entire time.
Ronak's muscles stiffened for a second, and I didn't need to look at him to know the smug expression he was wearing disappeared. "Do your induced heats count?" Was he serious?!
"Wh-why wouldn't they?!" They were heat cycles. Maybe not naturally induced, but still, they served the same purpose as a normal heat cycle. My poor brain felt like it was about to melt through my ears. Between this conversation and how Ronak was holding me down, I couldn't take it.
"Gerard!" Ronak tensely shouted, and within seconds Gerard opened the door. Ronak's panic would have been funny if I weren't freaking out as well.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Get the imperial doctor."
"Is something the matter?" Gerard furrowed his brow and stared at the two of us in confusion. "Dinner is almost ready to be served."
"Dinner can fucking wait. Just. Do. As. I. Asked," I didn't have to see Ronak to know he was glaring because his intimidating aura made me shiver. He was not messing around in the slightest.
"Yes, of course, my lord." Gerard bowed and quickly left the office.
It was uncomfortably silent for a moment as Ronak's arms slowly went limp around me. The only sound that could be heard was our nervous breath and the ticking of Ronak's grandfather clock. I managed to break the silence after what felt like forever. "Y-you don't actually think…" The tension in my chest felt like a pot bubbling over. I couldn't handle this sort of stress.
"I… don't know…"
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The door to the office finally opened, and an older gentleman wearing high-quality white doctor's robes was guided into the room by Gerard. He was a bit taller than Gerard, but his dark orange, almost terracotta colored hair was starting to become peppered with gray. The moment his eyes landed on me, I knew he was a nice guy. His gaze was just so warm. "Greetings, Archduke Abraxos. May I ask what the sense of urgency was?" He set his bag of medical tools down on the coffee table and took a seat opposite us. We did manage to haul ourselves up off the floor, but it took an embarrassing amount of time.
It was incredibly odd for me to be receiving the advice of a doctor. Especially where I rarely got sick. It's probably because I have healing magic myself, but I didn't know what I was doing when it came to… that.
"As I mentioned… previously… umm…" A wave of embarrassment hit me, and I reeled in shock. I didn't know a simple question would make Ronak speechless. He says way worse to me! How could one question leave him in this state?!
The doctor scoffed, "I didn't know you were capable of being flustered." I know, right! The doctor glanced towards me and adjusted his glasses. "Pardon my rudeness, I don't think we've met. I'm Imperial Doctor Rayner." He leaned forward, extending his hand to me, and I cautiously took it.
"H-hello. My name's Micha Verchiel, I'm Ronak's omega." Ack! Why did I introduce myself like that?! I mean, it's true, but it felt weird!
"I had heard the rumors, but I am surprised to hear the news in person. You're even a male omega, quite the surprisingly rare find." He warmly smiled at me as we shook hands, and I could instantly tell he had excellent bedside manner. Way better than I could dream of. He made you instantly feel safe in his care and that everything would be alright. I was a little jealous. I wish I were that good.
"I need you to look Micha over!" Ronak seemed to have found part of his voice, but he still wasn't explaining himself well. Him reaching over and lightly shaking my shoulder wasn't helping either. Ack! Ronak! You're going to tip me over! "I… might have messed up…"
"Hmmm, I see…" He did?! How did he possibly understand Ronak's odd response?! "It is quite the struggle for newly bonded mates to keep their hands off each other." He chuckled lightly, making the room feel less tense. "You two haven't gotten married, though, so I could see why you're worried. May I give you a quick examination?" I nodded my head, unable to find my words. Doctor Rayner stood and approached where I was sitting on the sofa. "I'm going to gently touch your stomach, if you're okay with that." He held out his hand, but waited for my response.
"That's fine," I mumbled, feeling oddly self-conscious. I touched people all the time to heal them. Did they feel this way, too? Is that why alphas always reacted so oddly? Did they not particularly enjoy being healed by me, and that's why they tended to become rude afterwards?
"Oh, great, and glorious Goddess. Please gift me eyes that are capable of your glory so I may heal and attend to the wounded." His hand touched my stomach, and it glowed a pale yellow. It wasn't quite the bold golden yellow that my mana was, but it was light magic. It took only a second before he removed his hand and smiled.
"You two have nothing to worry about. He's not pregnant." It was like a weight was lifted off my chest. I still had the desire to have a family even though I wasn't sure if Ronak and I ever would…, but I definitely didn't want an accidental family. We needed to graduate from the academy before we could have those sorts of conversations.
Now that I was feeling relieved, I scooted a bit closer to Ronak and snuggled under his arm. He seemed to be rather busy thinking, so I went about making myself comfortable against him. I noticed Doctor Rayner gave me a curious glance, but he didn't say anything.
"But let's talk." Doctor Rayner sat back down on his sofa and glanced between the two of us. "Because he's male, the risk of unplanned pregnancies is extremely low, but not impossible. You should be using some caution or preventative measures. I don't recommend any contraceptives on the market because they can affect your ability to have children in the future, which I would assume is something you want one day. Only use them if you no longer wish to have any more children. Now that you're bonded, your heat and rut cycles should sync up or at least be in the same week. If you don't want to have an unplanned pregnancy, you should make plans to be far, far away from each other at that time. Especially when you're both dominant, the chance of conceiving goes up exponentially during that time."
"I'm dominant?" I pointed a finger at myself. This was news to me. I've always been told that I'm a normal omega. How could two recessive parents possibly produce a dominant?!
"I would definitely describe you as dominant. Your mana is crazily abundant. It was almost hard to see anything else. Your flamboyant bonded marks are a dead giveaway as well. Only dominants get such large and expansive marks on them." He pointed to his own neck as he talked with his hands. "I have to imagine that the original Doctor who told you that you were an omega never had experience with dominants, so he didn't know what to tell you." Oh… I guess he was rather unsure of himself. Especially when he had to tell me that I was an omega.
I gently traced along the mark that laced my collar bones. "Th-then why can Ronak i-induce heats even after we bonded?" I thought that didn't happen after getting bonded.
"It is incredibly rare, and one of the ways an unplanned pregnancy can happen for a male omega, but… hmmm… I guess it's possible…" Doctor Rayner's gaze dropped to the coffee table as he scratched his chin.
"What?" Ronak snapped. Has he calmed down now? He seemed less tense, and his embarrassment stopped overwhelming me.
"Do you happen to know how long you two can be apart before one of you starts getting sick?" What did that have to do with anything?
Ronak and I shared sideways glances. "When we first bonded, I got sick within three days, and he wasn't even that far away from me. We share quite a few classes…, and even a desk…"
"I don't like being away from him at all, but side effects started on day two, and got worse subsequently," Ronak added with a grumble. I peeked over to Ronak, but he wasn't looking at me. I did notice the tops of his cheeks looking a bit pink. He doesn't like being away from me at all? That's cute.
"Hmmm… that's a concerningly short time. Most bonded pairs can go for at least five or six weeks before they start feeling negative effects." What?! That's so long! I can't go that long without Ronak, I'd probably die!
"What are you implying?" Ronak grumbled. Yeah, was there something wrong with us?
"I could be wrong, but it sounds like you two might have imprinted upon one another." An imprint?
"What's that?' Ronak and I said it in almost perfect unison. Besides the fact that my voice was soft, and his was annoyed, you would have thought we planned it. We shared a small look, but quickly glanced away from one another.
Doctor Rayner gently scoffed, and the edges of his lips curled up into a slight smile. "An imprint can occur between unbonded or bonded duos. Usually, it happens when there is excellent compatibility between two people. The media often refers to it as love at first sight or destined bond mates." U-us?! L-love at first sight?! We definitely didn't have that. I instantly became aware of how much I was touching Ronak, and my face turned red. I guess we did have some compatibility.
"What does that matter?" Ronak asked with a grunt. He didn't need to be so blunt, but I agree. Why did it matter if we were imprinted or not?
"Well, like I said, the media likes to make it sound romantic, but it can cause some problems. For example, if one is away from their partner for too long, lacking pheromone syndrome starts to kick in. While it's bothersome for normal alphas and omegas, it can be deadly for imprinted pairs." Ronak let out a soft growl and tightened the grip he had around me. "It can also give couples heightened senses."
"Like how I'm aware of Micha's every feeling?" Ronak squeezed my shoulder slightly as he peeked at me.
Doctor Rayner's eyes went a bit wide. "Every?"
"It can be nauseating sometimes. He has so many feelings." Ronak grumbled. Hey! My feelings weren't nauseating!
"Yes, that's a perfect example… They're also more susceptible to triggered heats and ruts because the biological chemistry is so high. It's possible there are other things, but it can vary from imprinted couple to imprinted couple."
Huh… S-so I was probably imprinted to Ronak… That would explain a lot… Why I felt so attached despite his bad behavior, and how feelings developed so quickly between us. I wasn't upset about it, but it definitely felt a little weird. D-destined mates… I've read a book about it before, but I didn't realize that it could happen in real life.
"Are there any other questions I can answer for you?" Doctor Rayner smiled politely, but we both remained silent. Talk about an awkward conversation! I don't think either of us were in the mood to talk anymore.
"This discussion does not leave this room, and sure as hell better not reach my uncle's ears." Irritation flooded my senses as Ronak mentioned his uncle. That's probably for the best. I doubt his uncle would let us live it down. He seemed like a tease.
"I would never dare break your trust in me, sir. Now, he will most likely ask the purpose of my visit. Is there something that you'd prefer me to tell him?"
"Simply tell him my omega's stomach was hurting from eating too many sweets, and it caused me to become unnecessarily concerned." Hey! Who said you could blame me?! W-well, I guess if Ronak was hurt, I could heal him, so blaming him would be unrealistic… O-okay… I can see why you pointed the finger at me, but blaming my precious sweets?! That's just mean.
"If you need me, do send for me. Though you do have quite the light magic wielder on your hands, so maybe you won't need me." Doctor Rayner gave me a curious glance as he stood and gathered his bag. When he opened the door, Gerard bowed his head and directed him away.
The door closed, and an uncomfortable silence fell between Ronak and me once again. I found it in me to clear my throat and address what just happened. "Y-you need to stop i-inducing my heats…" I thought Ronak was going to respond, but instead, he slumped away from me. I managed to peek over at him, and his slightly shocked face, which was leaning against his hand. "Ronak… is everything okay?"
"I can't believe I made such a gross miscalculation." He mumbled into his hand. He sat there for a while before giving me a slight side eye. "Despite how alluring it is, I will resist the urge. The last thing either of us needs right now is a child."
I couldn't agree more, but my mind ended up drifting off. What would our kid even look like? Would they have blonde hair like me or black hair like Ronak? M-maybe they will be a pale lavender like my mother's or a different color because of Ronak's unknown father… Oooh, what about the eyes?! I think a baby with blonde hair and red eyes would be so cute! Gah! My poor heart is going to beat out of my chest if I keep thinking such silly things.
"Micha?" Ronak poked my forehead, and I let out a little yelp. I-I totally zoned out… "I asked if you wanted to finish your letter before dinner, but you weren't listening."
"S-sorry! I was thinking about… things…" Gah! I swear, I thought about the silliest things sometimes. "Y-yeah, I'll finish it off."
I grabbed the quill and my letter while thinking about what to say. I made sure to express that we were definitely going to be careful and not do anything stupid. A-at least now we were… It's probably best not to tell my mother what happened… My father will hunt Ronak down and kill him if he hears about it…
"Are you done?" I set the quill down and nodded my head. "Let's go eat then, it's getting late. I'll have Gerard send that."
"Okay, sounds good."
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"I really don't need a babysitter," I grumbled as Terra sat down at my usual study spot in the library. Ronak had another meeting to discuss the upcoming academy changes, and it's not like I could go, so I elected to get some homework done. Even if I finish, I could work on transferring my notes to my new notebooks. Ronak said I could work at the estate, but I didn't exactly enjoy Gerard and Olivia watching me do homework. It was incredibly stressful because they'd peek over my shoulders, and Olivia would ask all sorts of questions.
"But Archduke Abraxos requested that I stay with you until you're through, and I shall. Besides, I think his protective nature is rather charming." Terra got a cheesy grin on her face as she wiggled her finger at me. "Very few alphas are as protective as he is."
"It's annoying," I grumbled. Okay, it wasn't that annoying, but I didn't like how he thinks I can't be alone. He didn't need to order Terra to hang out with me. That felt like taking things too far. I'm sure Terra would have willingly spent time with me. "Also, hasn't he told you multiple times to just call him Ronak?" He growls every time she uses his title.
Terra pulled her homework from her bag and tapped her quill on the table while glancing up at me. "He has, but it's far more respectful to address him as archduke. I don't want him to think I'm overstepping my place, nor do I want to earn his ire by irritating him. He's not someone you want to irritate, not that you'd understand that. I think you're the only one who's gotten on his nerves and has survived to tell the tale." I wouldn't say I survived. I have to endure his torturous nature multiple times a week. It's a good thing he's busy on the weekends; otherwise, he probably wouldn't let me leave the bed. I'd probably never be able to walk again if he didn't have a business and a dukedom to run. He has been careful not to trigger my heat, but that hasn't slowed him down at all. If anything, hearing the fact that it's relatively safe as long as I'm not in heat has only made him even more vigorous. Whatever happened to using caution?! He's such a- "Micha?"
"Oh! Sorry Terra. I was thinking about something…"
"That happens a lot more often these days. Couldn't possibly be because you're thinking about someone, is it?" Terra flashed me a teasing smile as she flipped through her notebook. You'd think she could read my mind as well…
"Yeah! I was thinking about what sort of big meanie he is!" I flopped down onto the desk dramatically. My poor bottom! I'm going to have to start bringing a cushion to class to sit on!
"Pft, for being a supposed 'big meanie,' you sure do always stink." What?!
"I-I don't stink!" I have noticed that Terra and the other omegas have been keeping their space when around me… Even Jade doesn't snuggle up to me like she used to… W-was it really because they thought that I stunk?
"Yes, you do." Terra snickered. "Ever since you moved into his estate, you've really been smelling like him. It's not a bad smell, but it's clearly the smell of an alpha claiming you as theirs. You'd think he was intentionally scent-marking you." Ronak was scent-marking me? Is that why his pheromones are always in the air when I'm around him? He's trying to coat me with them? I've noticed that he's been putting them out more often for the past few weeks, but I didn't realize he was doing it with purpose. I just figured he was trying to coerce me into doing something.
"I-I can't control that… It's probably because we-" The words died in my throat. Was it okay to tell Terra?
"You what?" Terra's eyebrow raised suspiciously. "You two aren't trying to… have kids-" I let out a loud squeal, and lurched across the table to attempt to silence Terra.
"NO! No, no, no! W-we aren't doing anything of the sort!" My poor face was bright red as I stared at Terra.
She had leaned back in her chair to get away from me. "Gosh, you don't need to overreact like that."
I slumped down onto the desk in a defeated heap of embarrassment. "Th-that's not what I was t-trying to say…" I sadly mumbled.
"Pft!" Terra's fingers poked my head, so I peeked up at her. "Maybe think about how you phrase things before you say them." She snickered again, which didn't exactly make me feel better. "Now, why do you think Archduke Abraxos is scent-marking you?"
I wasn't sure if it was okay to tell Terra, but at this point, it was a little too late. If I backtracked and lied, all that would happen would be me getting consumed by guilt. Also, Terra would know that I'm lying to her… "Apparently, Ronak, and I i-imprinted on one another…" My voice was whisper soft, and after speaking, I hid my red face down on the desk. So embarrassing!
I could hear Terra sharply inhale before she let out a soft giggle. "Gosh, I didn't realize what sort of lovebirds you were." Stop laughing! We're not lovebirds!
"The media glorifies it," I grumbled into the desk. "W-we mostly can't stay away from one another-"
Terra burst into giggles once again, and this time she struggled to keep her voice down; she might as well have been full-on laughing. "I know you don't mean anything by it, but we really need to work on your phrasing, Micha." Huh?
I thought about it for a split second before letting out an embarrassed groan. C-can someone please make me stop talking?! "I-I just mean-!"
Terra patted the top of my head with a snicker. "I'm aware of what you were implying. Besides, I don't think you're brave enough for much else." Yeah, but you're not taking into account the wild beast I now live with. He didn't exactly care that I wasn't bold and courageous. He gleefully has his way with me whenever he wants. N-not that it didn't feel good in the moment, but I was always so sore the next day.
"C-can we just do homework, and pretend I didn't open my mouth?" I whimpered. I didn't particularly want to shove my foot any further down my throat.
Terra giggled again, but this time much more civilly. "I've already started. You're the one collapsed on your notebook." I peeked up, and sure enough, Terra had an ink-dipped quill in hand.
I let out a defeated grumble and pulled myself off the desk. Fine! I guess I'll get to work too, but can you please stop giving me such amused glances?!