BITTERSWEET SCENT

It was becoming unbearable. Every breath I took was filled with him. Cedarwood and spice, a heady blend that clung to the very air around Alaric, wrapping me in a constant torment. And beneath that, the primal musk, a deep, resonant note that my omega recognized instantly, a scent that screamed "Alpha," that screamed him. It was a siren song, pulling me under, drowning me in longing I couldn't afford to feel.

I focused on the stack of parchments in my hands, willing myself to concentrate on the estate taxes from the southern territories, anything to distract myself from the torture of existing within ten feet of the Prince. Ten feet that felt like ten inches to my over sensitive nose and my traitorous omega.

It would have been easier, gods, so much easier, if all I had was a simple, pathetic crush on the Prince. A schoolboy infatuation I could bury under layers of duty and self-preservation. But no. Fate, or whatever cruel deity orchestrated this mess, had decided to throw in a bloody mating bond for good measure.

Now, it wasn't just a matter of longing glances and wishful thinking. Now, my very being thrummed with a need for him, a biological imperative that demanded I throw myself at his feet and beg for acceptance. My omega, bless his oblivious heart, now knew what he was supposed to have, what he was cruelly being denied, and he wasn't taking it well. The constant ache in my chest was a reminder of his displeasure.

The irony wasn't lost on me. For years, I'd meticulously layered scent blockers, masking the delicate sweetness of my omega scent with the bland, earthy aroma of a beta. It was a necessary deception, a shield against the prejudice and danger that came with being a male omega. And now, here I was, practically suffocating under the weight of those very same blockers, all so he could be comfortable. So he wouldn't have to be reminded of the abomination that fate had decided to gift him.

Alaric cleared his throat, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. "Kael, are those reports ready for my review?"

I jumped, nearly dropping the parchments. "Yes, Your Highness. Right here." I managed to say, my voice betraying nothing of the internal chaos.

He took the stack, his fingers brushing mine. The contact was fleeting, but it was enough. A jolt of electricity shot through me, making my breath hitch. He didn't seem to notice, his expression as impassive as ever.

He flipped through the documents, his brow furrowed in concentration. I watched him, trying to decipher his mood, trying to gauge if he was any closer to accepting the bond, however unlikely that seemed.

His actions of late had hardly been encouraging. He’d been even more aloof than usual, his interactions with me brief and formal. It was as if he were trying to create as much distance as possible, both physical and emotional. He was trying to pretend or rather convince himself that I was nothing more than his very Beta personal assistant… or servant.

Which, technically, I was.

"These figures don't add up," he said, his voice sharp, pulling me back to the present.

"I'll double-check them, Your Highness," I replied, my cheeks burning. Another mistake. Another reason for him to see me as inadequate.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Just... be more careful, Kael."

"Of course, Your Highness." I took the parchments back, my hands trembling slightly.

He didn't say anything else, simply turned back to his desk, effectively dismissing me. I retreated to my corner, my heart heavy. It was always like this. A brief flicker of hope, followed by a swift and brutal reminder of reality. He was a Prince, an Alpha, burdened by duty and expectation. And I was… well, I was nothing. A mistake. An anomaly.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost didn't hear the voices coming from the hallway. Casian's voice, laced with his usual brand of arrogance, was unmistakable.

"...I'm simply stating the obvious, Mother. The King is growing impatient. The people are growing restless. Alaric’s continued… unmated status is becoming a liability."

My blood ran cold. I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but I was frozen, unable to move.

The Queen: "Patience, Casian. Opportunities will always arise." Her voice was smooth and dangerous. "Alaric's… temperament… makes him predictable. We simply need to guide him along the route."

Casian spoke next, "And if he doesn't take the bait?" He laughed humorlessly. "We have options. We always have options."

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart pounding. They hated him. They openly hated him. My mind struggled to process the information. This wasn't just sibling rivalry; this was something darker, something more sinister. I mean it's clear; if it was just sibling rivalry, their mother wouldn't be this much involved, siding with one against the other.

My mind suddenly flashed back to the whispered gossip about the cruel treatment both had always handed to Alaric, and how the Prince always looked down on himself, always berating himself for not being good enough for the throne.

His little brother found his mate at 18 but he still wasn't enough.

Casian hated him because he's the heir and his mother hated him because he's also the heir.

I couldn't understand it, but that was how they both were to him.

I thought about my own mother, aging and frail, but fiercely protective of me. She would never speak about me like this. Never plot against me.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. At least I had that. At least I had a mother who loved me, unconditionally. Something the Alpha Prince, for all his power and privilege, clearly lacked.

A guard suddenly appeared at the doorway, his face grave. "Your Highness," he said to Alaric, "the King requests your presence in the council chambers immediately."

Alaric stiffened. "Very well. I'll be there shortly." He turned to me, his expression unreadable. "Kael, continue with the reports. I'll review them later."

"Yes, Your Highness." I bowed my head, relieved to have an excuse to escape his presence.

As he strode out of the room, his scent lingered in the air, a phantom reminder of the bond that lay between us, unspoken and unwanted. A bond that threatened to unravel everything I had worked so hard to protect.

I was still trembling when all were gone and the silence of the room engulfed me, making me feel like I was drowning quietly.

The Prince was a very lonely man.