THE PRINCE'S CONFIDANT

The evening air in Veridia was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Alaric stood stiffly as Aaron, all casual charm, leaned against the doorframe of his chambers.

"Say, Alaric," Aaron drawled, his eyes twinkling, "has our dear Kael finished his duties for the day? It's well past bedtime, isn't it?"

Alaric's jaw tightened. "He is under my employment. I dictate when his duties are complete."

Aaron chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "Oh, I see. Does that mean he tucks you in as well? Or perhaps…" he paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "his duties extend to more… intimate services?"

Alaric's hand clenched into a fist. The insinuation hung heavy in the air. He wanted to deny it, to vehemently denounce the idea of Kael, his mate, being subjected to such vulgar assumptions. But the words caught in his throat. He couldn't claim Kael, not yet. Maybe not ever. Or at least, not when he was still wrestling with the unacceptable truth of their bond.

"Kael's duties are his own," Alaric bit out finally, his voice laced with an icy warning. "They are of no concern to you."

Aaron simply grinned, unfazed. "Well, if that's the case, mind if I borrow him for a bit? Promised him a glimpse of the Veridian night sky. Wouldn't want to disappoint." He didn't wait for Alaric's answer. With a swift movement, he stepped past the Prince, heading deeper into the chambers.

Alaric watched him go, his gut twisting with a cocktail of anger, jealousy, and a strange, unfamiliar fear. He hated the ease with which Aaron navigated his space, the familiarity he exuded towards Kael.

A moment later, Aaron reappeared, a beaming Kael in tow. Kael looked surprised, his eyes wide as he glanced between the two princes.

"Ready for our adventure, Kael?" Aaron asked, his hand lightly resting on Kael's back.

Kael hesitated, glancing at Alaric. "Your Highness, I…"

Alaric forced a dismissive shrug. "Go. You are dismissed for the evening, Kael." He turned away, unable to watch them leave, the image of Aaron's hand on Kael's back burning in his mind.

"Thank you, Prince Alaric," Kael replied softly.

As they walked away, Alaric could hear them talking, laughing. The sound grated on his nerves.

The night air whipped at Kael's cheeks as Aaron steered the car along a winding mountain road. He had never been this far out of the palace, never seen Veridia spread out beneath him like a glittering tapestry.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Aaron said, his voice filled with genuine awe.

Kael could only nod, speechless. He was still trying to process the whirlwind of the day, the sheer audacity of Aaron's visit, the extravagant purchases, and now, this… this breathtaking view. It was all so… un-Kael-like.

"Relax, Kael," Aaron said, his voice gentle. "You look like you're about to faint. This is supposed to be fun, remember?"

Kael managed a weak smile. "It's just… a lot to take in."

"Tell me about it," Aaron chuckled. "Tradition this, Royal protocol that… it’s all a load of stuff. Let's just enjoy the view. I brought snacks!" He pulled over to a scenic overlook, popping open the trunk to reveal a wicker basket overflowing with pastries, fruits, and a bottle of sparkling cider.

They sat on the hood of the car, the vast expanse of the night sky above them. Kael hesitantly took a pastry, a delicate cream puff, and bit into it. It was heavenly.

"So," Aaron said, after a comfortable silence, "tell me, Kael, what's it like? Being a male Omega, I mean."

Kael's breath hitched. The question, so direct, so devoid of judgement, caught him off guard. He swallowed hard, the pastry suddenly feeling like a lump in his throat.

"It's… complicated," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Complicated how?" Aaron pressed gently.

Kael looked down at his hands, twisting them in his lap. "It's like living two lives. One where I'm Kael, the servant, the 'weak Beta' who gets pushed around. And another, hidden deep inside, where I'm… an Omega. Something unnatural, something… wrong."

He shivered, remembering the years of carefully concealed heats, the constant fear of discovery, the endless lies.

"It's torturous," he continued, his voice gaining strength, fueled by years of pent-up frustration. "Every day is a performance. I have to be careful what I say, how I act, how I smell. One slip-up, and everything falls apart." He let out a sarcastic laugh, laced with bitterness. "It's ironic, really. I spend all my time trying to hide what I am, while also battling the world's perception of what I'm not – a strong, capable Beta. So either way, I'm always failing."

"And what about your mate?" Aaron asked softly. "Have you found one, and does that change anything?"

Kael swallowed hard. "I did. I'm an Omega and my mate is an Alpha. And… He rejected me. He hates it. A male omega as a mate is embarrassing. He thinks I will ruin his life. I don't blame him. It's just...my life."

“He's a terrible person, how did Veridians even come up with this male Omega horror myth? It's crazy to think about.” 

“I'm not sure but to be fair, male Omegas are extremely rare, males don't present as an Omega. Omega presenting males is probably a punishment to their parents but they don't even exist, I just happen to do.”

“That's still not something I understand.” Aaron paused for a moment as if thinking about what Kael said, “your mate, he is Veridian and lives in the palace, right? Considering how you haven't exactly been out of the palace, I'm assuming he's within the palace too.” Aaron carefully arranged his words as he knows that rejection is to werewolves as severing is to vital organs.

“Yes, he resides within the palace walls.” The way Kael said that made Aaron throw away the idea of proceeding with the mate talk.

Aaron hummed thoughtfully. "Tell me more about the 'weak Beta' persona. How did you end up Alaric's assistant?"

Kael’s brow furrowed, the painful memory resurfacing. "I worked in the kitchens, originally. It was awful. The head chef was… unpleasant. Always finding fault, always… looking for an excuse to lash out." He paused, reluctant to elaborate.

Aaron waited patiently, his gaze unwavering.

Kael sighed. "Alaric's previous personal assistant… he was one of the chef’s favorites. He enjoyed… taking his frustrations out on me. One day, he beat me pretty badly. it's not the first time, but this time... Alaric found out, and… well, he’s not always a bad person. I think he felt sorry for me. He had the assistant dismissed and offered me the position."

He looked away, shame burning in his cheeks. "It wasn't some grand act of kindness. I think he just needed someone pliable, someone who wouldn’t question his orders." Sarcasm dripped from his tone. "And who better than the palace punching bag?"

Aaron reached out, gently placing a hand over Kael's. "Kael," he said, his voice low and earnest, "you are anything but weak. You've survived in a world that actively tries to crush you. That takes strength, resilience, and a hell of a lot of courage."

Kael looked up, surprised by the sincerity in Aaron's eyes. He had never heard anyone say anything like that to him before.

"I… I don't know what to say," he stammered, his voice thick with emotion.

Aaron smiled, a warm, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Just… believe it. You deserve to. And you know what Kael?"

"What?" Kael asked quietly, his heart pounding a little faster.

"You are worthy of love, and you are not an abomination." Aaron said as he held his gaze intently.

Kael stared at him, speechless once more.