Archive of Our Own

Jaemin moves quickly through the empty, dimly-lit corridors of the palace. He pulls his cloak more tightly around himself – with any luck, he’ll make it to the entrance of the secret passage out of the castle without being recognized. When he reaches the spot, however, he’s forced to stop in his tracks at the sight of none other than his brother standing next to the hidden doorway, his arms crossed as if he’s been waiting for Jaemin’s arrival.

“Good evening,” Jaemin says as formally as possible, acutely aware that it’s well past sunset at this point. “What brings you here on this fine night?”

Jaehyun raises an eyebrow. “I am the king, Jaemin,” he says dryly. “I am, in fact, permitted to be wherever I please.”

“Really?” Jaemin says, rolling his eyes and tugging his hood off since there’s clearly no chance of anonymity anymore. “You’re pulling the ‘I’m the king’ card again?”

“Jaemin,” Jaehyun sighs. “What am I going to do with you, hm? This is the sixth time in the last two weeks alone.”

Jaemin has actually left the palace several more times than that, but he certainly isn’t about to admit that he’s been sneaking out on other days besides the ones on which Jaehyun has caught him.

“Jaehyun-hyung,” he says, pouting and widening his eyes pitifully, and even letting out a little distress in his scent. He’s not above using his charms – and his pheromones – to his advantage, even against his own brother. “They’re my friends and they’re expecting me. They might think something bad happened to me if I never show up.”

Jaehyun pinches the bridge of his nose, even as he releases his own calming pheromones in response. “Just be back before the night guard changes,” he finally says in resignation. “I will not bail you out if you get caught this time.” They both know that’s a lie, so Jaemin just nods and smiles brightly.

“Thank you, hyung!” he says, pulling Jaehyun in for a hug. He lingers for a moment, inhaling the comforting scent of leather and mahogany that he grew up with. His brother’s scent has always been his favorite – although these days, he has a bit of competition, now that there’s a different alpha who occupies Jaemin’s mind, day and night. “I’ll be back before you know it,” he promises, kissing Jaehyun’s cheek quickly.

“You had better be,” Jaehyun says, but the warmth in his voice negates any sternness he may have been trying to project.

Jaemin makes his way through the twists and turns of the passageway easily, the journey second nature to him by now, and before long, he’s stealthily walking through the streets of the city towards a familiar little bookshop. He knocks on the door thrice in the usual pattern that lets the inhabitants know who’s outside.

“About time!” comes a loud voice as the door opens. “Jeno was about to run up to the castle to find you himself, you took so long to get here.”

“Donghyuck,” says an exasperated second voice. “Let the man breathe.”

“Donghyuck, Mark-hyung,” Jaemin says, smiling at his friends as he slides his cloak off. “Sorry for making you all worry. Jaehyun-hyung held me up.”

His eyes land on Jeno then, and everything else fades away. He moves towards the alpha automatically, a small smile already growing on his lips as the soft scent of pine and cedarwood fills his senses. He can feel the contentment radiating off of Jeno as he draws closer.

“Prince Jaemin,” Jeno says softly, his face lit up in awe as if seeing Jaemin is a rare privilege rather than something he does nearly every night. “It is good to see you well.”

“Jeno,” Jaemin says, his voice very close to a whine. “How many times must I tell you to address me familiarly?”

Jeno smiles. “I would listen, Prince Jaemin,” he says, “but I am only a man. How can I resist an opportunity to have you pout at me in such an endearing way?”

Jaemin returns the smile shyly. “I know better than to listen to the words of sweet-talking alphas,” he says, batting his eyelashes. “That is a sure path to heartbreak.”

“Then I fear you have only been speaking to unworthy alphas,” Jeno counters, even as his cheeks turn a light shade of pink. “What I say is merely the truth. And it must be said, my prince, if there is a lovelier sight than that of your smile, I have yet to see it.”

Had their friends not been in the room, Jaemin might have actually swooned at that. Jeno is such a delightful mix of contradictions – soft-spoken but eloquent, easily flustered but bold – and Jaemin finds himself falling deeper and deeper every time they meet.

“All right, lovebirds,” Donghyuck calls from where he’s settled next to Mark on the large rug in front of the hearth. Chenle is also with them, bickering about something with Ten. “Stop making us bear witness to your courting and join us. Doyoung-hyung and the others are bringing food soon.”

It’s far from the first time he and Jeno have been called out for their obvious closeness, but Jaemin still flushes a bit as he obliges – though out of pettiness towards Donghyuck, he makes sure to sit as close to Jeno’s side as possible without being on his lap entirely.

“Will you accompany me later?” Jeno murmurs into Jaemin’s ear as Taeyong walks in with a tray of steaming dishes, Doyoung and Kun trailing behind him. “There is something I wish to show you.”

Jaemin thinks there isn’t a single place on earth that he wouldn’t follow Jeno to, so he nods, smiling. “Of course.” Jeno lets out a happy hum, and the note of satisfaction in his scent leaves Jaemin feeling warm for reasons entirely separate from the home-cooked food they’re eating.

After the meal is finished, when Jaemin has thanked Doyoung, Taeyong, and Kun profusely for their usual excellent cooking and said his goodbyes to the others, Jeno guides him out of the shop with a gentle arm around his waist. Jaemin pulls his cloak a little more tightly around his shoulders as they walk through the moonlit streets, shivering slightly as the chilliness of the night air sets in. Without a word, Jeno moves his arm up and holds Jaemin closer to his body, and Jaemin immediately huddles closer, readily accepting the alpha’s embrace.

They enter a small clearing a ways into the woods at the edge of the city, and Jaemin lets out a soft gasp. There’s a beautiful secluded pond at the center, reflecting the light of the moon and the twinkling of the stars. Above the water, fireflies flit around and glow.

“Oh, Jeno,” Jaemin sighs, unable to control the flare of contentment in his scent. “It’s lovely.”

“I first found this place when my parents passed,” Jeno explains, guiding Jaemin to sit on a log near the bank of the pond before taking the spot next to him. “It has become a place of great comfort for me since that day, and I wished to share it with you.”

“Thank you,” Jaemin whispers. He reaches out and squeezes Jeno’s hand briefly. “I am sorry about your parents. You must miss them.”

“I do,” Jeno says, “but I have Doyoung-hyung and Taeyong-hyung who have all but taken me in as their own child.” He laughs softly. “It seems they forget sometimes that I am the same age as Doyoung-hyung’s brother.” Jaemin smiles too at the mention of Donghyuck, who against all odds has become one of Jaemin’s dearest friends.

“I am glad you have found a doting family in them, then,” Jaemin says. “You deserve happiness, Jeno.”

Jeno smiles warmly. “As do you, Prince Jaemin.” He cocks his head to the side and asks, “It is just you and your brother in the palace, is it not?”

“It is.” Jaemin says. “Our parents died just before Jaehyun-hyung was old enough to take the throne, so he was forced to ascend early. It was very difficult for him.” He sighs. “Truthfully, it still is, even now.”

“Are you able to spend much time with him?” Jeno asks curiously. “He must be busy.”

“He is ceaselessly busy, it seems,” Jaemin says with a sad smile. “But he always tells me, he is my brother before he is the king. So he does his best to eat every meal with me, stops in on my lessons when he can, consults with me on political issues even though he is not officially permitted to do so until I turn twenty-one.”

Jeno’s expression is fond as he gazes at Jaemin. “He must love you a great deal.”

“We are each other’s only family now,” Jaemin says, his heart warm at the thought of his brother. “Loving each other gives us strength.”

“Do you –” Jeno hesitates slightly. “Do you wish to expand your family some day?”

Jaemin grins. “Jeno!” he says playfully. “Are you asking me whether I want to have pups?”

Jeno runs a hand through his hair, looking shy. “I am aware that although omegas have the ability, not all wish to bear children. I did not mean to offend.”

“Well,” Jaemin says, “I am not offended. I do wish to bear children.” Even just admitting it out loud sends a rush of excitement through him – judging by the little gasp that escapes Jeno’s lips, he likes the idea as well. “I want to have a large family, and feel my babies grow inside me, and have my mate dote over me, massaging my tummy and my feet whenever I ask.”

“Yes,” Jeno breathes, and he says it softly enough that it was probably not meant for Jaemin’s ears. But Jaemin does hear it, and the vision of his future, with several pups running around him while he sits with a hand on his round belly, now includes Jeno by his side, kissing his temple and brushing his hair off his forehead, looking at him and their beautiful family with adoration. When Jaemin comes back to reality, he finds that Jeno is looking at him with something close to yearning on his face. “You deserve to have all of that, my prince.”

Jaemin swallows and chances leaning a bit closer. “What about you, Jeno? Do you wish to sire pups?”

“I –” Jeno licks his lips, and Jaemin’s eyes automatically track the movement before returning to Jeno’s eyes. “I do,” he says hoarsely. “Having children with my mate, raising our babies together, knowing that they are perfect combinations of the two of us – I desire it with all my heart.”

“Then I hope you get to have it,” Jaemin says sincerely, his throat dry. If I were your omega, he thinks, I would make certain that your dream becomes reality. I would bear all the children you wanted and more.

“Prince Jaemin,” Jeno says quietly, and his hand makes an aborted movement, as if he was about to reach out and cup Jaemin’s face but thought better of it at the last minute. “It is no surprise that your brother loves you as he does. You are easy to love.”

Jaemin’s heart stutters in his chest. “Jeno,” he says. “Have care of what you say, or I may develop incorrect ideas about your intentions.”

Jeno looks at him, his eyes never leaving Jaemin’s face. “I fear,” he says, “that any ideas you have developed about my intentions are indeed correct.”

“In that case, this is quite improper,” Jaemin says, managing to crack a teasing smile despite how flustered he feels, and the heavy intimacy of their conversation lifts slightly. “The two of us in a secluded location together, unchaperoned?”

“You are a knight, my prince. I have the utmost confidence that you could defend yourself from any unwanted advances,” Jeno says. Bashfully, he ducks his head and adds, “Though I must confess that I hope nothing that occurs between us is unwanted.”

“Occurs between us?” Jaemin asks, widening his eyes faux-innocently. “Why, Jeno, how forward of you!”

Jeno blushes prettily. “I only meant – that is, I enjoy our time together very much, and it would make me immeasurably happy to know you feel the same.”

Jaemin loves to tease, loves to be playful, but Jeno is so sincere, so honest with his words that Jaemin has to give in. “Of course,” he says softly, and now it’s his turn to blush. “Truthfully, I am never happier than when I am with you.”

The scent of pleased alpha fills the air as Jeno beams at him, his eyes disappearing into little crescents, and Jaemin internally preens – he made his alpha smell like this, made his alpha this happy. “Prince Jaemin,” Jeno breathes, and his movements are careful, hesitant as he reaches out to Jaemin. Of course, Jaemin isn’t about to shy away from Jeno’s touch, and readily places his hand in Jeno’s. Jeno brushes his thumb tenderly across the back of Jaemin’s hand before drawing it up to his lips and pressing a soft kiss against his knuckles.

“Won’t you call me by my name, Jeno?” Jaemin whispers. “Even just once?”

“If I did,” Jeno says, kissing the back of Jaemin’s hand again and gazing directly into Jaemin’s eyes, his pupils dilated, “I fear I would never be able to stop.”

Then don’t stop, Jaemin wants to say, startlingly aroused by the look in Jeno’s eyes. Call me Jaemin forever. But he can’t say that, doesn’t want to disrupt the delicate little dance they’ve become accustomed to, so he just smiles and squeezes Jeno’s hand gently. “Perhaps next time, then,” he says.

Jeno smiles, his face lighting up radiantly and leaving Jaemin breathless. “Next time,” Jeno agrees.

And they sit together until it’s time for Jaemin to leave, admiring the moon and the stars – but mostly relishing every precious moment they can get of each other’s company.

~~~

It’s implausible for Jaemin to leave the palace every night, no matter how much he wishes he could, but he manages to maintain a steady record of sneaking out at least three times a week. In the weeks following his excursion with Jeno to the moonlit pond, Jaemin spends more time alone with Jeno than he ever has before, as they frequently return to the hidden clearing. They get teased for it, of course – it’s no secret amongst their friends that Jeno is very much enamored with the prince and that Jaemin wholeheartedly returns those feelings – but Jaemin doesn’t mind. He would endure anything to continue sharing those private, sweet conversations with Jeno.

He’s already fantasizing about what tonight’s trip to the pond will entail as he makes his way to the secret passage, not as aware of his surroundings as he probably should be, and he walks straight into someone who seems to be camped outside the entrance of the passageway.

“Jaemin,” says a very familiar voice. “I cannot believe you.”

“Good evening to you too, Renjun,” Jaemin says, stepping backwards to take in the sight of his closest friend in the palace guarding the entrance with his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face.

“Jaemin-hyung,” comes a second, meeker voice from behind Jaemin. He turns to see his personal servant, Jisung, glancing nervously between him and Renjun. “I tried to tell him to leave it, but he insisted.”

“It’s okay, Jisungie,” Jaemin says, letting out a calming scent in the hopes of soothing the younger omega. Jisung has been by Jaemin’s side since he was old enough to walk, and Jaemin’s nurturing instincts first manifested in the form of Jaemin practically raising the boy, so it’s habit at this point to make sure he isn’t distressed for any reason. “I’m not upset with you.” When he’s sure Jisung is okay, he faces Renjun again and sighs. “You on the other hand...well? What is it this time?”

The alpha lets out an exasperated huff. “Why do you insist on making everything so difficult?” he asks. “Is it really such an inconvenience to stay put in the palace instead of running about like some wild child every night? You’re twenty years old, not some rebellious teenager.”

“As I’ve told you repeatedly, I’m not doing it to be rebellious,” Jaemin says, rolling his eyes. “I just want to meet my friends.” And my alpha, he doesn’t say, because Renjun might really go feral if he did.

“Are they really worth all this?” Renjun asks.

Jaemin narrows his eyes. “Absolutely,” he says without hesitation. He thinks about Doyoung’s cozy shop, Taeyong’s warm meals, Ten’s sharp wit, Kun and Chenle’s fierce protectiveness, Mark and Donghyuck’s entertaining banter, and of course, Jeno’s perfect, wonderful everything, and feels furious on their behalf. “They are absolutely worth it. Don’t you dare ever imply otherwise.”

Renjun looks suitably chastised by Jaemin’s outburst, and an uncomfortable silence descends over them. A few moments later, Jisung clears his throat. “Maybe, maybe Renjun-hyung should see for himself,” he suggests timidly. “He could come with us.”

“Jisung, that’s brilliant!” Jaemin says, beaming at the younger boy. “How did I not think of it before? Renjun, you’re coming with us this time. Once you meet them, you’ll understand.”

“I don’t really think –” Renjun starts to say, but Jaemin doesn’t let him finish, tugging him along by the elbow as Jisung leads the way through the passage. Renjun continues to complain until they exit the palace walls, after which he gives in and stops his protests.

Jeno is the one to open the door when Jaemin arrives at the bookshop with Renjun and Jisung in tow. “Prince Jaemin,” he says brightly, stepping aside to let them in. “How beautiful you look tonight.” He spots Jisung behind Jaemin and smiles at him too. “And Jisung, it is wonderful to see you again.”

“Jeno,” Jaemin says, inordinately pleased by the compliment – he did, in fact, apply a bit of makeup before leaving, just to see if Jeno would notice. “Won’t you call me Jaemin, please?” he continues, peering up at Jeno through his eyelashes, though he knows he’ll be refused as always.

There’s a smile tugging at Jeno’s lips as he opens his mouth to reply, but the air is suddenly filled with a very potent, threatening scent, and he falters. Jaemin is affected by it too – Renjun has never let out his scent so strongly before. He turns to find Renjun glaring at Jeno, his eyes narrowed and his teeth bared, while next to him, Jisung is cowering slightly from the strength of the alpha’s pheromones. Poor Jeno looks like he wants to challenge Renjun, but he must have seen the rich embroidery on Renjun’s clothes and decided that he shouldn’t engage in a fight with a noble’s son.

When Jeno meets Jaemin’s eyes, Jaemin feels like he’s been kicked in the chest as he takes in the shuttered expression on Jeno’s face. He can smell the hurt emanating from Jeno, and he desperately tries to make his own scent soothing to calm him, berating himself for not realizing right away what all this seems like to Jeno, who has no idea who Renjun is to Jaemin. To any outsider’s eye, Renjun’s actions certainly look like those of a mate staking his claim against a potential opponent.

Jaemin is about to yell at Renjun for giving his true alpha the absolute wrong idea about them, but before he can speak, Donghyuck, Mark, and Chenle saunter in, the former two settling down on the cushioned window seat together and the latter taking a seat on one of the benches in the sitting area.

“We smelled an unbelievably enticing scent,” Mark says, his eyes scanning the room before zeroing in on Renjun. “Could it possibly have been coming from this lovely stranger?”

The scent of defensive alpha is immediately replaced by confusion from Renjun, who looks scandalized as he turns towards Mark and Donghyuck. Jeno, Jaemin notes, seems mortified by the way Mark just addressed the man he probably thinks is Jaemin’s mate.

“Wow,” Donghyuck says, letting out a low whistle when he catches sight of Renjun’s face. “Jaemin, who is this?”

“This is Renjun, my best friend,” Jaemin says, pulling Renjun forward and hoping that Jeno noticed the emphasis he placed on Renjun’s role in his life. “He has been worrying recently about my nightly excursions, so Jisung suggested that I bring him here to meet all my friends so he could see for himself.”

“Well,” Mark says, eyeing Renjun up and down appreciatively, “we certainly aren’t going to complain.” Jaemin is a bit surprised – it’s no secret that Mark and Donghyuck are all but mated, yet here they are, drooling over an unfamiliar alpha.

“If you’re all quite done checking me out,” Renjun says, his mouth stretched into a thin line. Interestingly, he’s avoiding looking at both Mark and Donghyuck directly, though Jaemin can see his eyes flickering to them fleetingly every few seconds.

“Not quite, doll,” Donghyuck says with a wink. “Why don’t you come sit with Mark-hyung and me, and we can all get to know each other better?”

“What a wonderful idea!” Jaemin says, speaking up for his friend because Renjun absolutely isn’t going to do it himself. “You certainly should.”

Emboldened by Jaemin’s approval, Mark reaches out and gently tugs Renjun down so he’s seated partially in both his and Donghyuck’s laps. It’s almost comical, Jaemin thinks, because despite being an alpha, Renjun is quite small compared to the other two. He’s also bright red, which Jaemin knows is a good sign for the outcome Donghyuck and Mark are apparently hoping for – Renjun only ever gets flustered when he’s genuinely affected by someone.

With Renjun occupied and Jisung cheerfully starting a conversation with Chenle, Jaemin takes the opportunity to turn to Jeno, who has already moved closer. “Will you join me?” Jeno asks, looking a bit nervous.

Jaemin nods readily. “Always, Jeno,” he says, and some of the anxiety disappears from Jeno’s face.

Wordlessly, Jeno holds out his arm, and Jaemin takes it, allowing himself to be led out of the bookshop and towards an unfamiliar cottage. Jeno unlocks the door with practiced ease and ushers Jaemin in with a hand on the small of his back. Jaemin silently mourns the loss of contact when Jeno moves away to light a few lanterns, but once he’s able to see, he takes the opportunity to drink in the space where Jeno lives, inhaling the delicious scent of pine and cedarwood that he’s grown so addicted to.

“I know it is not much,” Jeno says a bit bashfully, his hand back on Jaemin’s waist as he leads Jaemin over to the sitting area and helps him onto the loveseat. “But I have wanted to bring you here for many months now. And I also felt we should be alone for what I wish to say to you.”

Jaemin swallows. Could it be? he wonders, feeling giddy. Could Jeno truly be confessing to me tonight? “What is it?” he asks, his heart in his throat.

“I am sorry, Prince Jaemin,” Jeno says earnestly. Jaemin exhales slowly – of course, he should have realized that Jeno is still thinking about what happened in the bookshop. “I assumed the nature of your relationship with Renjun, simply because he is an alpha, and I should not have. I hope you can forgive me. Of course I know you would not, with me, if you were truly – I mean, you would never –”

“There is nothing to forgive,” Jaemin interrupts, releasing his calming scent just as he did earlier in the bookshop. This time, he gets to watch Jeno become noticeably soothed, and he almost starts purring from the satisfaction of successfully reassuring his alpha. “Renjun has always been overprotective, but there is no excuse for him threatening you and acting as if he is my mate.”

“So he is not –” Jeno says, and there’s something very much like hope in his eyes. “You are not – with him.”

“I am unclaimed and unmated,” Jaemin says. “Though I confess that there is someone I would certainly allow to change that. I would even bare my neck for him right here.”

Jeno’s face turns pink even as his eyes darken slightly, and Jaemin hopes he’s imagining claiming and mating with Jaemin the same way Jaemin is imagining it right now. “Prince Jaemin,” Jeno says, his voice low. “You should mind your words, unless you are willing to accept the consequences of them.”

“And if I were willing?” Jaemin asks, feeling bold. He’s suddenly grateful that Jeno brought them here, because he’s sure that even with Renjun distracted by the attractive beta and omega fawning over him, there’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed the scent of arousal coming off of Jaemin if they were still in the shop.

“If you were willing,” Jeno says, his voice nearly a growl now, “I would keep you here for a week and show you what it means to be claimed. To be mated.” Jaemin feels such a powerful spark of arousal at the words that he has to suppress a moan at the thought of what it would be like if it were to actually happen. For a moment, Jeno’s words linger in the air around them, crackling in their intensity, but then Jeno drops his gaze and takes a deep breath. “Forgive me. I have overstepped.”

“It is not overstepping,” Jaemin says in a small voice, “if it is welcome.”

“My prince,” Jeno says, his voice ever-so gentle. He swallows and tentatively reaches out to take Jaemin’s hand – Jaemin, helpless in the face of Jeno’s reverent touches, accepts without a second thought. “If only you knew how I wish I could.” The feather-light kiss that Jeno brushes across Jaemin’s knuckles has Jaemin squeezing his eyes shut so no tears escape.

“We should head back,” Jaemin says faintly. “Renjun is surely wondering where I am.”

“As you wish,” Jeno says, carefully tugging Jaemin up. Jaemin turns to leave, but Jeno tightens his hold on Jaemin’s hand briefly, keeping him in place. “Prince Jaemin,” he says, his scent slightly distressed. “Surely you must know what it is I feel for you. And although I know I cannot act on them, please never think my feelings aren’t true.”

“I know,” Jaemin says, his voice thick. “I would never think that, Jeno. I know your feelings are as true as mine.”

It’s as close to a confession as they’ve ever gotten, and Jeno’s words linger in Jaemin’s mind as he returns to the palace with Renjun and Jisung, wrapped in his cloak that Jeno scented for him. All he wants to do when he reaches his room is collapse on his bed and maybe finger himself to the memory of Jeno promising to show him what it means to be mated, but Renjun apparently has other plans.

“Jaemin,” Renjun hisses as soon as Jisung has left them in Jaemin’s room. “Why didn’t you tell me that you and some peasant boy are courting? And an alpha, at that?”

Jaemin is immediately offended. “He’s not ‘some peasant boy,’” he says hotly. “His name is Jeno, and he’s the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful man I’ve ever met. The best possible alpha.” He cowers slightly under Renjun’s incredulous stare but keeps going, determined. “And what’s wrong with him being an alpha, anyway? You’re an alpha.”

“I’m not interested in mating you,” Renjun says flatly. “And this Jeno certainly is.”

Jaemin can’t help the fluttery feeling in his stomach at those words – the idea of Jeno being his mate is far from an unwelcome one. “Well, even if he is, it doesn’t matter,” he forces himself to say. “We – we aren’t courting.”

“He scented your cloak,” Renjun says, “and not for the first time, I imagine. Would I be remiss to guess that if your nest were made right now, it would smell like him?”

“And what if it did?” Jaemin snaps, annoyed at Renjun’s nagging even though rationally, he knows Renjun is just looking out for him. “His scent calms me, and yes, I like being surrounded by it during my heats and imagining that he is the one helping me through them.” He gives Renjun an imploring look. “Look, he – he’s wonderful to me. He’s such a warm person, and he takes care of me, and he sees me. He sees me,” he stresses. “Na Jaemin, the boy who likes – who loves him, not just Prince Jaemin.”

Renjun’s expression softens. “I know, Jaemin. Clearly, you have already chosen him,” he says. “I just wish you had told me. I know I have been...reluctant to accept you going out so often, but it is only because I worry for you.”

“I know,” Jaemin says, his own annoyance dissipating. “I am sorry for snapping at you, Renjun. I just – he is very important to me. I didn’t want to tell anyone out of fear that – that we might be separated.”

“You will have to tell the king eventually,” Renjun says gently. “And he is not unreasonable. He loves you, and if he knew how deeply you care for your Jeno, he would not disregard that.”

Jaemin nods mutely, knowing deep inside that Renjun is right. He mulls over Renjun’s words even after Renjun has bid him goodnight, lying in bed with his eyes wide open. One day he’ll have to tell Jaehyun everything – a daunting, terrifying prospect. But he imagines what life could be after that – a life with Jeno by his side, forever – and knows that to make that his reality, he would do anything.

~~~

In hindsight, Jaemin should have known that his prickliness during his conversation with Renjun – and even his sensitivity when he was with Jeno before that – was due in part to his upcoming heat. Now, even as he moves swiftly through the passage out of the castle and through the streets of the city, he can feel it coming, can almost taste his own scent in the air as he makes his way to Jeno’s door.

It was a split-second decision, choosing to sneak out tonight, and a dangerous one at that – an omega in heat, even one trained in combat like Jaemin, is both an easy target and a coveted one for alphas and betas with malicious intentions. But Jaemin had imagined lying on his bed alone, trying to use his fingers and mere memories of Jeno to satisfy himself, and had known that he wouldn’t be able to take it. He needs Jeno right now, because nothing else will do, and that makes all the risk of getting to his destination worth it.

When he reaches Jeno’s cottage, he raises his hand to knock, but before he can, the door is already being yanked open. Jaemin immediately knows that Jeno must have smelled him from all the way down the street. The thought of it, somehow, sends a rush of arousal through him.

Jeno shuts the door firmly behind Jaemin before turning to him, his eyes wide and dark. “Prince Jaemin,” he says breathlessly. “You should not have come here tonight. Your scent – you are nearly in heat.”

“Yes,” Jaemin says, drawing closer. “That is precisely why I had no choice but to come here tonight. I felt it coming, and...and I want you, Jeno.” He nuzzles into Jeno’s neck, pressing light kisses there and inhaling the rich scent of pine and cedarwood as Jeno stands stock-still. “We have avoided it for so long, but I can’t wait anymore, I can’t. Would you deny your omega, alpha?”

“Jaemin,” Jeno whispers in a broken voice, pushing him away to hold him at arm’s length. Jaemin’s knees threaten to buckle at the sound of his name, without his title attached, falling from Jeno’s lips for the first time. “Please...think carefully about what you are asking of me.”

“I know what I am asking,” Jaemin says insistently. “I know what I want, what I need. I have known for a long time who my alpha is, Jeno. The only one I could ever think to be with has always been you.”

“I –” Jeno hesitates, and Jaemin can see his resolve crumbling. “Of course it is only you for me as well, my prince.” He brings up a trembling hand and cups Jaemin’s cheek reverently. Jaemin leans into the touch automatically. “But how can I possibly – you are the king’s brother, and I am no one. He will have my head when he hears that I have... defiled his beloved brother.”

“No,” Jaemin says fiercely, placing his hand over Jeno’s. “He will not hear anything of the sort, because you are Lee Jeno, my chosen alpha, the man I asked to help me through my heat.” He takes a deep breath and gazes intently into Jeno’s eyes. “My...my mate. I-If you would have me, that is.”

Jeno inhales sharply, and that seems to have been his breaking point, because the next moment, his lips are pressed to Jaemin’s. “I would,” he breathes, one arm wrapping around Jaemin’s waist and pulling him closer. “I will. My prince, my love –”

Jaemin lets out a genuine whine at the devastatingly affectionate name and kisses Jeno again. “Jeno,” he says when they have to separate in order to breathe. “Jeno, please, I need you.”

The last thing Jaemin expects is to be hoisted into the air – Jeno is not a large alpha, nearly exactly the same size as Jaemin, and has always worn long-sleeved tunics that have never given any indication of him being particularly muscular. Jaemin lets out a yelp as he’s lifted, taken by surprise but also more than a little aroused by Jeno’s unexpected strength. He instinctively wraps his legs around Jeno, rubbing his face against Jeno’s scent gland as Jeno carries him to the bed. By the time they reach, Jaemin has started lightly rutting against the hardness he can already feel in Jeno’s pants, his own underwear thoroughly soaked with slick.

Jeno lays him on his back and settles between his legs, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips before pulling away. “Beautiful,” he says, and Jaemin flushes under the intensity of Jeno’s gaze. Kind, gentle Jeno, who has never treated Jaemin with anything other than the utmost respect, is now eyeing Jaemin like he wants to devour him. Jaemin feels himself rapidly becoming wetter at the thought of what Jeno could do to him.

“Off,” Jaemin says, tugging at the waistband of his pants. “Take them off, I need...I need –”

“Shhh,” Jeno says, silencing Jaemin with another tender kiss. “Relax, Jaemin, sweetheart. I will take care of you.” Jaemin is on the verge of tears as Jeno ever-so-gently peels Jaemin’s clothes and undergarments off. “Look at you,” Jeno whispers, caressing Jaemin’s bare thighs, his eyes fixed directly between them. Suddenly embarrassed, Jaemin tries to close his legs, but Jeno effortlessly holds them open and leans down to lick at the wetness leaking out of Jaemin.

“Jeno!” Jaemin keens, arching his back with a gasp. “Don’t – it’s dirty!”

“Nothing about you is dirty,” Jeno says, pressing a kiss against Jaemin’s hole, which has Jaemin clenching desperately on nothing.

Jaemin’s hands find Jeno’s hair and grip the strands tightly. “Please, please, I want...need you in me.” Jeno laughs softly before driving his tongue directly into Jaemin, and Jaemin lets out a sound he didn’t know he was capable of making. “A-Ah – Jeno!”

“You taste so sweet, love,” Jeno says, licking into Jaemin like he’s starved. “Even better than I had imagined.” The idea that Jeno had imagined this, perhaps laid in this very bed, picturing this exact scene, the same way Jaemin has night after night, has another gush of slick dribbling all over Jeno’s mouth and Jaemin’s thighs. When Jeno looks up at Jaemin, his lips and chin are glistening, and part of Jaemin wants to hide in embarrassment at how wet he must be for Jeno to look like this after such a short time.

“J-Jeno,” Jaemin says, his thighs trembling as Jeno dives back in hungrily. “You can’t, you can’t, I’ll come!”

Jeno shoves his tongue in particularly roughly before pulling away and licking across Jaemin’s hole. “Then come,” he pants, kissing the tip of Jaemin’s cock before sucking on it lightly. “Come on my tongue, angel, so it will feel even better when you come again on my cock.”

Jaemin lets out a wail as Jeno licks his way into Jaemin’s hole once again, trying to rock his hips against Jeno’s face but unable to because Jeno is firmly holding him down. “I...I – Jeno!” And with a well-aimed thrust of his tongue, Jeno has Jaemin coming apart, his seed spurting all across his own belly and chest.

“Perfect,” Jeno says, pressing a final kiss to Jaemin’s hole before pulling away to admire his handiwork. “So good for me, Jaemin, so gorgeous. Breathtaking.” A moment later, he’s licking Jaemin’s release off his torso, trailing kisses along the skin there and briefly sucking on his right nipple, before kissing Jaemin deeply. Jaemin moans as he melts into the kiss, tasting his own slick and seed and already hardening again from it.

“Take off your clothes,” Jaemin manages to say between kisses. “Not fair that only I’m naked.”

“As my prince wishes,” Jeno says, pressing another chaste kiss to Jaemin’s lips. In one easy movement, Jeno’s shirt is off, and Jaemin whimpers at the sight of the muscle Jeno has been hiding all this time. The next moment, Jeno’s trousers are gone too, and all thoughts vanish besides the desire to have Jeno’s cock in him.

“Inside me, Jeno, please,” Jaemin begs. “I’m so empty without you. I’ve waited so long.”

“Patience, darling,” Jeno murmurs, kissing up Jaemin’s torso, pausing to once again give special attention to his nipples and drawing a long moan out of Jaemin as he sucks on the left one this time. “I will give you everything you want. Everything my prince, my omega, deserves.” His lips meet Jaemin’s sloppily as his hand moves to caress Jaemin’s cock before slipping further down.

“Yes,” Jaemin gasps as two of Jeno’s fingers slide inside him, an obscene sound filling the room as the fingers glide through his slick. “Your omega, yours, Jeno. Always.”

Jeno smiles against his lips. “As I am yours, Jaemin,” he says, accentuating his words with a thrust of his fingers. “Always.” He adds a third finger, which Jaemin clenches around desperately, craving a fuller feeling that Jeno’s fingers can give him.

He whines when Jeno pulls his fingers out suddenly, only to gasp when he feels the head of Jeno’s cock replacing them not a second later. Jeno slowly pushes all the way in, and Jaemin lets out a gasp at the sensation of being truly full. “You can move,” he says, trying to rock his hips in encouragement. “Please, Jeno, take me.”

“As you wish, my prince,” Jeno says, his reverent tone in direct contrast to the filthy sound of his cock starting to slide in and out of Jaemin’s messy hole. “Tell me everything you want, love, and I will give it to you.”

“I want –” Jaemin hiccups as Jeno hits a spot that has him momentarily seeing stars, and it’s as if a filter inside him has been removed. “I want your knot, I want to feel your seed inside me. Want it to take, want your pups, want you to breed me!” He tries pushing back against Jeno’s hips to take him impossibly deeper. “Want...want your claiming mark on my neck. Jeno, alpha, haven’t I been so good for you? Don’t I deserve it?”

Jeno groans, and Jaemin thinks he feels Jeno’s cock swell even more inside him. “You want my pups, sweetheart?” he asks, his voice nearly a growl as he thrusts harder into Jaemin. “You want to be bred? You want to be marked as mine? Does my omega want his alpha’s seed?”

“Y-Yes, I want it!” Jaemin sobs, clinging to Jeno’s shoulders, delirious with pleasure. “Won’t I look s-so good pregnant, Jeno? Big and round with your children?”

“I will give you all the children you want,” Jeno promises. “I’ll fill you up, fill you with my pups, keep you full of me always.”

And even though Jaemin knows they can’t – knows this is all a fantasy because the last thing a prince can do is be claimed and impregnated by a commoner who isn’t married to him, who isn’t even formally courting him – in this moment he believes that Jeno could do it, could tie them together and force his seed inside Jaemin’s womb until it has no choice but to take. The thought is enough to send him over the edge, and he comes untouched for the second time tonight, clenching around the cock that Jeno is relentlessly shoving deeper and deeper inside Jaemin.

“Jeno, Jeno, Jeno,” Jaemin whimpers as the aftershocks of his release settle down. “Don’t...don’t stop. Need you, want you to stay in me.”

“I won’t stop, angel,” Jeno says, kissing him deeply. “Not until I have you stuffed with my seed. So good for me, so wet, so tight, so perfect.”

It doesn’t take long before Jeno lets out a low groan and spills inside Jaemin, taking care not to push his knot in, no matter how much Jaemin begs for it. “Feels good,” Jaemin mumbles, enjoying the warm, unfamiliar sensation of Jeno’s release coating his walls. “Feels full.”

“Pretty,” Jeno says, peppering light kisses all over Jaemin’s torso and face. “You are so pretty, Jaemin. Especially when you’re full of me.”

He slowly starts pulling out, but Jaemin whines and shakes his head, grabbing at Jeno’s arms. “No, want you to stay,” he says, unable to stop his eyes from filling with tears. “Stay in me, alpha.”

Jeno presses a tender kiss on Jaemin’s forehead. “I want to, love. But we must clean you up.” Jaemin lets out a weak sob as Jeno gets off the bed to grab a damp cloth, which he uses to wipe Jaemin’s body down gently but thoroughly. When he’s done, Jaemin immediately pulls Jeno back onto the bed and cuddles into him. Jeno automatically holds him close, stroking his back soothingly, and Jaemin lets Jeno’s arms and scent envelop him in a cocoon of safety, knowing they have less than half an hour before the next wave of his heat hits. He mouths at the scent gland on Jeno’s neck for a while, fantasizing about leaving a claiming mark there so everyone will know Jeno is taken.

“Jeno, if I meant everything I said before, what would you do?” Jaemin asks hesitantly after a few minutes of comfortable silence, afraid to meet Jeno’s eyes. It’s one thing to talk about breeding and pups in the throes of passion, but another to admit that what he said is a fantasy he desperately wants to come true. “If I really do want to have your pups, and wear your claiming bite, and raise a family with you?”

“Then I will do everything in my power to give it to you,” Jeno says unhesitatingly. He kisses Jaemin’s forehead, his cheeks, and finally his lips as if he’s sealing a promise. “You are everything I want, love. To be able to call you my mate, the mother of my children...there is nothing more I could ask for.”

“Jeno,” Jaemin whispers. “My Jeno, my perfect Jeno. What good deed have I done to deserve you?”

“My Jaemin,” Jeno says adoringly, stroking his cheek. “My beautiful, strong Jaeminnie. You deserve the best simply for being you. It is I who must have performed some outstanding feat to have the privilege of holding you in my arms.”

“I love you,” Jaemin says, so overwhelmed by the reverence in Jeno’s voice that he’s unable to respond in any other way. “I love you very much.”

Jeno exhales, his eyes shining as he smiles radiantly. “And I love you,” he says, kissing Jaemin softly. “I adore you with everything in me.”

Jaemin had known when he came here that he would not be able to spend his entire heat with Jeno – he must return to the palace before dawn to avoid suspicion, which means they only have a few more hours together. But as he feels the next wave begin to hit him, as he starts rutting against Jeno once more and feels Jeno’s fingers find his hole again, Jaemin thinks that even this short amount of time together is preferable to the alternative. He has no regrets.

~~~

The days following his heat are agonizing for Jaemin. Jaehyun and Renjun always tend to become particularly overprotective during this period, refusing point-blank to let him leave the palace until he has, in their words, “fully recovered.”

Personally, Jaemin thinks that what he truly needs to recover is to be in Jeno’s arms again – but of course, he can hardly tell two already-tense alphas that all he wants is to be with the man who helped him through the first night of his heat, unless he actually wants to be banned from leaving the castle forever. At this point, he’s just grateful that Renjun knew beforehand about the clothing Jeno scented for Jaemin, because otherwise it would have been impossible to explain away the lingering scent of pine and cedarwood in his room following his secret visit to Jeno’s house.

When Jaemin is finally allowed out of the palace, over a week has passed since the night he spent with Jeno, and he’s practically vibrating out of his skin during the seemingly endless walk to the bookstore in anticipation of seeing his alpha again. Renjun accompanies him, using the excuse that Jaemin still needs someone to be with him “just in case,” pointedly refusing to mention Mark and Donghyuck by name the whole way there as they discuss who they’ll be seeing again in the bookshop. Jaemin politely refrains from making any suggestive remarks about the fact that Renjun has dolled himself up far more than he usually does – after all, he’s done the same.

“Hello, everyone,” Jaemin says when they enter the bookstore, his eyes immediately scanning the room for Jeno. “I know it has been a while. Unfortunately, I was confined to the castle by some people –” he shoots an exaggerated glare in Renjun’s direction – “following my heat.”

“At least you’re here now,” Donghyuck says as Mark nods vigorously next to him, neither of them even remotely looking in Jaemin’s direction. Jaemin tries not to choke on the sudden explosion of Renjun’s embarrassed and pleased scent as he attempts to pretend that he isn’t visibly blossoming under Donghyuck and Mark’s gazes.

“Where is Jeno?” Jaemin asks, after several long moments of being unable to spot Jeno anywhere in the room.

“Here he is,” Doyoung says as he emerges from behind one of the shelves, carefully helping Jeno in with a hand on his back. Even though Jaemin is well aware that Doyoung is happily mated, something possessive inside him flares up, hissing and furious at the sight of another omega touching his alpha so familiarly. “His rut will be starting soon, so Taeyong and I were just making sure he’s all prepared.”

Jaemin’s mouth goes dry as Jeno’s eyes meet his, darker than usual but no less beautiful. “Prince Jaemin,” Jeno says, and Jaemin hadn’t realized how much he missed the sound of Jeno’s voice until this moment. “You look radiant tonight.”

“Jeno,” Jaemin says softly, stepping towards him. “Won’t you call me Jaemin?”

Something flickers in Jeno’s eyes, and a flare of heat goes straight to Jaemin’s gut at the memory of the last time Jeno called him by his name, when he woke up from a short nap to find himself lying on top of Jeno with Jeno’s cock still buried deep inside him. “Another time, my prince,” Jeno says, gently taking Jaemin’s hand and kissing the back of it. Unlike all the times before, this feels like a promise.

“Okay,” Jaemin whispers. “Another time, then.”

“Perhaps Jaemin should help Jeno back home,” Mark suggests. “It will do Jeno good to be away from all our scents.”

“And what of Jaemin’s scent?” Renjun asks, eyeing Jaemin sharply. Jaemin tries to silently convey that he’ll be fine, that he can be trusted with a task as simple as bringing Jeno home, even if Jeno is about to start his rut.

Jeno formally bows to Renjun, a move that clearly takes Renjun by surprise – Jaemin has to force himself not to laugh at the bewildered expression on Renjun’s face. “You have my word that I will not lay a hand on Prince Jaemin beyond what he permits,” Jeno says. A clever way of phrasing it, Jaemin thinks, because he will permit Jeno to touch him in any way, in all ways.

Renjun seems to realize that Jaemin won’t back down from this, because he nods tersely at Jeno and casts another pointed look in Jaemin’s direction. “Be careful, Jaemin,” he says, with the tone of someone who knows his advice will not be heeded. “Do not do anything stupid.”

“I will be as cautious as the circumstances call for,” Jaemin says, proud of himself for coming up with a way to say something without saying anything at all. “No need to wait for me,” he continues. “I will stay and make sure Jeno is settled in and comfortable, and return to the palace after.”

“I’m sure you will,” Donghyuck says with a smirk. Renjun smacks him lightly on the arm in reprimand, but Jaemin just smiles smugly and turns to Jeno.

“Shall we?” he asks, taking Jeno’s arm. Jeno doesn’t say anything as he opens the door for Jaemin, but the look in his eyes and the strength of the scent radiating off of him have Jaemin trembling in anticipation.

As soon as the door of Jeno’s cottage closes behind them, Jaemin is lifted up and pinned against the wall as Jeno starts licking and nibbling his way down Jaemin’s throat. “J-Jeno,” Jaemin moans, draping his arms around Jeno’s shoulders as Jeno starts rutting against him. “More, more.”

Jeno growls quietly and draws away from where he is nuzzling Jaemin’s scent gland to messily kiss Jaemin’s mouth instead. “Smell so good,” he says before sucking on Jaemin’s tongue harshly, drawing a long whine out of Jaemin. “My good omega, already so wet for me, ready for my knot.”

“Yes, knot me,” Jaemin says breathlessly, chasing Jeno’s lips when he pulls away momentarily. He grinds down against Jeno’s cock, the contact against his slick hole sending tremors through his body even with the layers of fabric between them. “Make me f-full, alpha.”

Jeno’s movements speed up at that, and all Jaemin can do is cling to Jeno’s shoulders and wrap his legs more tightly around Jeno’s waist so that even with their clothes in the way, he can feel the head of Jeno’s cock catching slightly against his rim with every thrust. Jeno comes a moment later with a groan, and Jaemin’s hole clenches as he wishes that Jeno had been inside him for it.

As Jaemin continues to writhe in Jeno’s hold, fruitlessly trying to get more friction against his hole, Jeno’s eyes clear as he comes down from his high and a look of horror crosses his face. “We...we cannot do this,” he says, setting Jaemin down before forcibly tearing himself away. “I should not have...I apologize, darling.”

“Jeno, I wanted it,” Jaemin tries to say, but Jeno is shaking his head, running a hand through his hair frantically.

“I crossed the line of what is appropriate,” he says, his eyes wide. “I did not intend to force you here during my rut, my love. I am truly sorry.”

“Force me?” Jaemin asks, frowning at Jeno’s sudden change in attitude. “You shared my heat with me. Did you imagine I would not be willing to do the same for you in your rut? Do you regret it now?”

“Jaemin,” Jeno says, looking pained. “Of course I would never regret anything shared between us, but this is different from your heat. I tend to become...during my rut, I will not be the same type of lover that I was then. I am...rough, even brutal at times. And I do not want to hurt you, even by accident.”

Jaemin exhales, finally understanding what is making Jeno so apprehensive. “Of course I liked when you were gentle, but...did you ever think that perhaps I want you to be rough, that I want to be manhandled and pinned down and ravished by you?” He straightens up to his full height and looks Jeno in the eye fiercely. “I am not delicate, Jeno. I can take it.”

Jeno swallows, still looking uncertain, but Jaemin can smell the arousal coming off of him in waves – he wants this too. “Are you absolutely sure?” he asks. “Because I could never forgive myself if...if something were to happen to you because of me.”

“I am sure,” Jaemin says firmly. “But so we are both at ease, I will say ‘bookshop’ if it becomes too much for me and I want you to stop. And you say the same if you feel that you are too out of control. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes,” Jeno says, visibly relieved. “Yes, that is perfect. If I hear you say ‘bookshop,’ I will stop immediately, and I will say it if I believe I might hurt you.”

“Good,” Jaemin says, inching closer and fluttering his eyelashes coyly. “Then will you finally be a good alpha and use me as you wish?”

“Have care what you ask for,” Jeno says, licking his lips as his hand comes up to firmly grasp the back of Jaemin’s neck, yanking him closer in a way that has Jaemin’s cock twitching. “Because you will get all of it.”

“Do you promise?” Jaemin asks, already breathless in anticipation of what’s to come, completely pliant in Jeno’s arms. “It would be a shame if you were not able to live up to your word.”

Jeno’s eyes flash with something new and dangerous, an expression Jaemin has never seen before but finds that he’s intensely attracted to. “I think,” Jeno says calmly, “that my omega is talking a bit too much.”

And before Jaemin can react, Jeno brings the hand that was on the back of Jaemin’s neck to wrap lightly around his throat, and then he’s kissing Jaemin so roughly that Jaemin can’t keep up at all – he can only moan against Jeno’s mouth and attempt to push back on Jeno’s tongue with his own as it forces Jaemin’s lips apart.

Jaemin is panting harshly by the time Jeno pulls away, but Jeno looks like he’s only getting started as he manhandles Jaemin away from the wall. Jeno’s kisses are so distracting that it takes Jaemin by surprise when he’s unceremoniously shoved onto the bed. “Jeno,” he says as he lies on his back, trying to catch his breath. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

“Look at yourself first,” Jeno says, and the next moment, he pulls Jaemin’s pants and undergarments off, followed by him quite literally ripping Jaemin’s shirt off – Jaemin hears the fabric tear, and he can’t bring himself to be anything but utterly aroused by it. In the back of his mind, he delights in the knowledge that he finally has a legitimate argument as to why Jeno should let him wear one of Jeno’s shirts back to the palace.

“Now you,” Jaemin says, pawing at the waistband of Jeno’s trousers, but Jeno just watches him, looking almost amused. When that doesn’t work, Jaemin switches to a different tactic, and pouts deeply. “Do you not want your omega as soon as possible? I’m all ready for you, alpha.” He spreads his legs wide to prove his point, and preens when Jeno eyes him appreciatively.

“Look at you, my prince,” Jeno says, before his lips quirk up a bit. “Princess?” he tries. Jaemin tries to muffle a whimper, but there’s no hiding his physical reaction to the nickname, and Jeno’s eyes twinkle deviously, eyeing Jaemin’s hard cock and the slick dripping out of him. “You like that, hm? You like being my princess?”

“Yes,” Jaemin whispers, the thrill of being addressed in such a way overriding any embarrassment he feels at having a secret desire like this discovered. “I like it.”

“What a good boy you are,” Jeno says, starting to strip agonizingly slowly. “My pretty Jaeminnie, so honest, so patient for me.” He finishes removing his clothes and pulls Jaemin’s thighs apart even further, pushing in two fingers immediately. Jaemin lets out a cry that turns into a moan as Jeno crooks his fingers just right. “Do I even need to prepare you, princess? You’re sucking me in so easily, you want it so badly.”

“I do, I do!” Jaemin agrees, clenching around the third finger that Jeno slides in along with the first two. He loves Jeno when he’s kind and caring, but Jeno when he’s like this is obscenely attractive. “Want your cock, please, Jeno. Want to make you feel good.”

“How can I deny my love when he asks so nicely?” Jeno asks, gripping Jaemin by the waist and maneuvering him on the bed until he’s on all fours. Jaemin automatically pushes his hips back, feeling the slide of Jeno’s cock between his cheeks and trying to force it into his hole. “Patience, doll,” he says, kissing up and down Jaemin’s spine and reaching a hand around to stroke Jaemin’s cock slowly.

Jaemin feels like he’s going out of his mind – Jeno is giving him everything but what he really wants as he continues to lazily rub the head of his cock against Jaemin’s hole without pushing it in. “Need your knot, Jeno,” he whines. “Need it, need it in me.”

“So needy, so desperate,” Jeno coos. “Is it me who is having a rut, Jaeminnie? Or are you in heat again?”

“P-Please,” Jaemin hiccups, rocking his hips into Jeno’s hand. “Please, Jeno?”

Jeno nibbles over the spot on Jaemin’s scent gland where he would bite down to claim Jaemin and slides his cock all the way in. “As you wish, princess.”

Jaemin lets out a sob as Jeno finally, finally starts moving inside him, his thrusts more intense and erratic than they were during Jaemin’s heat. “Does – does it feel good? Do I feel good for you?”

“You feel...you feel perfect,” Jeno says through a groan. “So warm inside my Jaeminnie. My angel will let me breed him, won’t he? You’ll take my knot, let me fill you up?”

“Yes!” Jaemin gasps, gripping the sheets tightly as he feels himself drawing closer and closer to his climax. It doesn’t hurt, exactly, but Jeno certainly isn’t taking care to be gentle the way he did the last time they slept together. “Yes, w-want to take all your seed, want to take everything you give me.”

“Good boy,” Jeno says, pinning Jaemin’s wrists down on the bed and leaning in so Jaemin can turn his head and kiss Jeno sloppily. “I’m...I’m close, Jaeminnie. Come for me, darling, come for me so I can give you my seed at the same time.”

With a whimper, Jaemin releases all over the sheets as Jeno spills inside him, his knot locking them together. As Jaemin dazedly recovers from the intensity of his orgasm, Jeno carefully turns them onto their sides so they’re facing each other. Jaemin clenches around the knot hard as they settle into their new positions, the warmth of it almost soothing to his oversensitive hole. “Feels nice,” Jaemin says, slurring a little. “I like...like being knotted. Like being close to you. Like keeping you in me.”

Jeno kisses his forehead softly, a sharp contrast to everything he just did – this wave of his rut must be over. “I like it too,” he says. Then, more quietly, “I did not hurt you, did I, love?”

“Not at all,” Jaemin says, releasing calming pheromones, which Jeno immediately reacts to, and he leans his head back to allow Jeno to nip at his scent gland as he continues speaking. “In the next round, you can even try being rougher, if you wish.”

“Sweetheart,” Jeno says, muffling his laughter in Jaemin’s neck. “As delightful as that sounds, you must be able to return to the palace before morning.”

“Mm, I know,” Jaemin sighs. He kisses the top of Jeno’s head gently, and they lie there exchanging soft kisses for a while. Eventually, Jeno starts getting a bit rougher, and Jaemin feels his own arousal grow again as he lets Jeno suck on his tongue and bite at his lips. “Is the next wave starting already?”

Jeno kisses him once more before pulling away, and the return of the hungry look in his eyes tells Jaemin everything he needs to know. Jaemin feels Jeno’s knot deflating and has to hold back a whine as Jeno pulls out entirely, Jeno’s seed mixing with Jaemin’s slick as the absence of Jeno’s knot causes everything to slide out.

“Look at it all leaking out,” Jeno says, eyeing Jaemin’s hole hungrily. “You’re dripping with it, doll.”

“Keep it in,” Jaemin whispers. “Push it back in, alpha, Jeno, I need it in me. Want it to take.”

Jeno lets out a soft growl, his pupils dilating. “I wish we could, love. I wish for it more than anything. But we...it is not possible, not now.”

It takes everything in Jaemin not to kick up a fuss – but he knows they already pushed the limit simply by letting Jeno actually knot him, because even though he isn’t in heat, there’s the slightest chance Jaemin could still get pregnant. He decides not to think much more about it, though, because he wants to take charge this time. He pushes Jeno flat on his back and climbs on top of him as their kisses become heated once again, and then Jaemin’s mind is only occupied with making Jeno feel good. They can worry about the consequences later.

~~~

It’s Jisung who ultimately makes the suggestion that leaves Jaemin wondering how he never thought of it before. “If Jeno-hyung becomes a knight, King Jaehyun will surely allow you to court each other,” Jisung says one morning. It’s been two months since Jeno’s rut, and Jaemin fortunately hasn’t experienced any symptoms that would suggest that a baby came out of it, so he’s taken to lamenting about how unfortunate he and his lover are to be so cruelly separated, while Renjun gets to flaunt his courtship with not one, but two suitors.

“Jisungie,” Jaemin says, sitting up immediately and throwing his arms around the younger boy. “You’re the best!” He plants a kiss on Jisung’s cheek, and Jisung scrunches his nose cutely as he leans away.

“I know, hyung,” he says, swatting Jaemin away playfully. “Just go talk to your brother about it instead of doing this.”

“You love me,” Jaemin says with a smile, ruffling Jisung’s hair fondly before making his way to Jaehyun’s chambers to make a recommendation to him for a new knight-in-training.

Jaehyun scrutinizes him for a long time after Jaemin finishes his delineation of Jeno’s virtues. “You want him to court you,” he finally says, and Jaemin flushes.

“And if I do?” he asks, fidgeting with his hands restlessly.

“Does he feel the same?” Jaehyun asks, and Jaemin nods right away. Jaehyun’s eyes narrow then. “Does he, perhaps, have his sights set on the throne? Does he see marriage to the prince as a tool to take out the king and replace him?”

Jaemin is so taken aback by the ridiculous line of questioning that he can only laugh. “Never in a million years,” he says when he calms down. “Jeno is good.”

So Jaehyun sends out a missive, and just a day later, Jeno stands before them in the main hall, his hands folded in front of him. He’s resolutely avoiding eye contact with Jaemin, no matter how hard Jaemin tries to capture his attention.

“Your Majesty,” Jeno says, bowing deeply. “It is an honor to meet you.” He takes a deep breath, and for a wild moment, Jaemin thinks Jeno is already going to request to formally court him, without even accepting the offer to attain knighthood first. “I wanted to thank you.”

Jaehyun can’t hide his surprise, his eyebrows rising slightly. “And what might you be thanking me for?”

Jeno keeps his gaze fixed deferentially on the floor in front of Jaehyun. “For allowing Prince Jaemin the freedom he deserves,” he says sincerely. “He has shared with us that you often find him as he leaves the palace, and that you never fail to let him go.” He swallows, finally glancing at Jaemin, who’s actively fighting the urge to leap into Jeno’s arms and kiss him until his lips are numb. “I am grateful that he has the opportunity to meet his people, thanks to you.”

Jaemin can tell Jaehyun is already grudgingly endeared by Jeno, which is no surprise – Jeno and his genuine, unfiltered sincerity tend to have that effect. “It is of benefit both to the kingdom and to him,” Jaehyun says. “And I have heard that he is beloved, so I do not fear for his safety.”

“Without a doubt, he is,” Jeno says. He doesn’t quite smile, but his eyes turn soft as he continues, “As he deserves to be.”

Again, Jaemin thinks he sees something like approval in Jaehyun’s eyes, but Jaehyun keeps his face straight as he addresses Jeno again. “You were invited here today because you have been recommended to join the royal knights,” he says. “Should you accept, you will be provided room and board in the palace, and will train under the tutelage of Sir Johnny, our head knight. Once you achieve knighthood, you will be eligible for a number of high-ranking positions –” he pauses, giving Jaemin a significant look before turning back to Jeno and finishing the thought – “including personal guard of the prince.”

Jeno’s eyes widen slightly, and Jaemin can see the exact moment he realizes what accepting would mean for their relationship. “I thank Your Majesty for this generous offer,” Jeno says, bowing again. “And I am honored to accept. If I am able to reach a level of proficiency that would guarantee His Highness’s safety under my watch, I will have done my duty as his – as a subject of this kingdom.” Jeno rarely stumbles over his words, and Jaemin knows that it happened now because Jeno caught himself right before he referred to himself as Jaemin’s alpha.

Jaehyun seems to have noticed the near-slip-up, because his eyes narrow and he clears his throat. “Would you die for Prince Jaemin, Lee Jeno?” he asks, and Jaemin freezes. There’s only one reason Jaehyun would ask such a question – and if it truly is what Jaemin thinks it is, then Jeno must answer correctly.

“If it was necessary to keep him alive, I would do it without hesitation,” Jeno answers immediately. He catches Jaemin’s eye for a brief moment, offering him a small but incredibly sweet smile, before straightening his expression once again and cautiously taking a step forward. “However, if I may say so –” Jaemin inhales sharply, because Jeno’s answer could very well be veering into unacceptable territory – “I would prefer to do my utmost to stay alive for him.”

Jaehyun raises an eyebrow, and Jaemin can smell the intrigue coming off of his brother. Jaemin can’t blame him – he’s curious himself about where Jeno is going with this. “Explain.”

Jeno takes a deep breath. “If I am gone, I can no longer protect him, nor can I make him happy,” he says carefully. “I would weather anything to keep him safe and content. So if I must fight even death to keep the privilege of staying by his side, then I will do it.”

“Jeno,” Jaemin whispers, tears welling in his eyes at Jeno’s sincerity. He longs to reach out to him, to hold him and be held by him forever.

“I see,” Jaehyun says, an unreadable expression on his face. He turns to face Jaemin, who wipes his eyes hastily. “Jaeminnie,” Jaehyun says softly. “It is your choice, in the end.”

“I have already chosen,” Jaemin says, hardly daring to believe that he might actually get to have this. “Hyung, my heart has been his since the day we met.”

Jaehyun sighs, like he knew this was coming. “Then I will not stand in your way.” He turns to address Jeno again. “You will stay true to your word,” he says, the threat evident in his voice, “or you will learn what a man does to protect his baby brother.”

Jeno bows his head. “If I ever break my word, I would expect nothing less,” he says firmly. He looks up then, his face determined. “But I will not break it, Your Majesty.”

“Good,” Jaehyun says, He clears his throat and straightens his shoulders, signaling the start of an official royal declaration. “Then I, King Jaehyun, grant you, Lee Jeno, permission to begin a courtship with Prince Jaemin, the only condition being your ascension to knighthood.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Jeno says, bowing deeply. “I will strive to always be a worthy match for Prince Jaemin.”

Jaehyun relaxes and finally cracks a true smile. “You make him happy, Jeno, so I would say you already are.” He casts a soft look at Jaemin. “As king, I must be formal about it, but I am also just a man. And as Na Jaehyun, I am simply giving my little brother what he wants most in the world.”

“It is no less than he deserves,” Jeno says, smiling shyly at Jaemin, who beams at him in response. “I will endeavor to follow in your footsteps from now on.”

Jaemin notices the impressed smile on his brother’s lips as Jeno speaks. Now that this has been settled, he thinks, Jeno and Jaehyun will start to realize that they have a lot in common – he predicts that by the end of the month, they’ll be actively seeking each other out for sparring matches.

“Jaehyun-hyung,” Jaemin says, hugging his brother tightly, scenting him a little out of sheer happiness. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Jaehyun kisses the top of Jaemin’s head as he returns the embrace, his scent full of contentment. “Of course, Jaeminnie. All I want is your happiness, above everything else.”

Jaemin leaves a quick kiss on Jaehyun’s cheek before pulling away and flinging himself into Jeno’s arms instead. “Jeno,” he murmurs, immediately nuzzling into Jeno’s scent gland, and he doesn’t scent Jeno because they aren’t alone, but it’s a near thing. It’s so nice to feel Jeno holding him again that Jaemin actually starts purring a bit. “Jeno, we can start an official courtship!”

“Prince Jaemin,” Jeno says reverently, gently drawing Jaemin’s face away from his neck so they’re looking each other in the eyes. “I wish to court you.” And Jaemin should have known that Jeno would insist on properly initiating a courtship between them – he can practically feel the approval from Jaehyun, who, Jaemin realizes with some mortification, has been closely watching them this whole time. Jeno smiles his usual breathtaking smile and takes Jaemin’s hands in his own, “Would you do me the honor of allowing me to do so?”

“I will,” Jaemin says, trying his hardest to keep a straight face, “on two conditions.”

It’s evidently an unexpected response for Jeno, because his eyebrows furrow cutely. Jaemin desperately wants to kiss Jeno’s frown away, but he remains strong. “Anything for you,” Jeno says, confused but sincere.

“First,” Jaemin says, “you must promise that you are not intending to get close to me simply to get an opportunity to assassinate the king and take his place.”

Jeno blinks rapidly, unable to school his bewildered expression, and Jaemin struggles to hold his laughter in at the endearing sight. He notes with some satisfaction that behind him, Jaehyun is spluttering in an extremely undignified way.

“I – of course that has never even crossed my mind,” Jeno says earnestly. “Your brother is an excellent leader, and more importantly, he is your family. I would never harm him – in fact, I will do whatever I must to protect him.” He takes a deep breath. “And in truth, Prince Jaemin, I have no need for a throne, or a palace, or even for you to be a prince to feel like a king. Being by your side will always be more than enough.”

“Oh,” Jaemin says, blown away by Jeno’s sincerity. Blushing, he suppresses his pleased scent and tries to reply as coherently as possible. “That is – I mean, of course, I feel the same, Jeno. With you by my side, I feel as though I can do anything.”

“I am glad to hear it,” Jeno says, meeting Jaemin’s gaze with soft eyes before asking, “And what is your second condition, my prince?”

Jaemin breaks into a smile and squeezes Jeno’s hands gently. “All I ask is that you call me Jaemin.”

Jeno’s eyes light up as he laughs softly. “If that is what you desire,” he says with a kiss to the back of Jaemin’s hand, “then your wish is in my command, Jaemin.”