[BL] Alpha, You've Got the Wrong Mate!

Chapter 192 — What About My Hug?

Ren jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. His gaze darted around the room, but he couldn’t make out the setting—his vision blurred, tears still clinging to his eyes. Had he been crying not only in his dream but also in his sleep?

His hand shot out instinctively to wipe the irritating liquid, only to find it held tightly by a weight. And some liquid on it... Tears?

Zayden’s hands were pressed over Ren’s, eyes closed, his grip firm yet gentle although his body was shaking like a frail leaf.

Was he having a nightmare?

Ren wondered. Despite not seeing clearly, he could smell the faint smell of musk trailing off from the alpha, unmistakably Zayden’s.

Noticing the sudden shift, he blinked and woke immediately. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost, frozen in place for a moment. His mind went blank. Quickly, he shook his head, snapping out of it.

"Y-You’re finally awake!—" he stammered, his voice soft, but his words faltered as he saw Ren’s face.

Tears streaked down the man’s cheeks, lips trembling at the sound of Zayden’s voice. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he couldn’t stop himself from weeping.

"What’s wrong?!" Zayden asked, panic lacing his voice. "Are you hurt? Where does it hurt?!" His hand hovered near the injury but he didn’t care to touch it.

"It... it hurts," Ren gasped, his breath hitching. "It hurts so much... I don’t think I... can breathe."

The sour liquid streamed down from his eyes, and he couldn’t even bring himself to wipe them away. The gnawing pain in his chest strangled his heart, pressing so tightly it felt like he couldn’t draw a full breath.

"Shh..." The sound came out shaky as Zayden hesitated, unsure whether to hold him or give him space.

"I-I saw him..." Ren managed to say, his breath ragged.

Zayden’s eyes narrowed, confused.

"Who?"

"Ilyan," The silver-haired man whispered, his voice soft yet trembling, struggling to draw each breath.

Zayden felt as if his heart had been shattered into a million pieces. If Ren still dreamed of his past lover, then perhaps everything he had believed until now had been an illusion—the kiss, the acceptance...

"I-I see," he murmured, biting his lips and lowering his gaze. Although curious, he refrained from asking what the dream was about. He didn’t have the right to ask. It was personal...

Ren’s arms suddenly wrapped around him, tight, almost desperate. His words came softly—a confession.

"I learned to love from him... But... I never thought there would be someone I could love just as much..."

Although confused, Zayden slowly moved, sitting on the bed and letting Ren hold onto him during the movement, careful not to cause him pain where he was injured. With trembling hands, he also held the man in his arms, still in disbelief.

Were his ears ringing?

Did he hear it right?

Did Ren mean that he shared those feelings?

"Do you mean... that you accept?—"

Ren didn’t pull from the hug, but Zayden sensed the quiet nod, although the tears kept dripping on his shirt, wetting it.

"What about my hug?" Eiran dashed into the room. "I just stepped out for a moment and you’re leaving me out?"

A soft chuckle escaped Zayden as he pulled away slightly, opening his arms widely.

"Come here."

With a bright grin, Eiran pulled both of his fathers into a tight hug. However, a groan escaped Ren’s mouth as he lowered himself.

Zayden and Eiran quickly let go of him. Then, the General laid Ren down as if he were a child with a burning fever.

"Don’t move. I’ll go get the physician right away."

Having said so, he left the room.

"I will peel oranges for you!" Eiran exclaimed, grabbing the orange from the basket full of fruits placed beside the bed. Ren only noticed it when Eiran reached for it. Or maybe it was because earlier his eyes had been too blurry with tears to see clearly.

"Eiran... I dreamt of your dad."

"Of dad? You saw him, and not me?" Eiran pointed at the portrait of Zayden hung on the wall.

For a moment, Ren couldn’t say anything. How could he? His son naturally thought of Zayden whenever the word "dad" came up. But he needed to tell him now... before the opportunity slipped away.

"No. Your real dad," Ren said softly.

Eiran scowled, displeased.

"Oh." The sound came out cold and distant.

"He... he said he loves you."

Eiran merely nodded, expression unreadable.

Ren exhaled, fighting the lump in his throat. He could see that Eiran didn’t fully understand yet, but he couldn’t stop now.

"You know... he loves us. A lot. Don’t hate him. He... he would have given up everything for us. No, he did."

Eiran’s chest tightened. It wasn’t that he hated his real dad—he simply couldn’t picture him. He had no memories of him, after all. But sometimes... sometimes he felt as if two different energies came from his Papa.

Ren’s hand gently rested on the boy’s shoulder, squeezing slightly.

"Even if you can’t see him, he will always be a part of us. And he will always love us. I am telling you this not because it will change our future, but so you understand me better. To move forward, we have to know the past—it shapes us, but it doesn’t have to hold us back. I am what I am because of him. And I will be what I will because of you and..."

"And dad," Eiran completed.

Ren gave him a quiet nod, smiling softly. He raked his hand gently through the child’s hair.

"You are so wise..."

"I know," Eiran chuckled, offering him a piece of orange. "Now eat! You’ve been asleep for four days."

"Wait, what?!" Ren gasped, trying to sit up. The sudden movement, however, sent another sharp pang through his chest.

"Don’t move like that!" Zayden rushed in, gently pushing him back onto the mattress.

"Oh dear. Finally, you’ve regained consciousness. I thought I might have to surrender my dear life in front of the General if you didn’t wake up today," the royal physician sighed, shaking his head.

Ren looked up at Zayden, who immediately averted his gaze.

"Why?... What did he do?" he asked hesitantly, curiosity stirring despite himself.