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

Chapter 231 — What If You Leave?

"At the banquet—you wanted to tell me something. What was it?" Zayden asked as they strode down the high away while one of the men carrying their bags tried to find them a carriage.

Ren tilted his head slightly, as if he genuinely didn’t understand what Zayden was referring to, walking beside him.

"About my rut," Zayden clarified after a long stretch of silence. His voice was steady, but his heart wasn’t. "You said you wanted to stay away from me during it..."

He swallowed hard.

What could be the reason behind that? His mind raced, trying to figure out which of the countless reasons Ren might be thinking of.

Still, he hoped—desperately—that it wasn’t because Ren disliked him, or was only going along with him out of obligation. Simply for the fact that he worked for him as his servant.

Zayden had begun to believe in this little form of affection he had been receiving from this man. Like a lifeless being who had been granted a life. He couldn’t afford to lose it now.

Ren lowered his gaze, fingers tightening around the fabric of his sleeve.

"I was... thinking that it could be dangerous."

Zayden frowned, his steps halting.

"Dangerous?"

Ren was pulled back by the General’s hand on his, unable to walk away. He hesitated, then glanced up at him.

"You are a dominant alpha, right?"

Zayden nodded once, slowly.

"And I..." Ren exhaled, his cheeks flushed from embarrassment, or the cold. Zayden couldn’t figure it out.

"I am a dominant omega. Your rut could trigger my heat and... you know."

Ren didn’t dare spell it out—not now, not while Zayden was holding his hand so tightly the warmth seeped all the way into his chest. Too afraid to let go as if the omega would run away the moment he did so.

"And what?" Zayden asked, leaning in closer. He didn’t need to bend much—he was barely two inches taller—but the closeness still froze Ren’s breath.

The omega swallowed hard, gaze locked with Zayden’s.

"That... it could make things complicated."

Zayden’s brows furrowed further.

"Complicated... huh?"

Ren shifted to his left, eyes darting away toward the crowd who were heading toward their houses, across the high road.

"Ren?" The General waved his hand in front of his face, a faint blow causing Ren to blink, eyes shifting back to Zayden. Did he lose focus again?

"Well... If your rut triggers my heat, I-I am afraid I would... get pregnant," he whispered. "Dominant omegas can be... They are no less dangerous than dominant alphas during their heat. Once it starts, instinct takes over." His voice trailed off, cheeks burning.

Zayden blinked. He hadn’t even considered that possibility.

Then the image of Ren with a rounded belly flickered through his mind, and his ears instantly turned red.

He would look so adorable with a baby bump.

He covered his mouth with his free hand, swallowing hard.

"Do you hate the idea?"

Ren blinked, taken aback by the question. He wanted to ask—would Zayden even stay by his side by that time?

He was a noble, after all. Rumours always swirled around him, suggesting that he changed partners as easily as he changed clothes.

Still... Soren had told him a while ago that it was the first time Zayden had ever introduced an omega to his family. Could that mean something? At least, Ren wanted it to mean something.

The silver-haired man hesitated, his hands twisting nervously in front of him.

"I... I don’t know," he admitted softly. "It’s not that I despise the idea... I just—what if you leave? What if you don’t stay? And what about Eiran? I don’t want to hurt him because of it."

Zayden’s expression softened, a small, teasing smile tugging at his lips. He leaned slightly closer, brushing a strand of hair from Ren’s face.

"Ren... do you really think I would let you handle something like that alone? And if you don’t want to, then I will make sure we take precautions."

Ren’s heart skipped. The warmth in Zayden’s gaze made it impossible to look away. And his words... were so sweet that he forgot to breathe for a second.

"I... I just—"

"You just worry too much," Zayden interrupted gently, his thumb brushing the back of Ren’s hand. "I am not going anywhere. Not now, not ever. And I like that you are being honest with me."

Finally, you are slowly opening up to me...

His smile widened.

Ren’s cheeks flushed, heartbeat rising along with the snowfall around them. "You... really mean that?"

"Every word. I would never lie to you," Zayden said, letting a quiet chuckle escape. "So... stop carrying all the burden and worries on your own. You don’t need to hide anything from me."

Ren’s lips parted, unable to say a word, and Zayden grinned, leaning just a little closer.

Just then, one of the commoners approached them, faking a cough to make his presence known.

Ren pulled away unlike Zayden who held onto the omega’s hand tightly now.

"What is it?" He asked, his voice pressed, laced with anger.

The commoner bowed quickly, fumbling with a few ropes and reins.

"S-Sorry to bother you, Sirs... I have arranged a carriage for you. The roads are slippery, and it’s not safe to use a normal carriage. So I found this for you."

It was a normal vehicle. However, its wheels were thicker, and the gaps were wider, letting the snow enter so it wouldn’t skid.

Ren tried to pull away from Zayden, face still flushed from their earlier moment, while Zayden’s grip on his hand remained firm.

"Is that so?" Zayden asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Sir," the man said nervously, glancing at Ren. "It’s here. You will be safe inside, and it’s large enough for both of you. Oh, and warm," the man smiled softly.

Zayden’s lips curved into a small smirk.

"Well, that solves our problem. Shall we?" He gave Ren’s hand a gentle tug, guiding him toward the carriage as the snow swirled around their feet.

Ren hesitated for a moment, heart pounding, before letting himself be led. The warmth of Zayden’s hand against his own sent an almost electrifying tingle up his arm even now.

As they climbed into the carriage, Zayden glanced at him and whispered, "See? Sometimes it’s nice to let someone else take care of you."

Ren’s cheeks flamed hotter, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at his lips.

"I was fine on my own too," he muttered, though he didn’t pull away.