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

Chapter 285 — Your Lover Now

— A few minutes ago. —

Vihaan walked down the hallway, leaving the morning meeting behind.

It had been an exhausting morning. Most of the ministers had looked at him as if he didn’t belong to this world at all, their gazes lingering a little too long, heavy and unsettling. He had grown used to it over the years—but today, it felt worse. Much worse.

Especially after his father had announced that he would be the crown prince instead of his brother.

Suddenly, a door opened, and a hand yanked him inside.

He reacted instantly, reaching for the spear hung on the wall without a moment’s hesitation.

Spears were more commonly used in Danshin than swords. They were the preferred weapon—easy to train with and less costly. That practicality was one of the many reasons Danshin remained wealthy to this day. Their strength did not lie in extravagant weaponry, but in how wisely they spent the kingdom’s resources.

Vihaan swung the spear, ready to strike his attacker—but his movement halted the moment he saw Arav.

Narrowing his eyes, he lowered the weapon, planting the butt of the spear against the floor with a dull thud.

"You?"

"Yes, me," Arav grinned, crossing his arms.

Vihaan raised an eyebrow.

"What do you want?"

"Well, I already told you," the omega said, stepping closer—but the young prince immediately stepped back, frowning.

"My brother has returned! What’s wrong with you?!"

"So?" Arav replied lightly. "I’ve been doing this ever since he left, haven’t I? What if today I’m lucky enough to get a chance with you?" He smirked.

Vihaan’s entire body burned with fury. If he could, he would have burned this man to ashes on the spot. However, he knew all too well that his brother would murder him if that ever happened. For some reason, Rihaan was blindly in love with this man.

Vihaan couldn’t understand it.

Why had his brother chosen someone like him over the Imperial Crown Prince? It was a completely foolish decision.

Arav stepped closer again, ignoring the warning in Vihaan’s eyes. He tilted his head, his voice lowering into a coaxing tone.

"You don’t have to look so tense," he said softly. "I’m not asking for anything complicated. Just one night. No one has to know."

Vihaan’s grip tightened around the spear.

"Move away," he said coldly.

Arav laughed under his breath.

"Why so angry? You’re curious. I can see it in your eyes. You’ve always been the curious type." He reached out, his fingers brushing dangerously close to Vihaan’s sleeve.

"You’re nothing like your brother—stronger, sharper. I prefer that."

The prince recoiled as if burned.

"Don’t touch me."

Arav didn’t retreat immediately. Instead, he leaned in, his voice dripping with false warmth.

"You don’t owe him loyalty. He abandoned you. Left the throne, left the kingdom, just to marry another crown prince. Why cling to someone who chose to walk away?"

Vihaan let the spear drop, the sound crashing between them. His eyes blazed.

"Say one more word about my brother, and I swear you won’t leave this room on your feet. I don’t even need a spear to end your life."

Arav paused, studying him. The playful smirk faltered, replaced by something sharper—annoyance.

"So that’s your answer?" he scoffed. "You won’t even consider it?"

"No," Vihaan said without hesitation. "Not today. Not ever."

"Why?"

"I don’t like you one bit. I never did. You always reeked of greed and corruption."

Arav scoffed.

"Do you even know what that means? That’s not a good enough reason." He suddenly wrapped his arms around the alpha’s neck.

"Come on. It doesn’t matter. It’s just one night."

"Do you take me for a fool?" Vihaan glared at him. "If we sleep together, you could easily fake a pregnancy and try to take the position of Crown Princess."

"Well—"

Just then, the door swung open.

Arav turned. So did Vihaan.

Rihaan stood at the threshold, glaring at them as though he had caught them in the act.

Arav began spouting utter lies. Vihaan had never—never—allowed this man near him. Until now, for a fraction of a second, he had let his guard down—and Arav had done exactly what he wanted: create a crack between him and his brother.

"Fuck you!" Vihaan cursed after Rihaan stormed out of the room. "I better not see you here again!"

"Oh my. How can that be? I am your lover now," Arav sneered.

He knew very well that Rihaan wouldn’t let him go now. Rihaan was righteous—too righteous. He would make sure Arav became the Crown Princess, because he would never accept a partner who had slept with another while being engaged to him.

Vihaan clenched his teeth, shaking his head.

"I don’t know how my brother ever tolerated you."

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the hall.

***

Rihaan found Vihaan in the training courtyard, pacing back and forth like a caged beast.

The moment Vihaan noticed him, he stopped and hurried toward him.

"Brother—"

"Tell me the truth," Rihaan cut in, his voice low, fury still simmering beneath it. "What happened when I was gone? All of it. Don’t spare me anything."

Vihaan clenched his fists. For a heartbeat, he said nothing, torn between hesitation and honesty.

Then he exhaled sharply.

"He cornered me," Vihaan said. "Pulled me into an empty room after the morning meeting. He tried to make me sleep with him. He has been doing so since you left, Brother. I only kept quiet because he was your lover..."

Rihaan stiffened, his eyes widening.

"He touched me without permission," Vihaan continued, his jaw tightening. "Said it would be just one night. That no one had to know. When I refused, he mocked you—said you abandoned the throne, abandoned the kingdom for another crown prince. That you would marry and leave anyway, so what did it matter?"

Rihaan’s breath hitched, but he didn’t interrupt.

"I told him to stop. I warned him," Vihaan went on. "He didn’t care. He wanted me because I was convenient. I believe it was because he already knew I would be the next crown prince." His voice shook, fury bleeding through. "When you walked in, he twisted it. Made it look like something it wasn’t."

Rihaan looked away, his gaze fixed on the stone ground. His chest felt too tight, his thoughts colliding painfully.

"I never touched him," Vihaan said firmly. "I never agreed to anything. I would never betray you. Never."

Rihaan closed his eyes.

Why would he lie?

This was his brother—the one who had stood beside him since childhood. The one who had shared his victories and his punishments, his pride and his shame.

Slowly, Rihaan looked back at him.

"I want to believe you," he said quietly. "You are my brother."

Vihaan stepped closer.

"Then believe me."

Rihaan’s hands trembled at his sides, but he forced them to still.

"I know Arav," he murmured, more to himself than to Vihaan. "Or... I thought I did. After seeing that, how can I possibly still allow myself to be fooled by him?"

He met Vihaan’s eyes at last.

"And truthfully, I don’t want to think you would ever do something like that," Rihaan said. "Not to me."

Vihaan’s shoulders loosened, just slightly.

"I wouldn’t," he said. "I swear it."

Rihaan nodded once.

"I believe you," he said, though the words weighed heavier than usual. "Because if I can’t trust my own brother... then I have nothing left."