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

Chapter 311 — Do You… Even Love Me?

Ren stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in the robe he found there.

It belonged to Zayden, its sleeves slightly too long for him, and the length lightly pooling over his knees.

Water dripped down his hair, appearing like yellow pears every time, crashing to the ground.

But the floor didn’t get wet. The liquid simply poured on the soft carpet against Ren’s bare feet.

He gently brushed the strand of hair getting in the way of his vision. The scent of his hand drifted into his nostrils and he could only think of one person—Zayden.

He smelled like Zayden right now, covered in his shampoo and soap. A faint scent of lavender, the kind of flowers he once whispered loving. From then on, it was the only scent that clung to Zayden, if not for his pheromones being a sweet odour of musk.

Even the cloth Ren wrapped his naked body with belonged to that man. Everything in this room belonged to Zayden.

His gaze darted across the room, searching for the figure he wished to find despite the pain that man had caused him just a while ago.

To his surprise, he found Zayden seated at the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the vase carved with scarlet red roses. They had no flowers in them—during winter, the mansion didn’t bother maintaining the garden like in the imperial palace.

Upon hearing the sound of faint footsteps crushing against the carpet, the alpha sprang to his feet. His gaze filled with relief, guilt and something Ren couldn’t quite comprehend.

"Ren!..." He whispered, his voice cracking beneath his lips.

Then, he gasped, his gaze tracing the swollen eyes of his lover.

Oh. He cried.

Zayden had hurt him.

Deeply.

His heart sank at the sight, and he was speechless. No words came to his mind. Too blank in shock.

His beloved didn’t utter a word. Nor did he approach him.

If Ren were to return to his old self, the one drowning in pain and grief, the one who never spoke to him and only observed, what would Zayden do?

A gawking pain came crashing in his chest. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to breathe if that were to happen.

Ren was his fated mate. He would never let him go. He couldn’t. The omega was like air to him—a demon who could survive only in hell, in fire, always burning. Yet, in this crude blaze, Ren was his haven.

The alpha hesitated before taking a step closer, closing in the distance that felt like a thousand miles although it was but a few feet. His hand slowly reached for the omega’s soft skin. He gently pressed his lips on Ren’s knuckles, looking up at him.

"Are you... mad?" He whispered, his voice shaky. Too afraid that even uttering them would make those words come true. "I am... sorry. So sorry... I shouldn’t have said that," his voice cracked.

Ren finally—finally—looked his way. His expression was unexpectedly calm. Too calm. His eyes were still red, and slightly damp. As if the tears he shed earlier hadn’t dried yet.

Zayden’s breath caught in his throat. He squeezed the hand in his palms, a little tighter as if to force the other man to speak.

"Why... did you mention him?" Ren finally asked. His voice came out hoarse. Maybe it was because of the sex they had earlier or... because he had been crying for the past few hours.

Ren surely hadn’t noticed the time flying. However, Zayden did. He had been waiting, waiting like a man on doomsday, bracing himself to receive the punishment for every sin he carried.

It felt like an eternity even to him, a demon, who surely had lived longer than the human who stood before him.

"I... It slipped my—" his voice faltered as if reminded of something. He furrowed his eyebrows, just slightly. "Were you... reminded of him?" He asked, his heart hammering, warning him to keep quiet. Not to ask more than he already had.

Ren’s ruby-like eyes went wide for a moment. Briefly. Then, he let a soft, quiet and dry laugh escape his lips.

"Reminded of him, you say?" He scoffed as if the question itself were ridiculous. "Wouldn’t that mean that I have forgotten him? I doubt there has been a day I have not thought of him."

Upon hearing the answer, Zayden’s stomach turned. His muscles stiffened, immediately dropping the hand in his grip.

"What?" He blinked, his breath growing heavy. His gaze filled with disbelief and confusion.

Then, fury began to reflect in them—something Ren never thought he would see. A glare of anger was directed his way.

Ren’s hand fell to his side, the white sleeve hanging past his fingertips. He locked gaze with the alpha, and he stepped back instinctively.

Something dangerous lurked in Zayden’s burning gaze.

"Alright, wow! You are going to say that to my face?" Zayden clenched his fists, trying to control the rising fury within him. Blood boiled in veins, and he didn’t know what he would do next.

Ren blinked, unable to understand why Zayden was behaving like this. Surely, he knew that Ilyan was his mate—his husband—the father of his son.

Did I tell him he was my everything?...

He pondered.

"What..."

The omega blinked, snapping out of his thought when he heard the alpha’s cracking voice.

Zayden swallowed hard, making sure the tremor beneath his tone didn’t betray him. Didn’t make him weaker than his knees made him feel.

"What about my feelings?" He asked, pain filling his eyes. They were damp. As if he would break into tears at any moment.

Yet, it wasn’t enough to make Ren’s cold expression crack. He stood still, like a statue.

He had always been heartless. Still, Zayden loved him. Immensely. Desperately.

"And... What about my feelings, My Lord?" Ren asked, locking gaze with the man before him. His lips trembled with a heaving breath.

For a moment, the alpha remained quiet. As if at a loss for words. However, it was the complete opposite. He knew exactly what to say.

"You are right. I don’t know how you feel. At all. Do you... even love me? Even a little?" Zayden’s voice broke once more.

No matter how hard he tried to remain composed, Ren was the only person he gave the power to shatter him in this manner.

Ren froze upon hearing the question.

Tears finally broke out of Zayden’s eyes, glimmering like jewels. So pretty, yet so heart-wrenching.

He opened his mouth only to close it, lowering his face to the floor.

Even if he told Zayden he did love him, would he believe it? Wouldn’t it appear like lies, spouted by a mere omega? After all, they just had sex during his heat.

"An omega during its heat is nothing but a fucking animal who craves the touch of anyone it sees," the words echoed in his mind.

Still, he made an effort.

"I... do." He whispered, his voice so low that even he, himself, failed to hear it.

Hearing no response, he frowned. Slowly, he lifted his gaze only to find himself all alone in the room.

The room was empty. Silent. And cruelly cold, sending chills down his spine.

***

Zayden rushed out of the room, his heart thudding violently in his chest. He couldn’t stand Ren’s silence—not to that question.

He strode down the hallway, only to collide with someone.

He looked up. Halein stood before him, smiling brightly.

The young woman bowed. "I apologize for coming without prior notice, my lord. However, upon returning from my recent mission, I came to report to you immediately."

Zayden regarded her, his expression unreadable.

Halein blinked, taken aback by the coldness in his gaze. Even when he didn’t smile, he always made a point to welcome those who returned from their missions.

"Have you written it down?" the General asked.

Halein nodded hesitantly, studying him with care.

"Hand it over and leave."

She pulled out the carefully rolled papers from her jacket pocket.

"The Emperor has sent a new quest, my lord," she stated, handing over the papers in her hand.

Zayden raised an eyebrow, skimming through the document.

It contained details of strange incidents in a village just beside the capital. Dread had spread across the city, and no men or women dared to step outside at night.

The victims were quite random; even children weren’t spared.

It was believed to be the work of a monster—one Zayden needed to uncover and defeat.

"Alright then," he sighed.

Talk about perfect timing.

Just when he didn’t want to stay in the mansion. Just when he wanted to avoid Ren, too afraid to hear the answer to his question.

What if he said: No, I don’t love you?

The thought alone sent chills down his spine.

"Would you not be bringing your attendant?" Halein asked as Zayden began to rush outside the mansion.

Zayden turned, glaring at the woman.

It didn’t take her long to understand—Halein ought to keep quiet if she didn’t wish to anger the General.

"Oh, also—tell a servant to bring my personal belongings."

Having said that, Zayden pulled the jacket hanging in the closet and slipped it on. He didn’t bother with a hat or muffler.

The cold... was the least important thing to him. He just wanted to escape this feeling of anguish.