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

Chapter 327 — I Saw Everything!

"Do you really not like me—in a romantic way?"

The question struck Rihaan without warning. His breath caught in his throat, and for a brief moment, he forgot how to breathe at all. He stared at Soren, his gaze softening despite himself, tracing every familiar line of the omega’s face before his lips finally parted.

"What if I do?"

Soren blinked.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." An awkward laugh escaped him, forced and hollow. "You are very funny."

Rihaan raised an eyebrow, leaning closer, close enough that Soren could no longer ignore his presence.

"Who said I was joking?"

Soren’s jaw parted slightly. He hadn’t expected that—not from Rihaan. He quickly averted his gaze, heat rushing to his cheeks, his pulse betraying him.

Did that mean Rihaan had just... confessed?

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Rihaan didn’t rush to fill the silence hanging in the air, heavy and suffocating. He simply stayed where he was, close enough that Soren could feel his warmth, close enough that pulling away would feel wrong.

"I would never joke about that," Rihaan said at last, his voice low. The teasing edge was gone from his voice. "Not with you."

Soren’s fingers curled into the fabric of his own sleeves. His heartbeat thudded painfully loud in his ears.

"Then why say it now?" he asked, barely above a whisper. "After everything."

Rihaan hesitated. His hand slipped away from Soren’s hair, resting instead against the armrest, restrained—as if reminding himself of the line he shouldn’t cross.

"Because I am a fool. I already made the mistake of staying silent once," he replied. "And it caused me to lose you."

Soren let out a shaky breath. He didn’t look at Rihaan, afraid that if he did, he would see sincerity—and worse, hope.

"...Things don’t get better just because you admit them," the omega murmured. "Sometimes, it makes things more complicated..." He clenched his fists.

Why?

Why was Rihaan telling him this now of all times? When it was too late?

"I know," Rihaan said softly. "But I am not asking you to forgive me. Not yet."

Then, after a pause, "I am only asking you not to pretend I mean nothing to you."

Soren closed his eyes.

That, more than any confession, was what unsettled him the most.

"I have never said that you did not mean anything."

Rihaan laughed, the sound so soft it brushed against the omega’s ears, tickling him.

"Really? Then you hide it terribly," the alpha replied, his deep voice cracking slightly. "You act as if my existence doesn’t matter at all."

Soren opened his eyes and stared at him. Rihaan hadn’t moved—hadn’t stepped back, hadn’t stepped closer. He was still there, unyielding, as if waiting for Soren to decide whether to run or stay.

"...I need to go." He rose to his feet abruptly.

Fear tightened around his chest, squeezing until his breath came unevenly. His heat raced beneath his skin, betraying him. He couldn’t stay here. Not at this moment.

He turned away, unable to face the other man’s hazel gaze. So deep. It made him think they contained the world’s greatest treasure.

But Rihaan reached out—hesitant, restrained—and caught his wrist. His grip was firmer than he himself expected.

"Don’t," he said quietly.

The single word was enough to freeze Soren in place, his steps halting instantly.

They were too close now. Close enough that Soren could feel Rihaan’s breath against his cheek, warm and steady. Close enough that the space between them transformed into something fragile, trembling with everything unsaid.

"I am not asking you to stay. I would not force you," Rihaan murmured. "Just... don’t run from me."

Soren’s breath hitched. He turned, not pulling his hand away from the alpha’s grip. Slowly, almost unwillingly, he lifted his gaze.

Their faces were inches apart, their noses almost touching.

Rihaan’s eyes flickered to Soren’s lips—trailing them with his hazel gaze. Just long enough for Soren to notice.

For a heartbeat, it felt as though the world held its breath with them.

Then Soren stepped back.

Not far. Just one step away from him.

Rihaan stepped forward—he didn’t want to leave without making sure something changed between them.

Slowly, he leaned in, cupping the omega’s face with his free hand while tightening his grip around the red-haired young man’s wrist. He pressed a kiss against Soren’s lips, closing his eyes.

Chills ran down Soren’s spine. He wanted to run but couldn’t. He wanted to push this man away but couldn’t. It was as if a freezing spell had been cast upon him. And as if that weren’t the worst of it, Soren subconsciously closed his eyes, returning the kiss.

Rihaan opened his eyes, shocked—but didn’t pull away. Instead, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue inside the omega’s mouth with slow movements.

Soren responded, his free hand slipping around the alpha’s neck, pulling him closer.

A sharp gasp tore from Soren’s lips as he wrenched himself free, stumbling back as though the air itself had turned hostile. His fingers slipped from Rihaan’s collar, his chest heaving, eyes wide—not with longing now, but terror filling in them.

"I—" His voice broke, shaky. What had he just done?!

He didn’t wait for Rihaan to speak. He couldn’t. He needed to get out of here before he became consumed by the man in front of him.

Turning on his heel, Soren dashed out of the hall.

His footsteps rang through the corridor, frantic and uneven, the echo of them carving distance where warmth had just been.

Rihaan stood frozen, watching the red-haired figure vanish around the corner, fixing his glasses, swallowed by the palace’s endless halls.

For a long moment, he didn’t move.

Then, slowly, almost reverently, he lifted his hand and brushed his thumb over his lips—over the place where Soren had been.

"...So you ran after all," he whispered.

The silence that followed was heavy. Too heavy.

Rihaan’s gaze shifted.

"Now," he said, voice smooth but edged with something dangerous as he turned toward the other door, "why were you standing there, peeking at us?"

The chamber had two exits—two paths, two choices.

The door burst open.

"H-How could you?!" The Prince of Maiju stormed inside, his finger shaking as he pointed at Rihaan, his face drained of all colour. "I saw it! I saw everything!"

Rihaan straightened fully. He folded his arms, an infuriatingly calm smile spreading across his face.

"How could I?" he echoed softly. "Why shouldn’t I?"

"You—You!" the prince choked, rage and humiliation twisting his features. "You kissed my fiancé!"

A quiet laugh slipped from Rihaan’s lips.

"Fiancé?" he repeated lazily. "Careful with your words. Nothing has been decided. Negotiations are still ongoing." He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "And as for what you saw... well."

He let the silence do the damage.

"He and I—" Rihaan’s smile widened, deliberate, cruelly vague. "Let’s just say that isn’t something new."

"I don’t believe you!" the prince shouted, fists clenched, eyes blazing.

Rihaan stepped closer, lowering his voice, each word cutting clean and slow.

"You don’t have to. Everything is just as it should be."

The Prince of Maiju let out a sharp, humourless scoff.

"The Emperor will never approve of you. And do you really think I would step back just because he was some lover on the side?" His lips curled. "You are merely a mistress. While I will be his husband. Legally."

Ah.

That was the moment.

Rihaan felt it before he truly registered it—the sudden heat beneath his skin, the violent surge of instinct roaring awake. His blood boiled. The air around him seemed to have shifted. Heavier and more intense.

With a faint, dangerous scrape, dark claws slipped free from his fingers. Long. Sharp.

A grin spread across his face, unpleasantly calm.

"Is that so?"

He reached out and tapped two fingers against the prince’s shoulder. Light. So faint it could be mistaken for gentle.

The Prince of Maiju froze as if struck by lightning.

"W-What are you doing?" he stammered, his confidence shattering, pupils trembling as they flicked to Rihaan’s hand—those unmistakable claws glinting in the light.

Rihaan leaned closer, close enough that the other man could feel his presence press in, heavy and suffocating.

"Careful," Rihaan murmured, his voice low, edged with a smile that held no warmth. "There are words you do not get to use."

The prince swallowed hard, Adam’s apple bobbing.

"T-This is the Imperial Palace," he forced out. "You wouldn’t dare—"

"I wouldn’t?" Rihaan interrupted softly.

His fingers tightened—not enough to wound, but enough to make a point.

"You seem to misunderstand something," Rihaan said, eyes darkening. "I stepped away once. Out of fear. Out of foolishness." His grin sharpened. "I will not make that mistake again."

The claws retracted just as suddenly as they had appeared.

Rihaan straightened, stepping back, all traces of threat vanishing as though it had never existed.

"But don’t worry," he added lightly, turning away. "I will not touch what doesn’t belong to me."

He paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder.

"Just remember this," Rihaan said quietly. "Some bonds do not need titles. And some people..." His eyes flickered, dangerous. "...were never yours to be."

Then he left, the echo of his footsteps lingering long after the door closed—and long after the Prince of Maiju realized his hands were shaking.

"What the hell?!" He grumbled, clenching his fist.