"T-That is not it. As a demon, it is rare for you to meet your fated mate, as they are all born in different places in the world due to the curse bestowed by the Gods—" The physician gasped, covering his mouth. He had just called him a demon. His pulse quickened as fear gripped his chest.
Would the General kill him too, like the others? Even though he had known Zayden from a young age, he still didn’t fully understand why Zayden did most things only he could comprehend.
Zayden’s jaw tightened. Countless fated mates... And yet, the one he wanted, the one beginning to open his heart, was already marked by another. His chest tightened. He wanted to scream, to tear something apart—but he held it in.
He stood abruptly from the chair with a loud thud. The physician’s pulse began to race, his hands trembling in fear.
Zayden scoffed at the sight. He didn’t intend to scare the old man, yet seeing him shake reminded Zayden of why Ren might refuse him—and accept another alpha as his mate.
He didn’t say a word and simply left the room, leaving the physician confused and worried: Would the General be all right?
Once Zayden stood in the hallway, he watched the dead garden, snow blanketing the withered trees in a silent frost. Sometimes, Ren seemed the same—quiet, restrained, as if buried under something he could not escape. Perhaps he was forced. Perhaps he didn’t want it. After all, whenever he read reports about the abuse omegas endured, Ren seemed indifferent—maybe it wasn’t because he was heartless, but because he had been through it himself.
He nodded to himself.
Then, it all made sense. Why Ren had come to his mansion, escaping the forest, injured, seeking refuge. Perhaps he had been terrified by his past, lied about being a beta, and taken countless suppressants to keep his heats at bay. And because of the mark on his neck, most alphas and omegas couldn’t smell him—but Zayden could... because he was his fated alpha.
A scoff of relief escaped him. The tight grip around his chest loosened now that he had pieced it all together, even if it was only speculation. But the thought of Ren belonging to another... it tightened something in him. Protective instincts, alpha instincts—he didn’t care what to call them. He just needed Ren to be safe. To stay by his side. No matter what.
"And that alpha is not even with him. Maybe he abandoned Ren," he mumbled, leaning his head against the wall. The name he barely pronounced made his life begin to revolve around it.
Just then, a sudden ache ran through his bones. His body burned. He looked around. There was no one. He clenched his fists tightly. Perhaps the pain he usually felt had returned. Or rather, he began to feel it more tonight, after having killed countless monsters in the forest. Lately, their number has increased drastically.
A soft cough reached him from the floor above, near the stairs. That faint scent—he recognized it instantly. Ren.
Struggling to stand, he stepped closer, following the sweet fragrance.
"My Lord?" Ren whispered. He hadn’t expected to run into the General in the hallway. His throat had been burning for a while. There was no water left in the jar in Eiran’s room, so he had stepped outside to fetch some.
"What... are you doing here?" Zayden asked, his voice slightly shaking as if he dreaded even talking to the man.
The sun was warmer than yesterday, and the snow was slowly melting although it covered the once green herbs. Some ice melted against the window panes, running down like raindrops. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs noveⅼfire.net
In the General’s room, Ren was preparing Zayden’s coat.
Then, Maria exclaimed.
Ren turned, gently brushing his hand over his neck. Maria noticed the mark immediately. After all, she was one herself.
Paul, who was polishing the General’s boots, hurriedly stepped forward, eyes wide in disbelief.
"No way. You’re mistaken—"
But when his gaze fell on the bite mark, his mouth dropped.
"W-What? H-How? Is it what I am thinking it is?—"
The couple exchanged a glance, almost pitying the General. His affection wasn’t exactly hidden. He always found excuses to bring Ren everywhere, made sure they had at least one meal together unless he had to leave for urgent matters for days or weeks. These were anything but the actions of a man in love.
"Is the General’s love unrequited?" Maria whispered, leaning close to her husband.
"It seems so..." Paul nodded quietly.
Ren tilted his head, narrowed his eyes, confused.
"Is something wrong?"
The couple shook their heads so quickly it looked rehearsed, waving their hands.
"Of course not! NOTHING is wrong," they said, nervously averting their gazes.
The three didn’t speak for a moment.
"But why did you hide it?" Maria asked, breaking the brief silence.
"Well..." Ren hesitated for a moment. He couldn’t reveal all the details—his past and everything he went through.
They would hate him if they learned he was from Hianshu. During the past years, he noticed the hatred that every citizen of Revhara carried for Hianshu’s people. Whenever there was an incident, they would curse Hianshu. Whenever he attended a soldier’s death anniversary, they would wish for Hianshu’s downfall.
He inhaled deeply before continuing, "The General doesn’t hire omegas, so I had to lie..."
That was the only excuse he could give.
Then he added softly, almost to himself, "And I didn’t think I was going to stay for long."
"How come?" Paul asked curiously.
Ren hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the other servants who had gathered. Over the past years, he had started talking to them more often, gradually becoming friends. After all, they all served the General closely.
The servants had noticed the General’s affection for Ren but stayed quiet. The man seemed completely oblivious—too focused on his duty and on Eiran to notice anything else.
Yet Ren couldn’t help but sense it in the smallest gestures: the way Zayden’s eyes lingered on him, the subtle concern in his voice, the faint tension whenever he was near.
Still, he tried not to look, tried not to think about it. His only purpose was to earn a living and remain by his son’s side.
"I... was looking for someone," he murmured almost to himself.