Chapter 18
Preparations for the binding ceremony were rough. Between meetings with the oracle and Minji’s work schedule, it was impossible to know what day was what.
It was growing to be over a year of Siyeon staying in the palace, and they were aiming for a pre-winter binding. The oracle said it would work perfectly and everything seemed to have gone to plan.
At least until Minji had another pup-induced heat.
“Does it hurt?” Siyeon mumbled.
“It stings,” Minji answered.
“I’m sorry…” The alpha nuzzled into Minji’s neck, hearing her whine. “What?”
“I just got over it!” Minji groaned. “And you’re being just… cuddly!” She complained.
“I’m sorry I want to cuddle!” Siyeon pouted.
The princess eventually sat up, wincing at the pain she felt in her ribs. She walked over to her vanity with a candle, setting on the table, and examined the bite.
“And you’re sure this is a mating bite?” Minji frowned.
“Positive. I found a scent-filled area and chomped,” Siyeon smirked.
“You bite a lot…” Minji frowned while looking at the other bite marks along her body. None of them were as deep or… bad as the one on her ribs, but there were visible marks. “Shame you can’t bite my neck…” MinjI sighed.
“Can still be arranged,” the alpha sat up in bed, smiling at the omega.
“Not in heat anymore,” Minji chuckled. “And you can’t. The kingdom would go nuts if they saw a mating bite there before I was bound to you,” she smiled.
Siyeon was entirely cuddly, much more than usual, and would rarely leave Minji’s side. Always huddled up next to her, watching every little thing to keep her safe. Even within the palace walls, she wanted to keep her safe.
During dinner that night, Bora caught wind of the mixed scent behind her, causing her to glance back and see Siyeon still under the table, but watching Minji carefully. She couldn’t help but smile at her actions, a little odd but still normal. Wanting to hide from everything but still protect the omega.
“You mated her,” Bora whispered when they were alone.
“I did,” Siyeon smiled, just a little too proudly.
“Her father is going to know,” Bora warned. “He tried to yell when he sniffed Yoohyeon and me out… Yoohyeon got very defensive…” She frowned.
“The king wouldn’t dare come after us,” Siyeon growled. “I’ll...”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” Bora quickly interrupted her, shaking her head. “Any threats on the king even if it’s made to protect the princess… are prosecuted to the highest degree… execution… And we all know he’s not fond of you,” She explained in a hushed tone.
Siyeon rolled her eyes, looking away from the older alpha.
“Your pup is cute,” Siyeon whispered, changing the conversation.
“Thanks,” Bora smiled.
The younger alpha walked over to one of the larger windows, seeing their mates walking in the gardens with their mother. Yoohyeon carried the little bundle in her arms, all three of them smiling and talking.
“It’s… good Yoohyeon takes care of her…” Bora whispered. “I… I don’t touch her…” She frowned.
“Except when you scented her…” Siyeon mumbled.
“She didn’t smell like Yoohyeon. I couldn’t let my pup go without a scent. She needed to be comforted and protected,” Bora quickly growled.
“I’m not saying it was wrong.”
Siyeon’s eyes never left Minji’s figure, seeing her smile and laugh. Her animated talking. Everything about her just made the alpha happy.
“I don’t want to influence the pup…” Bora whispered. “She needs to be an omega. If she presents alpha… I know they won’t take her from us… but what will happen to her?” She frowned.
Siyeon shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea. She thought Bora would know, but it was clear no one knew.
“She doesn’t even have a clear halved chance…” Bora could feel her heart sinking into her stomach.
“Because the king has alpha blood coursing through him.” Siyeon knew. Siyeon knew that the kid had more of a chance at being an alpha than anything else. Their great-grandmother was an alpha just like Siyeon. Carried the king and he became an omega. Perfect for the world, he married the queen and had two omega pups. And those two omegas were mated to alphas.
Gahyeon didn’t have a chance.
“I’m scared…” Bora admitted quietly.
“As you should be.”
Both alphas snapped their heads up, seeing the king walking toward them. Siyeon let out a low growl, causing Bora to hit her arm just a little harder than normal, forcing her to stop.
“Even if the pup presents alpha, she’ll be under your care,” the king reassured while leaning against the windowsill with them. “She will never take the throne, you’ll be expected to sire another pup, but she won’t leave your family or the palace.”
Siyeon didn’t believe him. She had no reason to believe him.
“But she’s still very young. A long way to go before presenting. She has to learn to sit up, crawl, walk, talk…” He smiled at the future of the pup before looking at Bora. “Treasure them without worry. If she presents alpha, she’ll still be there.”
Siyeon didn’t sleep that night. She stayed seated next to Minji’s side of the bed, staring at the door before getting up and leaving entirely. She made her way down the torchlit halls, her eyes adjusting to the dark faster than they normally would before turning a corner and seeing Bora doing the same thing.
The two made their way outside, sitting in the garden and staring up at the moon.
They listened to the night creatures, hearing the small sounds of various animals and birds. Each was enjoying the night as they should. Siyeon let out a breath, leaning back into the damp grass.
“I can’t sire pups,” Siyeon whispered. “And she still wants to be bound to me…” She frowned.
“She loves you,” Bora muttered. “Just as Yoohyeon loves me, no matter if I could or not.”
Siyeon’s eyes never left the sky, frowning as she thought more. Minji was willing to ruin her life for her.
“Did you ever worry… that Yoohyeon was making a mistake?” Siyeon frowned.
“I still do,” Bora admitted. “She never took suitors. I was her first alpha and first anything… I fear the day she realizes she should be with an omega.”
“Can she change her mind?” Siyeon asked.
“I asked the oracle of unbinding. It’s rare and only happened once before. The king’s parents… unbound so the king before him could be with an omega…” she whispered. “It… it hurts to be unbound…” She frowned.
“Physically?” Siyeon asked. She could handle physical pain. Tolerate it.
“Another pain… like being ripped from the inside… the oracle said it feels worse than dying. It’s fear mixed with terror that is driven deep into your soul and makes you see the most horrible things…” Bora frowned.
Siyeon had new fears now.
“If… if Yoohyeon were to unbind from me… I think I would die…” Bora whispered.
“You don’t know that…” Siyeon sat up, looking at the smaller alpha.
“I don’t… That is my problem…” Bora sighed. “And I fear the day it happens.”
“Why would she unbind herself from you? You both have a pup together. She is your mate.” Siyeon scoffed.
“To take the throne if Minji refuses to unbind herself from you.” Bora glanced back at the younger alpha, fear, and sadness mixed, and sat between both of them.
Siyeon didn’t know what to say. But she knew for a fact Minji would never make her sister suffer that way.
“She would… she would unbind herself from me.” Siyeon didn’t know where these words were coming from. “She wouldn’t want you or Yoohyeon to suffer… I can’t sire pups and I already have a horrible reputation in the kingdom and palace… She would unbind herself… and choose a suitor that she disliked the least… Bind herself to them to take the throne so you would be happy…”
Siyeon hated to admit it but she knew deep down she was right. Minji would give everything up just to make sure Yoohyeon was happy. Her selfless nature made it impossible not to guess that.
“You don’t have to worry about that… you’re loved by her and everyone in the palace.” Siyeon closed her eyes, deciding she shouldn’t get used to the lifestyle she had.
It would only be a matter of time before it happened anyway. If the king’s parents had been unbound… then it was only a matter of time.