* * *
Chaeyi felt restless and uneasy.
Tomorrow was… Leonard’s rut day.
Despite all this time passing, he still hadn’t manifested as an Omega, and that fact only deepened Chaeyi’s concerns.
Was this really okay?
Shouldn’t they take more time to think through their relationship?
Adding to his worries, Elder Austin had recently visited in secret, radiating hostility.
“If a Beta like you dares to bond with the heir of the Lancaster family…” he’d warned, leaving Chaeyi even more on edge.
Of course, Chaeyi no longer entertained the possibility of breaking things off with Leonard.
What troubled him now was the need to consider how to protect both their relationship and Leonard’s standing if he remained a Beta.
Wasn’t it time to figure out a solution?
“Could adoption work?”
If continuing the family line was so critical, then why not?
After all, children raised with love would be equally precious, regardless of blood ties.
Honestly, Chaeyi couldn’t understand the outdated rules of this world that insisted on blood relations to carry on a lineage—especially when illegitimate children of the same bloodline were so often cast aside.
It was absurd discrimination, plain and simple.
Chaeyi’s head throbbed. What made it worse was how little Leonard seemed to worry about these issues.
Was he just that optimistic, or completely indifferent?
Maybe he was still too naïve.
Whatever the case, the future seemed impossibly uncertain.
As Chaeyi wrestled with his thoughts, Enoch, who was preparing dessert with the servants, spoke up.
“Lord Leonard said he’d stop by Onyx Manor after finishing his schedule for the day. He wanted me to let you know. Ah, and after tomorrow, the two of you will finally complete the bond, becoming one. It’s so moving, truly!”
Having spent considerable time by Chaeyi’s side, Enoch knew how his feelings had evolved and how much Leonard had endured to reach this point.
He was genuinely overjoyed, wishing for nothing more than their peace and happiness.
But there was one lingering issue.
Enoch glanced cautiously at Chaeyi, who seemed lost in thought.
Lately, Chaeyi had been more preoccupied than ever, and Enoch didn’t need an explanation to know why.
“Chaeyi! It’s okay. So what if you don’t become an Omega? Forget whatever nonsense Elder Austin said. Lord Leonard will handle it, so stop worrying so much about him!”
Enoch spoke with exaggerated cheer to comfort Chaeyi.
Touched by the gesture, Chaeyi smiled and nodded.
He couldn’t bring himself to grumble when someone so much younger was being so mature and considerate.
Still, no matter how much he tried not to worry, anything involving Leonard was bound to weigh on him.
At least there was some time left before Leonard returned tonight—time to come to a decision.
Suddenly curious, Chaeyi turned to Enoch, who was seated across from him.
“Enoch, how much do you know about bonding?”
Enoch set down his teacup and answered.
“Bonding is the act of uniting physically to pledge eternal love to your chosen partner. It works regardless of whether the other person is a Beta, Omega, or Alpha. However, bonds can be broken at the Alpha’s discretion, so for Betas, it’s somewhat similar to a non-binding engagement. But Lord Leonard would never do that.”
“Hmm.”
“And bonding can actually benefit Omegas. Normally, they experience two to three heat cycles a year, but after bonding, the cycle aligns with the Alpha’s rut, reducing it to once a year. It’s much more manageable—less hassle with medications and all.”
Chaeyi nodded as he listened intently. So there were practical advantages too.
Enoch, cheeks flushed, hesitated for a moment before adding in a shy voice, “And, um… they say bonding makes the relationship more… pleasurable, physically. Especially if it coincides with a heat cycle… Ah, but I wouldn’t know personally! I don’t have a mate yet. But if you’d like, I could tell you stories about my sister and her husband.”
“Oh, your sister? The one I saw at the banquet?”
Enoch chuckled.
“Yes, that’s her. My brother-in-law is such a romantic; he fell head over heels for her at first sight and pursued her relentlessly. Though my sister wasn’t all that interested at first…”
The conversation stretched on.
Hearing about others’ love lives was always entertaining, and Enoch seemed more proud than gossipy about his family.
Before they knew it, the sun was setting.
After finishing their tea, they continued their chat in the library. But when Enoch checked the time, his eyes widened.
“Oh no, look at the time! We should head back to your room.”
“Right, let’s go. Leonard should be here soon.”
Chaeyi trailed after Enoch, returning his books on the way.
Even as Enoch chattered away, Chaeyi’s growing tension drowned out the words.
“What should I do? It’s really happening now.”
His unease grew.
Nothing had been resolved, yet they were moving forward regardless.
Was this really the right choice?
Maybe he just needed more time to manifest as an Omega.
If that happened, no one could challenge their bond.
It was then that he heard footsteps.
Turning, he saw Leonard climbing the stairs toward him.
Enoch stopped mid-sentence and, spotting Leonard, lit up with excitement.
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. Oh, and don’t worry—bonding only hurts the first time for Betas. After that, your body adjusts quickly. Good luck, Chaeyi!”
“Ah…”
Before Chaeyi could respond, Enoch had slipped away, leaving him alone with Leonard.
As Leonard approached, his expression unusually cheerful, he leaned in to plant a kiss on Chaeyi’s cheek.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Chaeyi quickly looked up.
“Leonard, are you finished with your work?”
“Ah. Actually, I haven’t quite finished my work yet… If I want to get everything done, it’ll take some time. I won’t be able to work tomorrow because of the rut, so I need to handle as much as possible today. That’s why I stopped by to let you know. Chaeyi, can you wait up for me until I get back?”
Loosening his cravat slightly with a sigh, Leonard asked this as he and Chaeyi headed to the room together.
So he wasn’t done with work yet.
Should I feel relieved about that? The tension that had been gripping Chaeyi loosened slightly.
But when Chaeyi hesitated to respond, Leonard continued, “Or you could sleep for a bit. I’ll wake you up later. Honestly, it might be better if you do, especially if this takes a while.”
What exactly is he planning to do, and for how long?
Chaeyi swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.
This guy… he’s already filled with those thoughts.
Embarrassing as it was, both he and Leonard were men, so he couldn’t exactly say he didn’t understand.
And with Leonard being so efficient with his work, there was nothing to nitpick about either.
Once again, Chaeyi found himself quietly impressed by Leonard’s extraordinary focus and multitasking abilities.
“……”
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Chaeyi watched silently as Leonard removed his jacket.
After a moment, Leonard approached, naturally pressing their lips together, as if he couldn’t wait a second longer.
Chaeyi found it endearing, but he still couldn’t shake the discomfort gnawing at him.
Proceeding with their bond under these circumstances felt wrong.
So, as Leonard pulled away after the kiss, Chaeyi finally voiced his thoughts.
“Hey, Leo.”
“Yeah?”
“I still haven’t had my secondary awakening.”
A faint crack appeared in Leonard’s otherwise calm expression.
It was a topic he’d been deliberately avoiding, but Chaeyi had brought it up first.
“So… how about we wait a little longer and take things slow? Maybe skip this rut and wait until the next one. I read about a case where someone suddenly had their secondary awakening even after two or three years.”
“……”
“There’s no need to rush the bond, is there? It’s not like our feelings are going to change just because we delay it. If anything, rushing might only lead to regrets. And… shouldn’t we also think about what happens if I stay a beta? This isn’t something we can avoid and pretend will resolve itself.”
Leonard, who had been silent throughout Chaeyi’s reasoning, suddenly turned away mid-sentence.
“There’s no need to think about that.”
There it was again—Leonard’s stubborn streak, always surfacing when least expected.
“Leo.”
“If someone tries to interfere, I’ll just get rid of them.”
“What? Are you seriously going to act like a child?”
“I am. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited?”
There was nothing Chaeyi could say to that muttered remark.
Feeling a pang of guilt, he fell silent as Leonard continued.
“Stay put until I get back. Don’t even think about running.”
With that, Leonard turned to leave but glanced back before closing the door, his lips curling into a sly smile.
“I’ve been holding back a lot.”
Click.
The door shut with a decisive thud.
Staring at it in frustration, Chaeyi thought he heard another sound—a faint clink—as if the door had been locked from the outside.
Suspicious, Chaeyi tried the handle, only to find it wouldn’t budge.
“What the…”
Leonard had locked him in, likely to stop him from running.
“That damn Leo…”
Chaeyi let out a sigh, pressing a hand to his forehead.
* * *
