“Get out of here,” he growled. When they hesitated, he snapped, “Now!”
“Yes, your highness, we’re so sorry!” they blubbered as they scurried away from the rose garden.
His blood still boiling, Killian strode over to where Scout was hanging his head. “Are you okay?” he asked firmly. Scout looked up at him and tried to force a smile, but Killian interrupted before he could speak. “And don’t lie.”
The tightness in the corners of Scout’s lips faded. A sad expression crept over his face. “I’m… I mean, yeah, I’m alright. I didn’t really expect anything different, it’s just weird to actually hear people say it.” He let out a humorless laugh. “Especially when they didn’t even notice I was right next to them.”
Killian’s lip curled into a snarl. “Fuck them. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“But what if they’re right?” Scout asked, his brows furrowed in concern. He lowered his gaze to the cobblestone as the imagined weight of responsibility bore down on his shoulders. “What if the other packs think we’re weak because of me?”
“Scout,” Killian said sharply — so sharply that it drew Scout’s attention up in an instant. Killian’s eyes were blazing, and when he spoke, it was slow and deliberate. Every word spilled from his lips like a dagger. “You are not the only one in this relationship.”
He let that sink in until Scout’s gaze softened. “You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“Enough of being sorry,” Killian said. He stepped forward and brought his finger to Scout’s chin, tilting it upwards. “Be proud of who you are. You were handpicked by royalty. Start acting like it.”
Killian’s words were firm but his eyes sparkled and a small smile teased at the corner of his lips. Scout couldn’t help but finally smile back.
“Alright,” he said.
Killian pulled the omega towards him in a tight, passionate embrace. Scout melted into his arms and sighed.
From the manor window, the king watched with narrowed eyes.
* * *
In the evening, they bathed together. At first it was Scout alone — he was still getting used to the luxury of a hot bath, with fresh rose petals scattered across the water surface and strong-scented bath salts peppered along the tub’s ceramic floor. He never had the time or energy to prepare a bath like this at his old apartment. It was utterly relaxing.
But when Killian showed up in the doorway, wearing nothing but a loose towel around his waist, there was one part of Scout that wasn’t so relaxed anymore.
He sat up in surprise. “Killian!”
“May I join you?” the prince asked, his voice sultry but playful.
Scout blushed. “Of course.”
Killian strode over, and as he did so, let the towel around his waist fall to the floor. They were both well aware that this was the first time they had seen each other naked. Scout’s eyes widened and a deep crimson spread across his cheeks.
“Oh. Wow,” he said.
Killian chuckled as he slipped into the tub. It was easily spacious enough for both of them. “You like what you see?”
“Um. Yes.” Scout’s eyes were stuck on Killian’s half-hard cock. It was making his own twitch with anticipation. He shoved a hand over it and Killian laughed.
“Come on, my precious omega,” he growled. “You don’t need to hide from me.”
Killian reached over and gently removed Scout’s hand. Scout couldn’t tell if it was the warmth of the water or the bath salts activating orwhatever,but a pillar of heat shot right up his body.
Killian smirked at the sight of the prize in between Scout’s legs. Snaking his hand through the water, he gently touched the side of his shaft, making Scout gasp softly.
“Does that feel good?” Killian asked.
“Yeah,” Scout said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The alpha continued to coil his fingers around Scout’s cock in slow, teasing motions. Desire burned up inside Killian — he wanted nothing more to pin his omega to the ground and claim him. But he could tell Scout wanted to take it slow, and Killian knew waiting would make it that much sweeter in the end.
So he stroked Scout — slow and deliberate. Scout tensed up, his toes curling and his jaw tight. Killian savored the delicious view of his mate being unable to hide his pleasure, but he wanted more. He wanted to hear moans and whimpers spill from those beautiful lips.
