“Oh,” Scout said again. This time a blush crept across his face.
The weight of the situation still hadn’t sunk in for Scout, but hearing that definitely sped it along. “Um — my apartment, is it okay for me to just leave it like that?” he asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Killian said. “I’ll have someone pay your last month’s rent.” He grinned. “I’m sure the rental office will understand that you’ve gone to live with the alpha prince.”
Scout let out a sigh. Killian frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Killian asked. He sat on the edge of the massive king-sized bed and patted the spot next to him. “Come sit with me. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Scout shuffled closer and took a seat next to him. His face felt hot, like it was burning. He’d never felt like this around any other alpha. Maybe the stress of the day was too much and he was getting a fever.
But it got even hotter when Killian placed a hand gently but firmly on his knee.
“Sorry,” Scout said. “I just feel a little out of it.”
Killian nodded. “You’ve been through a lot today.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry for all my father put you through. He had no right treating you like that.”
Scout looked up at the prince with wide eyes. “Don’t you care?”
“What? That he tried to have you killed? Of course I care! I was going to rip anyone who tried to touch you to shreds!”
“No, I mean… don’t you care that I’m not a high-class omega?” Scout asked.
Killian stared at him in confusion. “No. Why would I?”
“Because all the other omegas you could have chosen were all…” Scout trailed off, staring at the floor. “All better than me.”
Killian bristled. “No. They weren’t.”
“I don’t have money, or status,” Scout said, shaking his head. “I don’t have anything to offer you.”
Killian grabbed his shoulder and turned him so they were face to face. “I don’t want any of that. Those fancy omegas were only there because my father chose them. He thought he could control me by even choosing my mate for me.”
“The king chose them?” Scout echoed.
Killian nodded. “None of them were my taste. Way too pompous.”
Killian understood that Scout couldn’t believe that the high-ranking omegas weren’t to Killian’s taste, buthewas. “I shouldn’t have even been there. I snuck on the stage,” Scout mumbled. “Doesn’t that bother you?”
“No,” Killian said firmly. “Now stop doubting yourself. I choseyou, not them. You have a right to be here.” He squeezed Scout’s hand tight. “From now on, you’remyomega. The prince’s omega.”
Scout glanced up with shimmering eyes. A blush spread across his cheeks. “The prince’s omega,” he repeated softly.
Killian nodded. “That’s right.” He lowered his voice into a deep, low growl — not to intimidate Scout, but to show him how serious he was. “Whatever happens now, we go through it together. As mates.”
Scout’s blush deepened. “Right.”
The gentle evening breeze flowed through the room, teasing their hair and ghosting over their skin. Killian’s eyes bore into Scout’s like lasers, intense and piercing. Scout couldn’t look away. This was the gaze of an alpha. He shuddered.
Killian smirked. “Sorry. You’ll get used to that.”
An overwhelming urge to reach out and embrace Scout surged up inside him. He knew Scout was an omega, and omegas tuned in sync with their alphas, but was it too soon? Killian watched him with hungry eyes, wanting to touch him but not wanting to force him into anything too soon. After all, he’d had a long day and probably wanted to rest.
Killian broke his gaze away first. “We should get to sleep. You must be tired.”
“Ah, right,” Scout said. He looked around the room. “Where, er, should I sleep?” Killian laughed and Scout blinked in confusion. “What?”
“You’re my mate,” Killian stated. “So naturally, you’re going to sleep in the bed with me. You’re okay with that, right?”
