Nico

I was awoken by a soft knock on my door. I curled up in my bed, not wanting to speak to anyone. 

“Nico, baby,” My dad’s voice came from the other side of the door. 

I remained silent. Despite the need to have my dad comfort me, I knew if he had to do that, he’d learn that I had met my mate tonight. And to be honest, I don’t think I was ready to tell anyone about my discovery. 

I bit down on my bottom lip, and tears began to well up in my eyes. 

The door opened, and I could hear my dad's footsteps approach my bed. I didn’t move, not wanting to talk to him at the moment. I wanted to wallow in my pity for just a while longer. He sat on my bed and began to tuck the hair that had fallen out of my braid behind my ear. 

“What happened?” He asked. He knew I wasn’t asleep because of his motherly instincts or something. 

I turned over to face him and began to let the tears spill from my eyes. I knew telling him that nothing was wrong wouldn’t work. I had abruptly left the ball, and he knew I would never do that. Especially with the position I was in. 

I didn’t know what to tell him without giving away why I was so upset. 

“I’m just tired,” I replied, trying to play off my shaky voice with a yawn. 

“Baby, I know you wouldn’t have left early like that if there wasn’t something wrong.” My dad patted my cheek. “There was talk about you getting in quite the tiff with one of the Cashum Kingdom’s princes.” 

I bit down on my bottom lip. Trying to keep myself from crying. 

“And Kallin said he saw the boy out there,” My dad cleared his throat. “Half-nude, with another omega.” 

I remained silent. Damn him and Kallin for being so vigilant. 

“I don’t wanna talk about it, dad. I’m just tired.” I half lied. 

My dad hummed in response. “I don’t know about that. The boy tried to run after you, but your papa caught him before he left the room.” 

I caught on to my dad's bluff. “He must have forgotten something then,” I responded. 

That caused my dad to huff. “Don’t lie to me,” My dad responded with a firm voice. “Tell me what actually happened.” 

“Dad, I’m 21. I can deal with this on my own,” I responded, pulling my covers over my face in protest.

“You may be 21– hell, you could be 51, and you’d still be my baby. I know I can’t resolve all of your issues for you, but I could give you my opinion. Maybe my advice?” He pulled the cover down from my face, and he gave me a reassuring glance. 

“He called me stuck up,” I responded, giving him half of what he wanted to know. 

“You’ve never let that bother you before.” My dad responded. “Now tell me– what really happened?” 

I took a deep breath, knowing my dad wouldn’t let up. I sat up in my bed and crossed my legs. 

“The alpha from the Cashum kingdom is my true mate,” I confessed. 

“Oh…” My dad paused for a moment, trying to analyze what to say. “I honestly don’t know what to say….” 

“I do. I don’t want him anywhere near me,” I responded with venom.

“Nico, that’s not how things work. Fate will bring you together whether you like it or not. Finding your true mate is like a needle in a haystack.” He looked at me with worry. “The bond– whether you like it or not will bring you together.”

“He can just go home, and we can act like it never happened. He was drunk anyway. He might not remember.” I try to brush him off. 

“So when you have your first heat, you’re just going to grin and bear it?” My dad asked, a look of frustration taking over his features. “I can tell you, the moment I met your papa, it was inevitable. My heat was so strong that Kallin, Cameron, and another omega bathed me in an ice bath to cool me down. They had to–” My dad stopped himself from continuing. “Let’s just say it was a difficult thing to manage. The only thing that would quell it was… Well, you know.” My dad blushed. 

“I’m sure I could do something to quell it by myself,” I responded, not letting up. 

“Nico, I’m just warning you. When an Alpha and Omega are true fated mates, things are different.” My dad said. “I just want what’s best for my baby.” 

“I know.” I took a deep breath. “I need some time alone, please. I need to think things through. I need sleep. Tonight was more than I think I could handle.” 

“We’ll talk about this in the morning, then.” My dad stood from my bed. He turned to me one more time. “I’m going to ask the prince of the Cashum kingdom to at least stay until morning. When he’s sobered up.” 

“Dad, please just let him go home. I honestly don’t want to talk to him just yet.” I childishly pouted at my dad.  

“My decision is final.” He responded. 

— — —

I was woken up first thing in the morning with one of the servants opening up my curtains. 

“Good morning, your highness.” My personal servant, a beta named Kota, greeted me. “This morning, the king and queen have requested your presence for breakfast.” 

I sat up, then I rubbed my eyes, stretching my muscles to wake myself up. 

“Do I have to go?” I whined. Already dreading seeing Javon again. 

“His majesty has requested your presence specifically,” Kota responded, walking to my closet. Pulling the doors open and he went inside. He disappeared for a few moments before coming back into my room, holding ‘casual’ wear for me. Which was a cream-colored flowy blazer and some black dress pants. 

I let out a moan of frustration and got out of bed. Kota quickly went into my bathroom, started my shower for me, and made sure I had all of the toiletries I would need. I thanked him, telling him I had it from there, and sent him on his way. 

Once I was sure the beta had left the room, I stripped out of the clothes I had worn to bed and put them in the dirty laundry basket. I wondered if I took long enough, they’d eat without me, and I could avoid my impending doom. 

But knowing my dad, he’d only burst into my room and rush me to get dressed. I pulled my braid out of the hair tie that held it together and combed my hair free. Much like my dad’s hair, it was long and waist-length. It wasn’t as bright platinum as my dad’s, but a bit dirtier blonde like my papa's hair. My eyes were silver, much like my dad’s, and I thought them to be my most redeemable quality of myself. I got into the shower and began to scrub all of last night's grime off of my body. 

As I showered, I let my thoughts drift off to Javon. 

Despite the way I had first encountered the alpha, I was able to get a glance at everything he had to offer. His lovely build of muscle, his impressive dick that had gleamed from the cum he had spilled into the omega he had been fucking. The intensity in his eyes despite him being far from sober. I’d even have to admit to myself that the alpha was fucking hot. 

Then it made me think of our conversation in the ballroom. He seemed as if he were stone-cold sober when he talked to me there. Which stirred up confusion in me. Even if he drank a full pot of coffee and had a cold shower, there was no way he knew what was happening. 

When I stepped out of the shower, I opened the door to let fresh air in and steam out. I quickly dried myself and got into the clothes that Kota had picked out for me. I decided to show a bit of my flair and added red lipstick to my look. 

As if the servants knew I had gotten out of the shower and dressed, my hairdresser walked into the room and quickly did my hair in a braided updo. 

“Your highness, I think you would look stunning if you added a magnolia to your hair this morning.” She put her hands on my shoulders and smiled at me in the mirror. 

“Thank you.” I looked up at her and smiled. “I think today I like the simple and sophisticated look, Sofia. I’ll call for you if I need you again today.” I put my hand on top of hers and looked back at the woman. 

“Thank you.” She bowed her head, a light blush covered her features, and she left the room. 

I took a few moments for myself before going to face the beast that awaited me. 

My parents… 

And him…