The chamber was awash in the soft morning glow..Sunlight spilled through the curtains, chasing away the shadows of last night.

The air was still thick, heavy with the mingled scents of a True-blooded Alpha and his Omega-a fragrance so intoxicating it felt like a new world had bloomed inside these four walls.

On the bed, tangled in half-thrown sheets, they lay barely covered. The Alpha's body rested completely over hers, his head pillowed on her swollen swells, still intimately bound by the knot that refused to release them.

Exhausted as she was, his weight felt less like a burden and more like a claim-one she could neither fight nor deny. Her arms were looped instinctively around him, holding him as if protecting what wasn't truly hers.

And yet, neither made the slightest move to hide their bare bodies..Perhaps there was no need. They had already given everything to each other.

The Omega stirred first. A soft line of sunlight cut across her face, pricking at her closed eyelids.

She shifted, then stilled when the reality pressed in-she was not alone. She was not merely resting in her chamber..Yn's breath caught..

Remembering Last night...

Her lashes fluttered open slowly, and her gaze landed on him. Jungkook. The Crown Prince. Her Alpha. Sleeping soundly against her as though the night's endless hunger hadn't left her trembling and boneless.

Didn't I fall asleep halfway through? she thought, shame heating her cheeks. And yet he... he must have kept going until exhaustion claimed him too.

Disbelief tugged wary smile at her lips. Who would believe this is the same Alpha who refused to let me rest even for a moment last night?

She lifted one hand with painstaking care and brushed it across her chest-only to freeze. His mouth was still latched softly against her, lips parted around her sensitive peak.

A thin string of saliva connected them when she pulled away, glistening in the sunlight. Heat surged up her neck.

Her legs went weak beneath the mere memory of his relentless hunger, and when he shifted slightly in his sleep, panic spiked. She clutched at his hips desperately.

"Don't move," she whispered, voice trembling.

As though obeying her command, his eyes opened-dark, heavy, unreadable-and locked with hers. Silence wrapped around them, so thick her heart drummed painfully in her ears.

Don't look at me like that, Alpha. If you keep staring at me like this, I won't be able to stop myself from falling for you completely.

Or... had he already regretted it? Regretted touching her, claiming her again and again?

She couldn't read his thoughts, couldn't reach beyond that cold, imperial mask he wore for the world.

She closed her eyes tightly, the words of the Queen echoing in her head.

It's just a duty. Not love.

Her throat worked as she swallowed the ache down. She opened her eyes again-only to find him still watching her.

And then it hit her, sharp and cruel.

He belonged to Aera. Always had. Always would. From the moment he was born, it was decided.

The dynasty wanted a True-blooded heir bound to the Princess of Qing. Aera would be his Luna. His Queen.

And Yn? She was only the claim. The Omega chosen to tame the beast inside him, to carry his cycles, to be devoured and discarded in shadows no one would honor.

But the beast inside him-he was hers. Always hers. His inner Alpha had chosen her, bound to her in ways the Crown Prince never would.

So why shouldn't she claim him back? Why not embrace the moments her Alpha gave her, instead of grieving for the Prince who hate her presence or her everything ?

Her lips trembled, but a flicker of warmth sparked in her chest. He is my Alpha.

Her eyes glowed faintly, though she didn't know if it was happiness or the weight of realization.

Her fingers drifted into his hair, stroking softly, tenderly, without thought.

MY ALPHA...

But when his hand clamped suddenly around her hips, an irritated sound slipped from her lips.

She shot him a look, only to meet eyes so deep and piercing they made her heart bloom instead of shiver.

And when he finally shifted as if to release the knot, panic clawed at her. She wrapped her arms quickly around his neck, dragging him back down, forehead pressed against his.

"Don't," she whispered, voice raw. "Stay like this."

For a fleeting heartbeat, something flickered in his eyes. Something she hadn't seen in years. Something achingly human.

Hope.

Yearning.

But just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by the cold, unreadable gaze he wore for the court and World

Still, he obeyed her. He stayed. Between her legs.

Against her skin. His obedience sent heat rushing to her cheeks, but her heart... her heart swelled.

The world feared the beast inside him. But for her, he wasn't a monster. He was like a wounded child-one who only wanted to be seen, to be soothed, to be loved.

He never forced her.

Even in the heat of rut, he always asked permission.Always waited for her to yield.

And in that moment, the truth clawed free from where she'd buried it all these years.

She was falling in love with him. Not the Crown Prince. Not the cold heir to the dynasty.

But the Alpha inside him. The beast the world feared.

She tapped his shoulder gently. He stirred, lifting his face from where he'd been buried in her scent gland, drinking her in like oxygen.

Confusion flickered across his features at her touch.

She gestured softly, urging him closer. Without hesitation, he obeyed.

And then she cupped his face, lips crashing into his with desperate need.

She didn't know if he was the Alpha or the Crown Prince in that moment.

Didn't care. All she knew was that she was done holding back. She poured everything she'd hidden into the kiss-her anger, her sadness, her longing.

She bit and tugged at his lower lip, sucking hard until her chest burned, until her body shook.

But when his hand tightened bruising around her ribs, forcing her lips apart, a gasp broke free.

And then he kissed her back with fire-his hunger, his fury, his claim searing against her mouth until she was lost in him completely.

And for the first time, she welcomed it.

Her Alpha.

Yn:The kiss devoured me whole, his mouth claiming every inch until my lungs screamed for air.

At last, I broke away, gasping, chest heaving. His eyes snapped open, dark and sharp, fixed on me as though demanding-

Why did you stop?

I stared at him, disbelief curdling in my chest. Does he want me to die from a mere kiss?

"I... I'm out of breath," I muttered, voice low, almost embarrassed.

He shifted, as though ready to rise, to leave me-but panic clawed at me.

My fingers caught his hand and dragged him back down, the knot still binding us together, trembling my legs with every small movement.

He stilled, eyes locked on mine without a blink. Shock? Anger? I couldn't tell. I didn't care anymore.

Yn:"No," I whispered, firm. "Stay knotted."

His actions halted. For one second, something passed over his face, unreadable.

Then he composed himself and spoke, voice low and restrained.

Jungkook: "I have to go to court... before they notice my absence."

Yn:A hollow laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.

"Hoo..." That was all I said. The word carried everything-hurt, disbelief, emptiness.

but I think for a second and I opened my arms wide in silent acceptance, eyes drifting toward the heavy wooden door. He understood.

Of course he did. His gaze lingered for a heartbeat, and then, with a swift motion, he pulled me into his lap.

A soft gasp escaped me. I clutched at his shoulders as my legs trembled, barely holding.

Before I could slip, his strong hands guided me, wrapping my thighs around his torso. The shift in position drove him deeper, made the knot press harder, and my breath stuttered, ragged.

We stared at each other, breaths mingling, falling into the same rhythm. Then, still bare and still connected, he stood.

My arms wound around his neck, my eyes never leaving his face, even as a shiver raced down my spine when cool water touched my skin.

He sat in the bathing corner, me still in his lap. One hand pressed to my back, steadying me.

Neither of us spoke.

I dipped my hand into the basin, scooping up herbal paste. My palms smoothed it gently across his chest, down his arms, across the hard planes of his body.

And when I glanced up, my breath caught-he was doing the same for me. My lips curved in a small, secret smile.

I bent my head, focusing on the work, but inside, warmth unfurled.

Later, when the knot finally released, I felt an emptiness so sharp it almost made me ache.

I swayed on unsteady legs, knees buckling. His hand shot out, strong at my waist, catching me.

"I... I think I can't walk alone," I admitted softly, shame curling my words.

He didn't answer.

Just guided me, steady as stone, helping me into my clothes. I stole glances as he dressed in silence, and for one fragile moment, it felt... normal.

Almost tender.

The moment shattered with a knock at the door.

Guard (outside): "Your Highness! The court awaits your presence! His Majesty is waiting!"

Yn:My blood froze. Breath hitched. So he wasn't lying.

Jungkook: "I am coming," he called back, his tone flat.

Yn:He turned to leave, but my instinct won over reason-I grabbed his hand. He paused, eyes flicking down to where my fingers clung to him

Heat rushed to my cheeks. "Sorry," I whispered, releasing him..But he said nothing.No expression, no words. He simply walked out.

Time skip:

Mari brought me food, which I picked at absently. My thoughts were still tangled in him when the door opened again.

Ari stepped in, her eyes sweeping over me-up, down, sharp, questioning.

I frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that? Everyone already knows what happened here."

Ari: "Nothing happened to you, right?"

Yn:Confusion knotted my brows. "What do you mean?"

Ari:She hesitated, then her voice dropped.

"Last night... we heard your shouting. It was horrible. Like someone was killing someone brutally."

Yn:I froze. "You-everyone heard?"

Ari:She nodded grimly. "Everyone. Including Luna. And His Majesty. At the dining table."

Yn:My eyes flew wide. Heat rushed to my face. "But we just-"

Ari:"Stop," she cut me off, face twisting. "I don't want to hear your private matters. You may have no shame, but I do."

Yn:My chest burned. "Shut up," I snapped, glaring.

But she didn't stop.

Ari:"You're falling for him again, aren't you? Did you notice?"

Her words struck like a knife. I turned away, but the truth clawed its way out of me, bitter and raw.

Yn:"When did I ever stop, Ari?"

She gasped softly. Not in shock, but in something deeper. Acceptance.

Days later

I was roaming the halls, searching for Yoona-maa, when I saw a familiar figure-Ari-running, her shoulders trembling, tears streaming down her face.

"Ari!" I called, chasing after her.

I found her at last, collapsed against a pillar, crying alone beneath the cold night. My heart broke at the sight. I laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinched violently.

"What happened?" I whispered.

Her lips quivered.

Ari:"He... his parents... they're fixing his marriage. With someone else."

Yn:My breath caught. "What-? Did you talk to him?"

Ari:"I didn't get the chance," she choked out. "And I think... we have to let him go."

Yn:But then my eyes dropped-and froze. She was caressing her stomach.

My heart thundered. No... it can't be.

"Ari..." My voice broke. "Is it true?"

She nodded, tears spilling fresh.

Without a thought, I pulled her into a fierce embrace.

My arms wrapped around her shaking body, consoling her even as my own heart splintered.

Sadness burned in my chest until I could hardly breathe..

I can't let her face this alone..

I have to talk to Jungkook.