Luren woke up, and the first thing he saw was the Duke, comfortably seated in a chair,
sipping coffee while reading a newspaper.
What is he doing in my room?
Yesterday's events came rushing back into his mind, being carried, the overwhelming heat, the doctor's visit. He gasped quietly, realizing the Duke had stayed with him
all night.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," Craige said with a smirk, his tone laced with
sarcasm as he glanced at him. "You sure have a lot of secrets."
Luren frowned, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"What secrets?" he asked, clearly not understanding what the Duke meant.
"That you're an Omega," Craige replied casually, still sipping his coffee.
"Omega? Me?" Luren repeated, baffled. "What is an Omega?"
Craige lowered the newspaper and looked at him closely, as if trying to gauge whether
Luren was pretending. But his confused expression seemed genuine.
"You're an Omega," he explained slowly, "a man who can be... impregnated."
Luren stared at him, stunned. His mouth fell open, and then
He laughed. A short, disbelieving laugh.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, shaking his head. "What the hell are you
talking about?"
But even as he laughed, his heart pounded in his chest. Something deep inside him felt
unsettled, like the Duke's words had touched a truth he didn't want to face.
What is happening? I don't understand," Luren whispered, clutching the blanket tightly around him.
"Can I… can I talk to my mother?" he asked, voice trembling. "She must know something."
"I'll have her brought here," Craige replied calmly.
Luren hesitated, then lowered his eyes. "Um… thank you, Duke. For yesterday."
Craige gave a small nod. "Don't mention it. Just stay in bed, you're still in heat. And if
you need a man… I'll bring you one."
"What?" Luren blinked in confusion. "Why would I need a man? also I'm interested in women"
Craige laughed in surprise, the sound deep and genuine. Luren was caught off guard, it was the first time he had seen the Duke smile like that. He looks so handsome when he smiles, Luren thought, his cheeks flushing.
"I can also bring you women," Craige said with a teasing smirk, "but I doubt they can satisfy you."
Luren blinked, confused by the Duke's words. What kind of devil is this man? he wondered, watching Craige with growing unease.
"How can a man satisfy me?" he asked, his voice soft and innocent, his brows furrowing in genuine confusion.
Craige stared at him, frowning. His hand reached out the back of his neck. What the
hell has he been through? he thought. Does he really not know? Should I just let him go?
"Keith," Craige called out.
A moment later, the door opened. Keith stepped in, smiling teasingly. "Duke, at your
service."
"Explain to him what Dr. Borne said," Craige ordered. "What an Omega needs during heat." Without another word, the Duke left the room, leaving the two alone.
Keith opened his leather notebook, flipping through a few pages before he looked up
at Luren.
"You're an Omega," he began carefully, trying not to overwhelm him. "It means… you can be impregnated by a man during intercourse. But you're not capable of impregnating a woman.
Luren's face went pale.
Keith continued, his voice softer. "Omegas are extremely rare. That's why there's
little documentation. Most of them end up as sex slaves, so society just stopped treating them like people. But in Velgarith, Omegas are so rare they're sold to the highest bidder like prized possessions. That's why… you need to be careful."
Luren didn't speak. He stared at the sheets, trembling slightly.
Hopelessness washed over him like a tide. So this is what I am? Something to be bought? To be owned?
But even as the fear tried to swallow him, he clenched his fists.
No. I need to confirm this. I need to see my mother.