"You're the only one who can make me feel like this," he sobbed, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Why did you run away, Claude? You misunderstood me..."

His eyes searched desperately for forgiveness.

"I already promised—I’ll only ever sleep with you. You're mine, Claude. Mine, and only mine!"

He took a shaky breath, his eyes glassy.

"So please… take those words back. Give me another chance. I’ll love you with everything I am."

EIGHT YEARS AGO

It was a bright, sunny day when a young man named Claude prepared himself for his first day at Boongseong after receiving a scholarship. In a cheerful mood, he stepped out of his room and walked downstairs, where his grandmother was cooking breakfast.

Claude: "Grandma, you don’t have to do that."

Grandma: "It’s okay, dear. I can still handle it, alright?"

Claude: "You don’t need to cook for me anymore. I’m already grown up."

Grandma: "But you’re still my little Claude."

Claude chuckled softly before helping his grandmother finish the work in the kitchen. Afterward, he headed out to school with a confident expression.

When he entered the classroom, it was already crowded with students chatting among themselves. He spotted an empty seat and asked if it was taken. When the student shook their head, he sat down. However, he soon felt out of place—everyone was talking about their luxurious lifestyles, something he couldn’t relate to.

Claude felt bored and isolated, not knowing anyone. He whispered to himself, thinking he had expected to make friends with elite students, unlike at his previous school, where communication had been much easier. He reminded himself that he was here for a reason—to pursue his dream of becoming a famous horse racer one day.

As he sat lost in thought, an unfamiliar scent filled the air. Curious, he turned to find its source and saw a charming young man with a cute smile and dark, fudge-brown hair.

His Highness Wade Arthur Shaan—the youngest prince of House Shaan, and the first dominant omega born into his lineage in over two centuries. The same prince who once pranked his private tutor by gluing him to a chair, according to tabloids.

"Isn’t that Prince Wade of Shaan?" Claude wondered.

The prince walked past him, leaving behind a lingering scent. Claude couldn’t take his eyes off him as Wade laughed and flirted with his friends.

"I heard that he's a favorite child in his family but his scent is quite strange," Claude mused.

As he continued to stare curiously, Wade suddenly looked in his direction.

Embarrassed, Claude quickly looked away and adjusted his glasses. Wade walked past him again and took a seat behind him, continuing to chat and flirt.

"I’ve seen him in the newspapers before. As expected, he’s studying here too," Claude thought. "I heard he enjoys to play tricky games… but an alpha like him doesn’t even react to his own scent? According to my uncle…"

Just then, the teacher entered, and the class began.

Fast Forward

During break time, Claude stood up and asked one of his classmates for directions to the library. After getting the directions, he thanked them and walked outside.

As he was about to reach the library, something caught his eye—something he had always dreamed of. On the school field, a group of students was engaged in a horse race. Claude’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight.

A childhood memory suddenly flashed through his mind.It was his birthday, and his grandmother had taken him to a festival.

Grandma: "What do you want me to buy for you, Claude?"

Claude: "I don’t know."

Grandma: "What about this toy here?"

Claude shook his head, uninterested in the toy she suggested. She tried finding another, but he still refused.

As he wondered what he truly wanted, a loud noise caught his attention from the other side of the field. Curious, he followed the sound and found a large crowd cheering. Pushing through, he saw a group of horse riders competing. Instantly, he fell in love with the sight, his gaze locked on the horses’ pounding hooves as they thundered across the track.

Back in the present, Claude shook his head, returning to reality. He had completely forgotten about the library. Instead, he walked toward the edge of the field, watching the riders with amazement.

Suddenly, he caught Prince Wade’s scent again. Looking up, he saw Wade wearing a horse-riding uniform. The scent grew stronger as the prince walked past him.

Wade stepped toward a horse, his face set with determination.

"This time, I’ll learn how to ride a horse," he declared confidently."It’s supposed to be easy, and I won’t let my stupid brother keep teasing me for not knowing how to ride at this age."

Then, he remembered that kid he had met back then.

He clenched his fists.

"This time, I’ll prove it to you, hyung—I can ride this creature!"

However, no one noticed that a rope had accidentally tangled around Wade’s right foot, connecting it to the horse’s gear. Oblivious to the danger, Wade slapped the horse’s back.

Startled, the horse bolted in fear.

To everyone’s horror, Wade was dragged along the ground, his foot caught in the rope. Screams erupted as the horse picked up speed. Panic spread across the field, but the horse was running too fast for anyone to stop it. Wade’s terrified cries for help filled the air.

Without a second thought, Claude rushed into the field. He quickly mounted a horse and rode at full speed, chasing after the runaway animal.

To everyone’s astonishment, Claude skillfully caught up and managed to stop the panicked horse. Wade collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the sky, pale and breathless.

Everyone rushed to help the prince while Claude dismounted.

Prince Wade groaned as he slowly sat up.

"My ass hurts," he muttered.

The crowd was still in shock, but from a distance, Wade and Claude locked eyes—both filled with curiosity.

Then, a tall, muscular young man with dark wavy hair and striking blue eyes rushed onto the scene, worry written all over his face. Like Wade, he was also dressed in a horse-riding uniform.

Muscular guy: "Hyung! I told you to wait for me!"

Wade: "I did wait for you! What took you so long?"

The muscular man sighed before turning his gaze toward Claude, eyeing him with curiosity.

Muscular guy: "Why aren’t you wearing a uniform? It’s against the rules here!"

Claude’s eyes widened as he saw the man.

"It’s His Highness, Nikolai, the first prince of House Vilmrin!"

Claude bowed to Prince Nikolai and said, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'm actually not a horse rider—I was just saving Prince Wade because of his horse’s speed."

Wade stepped in front of Nikolai and said, "Hold on, you don’t need to get mad. Just because he’s not wearing a uniform doesn’t mean he’s some nobody sneaking up here like a rat."

Nikolai sighed and said, "Okay, hyung, I was just worried about you."

Claude apologized to them again, and Wade looked at him, saying, "At least I’m fine now. Thanks, Mr.…?"

"Call me Claude, Your Highness," Claude replied.

Just then, the medical team arrived. Wade was about to leave but turned around, smirking at Claude.

"Well, I’m glad to finally know your name, Claude. See ya!"

Claude stood there, puzzled, whispering to himself, "Finally knowing my name? What does that mean?"

Suddenly, someone spoke behind him. Claude turned around to see a man in a horse-riding uniform standing there.

"How did you do that?" the man asked.

Claude tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"I mean the way you rode that horse earlier," the man clarified. "Your tricks and movements were exactly like those of the late Prince Claudio."

Claude blinked. "Oh, right, Prince Claudio! I used to watch him on TV when I was a child. But sadly, he and his newborn son were assassinated eighteen years ago."

"I see," the man replied. "Well, your skills are impressive. You’d be a great fit for our club. What do you say?"

Claude’s eyes widened in excitement. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

"Why would I say no? I’ll join!"

The man extended his hand for a handshake. "I’m Galliard, the one in charge here. People call me Leo, but either is fine. And you are?"

"I’m Claude Zephyr Sherman. Call me Claude for short," he replied, shaking Galliard’s hand.

Galliard’s eyes widened. "Claude… so close to Claudio!"

Claude chuckled.

Later, Claude walked into the restroom. A strong scent lingered in the air—a mix of three Alphas and Prince Wade’s scent. But something about it was unusual.

He overheard a group of nobles talking.

"Well, you said so, you twinkie prince," one of them sneered.

"Our game starts at twelve after my brother’s banquet," Wade replied. "Be sure to be there on time!"

The nobles left, except for Wade.

Claude pretended not to hear anything, acting normal as he washed his hands. But Wade was still there, staring at him from head to toe.

"You heard something, didn’t you?" Wade asked.

Claude remained calm. "I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I don’t interfere in others’ private matters. I’m just a commoner, after all."

Suddenly, Wade grabbed Claude’s arm and pushed him into a cubicle. He knelt down and started loosening Claude’s belt and unzipping his pants.

"Wait, Your Highness, I don’t think this is right," Claude protested.

Wade smirked. "This is a thank-you for saving my life."

He opened Claude’s pants, then froze in shock.

"Is this an elephant trunk?!"

Flustered, Claude pushed Wade away, quickly zipped up his pants, and ran out, his face burning red.

The afternoon, lying on his bed, Claude found himself thinking about Wade. He shook his head.

"So Prince Wade doesn’t have a particular taste—he doesn’t care if it’s an Alpha or a Beta, as long as they have a… dick."

Claude glanced down at his pants, where his dick bulge was becoming noticeable. He slapped his face.

"You’re so stupid!" he scolded himself.

Yet, the image of Wade flashed in his mind again. Before he knew it, he was pleasuring himself, imagining Wade’s lips wrapped around his dick. When he finally finished, he stared at his hand, now covered in his release.

"What have I done?" he muttered.

after dinner, Claude was at his grandmother’s store, keeping watch while she was away. Suddenly, his uncle Henry arrived, carrying a box of bananas.

"Claude, is your grandma here?"

Claude called out for his grandmother, but she hadn’t arrived yet.

Uncle Henry turned back to him. "Claude, can I ask you a favor?"

"What is it, Uncle Henry?"

"Prince Warren’s banquet is in three days, and I need help delivering wine to House Shaan. Don’t worry, they’ll pay you."

Claude suddenly recalled Wade’s conversation with the nobles in the restroom. He hesitated but shook off his thoughts.

"I want to help Grandma with our house expenses, so I’m interested."

Just then, his grandmother returned.

"Grandma, Uncle Henry invited me to deliver wine to House Shaan this Sunday," Claude explained. "But don’t worry, I won’t be gone for long. I promise I’ll bring back your favorite curry."

His grandmother smiled. "If that’s what you want, then good luck."

Claude hugged her. "I’m the luckiest man on earth to have a grandma like you!"

His grandmother laughed warmly.

The next morning, Claude walked into the classroom and spotted Prince Wade sitting on the teacher’s desk, flirting with his friends. Wade glanced at him and winked.

Startled, Claude quickly took his seat and focused on studying.

Meanwhile, Wade was deep in thought. He’s an Alpha, but why is he prettier than an Omega?

The teacher walked in, and the students hurried to their seats.

"I’ve posted the partner list for your project on the door," the teacher announced. Then, he started reading the assigned pairs aloud.

Finally, he called out, "Wade and Claude."

Claude’s eye twitched. His soul felt like it was leaving his body. He frowned for the rest of the class.

When the bell rang, Claude hastily packed his things, eager to leave.

Just as he was about to step out, Wade called his name.

As everyone started to leave, only Claude and Prince Wade remained. Claude simply looked at the prince, while Wade cleared his throat and said, “We’re going to do the project in the library.”

Claude replied, “Okay, Your Highness,” then turned to leave.

Wade smirked and said, “If you’re still thinking about yesterday, don’t worry—I won’t try to rape you again in that place.”

Claude stopped in his tracks. “Pardon?”

“Don’t act dumb, like nothing happened yesterday, Lemon Head!” Wade scoffed.

Claude was momentarily confused. Lemon Head? Then he realized it was because of his blonde hair, the same color as a lemon.

Wade continued, “Well, as I observed you, you’re still a virgin, and I’m not into virgins. So don’t worry—I won’t try anything. We’re just going to do our project, nothing else.”

Claude replied calmly, “You misunderstood, Your Highness. I wasn’t thinking about yesterday. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about it. I have to go now.”

Just as Claude started to run out of the classroom, he bumped into Prince Nikolai. His eyes widened as he quickly apologized, bowing.

Prince Nikolai frowned in irritation. “You should watch where you’re going next time, or else I’ll lose my patience!”

Claude lowered his head in apology, but then Nikolai’s expression changed as he caught a scent in the air. “Wait… are you in rut?”

Claude’s blue eyes suddenly turned yellow. Panic surged through him, and he immediately ran to the bathroom. He locked himself inside a cubicle, taking deep breaths to calm himself. Slowly, he managed to suppress his rut. He could control it, but he couldn’t stop releasing pheromones—pheromones that could make omegas weak.

Claude sat down and whispered to himself, “Why did my rut start so suddenly? I’ve never experienced this before…”

That evening, when he arrived home, he rushed to his room, not wanting his grandmother to find out about his sudden heat. He drank some water and tried to rest.

Prince Wade’s POV

Wade was about to leave the classroom when he saw Prince Nikolai standing in the doorway, smirking. Wade took a step forward and asked, “Lord Nikolai, what brings you he—”

Before he could finish, Nikolai suddenly kissed him.

Wade hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around Nikolai’s shoulders. Nikolai pulled away slightly and whispered, “Hyung, let’s do it.”

Wade smirked. “What a pervert.”

Instead of indulging, he grabbed Nikolai’s wrist, dragged him into the bathroom, and locked him inside. Then he saw his butler standing in the corner and called his butler. “Tell His Highness’s bodyguards that he’s in heat.”

After that, Wade left, shaking his head. “I don’t want to sleep with famous nobles, especially Lord Nikolai. Our families are close, and if I did, it might get prove the rumors and exposed to the public that I like sleeping around.”

Back to Claude’s POV

It was Saturday morning when Claude hopped out of bed and ran downstairs. He saw his grandmother carrying a box of vegetables and immediately rushed to help her.

“Grandma, you don’t have to do this,” he said.

She smiled but shook her head. “No, I can handle it. Go back and rest.”

Claude frowned. “No, Grandma, I’m sorry I didn’t wake up earlier.”

His grandmother sighed. “Son, you’re still ill from your rut last night. You should rest.”

Claude’s eyes widened. “How did you know I was in rut?”

His grandmother chuckled. “Your pheromones lingered in the air. As an alpha myself, I can tell when another alpha is in heat. Your scent was strong and… different last night.”

Claude lowered his head. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, patting his shoulder.

Claude took the boxes from her and loaded them into the carriage. He then rode into the capital to sell their produce.

As always, he was a top seller. Many girls flocked to his stand, eager to buy from him—not just because of his fresh fruits and vegetables, but because of his handsome face. In just a day, he sold everything.

As he packed up, he counted his earnings and patted his horse’s neck. “Well then, my dear South, we’re always lucky.”

That’s when he noticed a poster announcing a horse race scheduled for tomorrow. The winner would receive a grand prize. Claude’s eyes lit up, and he turned to his horse. “You see that, South? We’re going to win that prize and buy Grandma’s favorite curry!”

Just as he was about to leave, a familiar scent filled his nose. He frowned."this scent again?"

He followed the scent down an alley and spotted a mysterious figure, completely covered in a cloak, looking around before entering a hidden chamber. Curiosity got the better of him, and Claude climbed onto the roof, peeking through a small hole.

His eyes widened in shock.

Inside, a commoner was kneeling in front of Prince Wade, performing a blowjob.

Claude’s body tensed, and, embarrassingly, his pants bulged.

Suddenly, it started raining.

Claude muttered under his breath, “I may be lucky today, but my day refuses to cooperate.”

Just as he was about to leave, his foot slipped on the wet roof. He lost his balance and fell, crashing into a pile of barrels. The force of his landing broke the chamber door.

Claude froze, eyes widening in horror as he found himself staring at a naked Wade and the commoner. Embarrassment flooded him, and without thinking, he bolted away.

Wade stood in the broken doorway, watching Claude flee. Then his gaze fell to the ground, where he noticed a handkerchief. He picked it up, recognizing it as Claude’s.

A smirk curled on Wade’s lips as he held the cloth close.

“Hah… just as I thought.”