Omegaverse: The Spare Heir's Fake Contract

Chapter 2 Pt 2

Morning*

Sunlight hit his face. Cassian woke up tangled in black fabric, face buried in Kael’s jacket. His cheek was damp. He’d drooled on the collar.

Panic hit. _He’d stolen. He’d made a mess. Kael would—_

Footsteps. The door opened.

Cassian scrambled upright, hair wild, shirt wrinkled, clutching Kael’s jacket like a shield. “I’m sorry—I didn’t— I’ll put it back—”

Kael stopped in the doorway. He was dressed in full uniform. Sword at his hip. But his eyes weren’t on Cassian’s face.

They were on the nest. On the pile of his clothes on Cassian’s bed. On the way Cassian had built walls around himself with Kael’s scent.

Silence stretched. Cassian wanted to sink into the floor.

Kael stepped inside. Closed the door behind him. Didn’t look angry. Didn’t look amused. He just looked.

“Show me,” Kael said finally.

Cassian blinked. “What?”

“The nest,” Kael gestured. “Show me how you built it.”

Cassian’s face burned. But Kael’s voice had no mockery. Just command. So Cassian crawled to the edge of the bed and touched the jacket. Then the shirt. Then the fur blanket.

“I… I needed it,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to take—”

“Stop.” Kael sat on the edge of the bed. Not too close. Just close enough. “You didn’t steal. You nested. It’s instinct.”

Cassian looked up, confused. “Instinct?”

“Omegas build nests when they feel unsafe,” Kael explained. He picked up the shirt Cassian had been sleeping on. Brought it to his nose. Inhaled. Cassian’s own scent was on it now. Vanilla and snow, mixed with cedar. “Your body knows what it needs. Comfort. Security. My scent.”

He set the shirt back down. Carefully. Like it mattered.

“Did it help?” Kael asked.

Cassian nodded. Small. Ashamed. “Yes. I… I slept.”

“Good,” Kael said. He reached out and straightened one of the “walls” Cassian had made. Fixed it. “Then it stays.”

Cassian stared. “You’re not… mad?”

Kael’s gray eyes lifted to his. “Why would I be mad that you found safety in me?”

The question broke something in Cassian’s chest. He looked down at his hands. “Because I took without asking.”

Kael’s hand covered his. Stopped him from twisting the fabric. “Cassian. I told you: what’s mine is yours. That includes my shirts. My bed. My scent. You don’t need permission to need me.”

He squeezed once, then let go.

“From now on,” Kael said, standing, “you build your nest in my room. Not here.”

Cassian’s head snapped up. “Your room?”

“My bed is bigger,” Kael said, like that was the only reason. “And my scent is stronger there. You’ll sleep better. You’ll be safer.”

He walked to the wardrobe. Pulled out two more of his shirts. Threw them on the nest. “Start collecting. But in my room. Where I can protect it. Where I can protect you.”

Cassian couldn’t breathe. “Kael, I—”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Kael cut him off. He walked to the door. Hand on the latch. “Just come tonight. After dinner. Bring what you need. We’ll build it together.”

He paused. Looked back over his shoulder.

“And Cassian? Next time you drool on my jacket, wake me up. I’ll want to know what dream made you do it.”

The door closed. Cassian sat in his nest, surrounded by Kael’s scent, and realized his cheeks were hot.

Not from shame. From something warmer. Something dangerous.

_He wants me in his bed._

*Dinner*

Cassian could barely eat. He kept thinking about Kael’s room. About building a nest with him. About sleeping surrounded by cedar and steel.

Kael noticed. Of course he did. “You’re quiet tonight.”

Cassian nodded. “I’m… thinking about the nest.”

Kael’s fork paused. Then continued. “Good. Thinking means you’re accepting your instincts instead of fighting them.”

After dinner, Cassian followed Kael down the hall. To the general’s room. The door was heavy. Black wood. No decoration.

Kael opened it. The room was bigger than Cassian’s. Colder. More weapons on the walls. But the bed was massive. Black sheets. Furs piled at the foot.

“Your nest goes here,” Kael pointed to the left side. “My side is right. No touching unless I say. Not yet.”

Cassian nodded. He dumped his arms full of Kael’s shirts and jacket on the bed. They landed in a heap.

Kael watched him. Then sighed. “Move.”

He stepped behind Cassian and started arranging the clothes. Folding. Stacking. Building walls. His hands were precise. Military. But gentle.

“Walls here,” Kael said, placing the fur blanket. “For security. Soft things here, for comfort.” He tossed one of his own pillows into the pile. “And this, because you’ll need it for your head.”

Cassian watched him build a nest for him. A general of the Empire. Kneeling on the bed. Making an omega’s safe place.

His throat closed.

“Kael,” he whispered.

“Hm?” Kael didn’t look up. Just kept arranging.

“Thank you.”

Kael’s hands stilled. For three seconds. Then he kept working.

“You don’t thank me for giving you what you’re owed,” Kael said quietly. “You thank me by using it. By sleeping. By letting me keep you safe.”

He finished. Stepped back. The nest was perfect. Walls of fur and fabric. A hollow in the center. Smelled like Kael. Like home.

“Test it,” Kael ordered.

Cassian climbed in. Curled up. The furs were warm. The shirts smelled like cedar. He could hear Kael breathing from the other side of the bed.

“Better?” Kael asked.

Cassian nodded into the pillow. “Yes.”

“Good.” Kael walked around the bed. Sat on his side. Didn’t touch the nest. Didn’t invade it. Just sat there. A wall of alpha between Cassian and the world.

“Sleep,” Kael said. He blew out the candle. Darkness fell.

Cassian closed his eyes. For the first time, he didn’t count stones. He counted Kael’s breaths. Steady. Present. _Here._

Before sleep took him, he heard Kael’s voice, barely a whisper:

“Good boy. You built it right.”

And Cassian slept. Deep. Safe. Surrounded by Kael.

Cassian woke up buried in furs, face pressed to Kael’s shirt. The nest smelled like cedar and him. Safe.

Kael was already awake on the other side of the bed. Dressed. Reading reports. He hadn’t touched the nest. Hadn’t crossed the invisible line.

“Morning,” Kael said without looking up. “Did you sleep?”

“Deeply,” Cassian admitted. Voice rough from sleep. “Thank you.”

Kael finally glanced over. Eyes swept over the nest. Over Cassian tangled in his clothes. Something flickered in his expression. Gone in a second.

“Good. Tonight we continue training.” He set the papers down. “Scenting lesson two.”

Cassian crawled out of the nest, hair messy, cheeks pink. “More breathing?”

“No.” Kael stood. Walked to the fireplace. “Tonight, you learn to scent _me_.”

Cassian stopped. “Me? But I’m an omega—”

“Exactly,” Kael turned. “Alphas mark. Omegas can too. Not with teeth. With scent. With touch. It’s how you tell other omegas ‘he’s taken’. It’s how you calm an alpha in rut.”

He rolled his sleeve up to the elbow. Scarred forearm exposed. Veins, muscle, skin that smelled like iron when Cassian got close.

“Come here,” Kael ordered.

Cassian approached. Stopped at private distance. Heart hammering.

Kael held his arm out. “Your scent is vanilla and snow. Soft. Comforting. Mine is cedar and steel. Hard. Protective. When you rub your scent on me, you’re telling the world you have access to me.”

He paused. “May I guide you?”

Cassian nodded. He didn’t trust his voice.

Kael took Cassian’s wrist. Lifted it. Pressed Cassian’s inner wrist to his own forearm. Right over a vein.

“Here,” Kael murmured. “Omega glands are in your wrists too. Weaker than the neck, but still yours. Rub. Slow.”

Cassian moved his wrist in small circles against Kael’s skin. Warm. Solid. His vanilla scent leaked out. Mixed with cedar.

Kael’s breath hitched. Barely. But Cassian heard it.

“Again,” Kael said. Voice lower now. “Other wrist.”

Cassian switched. Rubbed his pulse point against Kael’s skin. Back and forth. His scent grew stronger. The room filled with it. Vanilla trying to soften steel.

Kael didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop him. Just watched Cassian’s face with those steel gray eyes.

“You’re marking me,” Kael said quietly. “Do you know what that means?”

Cassian shook his head. He was focused on the heat of Kael’s skin. On how right it felt.

“It means,” Kael’s free hand came up, caught Cassian’s chin, “that you’re claiming territory. That you’re saying ‘this alpha is mine to comfort’. Even if you don’t have teeth. Even if you don’t have power. Your scent has power.”

He let go of Cassian’s chin. But didn’t let go of his wrist.

“Stronger,” Kael commanded. “Don’t be shy. I’m not fragile, Cassian.”

Cassian pressed harder. Rubbed his wrist up to Kael’s elbow. Down to his hand. His scent was everywhere now. Clinging to Kael’s skin. To his shirt.

Kael’s pupils dilated. His jaw ticked. But he stayed still. Let Cassian do it.

When Cassian finally stopped, panting, Kael brought his own wrist to his nose. Inhaled deep.

“Vanilla,” Kael said. Almost wonder in his voice. “On my skin. No alpha has ever—” He cut himself off.

Cassian’s face burned. “Did I… did I do it wrong?”

Kael’s eyes snapped to his. “You did it perfectly.” He dropped Cassian’s wrist. Stepped back to public distance. Regaining control like armor. “That’s enough for tonight.”

But his forearm still smelled like Cassian. And he didn’t wipe it off.

*The Test*

“Stand there,” Kael said. He walked to the door and opened it.

Lady Miren stood in the hall. She started to enter, then stopped. Her nose wrinkled.

She looked at Cassian. Then at Kael’s arm. Then back at Cassian.

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

Kael didn’t say anything. Just waited.

Miren bowed lower than she had before. “General. Prince Cassian. Dinner will be served at seven.” She retreated quickly. Closing the door.

Kael closed it too. Turned back to Cassian.

“You see?” Kael said. “She smelled you on me. She knows. The whole staff will know by tonight. That you have access to me. That I let you touch me.”

Cassian stared at his own wrists. At the faint red marks from rubbing. “That’s… that’s power?”

“That’s power,” Kael confirmed. He walked back to Cassian. Stopped at private distance again. “Small power. But power. And you’ll need it when the court tries to push you around.”

He raised his hand. Paused. “May I?”

Cassian nodded.

Kael’s fingers brushed Cassian’s neck. Not the gland. Just below it. He pressed his thumb there and Cassian’s vanilla scent spiked, sweet and desperate.

“Good,” Kael murmured. “You’re learning control. You released scent on command. Not from fear. From intent.”

His thumb moved up. Brushed Cassian’s lower lip. “One more lesson.”

Kael leaned in. Not to kiss. To scent. He pressed his nose to Cassian’s throat and inhaled. Long. Deep. Possessive.

Cassian gasped. His hands came up and gripped Kael’s shirt without thinking.

Kael didn’t push him away. He exhaled against Cassian’s skin, letting his cedar scent wash over the vanilla. Layering it. Sealing it.

“Mine,” Kael breathed against his neck. Not a bite. Just words. Hot air. Promise.

Cassian’s knees buckled. Kael caught him. Again. Always catching him.

When Kael pulled back, Cassian’s lips were parted, eyes glassy. Not from arousal. From overload. From being claimed with scent instead of force.

Kael’s thumb wiped under Cassian’s eye. “Breathe. You’re alright.”

“I feel… strange,” Cassian whispered. “Hot. And… heavy.”

“That’s your body recognizing an alpha’s claim,” Kael explained. He guided Cassian to sit on the bed, right at the edge of the nest. “It’ll pass. But it means the training is working.”

He sat beside him. Not in the nest. Beside it. Respecting the boundary.

“Tomorrow,” Kael said, “we work on your voice. Omegas can use tone to soothe alphas. To command them, even. But that’s for later.”

Cassian nodded. He was still gripping Kael’s shirt. He didn’t let go.

Kael looked down at his hand. Then at Cassian’s face.

“You’re allowed to hold on,” Kael said quietly. “In private distance, you’re allowed to need me. To touch me. To scent me. That’s part of the contract too.”

Cassian loosened his grip slightly. But didn’t let go. “Kael?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you teaching me all this? Why not just… keep me locked up until the wedding?”

Kael was quiet for a long time. Then he answered:

“Because locked things break,” he said. “And I don’t want you broken, Cassian. I want you sharp. I want you dangerous. I want you to choose me because you understand what you’re choosing. Not because you have no other option.”

He reached out. Tucked a strand of hair behind Cassian’s ear. Barely touch.

“So yes. I’m teaching you to scent me. To mark me. To have power over me. Because when you do choose me… I want it to mean something.”

Cassian stared at him. At the man who could’ve owned him with force but chose to teach him instead.

“Kael,” Cassian whispered. He leaned forward and pressed his nose to Kael’s collarbone. Inhaled. Then exhaled, releasing his scent directly onto Kael’s skin.

Marking him. Choosing him.

Kael went completely still. His hand came up and rested on the back of Cassian’s head. Not pushing. Just holding.

“Good boy,” Kael breathed. “So good.”

They stayed like that until Cassian’s breathing evened out. Until the room smelled like both of them, tangled together.

They stayed like that for ten minutes. Cassian’s nose buried in Kael’s collarbone. Kael’s hand on his head. Breathing synced.

Then Cassian shivered. Not from cold.

“Kael?” His voice was smaller now. “I feel… weird.”

Kael pulled back just enough to see his face. Cassian’s cheeks were flushed. Sweat beaded at his hairline. His pupils were blown wide.

“How weird?” Kael asked. Instantly alert. General mode.

“Hot,” Cassian whispered. He tugged at his collar. “And achy. Like… like I need—” He cut himself off. Face burning.

Kael’s hand went to Cassian’s forehead. Cool palm against burning skin. His expression went hard.

“Your temperature’s up,” Kael said. He checked Cassian’s pulse at his wrist. Fast. Too fast. “When did you last take suppressants?”

“This morning,” Cassian said. “The last one. You gave it to me.”

Kael cursed under his breath. Not loud. Just one word, sharp as a blade.

He stood. Went to his desk. Pulled out a ledger. Flipped pages fast with one hand while the other stayed on Cassian’s shoulder, grounding him.

“Three months,” Kael muttered. “Suppressants last three months. If they gave you the last dose this morning…” He looked up. Eyes steel. “Your cycle was delayed. By stress. By fear. By me.”

Cassian blinked. “My… cycle?”

“Heat, Cassian,” Kael said bluntly. He knelt in front of him. Both hands on Cassian’s knees now. “Your first real heat is coming. Early. Because your body finally feels safe enough to have one.”

Cassian’s breath caught. “Now? But we haven’t— I’m not ready—”

“I know,” Kael cut him off. Voice steady. Commanding. “And you won’t go through it alone. I swear it.”

He stood again. Went to the wardrobe. Pulled out a thick fur blanket and wrapped it around Cassian’s shoulders. Then he opened a drawer. Inside: more suppressants. A whole vial.

“How many do you have left?” Kael asked.

“None,” Cassian whispered. “That was the last.”

Kael closed the vial. Didn’t give him one.

“No more suppressants,” Kael decided. “You’ve been drugged for eighteen years. We track this cycle. We learn it. We survive it. Together.”

He crouched again. Level with Cassian. “Listen to me. Heat will hit in 3-5 days. Your scent will go wild. Your body will ache. You’ll want things you don’t understand yet. That’s normal. That’s omega biology.”

Cassian nodded. Shaking.

“But,” Kael continued, hands tightening on Cassian’s knees, “you will not touch anyone but me. You will not leave this room without me. You will not suffer alone. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Cassian whispered. Tears burned his eyes. Not from fear. From relief. From _finally_.

Kael’s thumb wiped under his eye, catching a tear before it fell. “Good boy. We have time to prepare. I’ll teach you everything. How to breathe through it. How to ride it out. How to trust me when your body screams for an alpha.”

He stood. Held out his hand. “Come. Back to the nest. You need rest before this starts.”

Cassian took his hand. Let Kael lead him to the bed. To the nest they built together. He climbed in. Kael tucked the furs around him.

Then Kael sat on his side of the bed. Didn’t lie down. Just sat. A wall between Cassian and the world.

“Sleep,” Kael ordered softly. “I’ll be here when you wake. And I’ll be here when it starts.”

Cassian closed his eyes. But before sleep took him, he whispered:

“Kael… will it hurt?”

Kael was quiet for a long time. Then:

“No,” he said. “Not with me. I won’t let it hurt you, Cassian. I’d burn the Empire down before I let you hurt.”

Cassian exhaled. The last thing he felt was Kael’s hand resting on the edge of the nest. Not touching him. Just there. Present.

Mine, the touch said. I’ve got you.

Outside the window, the moon was full.

And inside, an omega’s body was waking up.

​