[BL] Alpha, You've Got the Wrong Mate! Chapter 340 — A Man In Love

Ren parted his eyes, finding Zayden sound asleep beside him. The alpha had an arm wrapped around him, as if fearing that otherwise, Ren might leave—or be stolen away.

The oga let out a soft chuckle.

Even though it had been a while since they had confessed their feelings to one another, this man remained the sa.

Curling his lips into a faint smile, Ren admired the man before him—his sharp nose, fox-shaped eyes, and coral lips that had pressed against every inch of his body, marking him unmistakably as his mate.

"Why are you looking at as if you have never seen before?" Zayden asked, eyes still closed.

Ren gasped, caught off guard. He hadn’t even noticed when Zayden had woken up.

"Huh?" He bated his eyes. "I-I was not looking at you," he argued, averting his gaze and denying Zayden’s claim.

The alpha chuckled, clearly amused. Slowly, he opened his eyes—scarlet red irises glimring like rubies under the sunlight streaming through the windowpanes.

"Really? Am I not handso enough to catch your eye?" He raised his eyebrows, pouting like a disappointed puppy.

Ren parted his lips, shocked.

Zayden—not handso? Who in this kingdom would dare utter such a lie?

Everyone in Revhara dread of standing by his side, even for a single mont, just to admire his flawless features once. Countless still hoped to beco his marriage partner.

"Well, I sure stared at you all night," Zayden continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "No matter how long I look at you, I just can’t get enough of you."

His words tickled Ren’s ears, like a lullaby. Praises were sothing he rarely ever heard—despite having done the worst things a human could do. Murder. Humans. Non-humans. None survived the death granted by his cursed eyes.

His heart tightened—then loosened the mont Zayden’s warm fingertips brushed a few silver strands of hair away from his face.

"Why the long face?" the alpha asked softly. "Are you upset because I said I am handso? Trust , you’re much better than ."

A chuckle escaped Ren despite himself. Did Zayden truly think he was upset over sothing so trivial?

Then again, he was the kind of person who would puff his cheeks over silly matters.

Ren nodded to himself.

Zayden raised an eyebrow, baffled.

"What made you laugh?"

"You are just so..." Ren paused, then exhaled.

"So?" Zayden’s heartbeat picked up.

"I don’t know... I-I forgot..."

"How co?"

"It’s just... When I look into your eyes, sotis, my mind goes blank. Maybe... I happened to like you much more than I express, or say," Ren muttered, his cheeks tinged pink.

Heat rushed to Zayden’s face, turning it a vivid red.

Such a hesitant, yet beautiful confession of love from Ren. He could have only ever dread of Ren saying these. Still, here he was, saying everything that crossed his mind without having to rethink it.

"Y-You—" the alpha stamred, words failing him. His pulse quickened, his heart pounding as if it might burst.

Slowly, he reached for Ren’s hand and placed it against his chest.

"Do you feel that?" he whispered. "My heart. It has never beaten this fast. This hard. Not for anyone but you."

Badump.

Badump.

Badump.

Ren swallowed, feeling the frantic rhythm beneath his palm. It was unfamiliar—sothing he had never experienced before.

That sound...

It matched his own heart perfectly.

A bright grin spread across his face, his eyes growing slightly teary.

"I think... I am in the sa state as you," he giggled, the sound echoing softly through the room.

Zayden laughed too, pressing his forehead against Ren’s.

"God," he breathed. "I love you so much." His eyes closed.

Ren closed his eyes as well, smiling.

He had never felt this peaceful, this much happiness.

It was as if life had given him everything he had ever wished for.

A loving partner.

A child of his own.

A family he had only dread of.

A quiet life, away from the Temple and all those who mistreated him.

But Ren had forgotten one thing. Before the storm, there was always calm. A calm so gentle, so convincing, that one would never suspect what was about to co.

***

The days passed, and soon an invitation arrived at the mansion.

The Imperial Crown Prince’s marriage.

Zayden reacted far less negatively than he had the first ti he learned the Emperor approved of the relationship. Perhaps it was because he had begun to understand—little by little—what it ant to be a father.

A few weeks ago, Eiran had made a request.

He wanted a cat.

Zayden, who had always feared those small, annoying creatures, decided to visit an animal store every day until he grew accustod to them. Then, a few days later, he returned ho with a white-furred cat, its crystal-blue eyes gleaming.

Eiran had been overjoyed, thanking his father over and over again.

Zayden didn’t know what that feeling was called, but he knew this much—this was how fathers felt when they managed to grant their child’s wish.

Perhaps his own father had once stood in the sa place.

Perhaps he, too, had forced himself to be happy for the sake of his son’s happiness.

"Uncle is getting married?!" Eiran exclaid.

Through his lessons, he had begun to understand how the world worked—and, of course, through the things he overheard from Paul and Maria, his Papa’s closest friends, who lacked any sense of restraint when speaking in front of children.

Although sotis, he did purposefully eavesdrop on their conversations.

"Yes," Ren smiled, lowering himself to et his son’s eyes.

Eiran’s already bright green eyes glimred.

"And when are you and Dad getting married?" he asked—the question he had been waiting for the right mont to voice.

Ren’s smile faltered at once.

Marriage.

The word carried far too much weight. To marry again... could he truly do that? Wasn’t it against the beliefs Hianshu had etched into him from the mont he had gained awareness of the world?

An oga could only ever belong to one alpha.

He knew that—yet he had accepted Zayden, who claid to be his fated mate. And strangely enough, Ren felt the sa connection he had once felt with Ilyan, who had also been his fated mate.

Such things were ant to exist only in novels—eting one’s fated mate twice. And yet, Ren had experienced it himself. He still struggled to believe it.

More than anything... he needed ti.

"Co on," Zayden broke the heavy silence that had settled over the room. "We are talking about your uncle. Don’t bring us into this. We are happy as we are for now. Alright?"

"Young Master," Hannah said gently, smiling as she stepped in, "you should be mindful of your surroundings. These matters are not sothing to discuss in front of others."

Eiran puffed his cheeks before nodding.

"I am sorry..." he mumbled, lowering his head.

Ren reached out, gently ruffling Eiran’s hair. The child imdiately leaned into the touch, his small shoulders relaxing.

"It’s alright," Ren said softly. "You didn’t do anything wrong."

Eiran peeked up at him, hesitant. "Really?"

"Really," Ren nodded. "You asked because you were curious. Curiosity can never be a bad thing."

Zayden watched the interaction quietly, sothing warm settling in his chest.

Monts like this—small, ordinary, peaceful—were things he had never imagined himself having. A child who looked at him with trust. A partner who spoke gently instead of fearing him. A ho that felt lived in rather than a mansion colder than the snowstorms during winters.

"Uncle’s wedding," Eiran suddenly said again, excitent bubbling back despite his earlier embarrassnt. "I should wear sothing nice, right? Papa, can I wear black? Uncle said he likes black."

Ren chuckled. "I am sure he would like anything you wear."

"Actually, black is not appropriate for a wedding. What about blue? Brother loves blue as well," Zayden suggested.

Eiran humd, pondering for a mont.

"Hmm... Alright! And can I bring the cat?" He added earnestly.

Zayden stiffened.

"Hey, let’s not push our luck."

Eiran giggled, clearly pleased.

As laughter filled the room, Ren’s gaze drifted away, settling briefly on the invitation resting atop the table. Gold-embossed letters glead under the light—formal, elegant, final.

A wedding.

For Soren, it was a beginning.

For Ren, it stirred mories he had carefully locked away.

Zayden noticed the subtle shift. He didn’t say anything—didn’t reach out, didn’t ask. Instead, he simply moved closer, close enough that Ren could feel his warmth without being overwheld by it.

A quiet promise.

I am here. I will not rush you. Ever.

Ren exhaled slowly, grounding himself in that presence.

"Thank you," he said, voice barely audible.

"What for?" Zayden asked, tilting his head to the side, confused.

"For... not rushing ? Not forcing things on ? I don’t know... Maybe for everything you have."

Including not getting mad at for lying to you, hiding things from you, not once but countless other tis.

Ren didn’t dare voice his thoughts.

Zayden chuckled.

"I had to. That’s what a man in love would do, beloved."

Ren smiled, his cheeks flushing a slight pink.

"Co on..." He mumbled, lowering his head.

"Let’s get ready to attend the wedding," Zayden sneakily pressed a kiss on Ren’s cheek before rushing outside the room with Eiran.

"You—" Ren gasped only to exhale. He couldn’t win against him—not like this.