Instinct and Fire
Morning sunlight slipped through the cracks in the window, casting soft reflections on the fine dust that danced in the air. The distant chirping of birds echoed faintly, and the air still carried the lingering chill of last night's rain. A thin layer of condensation clung to the window glass.
Vel had just opened her eyes. Her silver hair was slightly tousled, and her gaze was still hazy with sleep. As she shifted a little on the bed, her eyes landed on the figure asleep on the sofa.
Kael.
He was lying curled up slightly, one arm hanging loosely toward the floor, his breathing slow and steady. His coat was draped carelessly over the back of the sofa, and his face—though pale—looked far more peaceful than it had the night before.
Vel quietly sat up, pulling the blanket around her, then walked to the wooden chair in front of the sofa. She sat and stared at him in silence. The sunlight gradually crept toward Kael's face. Vel squinted, then lifted her hand, shielding his eyes from the light—almost as if to say, let him sleep a little longer.
But Kael wasn't as deeply asleep as she thought.
His eyes fluttered open, golden irises catching the sunlight filtering through Vel's fingers.
"Too bright," he murmured, voice rough with sleep.
Vel was about to pull her hand away, but Kael caught it first. He held her fingers gently, then brought the back of her hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss there without breaking eye contact.
"Good morning," he said softly, almost like a whisper meant for no one else but the two of them.
Vel held her breath for a moment.
There was something in Kael's gaze that morning that made her heart beat just a little faster.
"… Morning," she whispered back, unable to hide the small smile that tugged at her lips.
They said nothing more. That morning didn't need many words.
***
Several days have passed since the intruder incident, yet the Rhionhart manor has not truly found peace. Security has been heightened—guards patrol constantly, day and night. However, the threat this time doesn't come from outside—it comes from within Vel herself.
That morning, the sweet scent of vanilla and rose filled the air once more, but now it was sharp and invasive, slipping through every corridor of the mansion. Kael, who was reviewing reports in his study, froze immediately. His Lunaris flared painfully in the back of his neck—hot, longing, and hungry.
He recognized the scent instantly. Kael sprang from his seat and raced down the hallway toward Vel's room. At the corridor's end, the intensity grew—it wasn't just him. Every Alpha in the mansion would surely notice.
Burdened with panic, Kael opened Vel's door and nearly lost control. She writhed on the bed, drenched in sweat, breathing ragged. Her face was flushed, her pupils dilated and unfocused. The blanket had fallen away, revealing her small body trembling and burning. Her breaths were heavy—like silent sobs.
"Kael ...," she whispered, a soft plea.
He didn't hesitate. Gently but firmly, he lifted Vel into his arms. Her reaction wasn't fear—it was instinct. She clung to his clothes, seeking solace in the chaos.
Kael grit his teeth and barked to the nearest servant, "Send for Erianne. Now. Prepare the western wing's chamber—no Alpha is to approach, or they'll answer to me."
Without waiting for a reply, he carried Vel to a secluded room at the mansion's far west end—sealed against Aura intrusion, with fully curtained windows. It was the isolation room, designed for unstable Lunaris. Now, it was Kael's battlefield against his own nature.
Erianne arrived quickly with a cold basin and cloths, her face tense but determined.
"She's entered heat sooner than I predicted," she warned, gently applying compresses to Vel, who was murmuring incoherently.
"She still can't control her scent," Kael said hoarsely. "And her body ... it's overheating."
Vel curled against him, reaching out. "Kael ... please ... don't leave me."
He closed his eyes. His instinct roared, the scent that burned in his nose like a dagger—challenging his logic, his honor. He turned away, biting his tongue hard.
"The doctor's on his way," Erianne noted. The tension in the room was palpable. "But she needs stabilizing quickly—or the heat will spiral."
Kael seated himself on the floor, arms wrapped protectively around himself. Vel kept calling his name quietly.
"Kae l...," she murmured.
He replied softly, "I'm here."
Lunaris pulsed fiercely at the nape of his neck—the call of Aruvin, begging to be answered. But he would hold firm. For Vel. For the promise he made.
Outside, the news spread fast. A figure knelt before Duke Alvaren, voice trembling as they reported, "Miss Vel is in heat. Young Lord Kael has isolated her in the western chamber and ordered full vigilance."
The Duke's gaze narrowed. "Yes, I can sense it."
He rose calmly, lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. There was more than curiosity in his eyes—there was intent. And Vel was the fulcrum.
***
A short while later, Dr. Maveir Cendrik arrived—a sharp-eyed, steady Beta and one of the empire's trust doctors. He had stood beside Kael on the battlefield once before. Opening the door, the doctor immediately caught the overwhelming scent of heat. He exhaled, his eyes meeting Kael's rigid silhouette.
Vel lay trembling, beads of sweat on her cheeks, breathing hard, whispering, "Kael … hot … help …."
Dr. Maveir checked her Lunaris, his face tightening. "A rare Omega," he murmured.
Kael's eyes went cold. "Don't say that to anyone."
The doctor nodded slowly. "You know what this means, Kael. This scent can't stay hidden forever. Soon, everyone will know you're sheltering a rare Omega."
Kael stood his ground. "The Emperor and I will manage it. Don't speak—or I'll regret it."
Maveir's eyes showed the weight he now carried. "She's pure—her Lunaris is born to attract a strong Alpha like you."
Vel whimpered again, curling her body. "Kael … hot … help me …, "
Kael closed his eyes. One step closer, one touch, and everything could shatter—not just his resolve, but Vel herself. Maveir prepared hormonal stabilizers—an immediate but temporary fix.
"I'll monitor her," he said. "But if you insist on staying close, control will break. Distance may be your only hope."
Kael grit his teeth but nodded. His steps out felt heavy, dragging the reluctant call of Lunaris behind him. Vel's murmured pleas echoed in his ears even after the door shut. In the hallway, Kael leaned against the wall, hand pressing to the burning pulse behind his neck, feeling as if his Lunaris wept—torn from something it had finally found.
***
Late at night, rain tapped softly against the mansion's windows, matching the turmoil in Kael's chest. He sat in the library, the chandelier swaying, casting golden light on his head. One hand propped his chin; the other balled into a fist on the table. Fatigue tugged at him—the light pulsing behind his neck, a remnant demand, doubting his resolve.
Quiet footsteps announced Dr. Maveir's entrance. He placed a cup of herbal tea in front of Kael.
"Caffeine would overstimulate you. Drink this," the doctor advised, taking a seat across from him.
Kael glanced at the cup. "Tell me—any way to hold off instinct."
Maveir sighed. "There is none."
"Medicine? Sealing spells? Imperial ancient tech?"
"Kael, if any existed, we'd have fewer tragedies of bound pairs losing themselves."
Kael chest heaved, jaw clenched.
"I told you—no matter how strong your will, Lunaris is our soul's core. When Aruvin awakens, it's not just the body—it's the identity. It can't be resisted like a battlefield wound. A bond this powerful can't be broken or controlled."
"Then … when Vel calls for me, when her body summons me … there will come a time I can't say no."
Silence followed.
Maveir looked at Kael with rare pity in his eyes. "Yes. You will lose. Sooner or later."
Kael tightened his fist, eyes blazing. "I refuse to mark her like an animal. I refuse to take Vel just because Aruvin calls. Especially during her heat."
"And that alone makes you better than half the Alphas I've known," Maveir replied quietly.
The only sound now was the rain.
"She's too innocent," Kael whispered. "She doesn't yet know herself. If I give in … I'll destroy her."
"Do you love her?" Maveir asked softly.
Kael turned, his golden eyes sharp. "I don't know yet. But I care—and that's enough to stop me tonight."
Maveir offered a sad smile. "May it be enough for the nights ahead, if you insist on staying. Because if she goes into heat again—and you're under the same roof … the Aruvin bond will claim you sooner or later."
Aruvin isn't just a union of hearts—it's a biological destiny. When the Lunaris of Alpha and Omega resonate and match, it cannot be escaped. All that remains is acceptance. Kael did not need to reply. Deep inside, he already understood: Maveir spoke the truth.