the Omega's choice

21

Zee had barely slept the previous night. He had spent the majority of it in the hallway, pacing back and forth, trying to keep himself calm and his instincts in check. The pull of Nunew’s scent had been overwhelming, a constant reminder of their bond and how deeply their lives were intertwined. But Zee had managed, somehow, to keep himself from losing control. His love for Nunew had grounded him when his instincts threatened to take over.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the apartment, Zee finally allowed himself to relax, if only for a moment. The intensity of Nunew’s pheromones had subsided during the night, and with it, the overwhelming need to claim his omega had lessened. But Zee knew it was only temporary. They were walking a delicate line, and it was only a matter of time before things escalated again.

He slowly opened the door to their bedroom, his heart beating faster as he caught the faint scent of Nunew still lingering in the air. But it was bearable now, more manageable than it had been hours ago. Zee quietly stepped inside, not wanting to disturb Nunew.

Nunew was still curled up in bed, his body half-buried in the blankets, his breathing slow and steady. Zee’s chest tightened at the sight of him. Nunew looked so peaceful, so vulnerable. The events of the past few days had taken a toll on him, and Zee could see it in the soft lines on Nunew’s face, the way his body seemed to hold onto a deep exhaustion.

Zee made his way over to the bed and sat down carefully on the edge, watching his mate sleep. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Nunew’s forehead, his fingers lingering for a moment as if seeking reassurance that Nunew was really okay.

As if sensing Zee’s presence, Nunew stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open. For a moment, he blinked sleepily, trying to focus. When his gaze finally settled on Zee, a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Hia,” Nunew whispered, his voice still thick with sleep. “What time is it?”

“It’s early,” Zee replied, his voice low and gentle. “I didn’t want to wake you. How are you feeling?”

Nunew stretched slightly, his body still heavy with sleep. “Tired, but better. Kuea’s been quiet this morning, so I think he’s finally settled down.”

Zee felt a wave of relief wash over him at Nunew’s words. “That’s good to hear. You had me worried last night.”

“I’m sorry, Hia,” Nunew said, his voice full of guilt. “I didn’t mean to make things hard for you.”

Zee shook his head quickly, leaning down to press a kiss to Nunew’s forehead. “Don’t apologize. None of this is your fault, Nuh. You can’t control what your body does any more than I can control mine. We’ll get through this together.”

Nunew smiled up at him, his heart swelling with love for Zee. Even when things were hard, even when the tension between them threatened to overwhelm everything, Zee always managed to stay by his side, always found a way to be the steady presence Nunew needed.

“Thank you, Hia,” Nunew whispered softly, reaching up to take Zee’s hand in his. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Zee’s thumb brushed over Nunew’s knuckles, a tender gesture that spoke more than words ever could. “You’ll never have to find out.”

They stayed like that for a while, just holding hands and finding comfort in each other’s presence. The intensity of the past few days seemed to fade in the quiet of the morning, replaced by a sense of calm and peace that neither of them had felt in days.

But Zee knew they couldn’t avoid the conversation they needed to have any longer. Nunew’s scent, the strength of his pheromones—it wasn’t going to go away. And Zee’s rut would come, sooner rather than later. They had to be ready for it, both physically and emotionally.

“Nuh,” Zee began carefully, his voice soft but serious, “we need to talk about what happened last night.”

Nunew’s gaze flickered with understanding, and he nodded slowly. “I know. It was… intense.”

Zee nodded in agreement. “I don’t want to rush you, but we need to prepare for what’s coming. My rut… it’s close. Your scent is getting stronger, and it’s only going to get harder for me to control myself.”

Nunew bit his lip, his eyes searching Zee’s for reassurance. “Hia, I trust you. I know you won’t hurt me.”

Zee’s heart swelled with emotion at Nunew’s words, but he couldn’t ignore the reality of their situation. “I’ll do everything I can to protect you, Nuh. But when the rut hits, it’s… different. My instincts take over. I don’t want to overwhelm you, and I don’t want to put you in a position where you feel scared or unsure.”

Nunew squeezed Zee’s hand, his expression soft but determined. “I’m not scared, Hia. I know it’ll be intense, but we’re in this together. We’ll figure it out.”

Zee looked at Nunew, his heart full of love and admiration for his mate. Nunew had always been stronger than anyone gave him credit for, and this moment was no different. Even in the face of uncertainty, Nunew was willing to stand by him, to trust him completely.

“I’ll do everything I can to make it easier for you,” Zee promised. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Nunew nodded, his gaze unwavering. “As long as we’re together, Hia, we’ll be okay.”

Zee leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Nunew’s lips, his heart full of love and gratitude for the omega who had become his everything. As they pulled back, Zee rested his forehead against Nunew’s, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the room.

“We’ll get through this, Nuh,” Zee whispered softly, his voice full of promise. “Together.”

Nunew smiled up at him, his eyes shining with trust and love. “Together.”

As the day stretched out before them, Zee knew there would be more challenges ahead, more moments where they would be tested. But as long as they had each other, he knew they could face anything. The bond between them, the love they shared—it was stronger than anything else.

And that love would see them through.