A sharp knock rattled the broken door's frame.
Kongpob startled, his shoulders tensing as Arthit instinctively stepped in front of him. The shadow grew bigger as the person approached, revealing Knot's imposing figure silhouetted against the filtered sunlight through the small window on opposite wall.
“Sorry to disturb your ...uh.." Knot cleared his throat " Moment . But, we need to get moving. Now.”
Arthit frowned. “Why? Alpha Raka reached already ? —”
Prem appeared beside Knot, brow arched, arms crossed. “Really, General Rojanapat? "
Arthit threw him an annoyed look " What are you at my ass for ? "
Prem smirked " Did you forget that an omega’s old pack bonds break the moment he’s marked by a new alpha?”
Arthit's brain froze for a moment. Oh!
“Oh,” Arthit said out loud. King Adiratna must have felt Kongpob's pack bonds breaking.
Knot’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, indeed General. .”
“Ten minutes,” Prem added crisply. “King has already got his balls in a bunch. Bright sent warning code red. We can be ambushed and taken prisoners any moment. ”
Kongpob’s breath hitched. The world tilted for a moment. He fell to his knees, his head touching the ground " I'm sorry..."
Seeing the Luna Rojanapat of West (Kongpob's now official title ) suddenly collapsing , Prem and Knot jumped a step back , startled.
" I'm sorry...." Kongpob kept mumbling through tears, forehead planted firmly on ground while Arthit tried to make him stand by tugging at his arm.
" Kongpob...stand up please. "
" I'm sorry, alpha..." Kong sniffled " I'm sorry it's all because of me. "
" Kongpob...stand up now..." Arthit tried to use stern tone but it had no effect in fave of Kongpob's terrorized self.
" Why are you apologizing, brother in law ?." Prem asked gently.
“I was selfish... you are all in danger because of my selfishness… I requested him to mark me,” he whispered, forcing himself to face the bears he had wronged . His voice cracked. “I didn’t think— I’ve put you all in danger. Because of me—”
His hands trembled. The faintest sheen of cold sweat glistened on his temples. Panic rolled off him in waves, invisible yet tangible, as his scent soured with distress pheromones. " I will atone for my mistake. I will surrender — "
Before he could spiral further, three alphas surged toward him like instinct itself.
" Velinai—breathe. ,” Arthit said, crouching beside him, anchoring him with both hands on his shoulders.
“It’s not a big deal, Prince Kongpob,” Knot said, tone softening. “Honestly? It’s better this way. Now we know you’re bonded—we can better protect you.”
“Yeah,” Prem added with a quick grin. “Not just your mate. Now that you’re bonded, all of us can mindlink you. Makes planning and escape a hell of a lot easier.”
“But… how will we escape in ten minutes ?" Kong sobbed " I ruined everything —"
" Now, you are severely underestimating us brother in law " Prem said smug " We defeated army of Konrad(the polar bear) , remember ? "
Kong nodded. Arthit chose this moment of little confusion of Kong to lift him up and make him stand beside himself.
“In these things, there’s always more than one plan, Velinai,” Arthit said, voice gentle, but resolute, hugging Kongpob and rubbing his nose against Kongpob to impart his scent'“Now that we’ve crossed the bonding bridge—well. Time to assign your ppersonal guards. "
