Found | Nomin

Chapter 7: The Young Duke

"We're meeting the duke in the royal gardens." Jeno told the group as they walked along the empty corridors. After yesterday's trial, all alphas except Jeno and the king were told to leave the castle until the prince was accustomed to their pheromones.

As they walked South, Mark remembered that the royal garden they entered through was on the North side of the castle. He cocked his head slightly with a frown before asking Jeno, "But I thought the royal gardens were by the North wing."

"Wow," Jeno chuckled, looking back at Mark behind him. "You guys really did a run down of the castle before invading us, didn't you?"

"We only knew about the garden actually. The rest was improv and intuition." Dongmin shrugged. He was a little frustrated that his escape plan didn't go as planned, but nonetheless, he would come up with another one. He was going to get them out of here as soon as possible. They weren't safe around these beasts, even if they claim the prince is one. Though he knew there was a chance that the prince was a wolf because he was found in the wolf kingdom, Dongmin pushed the fact aside. No one with such a gentle nature would come from such a horrid place.

"Well, the royal garden that you're talking about was sealed off after the disappearance of the prince years ago. No one has been there since, but I guess you guys of course." Jeno informed them with a small smile. He turned to see Jaemin with his head lowered, the younger's scent dropping with his mood. Jaemin felt guilty in a way, guilty that he had caused his father and thus the kingdom so much pain. He felt guilty that he had been calling another man his father when his real one was calling out for him.

Jeno watched as the sun's light became captured in the single tear that rolled down Jaemin's cheek. He hesitantly reached out for the younger's hand, the other flinched at the contact but didn't pull away as Jeno intertwined them.

They continued to walk through the castle's walls until they arrived at a large archway that showed just a small snippet of what it led to. The garden appeared to be much larger than the other one, not quite as colourful and magical, but still eye-catching. Bubbly giggles and the soft rustling of the light wind catching the leaves echoed along the hallway.

Jaemin clenched Jeno's hand slightly, his head starting to throb lightly as the alpha pheromones entered his nostrils. As the king said, the scent was softer and wasn't as overpowering as the others but it still affected Jaemin.

Jeno stopped as soon as Jaemin tensed around his hand. He looked at the younger with concern, "Hey, are you okay? Is it too much?"

"N-No, no it just startled me a bit." Jaemin assured, tugging Jeno's hand forward in a gesture to keep walking. "I can do this."

"Okay... if you say so. But please do tell me if you can't." Jeno said as they continued walking to the end of the corridor to the archway, Mark and Dongmin in toe.

"A-Ahhh, Chenle that hurts. Hair pulling is against the rules!" Someone whined followed by a series of high-pitched giggles. Walking into the green utopia, the group were welcomed by two boys tackling and tickling each other on the grass.

"What am I going to do? Pin you, an alpha, down with my mighty omega strength?" The smaller spoke with obvious sarcasm. The taller continuing to hiss as the other pinched his sides. "And how am I going to win by doing that?"

"Fine, you win." The taller boy gave up, raising his arms in defeat. The smaller crawled off him with a triumphant grin, reaching his hand out to help the other up. The taller accepted the help and let the smaller aid him, receiving a cute kiss on his cheek afterwards.

Jeno coughed in an attempt to capture the duo's attention. The couple looked at them with shock before deeply bowing in respect. Looking at the group with broad smiles as they stood back up.