Kiss the Stranger

“Hah, hah.”
My breath rattled out of me. Frozen with fear, I could only stare at him. My whole body shook, my teeth chattering. Asgail frowned and looked down at me, and the pheromone scent around us intensified. Through my blurred vision, I glimpsed his hand reaching for me.

“Aah!”
Only when he seized my arm violently did I come to my senses—and before I could stifle my scream, he dragged me away. I couldn’t raise myself; I was pulled across the floor like a rag. Najima shouted.
“Asgail, what are you doing? Let Yohan go! Can’t you hear me? Stop, Asgail!”

But he ignored her completely. As he dragged me, I glanced back and saw Najima stumbling after us—until the door slammed shut, and she vanished from sight.
Asgail didn’t stop; he walked on relentlessly. I, a useless bundle, was hauled by the scruff across the floor. No sound escaped me—not even tears. Only pure terror. His overwhelming pheromones tightened around my throat; I couldn’t even dodge.
My vision swam from ragged breaths. Even then, the faces of the pages watching me were unnaturally clear.

The door opened, revealing a familiar room: the crown prince’s chamber.
“Aah!”
He threw me down so suddenly I screamed again. I lay panting, unable to move. Fire seared my back—my wound must have split open again—and pain stole my breath. A shadow fell over me. Asgail loomed above.
He leaned toward me. I convulsed at the movement. Unable to lift my gaze, I felt his hand reach out. What would he do? Why had he brought me here? What did he intend?

Please, Kamar.
Stop this…
In that instant, a loud voice cut through. Just as his hand closed on my throat, the door burst open and I heard Najima’s familiar voice.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing?!”
Her voice—like salvation—sent a wave of relief through me and my shaking eased slightly. Asgail glanced at her, then back at me. Najima shouted again.
“I said, what are you doing, Asgail? If you carry on like this, I won’t stand by!”

Her unexpected force made my ears ring. Najima’s face was flushed with anger, but Asgail’s expression didn’t change. The head page bowed and apologized.
“Your Highness, forgive us. The princess shoved us aside and opened the door herself…”
As royalty, no one could touch her. Asgail let out a short sigh of irritation and rose. With a gesture, the page closed the door, leaving only Asgail, Najima, and me.

I managed to sit up, one hand pressed to my mouth. Najima’s voice called to me.
“Yohan, you’re bleeding again… Are you all right?”
“Najima.” I heard her name and turned; she paused at my low voice. Asgail spoke in a blank tone.

“If you move another step from where you lie, even if it’s you, I will not forgive you again.”
Najima froze. Tension crackled between them. I worried Najima might be harmed because of me, but dared not speak a word. Najima broke the silence first.
“What is this sudden madness?”

Her voice was calm but cold. I thought that was a relief—until Asgail replied.
“And you, what madness is this? Rushing here over a single omega.”
Her eyes flicked to me. I could no longer hide anything. I lowered my head, and Najima said,

“Omega or not, you barged into my chamber and dragged the omega from it. You owe me an explanation.”

I lifted my head in shock. Najima knew? She knew I was an omega?
I should have told the truth. Then Najima wouldn’t be in danger too.
I regretted it, but it was too late. Asgail’s eyes narrowed.

“So you came to protest that? In such haste?”
His face twisted with cold irony.
“Curious. You who once reveled in omega hunts—what sudden change of heart?”

I stiffened. I remembered the nobles at the party. Najima had heard that, too?
Najima glared at him, then Asgail added,
“Because of your brother?”

Najima’s dark eyes flared.
“Don’t you dare mention my brother. I could kill you for that.”
She ground out the words, and Asgail remained impassive.

“Your father killed your brother—not I.”
“Your silence was complicit.”
Najima’s voice grew louder.

“You let your own cousin die! You could have saved him, you could!”
Her cry rang out, but Asgail’s expression stayed fixed like a mask as he declared,
“Manifestation as an omega is the will of ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the gods. If you resent it, resent the gods.”

“…Hah.”
Najima sighed in despair. I felt her hopelessness wash over me—but Asgail was unmoved. Najima drew a steadying breath and spoke quietly.
“There must be a reason you dragged Yohan here. If it’s not satisfactory, I will take him back.”

“Najima.”
Asgail’s voice softened unnaturally, and I flinched. He seemed to strain to be gentle.
“This entire palace—and indeed this realm—is mine to command. This omega is the same.”

“Asgail!”
“So what I do with this omega is none of your concern. You have no right to intervene.”
Najima tried to speak, but Asgail raised a hand, silencing her.

“Return to your chamber, Najima. If you defy me again, you will no longer reside in the palace. You’ll return to the home of the father you despise so much.”
Najima said nothing—her clenched fists betrayed her rage.
“…Hah.”
She drew a weary sigh, then looked at me.

“I’m sorry, Yohan.”

“No…”
I whispered, shaking my head. She had no reason to apologize—only gratitude filled me. Najima gave a bitter smile, then turned and left. The door’s click sealed the silence.

When terror peaked, calm descended. My pounding heart slowed. I thought, there’s no one left to help me. Just as I surrendered, Asgail spoke.
“…You’ve hidden your pheromones again.”
He muttered as if to himself. I blinked and looked up. His cool gaze felt like iron on my chest. I parted my trembling lips but could say nothing. He didn’t wait.

“It’s fine. I know you’re a true omega now.”
“…M-me?”
“Yes.”

I hopped in shock, and he nodded.
“I told you—I only had a broken pheromone gland, so no scent.”
“If you lie to me again, I will cut out your tongue.”

His words were so calm they felt unreal. I shook my head and asked, voice quavering,
“W-why would you think—”
He lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.

“You induced rut in me. Twice.”
His words stole my breath. I dared hope—but it faded. If he remembered, he wouldn’t be like this. It must have been rut-induced memory loss, hallucination… Realizing that made me want to cry all over again.
I bit my lip and lowered my head, and he said,

“You smelled so strong earlier, and now you hide it well.”
It couldn’t be. I had no scent—then or now. How did he smell what no one else could? Was I super-alpha?
Or had I scented him all along? Najima knew I was an omega, after all.

But now I gave no scent again. What was happening?
He believed I hid my scent because I was a true omega. But that wasn’t true. As he said, some part of me was broken, and I couldn’t control my pheromones.
Still.

A small hope flickered.
If he misunderstood and thought I was a true omega…
Asgail bent and lifted my chin. Our eyes met. Pain like electricity flashed through me as my thought formed:

Could I stay by his side, even a moment longer?
“Try all you want. No matter how you hide it, your heat cycle will come.”
His words struck me like lashes, jolting me fully awake. He watched me with a short laugh.

“When your spots appear, you won’t be able to deny it any longer.”
That was my deadline. If the spots never came and I remained a broken omega, I couldn’t stay by him. What then?
I stopped imagining. The future didn’t matter anymore.

Asgail released my chin and straightened. I bowed slowly. He waited—for my vow of obedience. Pain ripped across my back as I bent. I bit back a moan and pressed my lips to his foot in a kiss. Sweet pheromones flooded around me. Rising, I felt his grip on my arm. He dragged me to the bed and threw me down, then climbed atop me. He gazed at me as I panted through pain and vertigo, smiling thinly.
“Even a true omega reacts to pheromones.”
He tilted his head and whispered,

“Until your heat cycle comes, I will pour myself into you.”
Then he crushed his lips on mine.