The room was quiet, lit only by the soft rays of the afternoon sun filtering through the tall window. Vel sat on a plush cushion, still in the form of a small white cat. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Kael with intent, wanting to make sure he was truly serious about today's lesson.
It was the seventh day. She remained in her feline form, still in her pre-heat phase.
"Focus on the center of your chest," Kael instructed calmly, though his body was far from relaxed. He sat cross-legged across from her, hands resting on his knees, the sleeves of his black Shadow Corps robe rolled up to his elbows. "Imagine your scent like a mist you can draw back in. Don't let it spread without your permission."
Vel meowed softly, then closed her eyes. Slowly, the usual scent of vanilla and rose that lingered around her petite body began to fade. That sweet aroma—so tormenting to Kael these past few days—was finally receding. Still present, but no longer overwhelming the air.
Kael exhaled. "Good. Try to hold it there."
Since speaking with Aldric, Kael had taken a more active role in helping Vel. He knew the risks were growing. If her rare Omega scent wasn't controlled soon, they'd never be able to keep her hidden from outsiders. Kael learned quickly about rare Omegas. He studied theories, read ancient royal documents, even endured the dull lectures of his father's old advisors—just to help Vel.
But the hardest part wasn't helping her.
It was controlling himself.
He could feel his Lunaris reacting more wildly each day, even beginning to itch beneath his skin. Every time Vel came close, every time the little cat gazed at him with her soulful eyes or rubbed against his arm, his instincts stirred. He wasn't a fool. He knew what it meant.
His Lunaris had begun to show signs of compatibility and attraction to hers. His mind—already strained—had entertained disturbing thoughts of marking her, forcibly.
Her rose and vanilla scent had faded significantly, though not completely. Vel opened her eyes slowly. She meowed softly and looked at Kael, who was still seated across from her, holding his breath. A gentle breeze from the window stirred his dark hair, casting a peaceful silhouette that made Vel forget, for a moment, what form she was in—until her body began to shimmer.
In an instant, her soft white fur disappeared, replaced by bare, smooth skin. She had returned to her human form. Naked.
Kael's eyes widened. "Vel!" he gasped, nearly panicking.
He lunged forward and quickly wrapped her in his black robe. The warmth of her body against his chest made him feel like he was burning from the inside out.
"S-sorry!" Vel ducked her head, her cheeks flushed a deep red. "I didn't know I'd shift back .… "
Kael looked away, biting his tongue to stop himself from doing something foolish. "It's not your fault. Just focus on keeping your scent stable."
Vel nodded shyly, clutching his robe tighter around her. She sat with her knees tucked in, like a child being scolded, her face growing redder—especially as Kael's knee brushed against her ankle.
Meanwhile, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway leading to Kael's private training room.
"Kael? Vel?" Erianne knocked lightly on the engraved wooden door but got no reply. The Omega girl pouted, holding a small box with a bright red ribbon.
"I know you're training, but I just wanted to put this on Vel," she muttered with a playful grumble.
With no response, she slid the door open. It creaked slowly—revealing a scene that made her freeze.
Vel sat on the floor, wrapped in Kael's robe, face flushed, and Kael … Kael was far too close. One hand on her shoulder, the other trying to secure the robe's opening.
"Oh." Erianne's voice was a breath. Her blue eyes widened. "Oh."
Kael turned to her. "It's not what it looks like."
Vel turned too and said innocently, "Erianne, I'm naked."
She meant no harm—just wanted Erianne to understand and bring clothes. But her words only made the situation worse.
Erianne stepped back, face a mix of shock and amusement. She clearly understood what had happened—probably the same as on the first day, when Vel had transformed suddenly. Still, she couldn't resist teasing her brother. "I … shouldn't have come in, right? Sorry. I just brought a ribbon. But it looks like Kael already gave you another kind of gift."
Kael groaned and stood up, still covering Vel with his robe.
"Erianne." His tone was firm.
"I won't tell anyone!" Erianne raised her hands in mock surrender. "You're both free to do what you want. I just— I didn't think you'd get that far so fast, but who am I to—"
"Out."
The door closed before she could throw in another quip. A muffled giggle echoed behind it.
Vel looked at Kael, her expression suddenly downcast. "Did I mess up?"
Kael sighed, crouched again, and placed a hand on her head the same way he always did when she was in her cat form. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I don't want to be a burden to you. I must be such a hassle."
"Don't ever say that again," Kael said, his voice softer than usual. "If you were a burden, I wouldn't have read twenty dusty old scrolls overnight just to understand rare Omegas."
He stood up. "Come on. You need to get dressed."
Vel looked at the robe wrapped around her. "I can stay like this for now .… "
Kael looked away. "You … can't just wear my robe, Vel. That's …. "
"Why not?" she asked, tilting her head innocently.
Kael held his breath. "Because people might get the wrong idea."
"Like Erianne did?"
"Yes, something like that." Kael walked to a wardrobe in the corner of the room. He opened a drawer and took out a simple outfit typically worn by the maids. "This will do until you can return to your room and change properly."
While Vel dressed behind the hanging curtain, Kael stood by the window, gazing at the fading twilight. The wind carried a faint trace of rose and vanilla again. Still gentle. No longer overwhelming.
"Kael?" Vel called from behind the curtain.
"Hm?"
"If I stay like this … if I fail to suppress my scent when I go into heat like you warned … will you leave me?"
The question pierced like a needle.
Kael didn't answer right away. He closed his eyes. Behind the darkness of his lids, he saw Vel's face, filled with hope—then slowly disappearing.
"I won't leave you, Vel."
Silence.
"I'll be here."
The curtain shifted. Vel stood there, dressed in a simple white outfit, her hair slightly tousled. A small smile lit her face.
"Thank you."
Kael gave a small nod and turned away, hiding the faint blush on his cheeks. His Lunaris pulsed again—but this time, it wasn't demanding. It simply marked her … quietly.
"If this keeps up," he thought, "I might actually give in to what my Lunaris wants."