The King’s Unclaimed Mate(BL)

The grand ceremonial hall of Evermere shimmered under the soft flicker of enchanted lanterns. Red silk, like rivers of fire, cascaded from the high ceilings, a symbol of passion, fate, and unbreakable bonds. The air was heavy with the scent of burning incense, its heady fragrance swirling through the room as if the gods themselves were observing.

Tonight, the Alpha King would take his Omega bride.

But as he stood at the altar, his red and gold robes an imposing contrast to the soft, warm glow of the hall, the king felt nothing.

No excitement. No curiosity.

Only resentment.

The vision of the river beauty tormented him, a cruel ghost lingering at the edge of his thoughts. Yet, here he was—trapped in a ceremony he didn't desire, bound to an Omega whose face he could not see.

The hushed silence in the room seemed to stretch on forever, broken only by the faintest shuffle of footsteps.

Then, the grand doors opened.

And his Omega bride entered.

A vision in red.

The robe draped over him like liquid fire—deep crimson embroidered with golden thread, flowing and rippling with every step he took. Delicate chains of pearls and rubies adorned his arms, catching the flickering light like fragments of stars. A veil, sheer and intricate with gold patterns, concealed his face entirely, leaving only the soft curve of his lips and the faint outline of his features visible beneath it.

"Caelum," the priest announced, his voice carrying through the room, echoing in the heavy silence. "Omega Prince of Evermere."

The king's golden eyes narrowed instinctively.

So, this was his mate.

Something stirred deep inside him. Caelum was breathtaking, a vision of beauty beyond compare—but that didn't matter.

Because it wasn't him.

The priest stepped forward, his voice solemn as he began the sacred vows.

"We gather here under the blessings of the gods, uniting the Alpha King of Solvencia and the Omega of Evermere in sacred matrimony. May this bond be eternal, unbroken by time or fate."

Caelum stood before him, poised and silent, his head bowed in quiet submission.

"Do you, Alpha King, accept this union?"

The king's fingers curled into fists at his sides, his instincts screaming for him to reject it, to turn away, to end this now.

But duty had no room for rebellion.

He inhaled deeply, his voice low and controlled. "I do."

The priest turned to Caelum, whose barely audible whisper followed: "I do."

And just like that, the ceremony was complete.

The hall erupted in soft, respectful cheers, but the king barely heard them. His gaze remained locked on his bride—the mysterious, veiled figure now bound to him.

He did not speak to him. Did not dare to look at him again.

Not yet.

Because the words he would say to his new mate—the words that could shatter everything—would be spoken in the privacy of their first night.

Where no one else could hear the rejection.