" Not so brave now alpha? " Prchaya teased.

" Stings...worst than silver blade " Perawat moaned.

Pracahaya blowed on the wound, cool air momentarily taking away the pain.

" Feeling better ? "

Perawat opened his eyes and Prachaya knew he will regret asking.

"Just an inch closer " Perawat whispered.

" But that would mean kissing- "

" That's the basic idea..."

" You impossible alpha! " Pracahya pressed the herbs with force making perawat clench his teeth until he could hear hissing noise in his ear.

" I hope you bring this enthusiasm and passion in to our bed omega " Perawat retorted through clenched teeth.

" Must you always have the last word prince? "

Perawat opened his eyes as the sting became enduring.
He smiled " Must I always have last word? No, dearest omega. Must I always win ? No. Must I always see you blush ? Absolutely ? Must I always want to have myself in your mind? Yes. Yes. A THOUSAND TIMES YES. "

"Annoying me out my mind! How is it gonna help you achieve your goal? "

"How many times do I have to tell you? Its not annoying, its teasing, my omega."

" Yeah...that " Pracahya sighed. " I just don't understand why would anyone want their object of affection to get mad at them?" Prachaya stared at him curiously " Is this a courting ritual of mainland we don't know of ? "

" No..." Perawat winked " Its just method of smart people "
Seeing Prachaya's eyes narrowing to slit, Perawat raised both his hands in surrender.

"Okay okay...I'm telling you the reason ...." he hurriedly added to placate the tornado surely coming his way " You see...we can spare thought for other things when we are happy and satisfied but when we are angry, the object of our anger has all our focus. "

Pracahaya mulled over this. As The prince was explaining, more it was making sense.

" It is a warfare tactic.
As a kid I was very close to my father.
I was fascinated with daggers and swords, and the tricks my father showed me.
I started playing with the weapons as soon as I could lift them.
First tactic my father taught me was this "If you don't want to give an opponent time to fortify walls, just make them angry. In anger and grief one loses the sense of self preservation."

Prachaya nodded in agreement "Never heard words so true."

" I don't know languages of flowers and poems my healer. I am a soldier- I know how to survive in rough situations. I know how to be loyal, how to devout time and worship what I believe in. I can live and die to protect the land and the people I love. I know how to protect. I don't know how to be soft. I do appreciate softness, but I don't know how to be soft. I can only offer you loyalty, protection, devotion, support and brutal honesty my omega- you don't have to worry about your self preservation, with me, my dearest. In you, I have found a treasure and I will be damned if I let anything Marr it - even myself. "

" You lie warrior "

" I do not - " Perawat straightened, the herbal patch about to fall off.

The healer chided him by slapping his shoulder lightly.
"Such a hothead ! " Pracahya made the alpha sit back, against the trunk of tree
" You lie about not knowing finesse, warrior- you are equally expert in obliterating your enemies and befriending the strangers. Your syllables are honey, speech- sugar. You have my tribe mesmerised,warrior alpha. "

" But not the one that matters the most "

Prachaya met the warrior's gaze " the one you are talking about, Is he not part of the tribe? "

Perawat smiled, his gleaming eyes crinkled at corners . " I am glad to know I am on the right path. "

Pracahya looked at him questioningly, but then decided against it at last minute, dipping his gaze down.

" Ask, dearest. "

" This endearment ..." Prachaya gulped
" sounds like we are already mated couple. "

" Sounds good . Doesnt it? " Arthit teased, smirking " I like the sound of it. We and mated does sound good in same sentence. Doesn't it my dearest?"

" I mean...you should not use it. "

" Why ? "

" It's just that..."

" Yes? "

" I don't want to give you false hope, alpha. You are just, brave and understanding , a good prospect for any omega. "

" But not you- "

" It's opposite. I am not a good prospect for you. Forgive me alpha, I was clearly carried away by your charms. Forgetting that I cannot give you what you want...what you deserve. "

" And what do you think I deserve? "

" A loving omega- that will wait for you at home. That will make you a happy home- a place where you can relax and forget the burdens you carry on your shoulder. You deserve dozens of pups to carry your legacy. I cannot give you that home alpha. I am forever tied to this land.
I cannot carry your legacy. I cannot bear your children. I cannot bear children. I am sorry... "

" Chief...." Perawat tried to interject.

Looking at alpha's crestfallen face, Prachaya burst in to tears...
"I am sorry... I am really sorry alpha. For a monent I forgot I am not like others... " Pracahaya wiped his tears with back of his hand and looked up, determined " I'm not a complete omega. I will serve whatever punishment you deem necessary for betraying you alpha. I will ... I will " he hiccupped " I will find you a worthy omega ... there will be chase in a week ...you should find an omega worthy of you, win the courting rigthts- "

" I will Indeed chase an omega and win his courting rights " Perawat vowed "and that omega is you my dearest. "

" I am not right for you. "

" Why? "

" I just told you all the reasons. "

" And I do not find single valid reason, my dearest. Humor me. Reply honestly. Do you not think you can grow to love me ? "

" I can. But- "

" And I am ready to reside in moon tribe whenever I am not on battlefield. Problem solved."

" I am infertile. I cannot bear you children - "

"What if I told you I am unable to father children ? "

" What?" Prachaya sat on his knees, his palms covered alpha's knees, showing support " I can treat you. "

"What if it's beyond treatment ? "

" I will try my best. " he said determined.

" If you still fail ? "

" You must not give up like this alpha. Our moon goddess is most merciful. "

" Everyone does not have everything." Perwat commented softly " life is unfair."

" Do not loose hope alpha" Prachaya squeezed Perawat's knee "You can adopt a child. It Is not our seed that make us a parent but the devotion and dedication to nurture a tiny sapling to a tree able to give shade and fruits to the world. "

" That is your answer, my dearest." Perawat put a hand on his shoulder and met his gaze " We can adopt. I already know you will be best father to our children- "

Prachaya pulled his hand back from alpha's knee, like his words had scorched him. He averted his face " You don't understand alpha, you are a prince -"

Perawat snapped " Why are you going round and round and round. Just reject me already, omega. Say the truth that I'm not worthy of you- "

Pracahaya flinched. " I didn't mean that alpha. "

" Enough. " Perawat stood up, the herbal patch fell down despite Prachya's silent efforts " I got your answer loud and clear omega. I am sorry I made you feel so cornered and intermidated that you are afraid to exercise your right of rejection. I won't force an omega ever. Rest assured, I won't darken your path anymore. I will return at the first light tomorrow. "

Prachqya gasped "NO...I didn't mean that Please, alpha...listen to me."

Perawat kept walking.

" I did not mean to reject you. I did not reject your affections."

Perawat didn't stop, his pace increased, so Prachaya ran behind him " Alpha,"
he held Perawat's wrist " I didn't reject you. "

" Not rejecting isn't same as accepting " Perawat grunted. " Do you accept me? My affections, my courting? Myself? "

Prachaya's grip on Perawat's hand loosened. " I ...I- "

" There is your answer, omega. Know your heart first before you speak about matters of my heart....."

Prachaya stared at the stubborn alpha, he cant let him go. His wolf agreed on his decision, together they announced
" You can't go back before full recovery alpha...I forbid it."

"You forbid it? " Perawat glared " What right do you have over me, chief? "

" I forbid it as your healer-"

Perawat chuckled mirthlessly " I am not exactly known for my cooperative tendencies in healing circles, dearest omega. "

"Then... As the chief of this land, I forbid you from leaving " the vines slithered, waking up from slumber. They slowly climbed Perawat's legs, binding him tightly in their hug like a lost lover. " You can't leave."

"It's not amusing omega. Retract them "

" I will not. "

" I do not want to harm you," Perawat warned " retract them. "

" I won't. "

"Retract them. " Perawat commanded furious, red bleeding in his eyes betraying the presence of his wolf .

Prachaya's wolf too stood his ground
" Not until you promise, you will not leave until fully recovered. "

" Last warning. Retract them omega. I dont want to hurt you. "

" No. I won't let you leave. "

Perawat clenched his jaws " As amusing it is to watch you exert your will, you forgot I outrank you omega. You may be able to manipulate this land, you won't be able to manipulate it to restrain me " Ruby red eyes stared at Prachaya as gravel voice ordered
" Recede. " And the vines retracted. Slithered down his arms and legs and blended into the greenery at their feet.

Perawat sneered seeing Prachaya's slacked jaws " You forgot who you were dealing with chief. I am the prince of this land and what you did is punishable by death..I am forgiving this transgression. Don't repeat same mistake and waste our time. I won't be as forgiving in future. Thank you for your hospitality chief of moon tribe. Royal house will remember your support. I must take my leave now. I have places to be. "

And Perawat turned. Never to set foot in these lands again... The land that mended and broke his heart at the same time.

" Alpha...stop. please . You are not recovered fully. I beg you alpha..." Prachaya pleaded on his knees but the alpha kept walking away... his silhouette getting smaller by every second... vanishing in mist of night.

Pracahya has never felt more helpless than he did now. " Please stop..." He kept chanting but the alpha didn't stop.

The alpha that had come like a hurricane and stuck to him like a leech, now appeared like a mist - within his reach yet untouchable. Present yet absent. Reality yet illusion.
He would be a nostalgic memory come morning. Like the black dot of his silhouette blending in the darkness of the night - out of his sight but never out of his mind. Never his mind.

Something told him If he let perawat Rojanapat go today, he won't ever see him again. Not in this lifetime.

Prachaya stood and ran as fast as his human legs carried him. Blindly chasing the little dark dot over grey background of night. His heart thudding with every step ahead, with every inch of the silhouette being visible again.

" Stop, my alpha. " he yelled , running with all his might. " My alpha...stop. "
..................

Perawat's heart broke with every step he was taking away from the omega. Tears pooled in his eyes, the path ahead blurred - like the bleak future of their relationship.

I cannot bear your children. I cannot bear a child. The words rang again and again in his ears - swirled in his mind- rendering him dead to every other sound.

I am not a good prospect for you...

I am not a complete omega....

Who dares to sat this? Perawat will have his head. His omega is complete. More worthy of happiness than him. He will be damned if he will let the lack of womb pull his omega down.

He had weighed his options- he could have pulled the omega in his arms and assured him it did not matter - but it wouldn't have much effect on the stubborn omega who had had years to cultivate this insecurity within him.

So he chose the second - he was giving the omega circumstances that he did best in - challenge. He was giving him opportunity to figure out his heart. To see if he weighed his security heavier than prospect of hopeful future. To see if his omega will take steps to break the chains he had bound himself in.

He knew his omega will figure out the way.

What if he doesn't?

What if he decided perawat was not worth it ? Not worth breaking his comfort zones?

Perawat had hung his hurt by hook - on the omega's decision. It was all now in his omega's hand - to make or break his heart.

........

" My alpha..." The words were like honey on the cracks of his heart and molten iron in his ears. " My alpha..." - the invisible shackles on his feet.

" Stop " the omega again called desperately.

He halted.

Perawat turned. " Who is asking me to halt? "

" Your ome...ga..." Prachaya halted before the alpha, bent forward. palms clutching his kness, mouth working overtime to pump air into his burning lungs. " Your omega..."

" Your omega forbids you to take another step, alpha. Don't go. " Prachaya looked at the stubborn prince " Your omega dares you to take another step. " The vines rose again, shackling Perawat's feet.

Prachaya's heart swelled to see the alpha made no effort to release himself.

Perawat looked at the dishelved healer, eyes shining blue, face dotted with scratches and cuts from unruly vines of forest. Most noticable were his hairs- his waist length hairs must have get freed from It's restraint, now freely flowing, framing his face like Lion's mane.
Perawat opened his arms, gesturing the omega closer.
" Your face has several cuts. "

Prachaya glared at the prince, his blue eyes - ice cold. "Now you care? " he jabbed a finger in Prince's chest "You didn't stop even after I kept begging you."

" You never did my omega." Perawat pulled the healer in and closed his arms around the trembling omega. "It was the chief and the healer. "

" They are a part of me. I am as much as healer and chief as i am an omega...."

" As am I, a prince of this Kingdom and general of our army . But for you, I am just an alpha." Perwat fisted his hands in healer's hair and tugged his head back to look in to his eyes " An alpha that has accepted you - as his warrior, his healer, his chief and his omega... and he wants you to open your heart and accept him. "

" I don't know how alpha. " Pracahaya's eyes teared " You are not asking me to accept you. You are asking me to choose you. And I don't know how to.
Choices never worked for me. Only acceptance did.
As a child, I wanted to be blood kin of Prince Perawat- serving you had seemed like my calling. I trained hard alongside Prem and Knot. I worked upon my skill as a healer so i could protect your life in all manners. I passed all the preliminary tests. I was top choice of our clan as your chief Kin (head of security) - I shifted as an omega. Omegas are not allowed to be a kin.
The warrior was suddenly a peace keeper now -I had no choice but to accept it. I was coming to terms with it , dreaming of having loving alpha and beautiful family.
Before my dreams could become reality, a nightmare visited me. I came out of it - infertile and moon blessed. Cursed and blessed simultaneously. Such an irony. I accepted it too... I had no choice. I was living with that acceptance for thirteen years and then you came in my life - like a hurricane. Uprooting all the familiarity that had rooted around me, knocking down the walls.
Watering the little seed of hope I had buried deep under the ground thirteen years ago. My life was again in upheaval - I was coming to acceptance - I accepted it. Now you are asking me to choose.
My life had been carved out by destiny- that i kept accepting. And now, I have long forgotten how to choose alpha. I don't know how to choose, my alpha. I want to. But I can't...." prachaya sobbed " Because I don't know how to..."

Perawat let the omega babble, drench his thin tunic with tears- unload all that he had been carrying all these years. His brave moon blessed. He hid the omega in his arms while the omega broke down- his pieces safe under the little safe heaven created by his alpha's arms.

"My blessed one " Perawat caressed the hiccupping omega's hairs " Enough. Let me get you some water, My dearest. " Perawat made Pracahay sit backing against a tree, while he tore a big moon flower leaf and coned it to fetch some water from river.

" Here" he helped the omega drink water.
" Healer..." Prachaya called, Perawat looked at him all swollen eyed and red tipped nose " Tell me your sorrows, your achievements, your insecurities, your dreams . Cry, break, laugh, hide and Rage within my arms. Bring a bloody storm if you want. And I promise, you will be heard, I will so my best to keep you safe. Let my arms be your home. My heart be your sanctuary."

" Alphaaaa...." Prachaya choked, his eyes again pooling with tears.

" let This be the last time you cry because of me, my dearest ." Perawat wiped his eyes. He wanted to say so much more, ask so much more. Pracahaya definitely wasn't born infertile, something happened to make him so. He wanted to tear apart everything so bad. He wanted to tear himself a new one for making his omega relive his horrible experiences.

He wanted to dance giddily knowing his omega had trained to be his kin. That his omega had him in his thoughts since years.
He wanted so much more, yet nothing. It was making his head reel.

"Come here..." Perawat urged the omega, "let me braid your hair "

Prachaya looked at him with wide eyes. Hairs were considered an intimate and sacred part of body in their nation- nit just in moon tribe.

Only certain people were allowed to touch and braid hairs. Braiding hair was a way to show care, affection and intimacy.

Hair braiding is the first ritual to be done after mating. The omega braids his alpha's hair. Symbolic of his submission and devotion to the alpha while the alpha drapes him in furs - symbolic of his promise to protect and provide for the omega. Not the other way round.

"Do I have your consent to braid your hairs, my omega ? "

" I should be the one to braid your hairs,my alpha. "

Perawat chuckled " Mine are already braided, my dearest. Its yours that needs braiding. And I happen to have a deft hand at braiding. You will have your tribe pestering you to know the secret of your braids. Do I have your consent to braid your hairs, my dearest? "

Prachaya blinked. Such a complete yet incomplete explanation. He suddenly realised his alpha was giving him a small choice to make. Choice that wasn't decided for him already.
Choice to make a choice. Choice to honor his alpha's devotion and care.

He lifted his gaze to see the alpha patiently waiting, smiling at him encouragingly as their eyes met. He was mesmerised to see his alpha's eyes tearing ever so slightly as he made first move to reduce distance between them.

Prachaya sat with his back to his alpha. His long, black, silky hairs hanging like thick black, dark, velvet curtains. Perawat stared for a complete minute, his fingers trembling as he lifted his hands to touch the long wavy lengths he had admired since knowing their existence.

"What kind of braid do you want?" He asked just to distract his heart from beating out of his ribcage
" I have three best styles- My warrior omega hair style, my healer omega hair do or My moon tribe chief omega hair style . " Perawat asked, running his fingers lovingly through the silky threads, working the knots free.

Prachaya closed his eyes as well as his mind," whichever You like the most."

" hmmm..." Perawat hummed thinking.
" I like all three, my omega. Let me create a new pattern. "

" Which one? "

" My dearest style, it has all features of previous three... "Perawat explained " gently working through locks, " We don't have comb, so I won't promise It will come out neat my omega, know that I am putting all my heart and skills in to it. "

Prachaya nodded, lost in the all new sensations he is experiencing for first time in his life. As the alpha glided his fingers through his hairs, Prachaya could feel the phantom sensations- as if alpha's touch brought the non living threads to life.

The alpha partitioned Prachaya's hairs in three major section - the front quarter and rest of the hair in two equal halves .
He braided five thick braids- symolic of five elements his healer controlled -the middle one being most thick of them all.
He gathered the middle section of hairs and twisted it in to a bun, securing it with a thin long fabric he has severed from hem of his silver embroidered tunic. And then wrapped the length of braid around the bun.
Then he finger combed last section of free hairs and braided two thin braids on either side of head and glued their ends with glue of mead flowers.

" Look at me, dearest " he urged the healer who turned and Perawat just looked at him stunned. There was something lacking, so he pulled two free locks to frame that oblong face- adding the soft element to represent the omega's soft demeanour.

" Stay here...and don't see it before I return. I will be back in a minute. "

Prachaya was left agape as the grinning alpha ran like a giddy teenager. The omega couldn't help but smile- a floating dream passed before his eyes where he was the reason for eye twinkling grin on the alpha's face. He dreamt of running his hands through alpha's thick tuft of hairs and taming the unruly mane in to submission. His fingers itched to know the texture since the alpha had touched his hairs. Something told him the alpha's hairs won't be that easy to tame- just like it's owner.

" I'm back " prachaya was startled with the announcement, more startled seeing assortment of flora in alpha's hands.

" What is this alpha? "

Perawat winked " I brought some flowers to meet you. They didn't believe when I told them my omega is more beautiful Than them. " .

" Alphaaaah.." Prachaya groaned. And the alpha laughed. Sit straight, " he instructed ,he placed all the red, purple, white, pink blooms over moonflower's leaf and started working, placing the flowers in the omega's bun. And the white tailed golden eagle's feather gave it final touch.

" And the last thing ..." Alpha announced " Something to represent the sixth element you control."

" Sixth? "

"Me..." Alpha announced, plucking a long silver pin from his hairs, he added it to the omega's bun. " Do you want to see how it looks? " He asked.

Prachaya didn't had to reply as the alpha was already walking them to the river.
Prachaya was speechless sewing the result. He had never seen such a neat hairdo without comb. " It's beautiful. " he gasped. Speechless seeing white tailed golden eagle's feathers in his hairdo. It symblised life long devotion since the white tailed golden eagle's mate for life.

Two feathers were a way to show togetherness. Will to compromise. To be together.

(This is just for imaginary purpose 🙈😅🫣. Ignore author's mediocre photoshopping skills and focus on Prachaya's beauty.
Also, you must like his hair do...Alpha Perawat's orders...😄)

The alpha stepped forward and stood beside him, meeting his gaze through the reflection in water, he mumbled looking at them " indeed ....beautiful"

Prachaya lowered his gaze, he somehow knew the prince was talking about them together and not the hair do itself.

Yet another tradition, another ritual after mating has been performed by them. Prachaya wondered how many more rules he will break in one night? And why it did not feel like breaking the rule but making a new one - starting of something new - just like the ritual where a mated couple stands together before mirror and gaze at their reflection - starting of a mated life- life of togetherness.

" What are you thinking, my healer? " Perawat asked.

" It feels like a dream. I may wake up tomorrow and it will all go away..." he answered intently gazing at them, in the still surface of lake.

" I assure you healer," Alpha chuckled " I will be there to drive you crazy, you can't get rid of me that easily. "

" Alpha...." Prachaya scoffed, his nose crunching cutely while his eyes playfully narrowed.

" And if you promise to call me like that... I won't ever move anywhere "

" Alphaaaaa...." Pracahaya groaned and Perawat winked " just like that my dearest !

............................

A/N : Okay...so I was going to publish it after whole chapter is finished. But it was so cute ...I couldn't hold it back... so here it is 🙃

Now, one or two more cheater to wrap up past ..and we will again delve in present 🫡