GROWING CLOSER

The air was thick with tension, as palatable as a week-old loaf of bread. Stale, slightly moldy, and definitely something you wouldn't want to swallow whole.

My day began, as most did now, with the daunting task of facing Alaric after our... almost-kiss. My stomach churned with a mixture of anticipation and dread. I’d spent the last few hours choosing an outfit that would scream freedom and independence, and I was excited to see Alaric's reaction.

I slipped into a flowing white dress, the kind that swirled provocatively around my legs when I walked. Aaron had picked it out for me, insisting it accentuated the curve of my waist and brought out the lavender in my eyes. It was definitely more revealing than anything I would usually dare to wear; the neckline plunged just a little too low, and the fabric was whisper-thin. But it felt… right. It felt like me, the Omega I was trying so desperately to suppress, finally getting a chance to breathe.

Taking a deep breath, I approached Alaric's chamber door and knocked softly.

"Enter," his voice, as always, was a low rumble that had me letting out a shaky breath.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Alaric was standing by the window, his back to me, the morning light casting him in a golden glow. He looked every inch the Alpha Prince, powerful and untouchable.

"Good morning, Your Highness," I said, trying to keep my voice even.

He turned, and his eyes widened slightly as they took in my appearance. I could practically feel the heat radiating off him, the intensity of his gaze making my skin prickle.

"Kael," he breathed, his voice a low rasp. "What... what are you wearing?"

"A dress," I replied, feigning innocence. "Do you not approve?"

"It's..." He swallowed, his eyes darting over me, taking in every detail. "It's… different."

"Aaron bought it for me," I said, watching his reaction closely. "He has excellent taste, don't you think?"

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Aaron. Did you... did you try it on for him?" The question was sharp, laced with an edge of possessiveness that sent a thrill through me despite my better judgment.

I tilted my head, feigning confusion. "He helped me pick it out. Of course, he saw it on me.”

His eyes darkened. “I see.” He turned away, pacing the room. “There will be no work today, Kael.”

"No work? But Your Highness, the reports-"

He cut me off with a wave of his hand. "I said, no work. Go to my washroom and take off your scent blocker, go now."

My heart pounded. What was he planning? I had to know.

“Why, Your Highness?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Because I cannot stand smelling that concoction when your true scent is a thousand times more intoxicating,” he said, his voice rough. “And what did I tell you about calling me by my name?”

Without another word, I hesitantly went to his washroom and washed my scent gland with the medicated soap to remove my scent blocker.

When I returned, Alaric was waiting for me, a strange glint in his eyes. He reached out, taking my hand in his. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me.

"Come," he said, leading me towards his bedroom.

"Alaric, what are you doing?" I asked, my mind racing.

He didn't answer, just pulled me along until we were standing in the center of his lavishly decorated room. He gestured towards the bed. "Sit."

I hesitated for a moment before cautiously sitting on the edge of the mattress. Alaric sat down opposite me, his knees almost touching mine. He leaned forward, his gaze intense, never leaving my eyes.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

He let out a shaky breath. "I am trying to… calm myself. Your very existence is already pushing me out of my mind, Kael. Why did you have to let Aaron put you in a dress? Not just any kind of dress, this kind. And he got to see you in it. My goodness, Kael, you drive me dangerously close to insanity."

I didn't know what to say. I knew I had some effect on him, but to hear him say it so plainly, so vulnerably, was almost too much to bear.

The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing. Finally, Alaric seemed to regain some semblance of control. He straightened up, running a hand through his hair.

"Enough," he muttered. "This… this is not how I intended this day to go."

He stood up abruptly and strode towards the door. "Come, let’s get some food. I am starving."

The rest of the day unfolded in a surreal haze. We ate together in Alaric's private dining room, laughing over silly jokes and sharing stories from our childhoods. It was the most relaxed and natural I had ever felt around him.

After lunch, he declared that we would play a game. He produced a beautifully crafted chess set and challenged me to a match. I hadn't played chess in years, but I accepted, eager to spend more time with him.

He won, of course. He was frustratingly good, his mind seemingly always three steps ahead of mine. But he didn't gloat. Instead, he smiled warmly and offered to teach me some new strategies.

As the afternoon wore on, I started to feel drowsy. The heavy meal and the warmth of Alaric's presence were lulling me into a peaceful slumber.

"I'm getting tired," I mumbled, stifling a yawn.

"Then sleep," Alaric said, his voice soft.

He gestured to the bed. "Come, lie down."

My heart skipped a beat. "Here? With you?"

He nodded, his eyes filled with an unreadable emotion. "Yes, here. With me."

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I was ready for this level of intimacy. But the pull towards him was too strong to resist.

I carefully lay down on the bed, turning to face him. Alaric propped himself up on one elbow, gazing down at me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

"Like this," he murmured, gently pulling me closer until I was lying directly on top of him, my head resting on his chest.

My heart hammered against my ribs, threatening to burst free. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear, the warmth of his body enveloping me.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Yes," I breathed. "Very."

And then, I drifted off to sleep, feeling safer and more cherished than I had ever felt in my entire life.

When I woke up, it was late evening, and the room was bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Alaric was still lying beneath me, his eyes closed, his breathing deep and even.

I carefully shifted, trying not to wake him. But he stirred, his eyes fluttering open.

"Kael," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. "Are you awake?"

"Yes," I whispered. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

He smiled sleepily. "It's alright. I was enjoying the weight of you on top of me. I could get used to that.”

He sat up, pulling me with him. "Come," he said, taking my hand. "Let's go out."

"Out? Where?" I asked, confused.

"I want to buy you things," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And it's easier to disguise myself at night."

He led me out of the palace and towards a sleek, black car that I had never seen before. "This is yours too, you know?" He said proudly.

"A car?" I exclaimed, my eyes wide with surprise. "There are cars here?"

He chuckled. "Of course. But I don't use it often. It attracts too much attention during the day."

He opened the car door for me, and I hesitantly climbed inside. The interior was plush and luxurious, the seats molding to my body.

Alaric started the engine, and the car smoothly glided forward, leaving the palace grounds behind. He drove us through the city streets, which were bustling with activity even late at night.

The city was a kaleidoscope of lights and sounds, a vibrant tapestry of life that I had never experienced before. I pressed my face against the window, taking it all in.

Alaric pulled the car to a stop in front of a brightly lit storefront. "Come," he said, stepping out of the car. "Let's see what we can find."

We walked into the store, which was filled with clothing of every kind imaginable. Alaric started pulling items off the racks, holding them up for my approval.

"What about this?" he asked, holding up a shimmering silk blouse. "Or this?" He gestured to a pair of fitted leather pants.

He didn't like the fit of the dresses he saw, so Alaric bought me a lot of separates – skirts, trousers, tops, jackets. It was clear I had to get used to dressing in a way that made me look completely human, not hiding what I was.

I tried on a few outfits, feeling self-conscious under Alaric's intense gaze. But he was encouraging, telling me that everything looked beautiful on me.

"You have to let me buy you this new device too," he said.

"Device?" What device? "Did it have to do with my scent?"

"No. It's a phone. It has so much to offer, you can communicate with me easily no matter my schedule or location, you can buy things online without leaving the palace. It has lots of features, trust me, you'll love it," he said, leading me to a phone stand.

After the clothing store, we wandered through the city's market, sampling street foods and chatting with the vendors. Alaric seemed to revel in the anonymity, enjoying the freedom to be just Alaric, not Prince Alaric.

As the night wore on, my arms grew heavy with shopping bags, and my stomach was full of delicious street food.

Alaric seemed to sense my fatigue. "Alright," he said, taking the bags from my hands. "Time to go home."

He drove us back to the palace, the city lights blurring past the windows. When we arrived, he parked the car in a hidden garage, shielding it from public view.

He escorted me back to my room, his hand lingering on my back. At the door, he turned to face me, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"Thank you," he said softly. "For today. It was... perfect."

I smiled, my heart swelling with happiness. "Thank you too, Alaric."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my forehead. "Goodnight, Kael."

"Goodnight, Alaric," I whispered.

And then, I stepped inside, leaving him standing in the hallway, the weight of his gaze following me until the door clicked shut.

I leaned against the door, my heart pounding, my mind reeling. Today was a dream, a fairytale came to life. But as I closed my eyes, I couldn't

shake the feeling that it was all too good to be true. That the happiness we had found tonight was fragile, easily shattered by the harsh realities of our world.