Mate Selection

Jay stood outside the throne room doors trying not to throw up.

He had just two days to prepare for this moment, and his body was already betraying him.

The heat suppressant was failing. He could feel the warmth crawling under his skin, slick between his thighs that he had wiped away three times this morning. His scent was changing already, sweetening, broadcasting to every Alpha in the palace that he was approaching heat.

Perfect timing.

[WARNING: HEAT CYCLE IMMINENT]

[ESTIMATED TIME: 18-24 HOURS]

[CURRENT SUPPRESSANT EFFECTIVENESS: 34%]

[RECOMMENDATION: SECURE ALPHA BOND BEFORE FULL MANIFESTATION]

"Stop helping," Jay muttered at the floating text.

"Your Highness?" Finn hovered nearby, nervous. He had helped Jay dress this morning into, royal blue robes that actually fit, hair styled simply, nothing excessive. "Are you ready?"

"No." Jay's hands were shaking. He fisted them in his robes. "But we are doing this anyway."

Two opened meridians hummed with qi in his chest. Body Refinement, second Layer. Stronger than any unbonded Omega in three centuries.

And still terrified.

I can survive this.

The doors opened. The throne room was packed. Every noble family, court official, servants lining the walls. All here to watch the trash Omega prince either get chosen or discarded.

Jay walked in alone with no attendants and guards. It was just him and the weight of every eye tracking his movement.

The whispers started immediately.

"he actually came"

"thought he had hide"

"he smells different now"

"is that the cultivation energy"

Jay kept his eyes forward. Walked toward the throne where King Aldric sat, cold and dismissive as always. Sera stood to his right in white silk, face carefully blank but eyes promising murder. Lord Damian to the left, smirking.

And at the base of the throne: General Kael Thorne.

In full military dress. Black and silver. Sword at his hip. Those pale gold eyes locked on Jay the moment he entered, and something shifted in his expression.

Recognition, hunger, power and possession.

Jay's instincts screamed. His hindbrain flooded with Alpha Alpha submit submit—

His cultivation energy pushed back steady. And he stopped ten feet from the throne. He didn't bow.

"Prince Jayvyn," King Aldric said. Voice booming across the silent room. "You stand before the court for the Mate Selection. General Kael Thorne has expressed interest. Do you accept his offer to assess compatibility?"

Phrasing it like I have a choice. That's cute.

"I'm here," Jay said. Not agreeing, or refusing. Just... present.

The King's eyes narrowed. But before he could respond, Kael stepped forward.

"Your Majesty." The General's voice cut through the tension. "I've already made my assessment. I choose Prince Jayvyn as my mate."

The court erupted.

Sera's gasp was audible even over the chaos. "You…you can't! We had an understanding—"

"We had nothing," Kael said. He didn't even look at her. His eyes stayed on Jay. "I'm choosing the Crown Prince. If he will let me."

If. He's giving me the choice in public. that's smart and that makes me look willing instead of forced.

Jay's CEO brain kicked into gear. This is theater, every word matters. Every gesture is being recorded by a hundred witnesses.

"You choose me," Jay said slowly. "What does that mean, exactly?"

Kael's eyebrow rose. "It means I'm claiming you as my mate. Publicly before the court and the crown."

"Claiming." Jay let the word hang. "Like property or something?"

The room went dead silent.

Kael's jaw tightened. "Like a partner."

"Partners are equals," Jay countered. "They negotiate terms. They don't get 'claimed just like that.'"

"Your Highness—" the King started, voice tight with warning.

"I'm not finished." Jay turned to face the full court. Every noble. Every witness. "I have two meridians opened. Body Refinement, Second Layer. Achieved without an Alpha bond and without assistance." Not quite true, but they didn't need to know about Nyx. "I'm the first Omega in three centuries to cultivate independently."

Whispers exploded again.

"That's impossible"

"trash Omega can't"

"he's lying"

Jay pulled his qi to the surface. Let it flare visibly—golden energy rippling across his skin, filling the air with power that made the nearest nobles step back.

Silence.

"Not impossible," Jay said quietly. "Just unprecedented. So when General Kael says he wants to 'claim' me…" He looked at Kael. Held those gold eyes. "I want to know what I'm agreeing to. Because I'm not the same prince who entered this room two days ago, and I won't be owned."

Kael stared at him. Something changed instantly in his expression, something like a surprise melting into what looked almost like pride.

"You want terms," Kael said.

"I want respect."

"Then you'll have it." Kael moved closer. Stopped just outside Jay's personal space. Not crowded or dominating. "I choose you, Prince Jayvyn. Not because you're weak. Not because you'll submit. Because you won't. And that makes you the only choice worth making."

Same words from the private chamber. But now it's public. Binding.

Jay's heart hammered. His instincts screamed yes yes accept—

His rational brain saw the angle. If I accept now, I look willing. If I refuse, I look ungrateful. But if I negotiate—

"I accept your interest," Jay said carefully. "But I'm not bonding. Not today."

The court gasped.

"Prince Jayvyn," King Aldric said, voice dangerous. "The Mate Selection requires—"

"It requires that I choose an Alpha," Jay interrupted. Cut off the King. Political suicide but he was committed now. "I've chosen. General Kael has my favor. But the bond itself will happen when I'm ready. Not before."

"That's not how its done." Sera said.

The temperature dropped. Frost crept across the windows. Shadows poured from corners of the throne room like living smoke.

Oh no.

Nyx materialized in the center of the court.

Fully manifested. Physical and real. Wrapped in darkness so complete it hurt to look at directly, crimson eyes burning like coals.

Nobles screamed. Guards drew swords. Sera actually stumbled backward.

"How interesting," Nyx said. His voice rolled through the room like winter given sound. "The General thinks he has a claim."

Kael's hand went to his sword. "You have no right to be here."

"I have every right." Nyx's attention was fixed on Jay. "Prince Jayvyn carries my mark. My energy flows through his second meridian. Tell me General, can you say the same?"

Jay's stomach dropped. He's outing the connection in front of everyone.

Kael's head snapped toward Jay. "What?"

"I helped him open his second meridian," Nyx said before Jay could respond. "Channeled my power directly into his cultivation. We're connected now. Not bonded—" That word landed like a blade. "but connected. Which means your claim, General, is not as exclusive as you thought."

"You…" Kael's rage was palpable. "You marked him without permission?"

"I gave him power. He accepted it willingly." Nyx smiled. "Did you ask permission before deciding to claim him, General? Or did you simply assume an Omega would be grateful for any Alpha's interest?"

They're fighting over me in front of the entire court. This is exactly what I don't want.

"ENOUGH !!!!."

Jay's voice cracked across the room. He pulled qi to the surface again—both meridians flaring, his energy spiking hard enough that it made the air shimmer.

Both Alphas went quiet.

"I am not a prize to be won," Jay said. Voice steady despite his racing heart. "I am not a territory to be claimed. I'm an human being with choices. And right now I'm choosing—" He looked at Kael and Nyx. At the entire court watching. "Neither of you. Not until you both learn that I'm not something you possess. I'm someone you earn."

Silence.

King Aldric stood from his throne. "Prince Jayvyn, you will choose an Alpha bond today or—"

"Or what?" Jay turned to face his father. "Execute me? For what crime? I've broken no laws. I've cultivated—which strengthens the kingdom. I've attracted the interest of the realm's most powerful General and the Shadow King himself. That's not weakness, Father. That's leverage."

The King's face went purple.

"You dare—"

"I dare." Jay held his ground. "Because I'm done being the trash son you hide in the east wing. I'm the Crown Prince. I have cultivation power. I have two Alphas competing for my favor. And I have enough political capital right now that executing me would look like fear." He smiled. Cold. "So what's it going to be? Support your son's decision, or prove to the entire court that you're threatened by an Omega with power?"

The silence stretched.

Then Kael spoke.

"He has my support," the General said. Moved to stand beside Jay. Not behind, but beside. "Whatever choice Prince Jayvyn makes, I'll defend it. Even if that choice isn't okay with me."

Nyx laughed. "How noble, General. But actions matter more than words." He looked at Jay. "When you're ready to choose, I will be waiting. No pressure. No demands. Just power offered freely."

Both Alphas. Standing on either side of him. Not forcing. Not claiming. But waiting.

Jay's heat-addled brain tried to process. His CEO's mind calculated angles. His hindbrain screamed that he had two powerful Alphas declaring interest and his body wanted both—

Then the first real wave hit.

Pain and heat. His suppressant failed completely. Slick soaking through his clothes, pheromones flooding the room, his body going into full heat in front of the entire court.

Jay's knees buckled.

Kael caught him. "Jay—"

"Get him out," Nyx ordered. Shadows surging forward. "Now. Before every Alpha in this room goes feral."

The last thing Jay saw before his vision whited out was the court erupting into chaos, his father shouting orders, Sera's face twisted in rage—

And two Alphas carried him out of the throne room while his body burned itself alive.