"Your Grace, your rut is approaching," Keith informed the Duke gently. "I've already
asked Butler Lenon to prepare the annex."
The Duke didn't look up, his pen moving swiftly as he signed the final documents. He
knew his rut would last several days, he had to finish everything before then.
"Tell Rolen to return. He'll need to guard Luren while I'm locked in the annex, and you'll be occupied with my duties," he instructed, his voice calm but firm.
"Yes, Your Grace," Keith replied. Then, hesitating for a moment, he glanced up with
hopeful eyes. "May I visit my girlfriend once I'm done with my duties?"
The Duke finally looked up, his expression softening. He gave a small nod. A wide,
grateful smile lit up Keith's face.
Luren woke up early, excitement bubbling in his chest at the thought of sparring with the
Duke. He glanced at himself in the mirror, smoothing down his clothes and brushing a few strands of hair into place before heading out.
As he passed the grand hallway, he noticed a group of four beautiful women entering
through the main door, escorted by Butler Lenon.
"Good morning, Master Luren," the butler greeted warmly. Ever since the Duke had
declared him his brother, the entire mansion had begun addressing him as "Master" everyone except Keith, who preferred to call him by name. Luren didn't really mind either way.
"Good morning," Luren replied with a polite smile, glancing curiously at the women.
"Who are they?"
The four women returned his smile, graceful and poised.
"They were sent by the King to accommodate His Grace," the butler explained with a slight bow.
Luren's smile faltered instantly. His heart skipped a beat, then sank heavily into his
chest. His face froze in disbelief, the weight of the butler's words slowly settling in.
Just then, Keith appeared from the direction of the Duke's office.
"The flowers have arrived," Keith said nonchalantly. "Bring them to the annex,
Butler Lenon. His Grace will visit them later."
Luren remained rooted to the spot, his feet unwilling to move. He may be younh but he
wasn't a child anymore. He had read enough novels to understand what "accommodate" meant… and what the Duke would likely be doing. But four women?
A cold, unfamiliar feeling twisted in his stomach. Disgust. He knew he shouldn't feel
that way, it wasn't his place, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to believe the Duke was the kind of man who would do something like this. He'd always believed Craige was different.
Sure, nobles were known to take many lovers, but hearing Craige might be the same left him confused and hollow. Why did it
hurt so much?"
"Luren…" Keith's voice broke his thoughts. "His Grace is waiting for you in his office."
Luren swallowed hard. He followed slowly, each step heavier than the last. He didn't
know how to act when he saw the Duke, didn't even know what kind of face he'd
be making.
All he knew was that something inside him… hurt.
"Good morning, baby brother," Craige greeted him warmly, as usual. There was another man standing silently in the corner.
"Rolen will be accompanying you. I'll be locked in the annex for several days. If you want to visit your family, you'll have to go with him," Craige explained calmly.
But Luren didn't hear most of it. His heart ached, and his thoughts were a mess.
Craige gently cupped his face, concern etched in his eyes. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"Why are you going to be locked up in the annex?" Luren asked, his voice trembling.
Craige hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Are you…are you going to sleep with those women?" Luren blurted out, eyes burning. "All four of them? At once?" Disgust twisted his face before he could stop it.
Craige's eyes widened in surprise at Luren's reaction. He silently motioned for Rolen
and Keith to leave the room. The two quietly obeyed, closing the door behind them.
"Hey… hey…baby…" Craige started, then corrected himself, "brother, I know you're young, and maybe you won't fully understand, but my rut is coming. Just like how your heat comes, this is something I can't control. One woman wouldn't be enough to handle it. That's why the King sent all of them."
His expression turned serious.
"It happens every month to an Alpha… but for me, only every few months, because I've been trained to suppress it. Still, holding it in too long isn't healthy. When it finally hits, it's… unbearable."
Craige paused, then frowned in confusion.
"Hey… why are you crying?" he asked gently, brushing away Luren's tears.
Luren hadn't even realized he was crying. He quickly wiped his face.
"I understand," he lied, forcing a shaky smile. "I'm just crying because… you promised we'd visit my family tomorrow. But now you're dumping me on Rolen. Our names even rhyme," he added, trying to lighten the mood.
Craige pulled him into a tight hug, something in his chest twisting painfully at the
sight of Luren's tear-streaked face.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I promise I'll make it up to you."
Luren nodded slowly, then looked up at him seriously.
"Don't get them pregnant," he said bluntly.
Craige blinked, then burst into laughter.
"Okay, I won't," he chuckled, and playfully pinched Luren's nose.
Later that night Craige entered the annex.