Chapter Text
“You have to be joking.” Mix said, his eyes flashing red, “You can’t force me to mate with someone.”
“You’re right, to some degree.” The bland-faced Council official said, “We can’t force you to mate with someone, but there is a mandate that’s been issued as of this morning: ‘Any registered Alpha or Omega in the kingdom who is past the age of 20 and has yet to produce a child is to be paired off either to the partner of their choice, or one chosen for them to produce a child within a one-year time frame.’”
Mix felt the first stirrings of panic as the official read from his tablet with a completely deadpan expression – he was being serious.
The Kingdom of Bangna had seen a string of the worst luck in recent history over the last fifty years. First, there was the war between the two kingdoms that share a border with them. While the King of Bangna had never intervened, his citizens were invariably pulled into warfare. After all, several families in Bangna had ties in either Fawal or Rohtsai, and so they sent their able-bodied youngsters to fight in the frontlines for their families.
Then, it was the mysterious illness that swept through the armies to reach Bangna and infect its citizens. The illness seemed to prey on youngsters, causing them to give in overwhelmingly to their other side, becoming primitive and almost inhuman. It was a horrifying ordeal that led to the death of over two hundred youths in Bangna.
Over the last thirty years, Bangna had been struggling with its aging population. Compared to the hundreds of children being born every year, doctors were seeing only ten to twenty births per year. Mix knew everyone in the kingdom his age as well as those up to five years older or younger – they were a small community now.
So it wasn’t as if this news, and this mandate, was coming out of nowhere. Mix was a doctor, after all, he’d seen the writing on the wall years ago. He’d known that unless the King and his Council did something drastic, the Kingdom of Bangna would die out within the next two generations.
He just didn’t think he would be impacted so much by the King’s decision.
“I don’t have anyone I want to pair with. And I will not have a child with someone I’m not mated to.” Mix said finally, his voice firm but soft. Reality was still sinking in.
The bland-faced official suddenly perked up, his face becoming more interesting as his eyes lit up and he studied Mix more closely, “No one you’d like to pair with? Really? We’d heard differently.”
“Heard differently from who?” Mix wondered, brows furrowed. “I’m not courting anyone, nor am I being courted. I am also not interested in anyone currently.” As he spoke those last words, his brain betrayed him by bringing forth the image of a muscular back and mischievous smile, but he quickly shut down that train of thought.
“Interesting.” The official looked him over, “Mix Sahaphap, right? You’re a doctor at Bangna Central and specialize in Omega Care.”
Mix studied the man warily, unsure of what to make of this line of questioning, “Yes. That’s me.”
“You realize that by admitting you do not have someone specific in mind to be paired with, and that you are not courting anyone, you have by default requested a Council-issued Omega partner.” The official stated, his voice was all business, but his expression gave him away. Something about Mix’s admissions made this man very happy.
“I’m aware.” Mix said carefully, “Do you have someone in mind?”
The official smiled, “I’m Arm Weerayut, a member of the Prince’s Council.”
“Prince’s? Not King’s?” Mix frowned, “Why is a member of the Prince’s Council going around door to door for an announcement like this?”
The Prince’s Council, smaller than the King’s, answered only to the Heir Prince of Bangna. They rarely left his side, more his friends than advisors, meant to both protect him and train him for his role as future King. The current Heir Prince was four years Mix’s senior, and his council was made up of a mix of Alphas and Betas, all of whom were in and around his age – none of whom Mix knew, despite having gone to school with the Heir Prince himself.
The members were chosen at a young age and received private education so they knew everything they needed to in order to help their future leader.
“Well, we’re out on our own kind of mission. This mandate doesn’t just apply to citizens of Bangna. Even members of the royal family are required to adhere to it.”
Mix’s brows shot up, “Earth is being forced to mate with someone?” He asked, straightening in his seat, something stirring dangerously within him.
Arm pursed his lips, “Again, this mandate is not about mating, it’s about reproducing.”
“So you’re leaving Omegas at the mercy of random Alphas? What if the Alphas do their duty, reproduce and then leave the Omega and their child behind?” Mix asked, eyes flashing red, “What are the Omegas meant to do then?”
“Well, the Council will step in. We’ll provide financial aid to every pair who choose to raise their child together, and for those Alphas who decide to walk away once the child is born, we will support the Omega parent. Rest assured, Omegas will only be paired with Alphas whose preferences match their own. Which brings us back to your particular case, Mr Sahaphap.”
“No, I’m not done. You said the Heir Prince is going to be paired off in this manner too? Does he get a choice?” Mix pressed, standing now.
“I assure you, Prince Pirapat made his choices clear when his options were presented to him. Similar to you, he does not wish to have a child with someone he is not mated to. We believe you would be a good fit for him.”
“What?” All the fire went out of Mix, leaving him breathless and flabbergasted, “Me? With Earth?”
“Yes. Mix Sahaphap, your Council-appointed partner will be the Heir Prince of Bangna, Prince Earth Pirapat Wattanatsetsiri.”