Hwang Hanuel’s POV

I throw a rock into the water and watch it sink, I just can’t get it right, with a pout, I try again and it sinks again.

Seriously.

"Hanuelie, what are you doing?" my mom calls from behind me and I look back with a sigh, I have to do clan duties again.

"Nothing" I say grudgingly and return to the tent.

Mom’s hair is braided over her shoulder and she sits on the floor to keep on sewing, she’d rather use hand tools than machines, she says it feels...well done, when she does it herself.

"Mom, when’s dad getting back?" I ask and she looks up briefly, "I don’t know" she says coldly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Mom and dad don’t get along these days, she hates what he’s permitting on his territory, she hates that he’s standing by and his elders are carrying out atrocious acts.

I sit in front of her, I know she would start talking now, she will pour out her mind and her anger.

"Your father doesn’t listen, he’s trying to be a good clan leader but the uprising is getting too much!" she says and shoves one of the clothes into my hand.

"It’s sad, really, I will be forced to divorce him if he keeps this up" she says and I stare at the cloth in my hand, it’s dad’s favorite shirt.

"What if I make it all stop" I say and she looks up, her eyes soften as she takes in my face, "don’t be silly darling, you’re only eighteen, you just presented" she says and sighs.

"I’m visiting one of the clans tomorrow to ask how I can help, of course I have to do it secretly, don’t tell anyone son, okay?" mom says and I nod.

My father is a good man, but the Hwang clan is getting associated with too many wrong things.

I can’t even bring myself to look at the news anymore these days, I’ll be ruler soon...and I’m sure this is not the image I want to carry into my reign, I want peace, equity and just...all the good things.

"Whatever you’re thinking, forget about it, this is how rotten the system is" my mom says and sighs.

I’ll have to do better.

I’ll work hard and change everything that has gone wrong, I’ll make the clan powerful and good, it’s possible...right?

"Once we go home, remind me to mend all your clothes, you are growing too big my baby" mom says and ruffles my hair, I lean into her touch and kiss her palm.

We go to sleep next to each other, mom snores softly and I think of my future as Lord Hwang, each picture I paint puts a smile on my face.

I’ll have a beautiful mate that I’ll love, I’ll have plenty of pups, I’ll have a nice home and we’ll live happily.

I hope my children will be loved by their mother like my mom loves me.

I turn to my side to look at her face, and I hope I’ll love my mate as much as dad loves my mom, I’ll build a home that’s strong.

But I have to start now.

With a kiss to mom’s head, I get out of the tent and stumble over a stick, cursing as the pain shoots through my foot.

I walk aimlessly down the forest, I don’t know what I’m looking for, I don’t know where I’m going to but I walk anyway till I reach the river and find a boy around my age hunched over.

He’s holding a rock and poking the water as I get closer.

Under the moonlight, he looks like he’s shining, and I get closer to him...why is he so skinny?

"Hi" I greet and he looks up at me with a scowl.

"Leave me alone, doctor said I can stay here alone, I already did what he wants" the boy says, he sounds regal and strong and I just stand there watching him.

When I don’t go away, he looks up at me with bored eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing- I- I forgot why I came here" I say and he sits on the floor, when he sits, I see his stomach.

His belly is swollen in a way that looks odd and his chest looks swollen too and the sight makes me shocked...is this the famed omega they have been talking about?

"You’re a male omega?" I whisper my question.

"You’re new?" he shoots back at me with irritation and I nod immediately.

It’s a lie and it’s true.

I’ve heard all about him, doctor told us he died...so seeing him here...what exactly is doctor and his men doing to him?

If I tell him I’m a Hwang...what will he think of me?

"Come sit, you’re too tall it’s annoying" he sighs and I go to sit near him, keeping my hands on my lap and an apology on the tip of my tongue.

"I know you’re lying, you are not new...at least to the concept of me" he says and I freeze, scared that he knows I’m a Hwang...

"Just don’t try to touch me, I’ll send you to the ER" he says and pokes the stick into the water, for someone going through so much, he’s composed and put together.

"Give me that rock, the one that looks like you" he says and I pick a rock without thinking, "huh, a small one, I thought you’d pick a big one" he says and I nod with my mouth open, I don’t know what to say.

Is he real? Can someone be this elegant?

"I’m Yeon" he says and at the sound of footsteps, he looks at me with wide eyes, "get out quick, don’t let them see you, these Hwang men are less than humans" he says and pushes me.

"Omega, time to return" a male voice calls and I obey, hiding behind the tree till they leave.

Even after he’s gone, I stand there stupidly...did I just meet a male omega?

I return there three more times at the same hour to meet him.

And even though I always sneak out with the plan to see him, we never talk, he just lets me sit next to him, and I just think of how strong he is.

I don’t tell anyone about him yet.

Not when Yeon hates the Hwangs, not when the clan thinks he’s dead and not when guilt chokes me every time I sit next to him.

On one of the days when I don’t see him, I get close enough to the place where he’s being hidden to know that I must become Lord by all means.