Chapter Text
Wilhelm lay beside him, sleeping soundly as soft snores escaped his parted lips. For the first time in two days, he seemed at peace. He was no longer moaning Simon’s name, nor desperately clutching onto him. In all likelihood, his rut had worn off.
Curled up in the corner of the bed, Simon’s gaze was tracing the shape of his button nose. He had always loved Wilhelm’s profile but had never allowed himself to stare before. Wilhelm’s right hand was resting on his naked chest. He couldn’t believe that an hour ago, this same hand had been all over his body, caressing and grabbing, completely and utterly pulling him apart.
Wilhelm in rut had been nothing like he expected. He was caring, all please and thank you, his touch almost reverent. And at the same time, he was dominant, relentless, giving him anything and everything he wanted. He had liked the sex with Marcus, but this was incomparable. He now understood why his wolf had always reacted so strongly to the prince’s presence. Their bodies were made for each other.
After two days of being cared for, fucked and held by the alpha, he didn’t know how he could return to what they were before, two teammates who barely spoke to each other. Wilhelm would remember nothing. He would maybe be a little embarrassed at first, but would quickly move on, as he had the first time he had scentmarked him. Simon on the other hand would remember everything. For months, his mind would be plagued with the memory of Wilhelm’s sweaty skin, the sound of his ragged breath and the image of his flexing biceps as he held himself above him. How would he be able to look at him without getting flustered?
He dreaded the moment Wilhelm would wake up and the devotion would have left his eyes. He wouldn’t be his omega anymore. Wilhelm wouldn’t call him “mine”, wouldn’t breathe his neck as if Simon’s smell was his very oxygen. Simon wasn’t sure he could bear the respectful distance that would come now, it was too brutal.
He knew it was basic etiquette after a mating cycle to wait for the other to wake up and exchange a few words before parting, but he couldn’t. So he got out of bed, picked up his clothes in silence, and headed for the bathroom.
The shower was bittersweet. The soap dripping on his body was washing away their combined scent. If Wilhelm had still been in rut, he would have hated it. This is why the alpha had refused to let him wash on his own. On the second day, Wilhelm had stepped in the shower with him and had washed Simon’s body so gently, all while covering him in waves of pheromones that deliciously mingled with the smell of the shower gel. Under the hot stream of water, Wilhelm had offered him another orgasm, with just his fingers and a hand around his cock. He had felt clean and loved and so cared for.
Simon turned the water colder to clear his head. The quicker he’d be out of here, the better for his sanity. He dried himself with a towel, put on his clothes and noticed only then that he was missing a sock. Shit.
He tried to be as discreet as possible when he slipped back into the bedroom but was immediately met with Wilhelm’s open eyes.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” Wilhelm replied with a groggy voice, still lying on the bed, “Are you leaving?”
Standing on the doorstep, Simon had a jacket in hand and only one sock on his foot. There was no denying it.
“Um, it seemed like your rut was over.”
“It is.”
Wilhelm’s doe eyes were intently looking at him. Simon didn’t know what to do. Should he say goodbye now and awkwardly look for his sock under Wilhelm’s watchful gaze?
“Are you okay?”, Wilhelm then asked sheepishly, “Did I… um do anything wrong while I was in rut?”
Simon’s eyes widened. “No, not at all. I’m okay.” Wanting to reassure him, he sat on the bed, letting go of his already forgotten jacket. “How are you feeling? You must be exhausted.”
“Yeah tired”, Wilhem said with a coy smile, “but also starving.”
“It’s past noon, Malin should be there soon.”
“Great. Are you um… Don’t you want to stay for lunch? You at least deserve a free meal after all of this.”
Wilhelm looked hopeful and Simon didn’t have the heart to say no.
The prince shifted back on the bed, silently inviting him to lie down with him. Following his cue, Simon mirrored Wilhelm's posture, settling onto his side to face him.
For a moment, they just stared at each other. It felt oddly intimate to gaze upon this soft version of Wilhelm, all sleepy eyes and bare skin. Wilhelm didn’t look embarrassed to be naked under the white sheets while Simon was fully clothed.
“How do you look so good after these past days when I’m a mess?” the alpha said with a soft smile.
“I just took a shower.”
“Oh I know.”
If the alpha was disappointed, he managed to hide it. Simon did not wish for another reaction. No, not at all.
“How are you really?”, Wilhelm asked after a few seconds of silence. “I hope it wasn’t too… difficult for you.” He was biting his lip, a hint of concern in his eyes.
“Wilhelm, having sex for two days straight was hardly a sacrifice.”
The prince blushed.
“Oh good. So it was… enjoyable?”
“Yeah you could say that,” he said teasingly.
They both chuckled.
“Do you remember anything?”, Simon asked.
“Nothing concrete. I just remember being close to you and feeling really good.”
Simon gulped. “Yeah, it’s a… good summary.”
The air between them thickened, charged with the memory of what happened in this very bed only hours ago. Simon felt tingles running in his legs as he battled the desire to bring his body forward. He wondered if Wilhelm could feel it too. Did a part of him still recall the burn of their skin meshing together? Could he miss it even without remembering it? Simon imagined himself bridging the gap to nestle in Wilhelm’s arms. His body would still be warm from the night, his exhausted lips would lazily kiss him, and most importantly, his eyes would dive into his, in full consciousness.
A knock on the door brought him out of his reverie.
“It must be Malin,” Wilhelm said as he stepped out of the bed and grabbed a pair of pants and a sweater on the floor. With a sigh, Simon got up too and followed him outside of the bedroom. As he opened the door, Wilhelm found a carton bag on the doormat. He looked left and right before picking it up.
“It’s weird. Where did she go?” He asked Simon, confused.
“Oh um… We figured it’d be preferable if she just left the food on the doorstep.”
“Why?”
“You kind of growled the first time she came and you wouldn’t let her in.”
Wilhelm’s eyes widened in embarrassment. “Oh shit…”
“It’s normal really, you were in rut, you had an omega with you and she’s an alpha,” he tried to reassure him.
“Oh okay, yeah…” Wilhelm scratched his head. “Did I um do anything else embarrassing?”
Simon thought of what happened after, how apologetic Wilhelm had been, even while he fucked him on his lap. Wilhelm’s insecurity and need for reassurance were a lot less common for an alpha, and yet Simon had found it even more arousing. He then thought about his own confession, how he had declared to the prince that he was his and how awfully sincere he had been.
“Nothing I can think of,” he answered.
Wilhelm seemed relieved. He took the food out, revealing grilled salmon with Hasselback potatoes and set up two plates in front of the couch, subtly inciting Simon to sit next to him.
“What day is it?” Wilhelm asked, while taking a mouthful of potatoes.
“Thursday.”
“So it lasted only two days? Wow you’re good.”
Simon chuckled, slightly embarrassed as he removed the bones from his salmon.
“We could even go to August’s training if we wanted,” Wilhelm continued.
Simon scrunched up his face. “Or… we could pretend that your rut isn’t over yet and hide.”
Wilhelm laughed.
“Yeah I still feel a bit hot. I’m at least going to need one more day before going outside.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Exactly.”
They shared a knowing smile and Simon took another bite of the salmon. The skin was grilled but it was slightly raw in the middle, not at all like his father used to cook it. He wondered what restaurant in Bjästard served this dish. Probably a fancy one he never went to.
“Is it a sign my rut isn’t over yet if I still want to hug you?” Wilhelm asked, pulling him out of his reflections.
Simon’s heart missed a beat. With difficulty, he swallowed the food in his mouth. He sneaked a glance towards Wilhelm but didn’t dare meet his eyes. “M-maybe,” he answered with a wavering voice.
Wilhelm nodded, but he didn’t make any move towards him. Instead, he went back to eating his meal. Needing to do something with his hands, Simon grabbed his glass and took a sip of water. He then resumed eating in a tense silence, the playfulness replaced with a growing anticipation. Once their plates were empty, Wilhelm took them away and came back to sit next to Simon.
The omega’s heart was beating heavily. He had closed his fists, in an attempt to hide his nervosity.
“Can I…”, Wilhelm started.
“Yes”, Simon answered before he could finish. It seemed that his ability to control his wolf next to Wilhelm had completely vanished in the last days.
He leaned towards the other boy, encouraging him to lay down on the sofa. With a delighted smile, Wilhelm opened his arms to let Simon settle on his chest. In a familiar gesture, the prince’s fingers drifted to his curls, softly massaging his scalp.
“You smell good,” the alpha said.
Simon hummed. “You don’t care that I don’t smell like you anymore?”, he said coyly. He would have been embarrassed by his own neediness if he hadn’t felt so good in Wilhelm’s embrace.
“Oh you still smell like me.”
“What?”, Simon replied confused. He raised his head to look at Wilhelm. The other boy lowered his gaze, a cheeky smile on his lips.
“You used my shampoo.”
“Oh.”
“I mean it’s not the same as when I…”
“Don’t you dare scentmark me again,” Simon threatened jokingly.
Wilhelm laughed.
“Nah I know what it does to you. I wouldn’t want to get you all flustered.”
Simon chuckled. “You’re an idiot”, he muttered as he settled back on his chest, rubbing his cheek against the soft fabric of the prince’s sweater. Wilhelm hugged him tighter.
As time passed, their breaths eased. Exhaustion enveloped them, and the two boys dozed in and out of sleep holding each other. Simon struggled against the encroaching sleepiness, yearning to savor every second. He cherished the moment even more knowing that it was the only one they would both remember. Although, as time went on, he started wondering whether Wilhelm remembering would make any of it easier.
When the winter sun finally set in the sky, Simon sat back up, ignoring the pang of regret in his chest. Wilhelm followed him, with one hand remaining on Simon’s back, seeming reluctant to let go.
“I should probably go.”
“Oh yeah, if you want to.”
Simon forced a smile. If he didn’t leave now, he would never be able to. He returned to the bedroom to finally get his second sock and grabbed his bag and jacket on the way. Wilhelm was waiting awkwardly by the door, biting the inside of his cheeks.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Simon said.
“See you tomorrow,” Wilhelm repeated.
Reluctantly, Simon took his gaze off the alpha and stepped away.
“Wait”, Wilhelm exclaimed as he grabbed his hand before he could open the door.
Simon turned around, watching him expectantly and trying to contain his hope.
“Thank you again for helping me,” the alpha said.
Simon nodded, in an attempt to hide his disappointment, but before he could turn around again, Wilhelm called him one more time.
“Simon? Do you think I could… take you out to dinner some time?”, he finally asked.
The omega’s eyes widened and a smile threatened to take over his face.
“Yes”, he said, reinforcing his approval with a vigorous nod.
Wilhelm’s smile reached his eyes as he released the breath he was apparently holding.
The alpha was still grabbing his hand and Simon unfolded his fingers to knot them properly together. Wilhelm seemed to hesitate before stepping forward. He leaned down slowly and planted a fleeting kiss on his mouth. His lips were soft, warm and gentle. But most importantly, they were full of promises.