break this bond

---

Embarrassed. Ashamed. Mortified. That was all she could feel as she sunk down into her freshly made nest, fidgeting with the lace on the babydoll gown she wore. It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but it would do. The princess had ripped the sheets from the bed and the blankets and packed them tightly and comfortably into the bay window her room reluctantly had. She stocked it with pillows and some of her own clothes and hung the watch she had stolen from her father in the corner. His was the only scent she wanted invading her nest right now.

Her father smelled like home and that was where she desperately wished she was now. Especially after going into heat almost immediately upon arriving in this foreign kingdom.

"Drink this, princess. It will help with your heat." The courts royal physician had been kind enough to make a visit to the princess. It had been a shock to find out the healer was an omega too, and that was the only reason she felt the need to come help Penelope. The courts healer had been living as a beta for the majority of her life, thanks to the knowledge she had about potion making. The middle aged woman was able to mask her scent entirely and keep herself from heating. She had divulged the information to the princess almost immediately, because she was so hopeful for the prospect of the princess becoming Queen and helping the omegas here.

It was still a long shot however. During their first meeting, the prince had been very cold towards Penelope, barely speaking or even looking at her. The people around them talked of her, like she wasn't even there. Just an object they were considering purchasing. Even if she somehow did marry the prince, she didn't see how she would possibly be able to liberate the omegas here.

"It won't stop your heat, but it'll cool you and stop...any accidental pregnancies." The healer spoke like she thought that might be a concern. Penelope glared up at the woman, as if she had been insulted. "I would never..." The princess's mind only running to the guards outside the door.

"That's not what I was insinuating... If you need me again, just tell one of the guards. They will find me." The healer bowed out of the room, and Penelope found her eyes following her the whole way. When the door opened, the guards parted out of the way to allow her passage and for a moment, Penelope caught a glimpse of Henry. The princess couldn't help but immediately purr, her eyes glazing over from the sudden desire she felt to pounce on the prince. Before she could even wonder why he was here, one of the guards turned and shut her door promptly.

Whimpering, the princess felt slick dripping down her thighs, and immediately chugged the potion she had been given. It was obvious to her that her heat had been brought on by the prince and she wanted relief. Leaning back into her pillows, she felt the potion instantly beginning to cool her skin. Like a chill fall breeze was blowing through the room, but the window she nested against was shut tight and locked.

Her inner omega refused to let her nest peacefully, knowing the prince was right outside. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach as she slipped from her nest by the window and tiptoed over to the door. She could smell him from here. The princess was so sensitive to his scent, as if he were right next to her. Pressing herself up against the door, she turned her ear to it, hoping to catch anything Henry might say. Her eyes fell to the floor and she rubbed her thighs together, imagining her fingers running through his dark curls, kissing along the line of his strong jaw.

It made her sick, wanting him, because she knew how he really felt about her. About what she was. If they married, she was sure he wouldn't treat her like she was used to. In her kingdom, all omegas were treated like little princesses, they were treasured and praised often. Protected and never harmed. Abusing an omega was punishable by a life sentence in the dungeons. They were sacred. In this kingdom, they were treated lower than the dirt on the floor. It terrified her.

Henry could not wrap his head around the idea that he was supposed to wed an omega. They were worthless as far as he was concerned, he couldn't understand why his father was trying to push for such a radical idea. To be the first prince that was even considering the idea of having an omega, it made Henry's stomach churn. He was an alpha, the thought that his father thought any omega was worthy of his hand pissed him off. He would have handled just about any beta better than being with an omega. Royalty or not, she was not even worth the dirt on the bottom of his shoe.

His beliefs had been held right up until this morning. The moment that Penelope walked into the throne room, Henry's felt his heart skip a beat. His gaze hardened as his jaw clenched. There was a need for him to close the distance between them. He didn't like the way her guards have crowded her, so close to her. To his omega. His hands balled into fists behind his back as he tried his best to remain calm. This kingdom was his home, acting against their customs wasn't something that Henry was willing to do. He was beyond devoted to his people, not some omega. Even if her presence was having some sort of effect on him.

Henry had greeted her with a deep voice, bowing slightly at the waist as a greeting. The moment that the meeting had ended, Henry twisted around and all but launched out of the room. He needed to put distance between himself and Penelope before he reacted. Henry left the room, heading straight for the gardens with the intention to walk through them and sort through his thoughts.

This was only happening because it was his first time being introduced to a royal omega. Penelope had royal blood, none of the other omegas that he had been around were nothing compared to what she was. Right? That made sense. Shoving his hands into his trousers, Henry's jaw set as he made his way back toward the entrance of the castle. Servants and guards alike bowed or curtsied toward him, something that his family all demanded but he thought nothing of it as he followed Penelope's scent toward her quarters. She smelled of the dew in morning lawns, like the start of a new day - when you were the first one awake and just trying to enjoy the peace of the morning before the day was underway. It wasn't sweet but it seemed right, like it fit. Henry didn't know what he smelled like, he had never cared to ask someone because it was irrelevant to him. He was an alpha, he would have someone by his side whether he smelled good to them or not.

When Henry reached her quarters, the courts' healer was just stepping out fo the room. His movements spurred on by her scent wafting from the room, Henry was only stopped by her guards who moved in front of the door. In front of him. preventing him access to her. His eyes narrowed as he sneered, Henry was not someone who was used to being told no. That was sure.

"Let me past. Right this minute!" Henry all but shouted, his eyes narrowing further. He looked like he was in a rage, wanting nothing more than to burst past them. He needed to see Penelope, he needed to hold her. He needed to taste her, he needed to take care of her like he was supposed to.

"Now!" Henry burst out when all the two men did was stare blankly at him, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Penelope jumped slightly when the prince shouted, his voice bellowing through the door. It was a complete shock to her that he wanted to see her, after barely speaking to her when they were first introduced. The prince had practically ran from the room the moment he was able to.

Her hand slid to the doorknob and she tried turning it, but it wouldn't budge. It didn't make sense why they wanted to isolate their omegas when they were in heat. Why would they want to torture them so? She wondered how many poor omegas died from the neglect. Penelope tried the door knob again, yanking on it as she tried to open it, but it was pointless.

Even with the potion helping cool her off, she was still feeling little drops of sweat beading across her shoulders and down her back. It wasn't unbearable, but she was by no means comfortable. She leaned her head against the door again, giving up, but still enjoying his scent that was wafting through. It was spicy, like pepper.

Raising her fist to the door, she knocked a few times, trying to get the guards attention. "May I ask for something?" Her words were bated, a soft sigh leaving her lips afterwards. She waited a moment, and eventually, the door cracked open and one of the guards looked inside.

"Yes... Princess?" A blush coating his face from her scent, but it was still visible behind his helmet. Even if omegas were looked down on, it was impossible to deny they had certain effects over people.

"Will you ask the prince if he could give me... Something that smells like him?" Penelope hoped she wasn't stepping out of bounds, but perhaps if the prince wanted to see her... Even if he couldn't, hopefully he would offer any aid he could. The princess was intoxicated by his scent and having something scented by him to add to her nest would be beneficial. "If...he doesn't, could you ask him to scent this?"

Quickly she grabbed one of the throw blankets that hung over one of the chairs in her room and handed it up to the guard. "Please?"

@ castle.

Henry looked like he'd just been spit on when the guards refused to get out of his way. He was not a man that had been told no - he couldn't tell you the last time that he had been told no. He huffed, his shoulders pulling together as he glared at the two forms. He only perked when he heard the princess' knock, tilting his head to the side. He just caught a small sliver of her silhouette before a blanket was being shoved in his direction. He let out a low growl, looking like he was ready to launch across the betas' blockage. Henry was ready to barrel between them. Penelope's scent was driving him crazy, just a few feet away. It was clear she was in pain, in heat and he wasn't there to help her. He was her alpha - the thought was jarring. Henry jolted at the thought, blinking as a look passed over his face before it disappeared entirely.

Shoving the blanket back at the beta, Henry gave a hard shake of his head. Henry reached up and wordlessly unbuttoned his jacket, sliding it from his shoulders. When one of the guards went to reach for it, Henry snatched it out of their way before he shook his head. "No. I will give it to her," he demanded in a low voice. Henry wasn't going to fight them - it seemed wrong, given his country's customs.

Dragging in a deep breath, Henry squared his shoulders as he looked up. "Step aside. I won't enter the room," he instructed, his voice taking on a hard, authoritative edge that he hadn't even been using just a moment ago. Henry's face only softened when he met Penelope's gaze. He started to take a step forward, wanting to close the distance until a beta let out a low, warning growl. Henry gritted his teeth, his scent souring with annoyance for a moment before it disappeared.

"My coat," Henry murmured as he held it out to her. He hoped it was clear to her how desperate he was to close the distance but it seemed her guards were not going to let it happen, no matter who told them to. Whether it was him or Penelope, Henry didn't think they would listen.

"I like to take walks in the gardens," Henry said, tilting his head to the side. There was a slight glimmer in his eye, one that he prayed Penelope would catch onto. "I will bring you only the best flowers," he added, almost sure that Penelope would have to catch on. Hopefully her guards didn't.

Penelope was nervous when the guards stepped aside, allowing her to fully set her eyes on the prince. Looking up at him only sent her heat into overdrive. Her thighs trembled and her inner omega begged for his touch. She reached out and took his jacket, eagerly. It was drenched in his scent, exactly what she needed for her nest.

The princess's eyes darted between the two guards, noticing how their gaze was forward. Mostly on the prince. She slowly took a small step forward, holding his jacket tightly in her hands. "The gardens..." Her gaze lowered to the floor for a moment as she thought about what she was about to do. Would it make him mad? It likely could. "I can't wait," Penelope whispered back up at Henry, before quickly moving forward and stepping up on her tiptoes.

She had wanted to scent him. Her inner wolf needed to scent him. With how different things were here, it was possible doing such a thing would offend the prince..., but Penelope didn't really care. Rising onto her tiptoes, she leaned forward and kissed the prince's jaw, before nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck. Making sure to run her jaw over his shoulders, her wrist running down his left arm.

The guards growled, stepping to the side and reaching out to press the princess backwards, back into her room. Penelope whined, trying to hurry forward again and grab onto Henry before the guards could shut her door. She failed. Bringing the jacket back to her chest, she paced her room for a moment before turning and crawling back into her nest. It was easier to relax now that she had his scent with her.

---

A few hours later, Penelope found it was impossible to fall asleep. Turning her head towards the window, she looked down into the gardens. She wondered if he was down there waiting for her. Penelope slipped out of her nest and moved to her closet, pulling out one of the long, thin black cloaks she had brought with her. It was big enough to conceal her, but light enough where she wouldn't burn up in it.

Moving to her bedroom door, the young princess quietly pulled the door open a few inches. Peering through the thin crack, she was relieved to see both guards, sitting on the floor, fast asleep. Careful to be silent as she opened the door far enough to sneak out of, the princess tiptoed around the guards and headed down the hallway.

She could smell the prince's scent, leading her down the hall towards the castle grounds. Pulling her hood down over her head, she kept an eye out for any guards pacing the halls. She hoped she hadn't taken Henry's words the wrong way. If she was caught, or if she found Henry and he decided he wanted to punish her... She was an omega, in heat, escaping her captivity. Still, she followed her instincts into the garden. Straight to the prince.

Penelope couldn't help herself as she came up behind the prince and wrapped her arms around his waist. She nuzzled her face into his back, a soft purr could be heard from the back of her throat. All Penelope could feel was her overwhelming desire to touch and be with her alpha. Thanks to that potion, she wasn't feeling to hot or delusional from her heat.

"Alpha," Penelope greeted him, barely loosening her grip on him so he could turn around. She finally let him go and forced herself to take a step back, to curtsey to him. Her inner omega was all about hugging him, touching him, kissing him, but the princess was also trying to remind herself of where she was. Of what Henry's beliefs were. If she said anything wrong, touched him in a manner he didn't like, how much trouble would she be in? How safe was she just because she was royalty?

@ castle.

Henry had been on edge for the rest of the day, wanting nothing more than to demand his way back into Penelope's room. Her scent was driving him wild and the longer that he was away from her, the worse it became. Her scent grew more intense and his desperate need to be close to her, it only increased the longer that he waited for night to come. Henry wondered if she would follow his prompting or not but in truth, he wasn't so sure she would. He had been nothing but horrible to her and she was sure to have heard about alphas in his country. how they treated omegas, how they were nothing more than servants and warm holes to wet their cocks with. Nothing more - kept on suppressants, not allowed to nest, forced to serve even in the worst of conditions.

When he first smelled Penelope's scent getting closer and closer to him, he wanted nothing more than to turn around and run toward her. To scoop her up in his arms and bury his face into her neck, so that Penelope was sure to smell like him and there was no mistaking who she belonged to.

The tension in Henry's shoulders eased when Penelope's arms wrapped around his waist, his head tilting slightly. He had no real clue how omegas would operate, would she want to scent him? When her arms loosened enough that he could turn in her arms, Henry didn't hesitate for his arms to wrap around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. "None of that," Henry grunted when she curtsied, shaking his head.

Henry had been so tense since he'd given her coat that he wanted nothing more than to take her up to his room. Even the thought of bedding an omega for anything other than relief during a rut but.. Henry wasn't in hit rut. Not yet. He huffed, burying his nose in her hair. It felt wrong to be holding her so close because at least he knew she was safe. Her heat didn't seem to be as intense as it had been when they first met and he wasn't sure why or if he should do anything about it.

His gaze darkened as he looked down to her, swallowing thickly. "Didn't think you'd disobey an order to come all the way out here." it was his attempt at a joke, reaching up to smooth back her hair, beneath her cape. "How long will.. will this last?" He asked, his face scrunching at the thought. Henry knew absolutely nothing about omegas past the knowledge that they were beneath him.

Penelope couldn't help the way her head tilted in confusion when he tried joking with her. "Of course I'd obey-" her cheeks flushed red when she realized it had only been a tease. Letting out a shaky breath, her eyes fell to the floor. Penelope wished she had the courage to treat the prince with even half of the maliciousness he treated omegas in his kingdom, but she couldn't. Even if she truly wanted to. Her inner omega wouldn't allow it. It was already in an omegas instincts to submit to alphas, but that even pushed aside. Henrys scent... She was so intoxicated by it that she didn't think she'd ever be able to disobey him, even in the slightest.

Looking back up at him, Penelope leaned into his hand, enjoying the way his fingers felt running through her hair. "A few days," she answered him, relieved that the healers potion was working so well. She wondered how long it would last. Without it, there would've been no way she could've made it out here all on her own. She still felt the urge to touch Henry, to feel him touch her. The thought of his hands ripping through her dress... but it wasn't unbearable. She could control herself.

Her hands reached out for him, still. Her fingertips brushed against the buttons on the jacket he wore now, sending her mind back to the jacket she kept in her nest. Hopeful it would still smell like him for the days to come. Was it appropriate for her to cling to him? Her fingers fiddled with the bottom of his jacket, a soft purr in the back of her throat. What was allowed? What wasn't? She wanted to please him, not upset him. But could she please a prince who thought so lowly of her? His demeanor had changed, he seemed gentler, kinder... But could she believe it? "Don't think I'm insulting your kingdom, your grace. But I'm curious... Why do you isolate omegas when they are in heat?" She thought it had seemed silly, but even when the prince had wanted to enter her room... He couldn't even bend the rules. She knew she wouldn't like the answer, but she wanted to know. None of her court had been able to answer her questions, why Henry's kingdom treats omegas the way they do. "I wish you could be with me."

@ castle.

Henry gave a small nod of his head at the answer that Penelope gave him. He breathed a small sigh, wondering if he could sneak her up to his chambers. He was almost sure of it and even if someone tried to stop them, as long as it was some of his men - they wouldn't be able to. At the end of the day, they would listen to Henry. It was Penelope's beta guards that were the problem. Just the thought was enough to force a low growl to sound from him. His chest vibrated as his grip tightened on Penelope, trying to continue to calm himself as he played with the ends of her hair.

Her question threw him off. Henry tensed, his face scrunching slightly as he tried to sort out how to explain the truth to her. Or what he thought was the truth, anyway. He exhaled slowly, not looking down at her anymore. "Omegas in heat cause alphas to think and behave irrationally. Isolating them makes it so that we don't have to suffer. So that the entire country doesn't suffer because of one omega's heat," he added with a shrug of his shoulders.

When omegas went into heat, their pheromones forced alphas to react irrationally. Henry appreciated that they weren't forced to be subjected to omegas because even as he stood in front of Penelope now, he could feel his composure wavering. If he was pushed, what would he do? Would he do something that would make his people suffer? Would they have to send Penelope away because the threat of an omega queen was too real for anyone to be able to come to terms with it? Henry wasn't so sure how he would react, whether he would be upset if Penelope was sent away or not. or would he be relieved? There were plenty of betas that wanted his hand. The chance to be queen was sought after by many, particularly because Henry was seen as such a powerful alpha.

So part of the reason omegas were treated so badly was because alphas didn't know how to control themselves? She couldn't help but wonder if she should be concerned for her safety. Penelope swallowed around a lump in her throat when Henry's grip tightened around her waist. Part of her wanted to argue about his answer, to try and tell him a different way, but she didn't think it was the right time. Instead, she just leaned her head forward and nuzzled against his neck. It already seemed like progress was somewhat being made, right? Or was it just her heat affecting him?

Penelope only pulled away from Henry when she felt a slight breeze blow through the garden. The cool air kissing her warm face. "Will I make you behave irrationally?" The younger princess couldn't help but tease him, her arms raising to wrap loosely around his neck. Penelope pressed herself against the prince, her head nuzzling into the side of his neck again. She pressed soft kisses along his throat that trailed up to his jaw.

A small smirk played on her face as she scented him. It was only natural that if he was going to court her that she would scent him. And so far it seemed like he was interested in her. That alone shocked her. He had seemed so distant when she had met him that morning. He had barely said a full sentence to her, had barely even glanced in her direction. Now he seemed like a different prince altogether.

@ castle.

Henry looked down to Penelope with a raised eyebrow. He tilted his head to the side, a little smirk on his face to match Penelope’s. He shrugged, his gaze flicking to his movements as he brushed a strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. He sighed as he cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over the delicate skin. “Have I acted irrationally yet?” He countered, nearly sounding defensive. Henry was not a man that was asked questions often at all. He gave orders, he did what was necessary. For his attitude to be questioned? It wasn’t something that ever happened.

“The coat I left you,” Henry paused, wondering if she had used it to nest. He’d never witnessed someone do it before, didn’t really understand what it even was. How was his coat important to Penelope, for her to be able to nest? Had she used his coat? Henry had so many questions that he wanted to ask but she was an omega. Henry wasn’t supposed to care. It was only because she was in heat. As soon as this was over, Henry would be able to think clearly.

“Do you need another?” HEnry asked suddenly. He felt his inner alpha content at the thought of Penelope using his clothing to comfort herself during her heat. Reluctantly, he peeled himself away from her enough that he could unbutton the cloak from around his shoulders. It was a bit chilly but as an alpha, he naturally ran a bit warmer than others.

The princess crossed one leg in front of the other as she stepped back, allowing him room. Her thighs rubbed together gently, knowing slick was collecting in her panties. "Oh, your jacket," she smiled, a blush painting her cheeks. It had been a relief when the prince had offered her a piece of his clothing. She had almost been too afraid to ask, afraid he would refuse. And his jacket had already worked wonders, his scent helping her to relax while she wasted hours lying about her room.

When he pulled his cloak off, Penelope instantly reached out for it. She wasn't going to tell him no and the thought of having another piece to add to her nest. Not having to worry about his jacket not smelling like him when she woke in the morning. Taking the cloak from him, she bundled it up in her arms, holding it to her chest tightly. "Yes, I'll take it," she smiled, her eyes sparkling as she looked back up at him. They would come in handy when the healers potion would begin to wear off and the cramps would return along with the sweltering heat. She wasn't looking forward to it.

A frown pulled at her lips when she cradled his cloak in her arms. She doubted she would see him again over then course of her heat and what if afterwards, he didn't treat her so warmly anymore? What if it was just her scent coaxing his inner alpha to take care of her? Penelope started to look around the garden, beginning to feel nervous that they might get caught. "Maybe I should return to my room?"

@ castle.