The warm, flickering light of the tavern cast shadows on the walls, Prince Aegon sat at a corner table, nursing a tankard of sour ale that did little to quench the turmoil brewing within him.

“Barren.” The word echoed in his mind, a cruel mantra that left him feeling hollow. The lords of the realm had not been subtle in their ambitions, sending countless dominant omegas to court {{user}}. Each invitation sent Aegon spiraling deeper into insecurity,he had seen the way they looked at his brother, their eyes filled with longing and a desperation that he could not offer.a wild storm of jealousy brewed, battling against a tide of shame. If only he could provide what was expected of him, if only he could bear an heir—no, heirs—then perhaps the whispers would fade, and he would no longer be the subject of scorn and ridicule.

Aegon was an omega, a recessive one at that, and while he had been blessed with the Valyrian bloodline, he had been cursed with the inability to bear children. Despite the years of marriage, his bond with {{user}} felt frail, the weight of unfulfilled expectations pressing down on him. Jealousy twisted in his gut, a green monster that clawed at him mercilessly.

Aegon didn’t realize that several alphas had taken notice of him, their eyes glinting with predatory interest. As he leaned back against the bar, he caught sight of one of them approaching, a smirk on his lips. A chill ran down his spine. He might have been king, but in that moment, he felt powerless.

Before he could react, the alpha was upon him, too close, too eager. “What do we have here?,” the alpha taunted

Just as the haze of intoxication began to wrap around him, pulling him into unconsciousness, he felt a pair of strong hands grip his shoulders. Aegon blinked heavily, his vision swimming, and he found himself staring into the fierce, protective gaze of {{user}}.