Like Marriage

“Are you completely over your heat?” Shiloh asked as he carried Nevada back into his room.

Nevada instinctively glanced at the corner of his eyes to check his status on his screen. This action made Shiloh, who was watching him closely, follow his gaze. He saw nothing out of place.

“Should be over tomorrow,” Nevada replied and nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders without noticing how Shiloh reacted.

“Just in time,” Shiloh said as he put Nevada gently onto the bed, not minding what he was looking at anymore. Glancing at the rows of racks by the side of his bed, he couldn’t help but ask, “Did you pick your clothes yet? Finish by today so we can shop for your other personal things tomorrow.”

Lowe efficiently placed a thick curtain over the doorway. Afterward, she reorganized the shelves to help her masters get a better view. Nevada surveyed the clothes hanging on them again. His frown was subtle, but Shiloh still saw it. The man couldn’t help glancing at the rows of clothes too.

“What’s wrong? Are they not to your liking?” he asked, tilting his head to the side in wonder.

“No,” Nevada instantly replied as he looked away. Noticing their ambiguous position, he shifted and continued, “What’s up with the clothes?”

“What’s up with the clothes?” Shiloh echoed. He felt that something seemed to be different with the Nevada he was with and the Nevada from the reports he heard from his subordinates.

“They’re too…” Nevada trailed and glanced back at the racks again. He tilted his head as he struggled to think of how to say the words politely so that the world system wouldn’t flag him as OOC.

“...too flashy?” The corners of Shiloh’s mouth were lifted upwards like he was holding back a teasing smile to avoid annoying the omega.

‘That’s right,’ Nevada thought. That was one way to put it. They’re too flashy and feminine for his taste. The kinds that get too much attention.

Shiloh licked his lower lip and looked away as he thought about the reports.

Most likely, it wasn’t that the omega liked them, but that his parents truly doted on him so much. They gave him pretty clothes that suited his looks. Ones which were made from expensive and special fabrics.

That was probably why his subordinates said he was a rotten omega who prioritized his looks over responsibility. Then, was everything truly just a misunderstanding?

Smirking, he turned to the uncomfortable omega in front of him again and said, “I think anything would look good on you. We’ll go with what you want. If nothing suits your taste, we’ll shop for them tomorrow as well.”

Nevada heaved a deep breath as he placed a hand on Shiloh’s shoulder. He slightly pushed him away and stood up. He was seated on the bed, while the alpha was kneeling on one knee on the floor.

He would have thought nothing of it, but not in this situation, in this world, and certainly not when he was crowding him while he only had a sheet of blanket covering himself.

Nevada glanced at the torn clothes scattered on the bed and floor. It seems like he has become rather wasteful since coming here.

“Lowe, help me get something to change into.”

The quiet servant quickly moved. Even though they have only been acquainted for a few days, Lowe can more or less guess her master’s tastes and moods. She picked out the garments that looked simple but still classy and showed them to Nevada.

The omega nodded and stood in place while the servant carefully dressed him. However, because he still had the blanket on, they both struggled.

Shiloh sat on the bed and continued to watch him. When Nevada couldn’t bear it anymore, he turned to him and said, “Do you mind?”

Shiloh’s brows lifted a bit as he held back a smile. Afterward, he shrugged his shoulders and flopped to the bed, gazing at the see-through bed canopy. From time to time, he would sneak a glance at the awkward master and servant duo.

Rustles were heard as the silky blanket covering Nevada’s body fell to the floor and he got dressed in a hurry. Minutes later, Nevada ran a hand over the creases of his clothes and spoke again.

“I think Blue Crescent is about to reach a conclusion.”

Shiloh pursed his lips as he recalled what his beta had reported to him earlier. He came specifically to inform Nevada of the news, but it seemed like he already knew.

Nevada continued and asked, “What will happen to my parents?”

“That depends on what my elders have to say,” Shiloh replied, looking directly into Nevada’s hopeful eyes. Staring into those almost pitiful looks, he abruptly added, “It’s not entirely up to me, but I can pressure them.”

Nevada was startled.

Wow! Just because it was their fate to be together, Nevada can just wear this piteous expression and everything goes his way?

What a waste, honestly! Why and how did he even die previously?

“They won’t be executed or anything, right? They did nothing wrong…” Nevada said again, still acting pitiful.

“Of course.” Shiloh nodded as he patted the space beside him, asking for Nevada to come. “My goal is to unite the packs. Not to make bloodshed.”

Nevada didn’t comply, though. Instead, he walked to the edge of the bed and wondered, “Something’s not right. We’ve only just met, but this dog is already acting too intimate and comfortable.”

Nevada thought that the alpha was just naturally flirty, but from his stay here over the past few days, he had heard the opposite. He wasn’t close to anyone at all. He stayed loyal to his unknown mate for years.

If so, then did he already know that they were meant to be together?

However, that should not be possible. Nevada has only had a naming ceremony. If he could recall correctly, naming ceremonies were held a year before a wolf’s coming of age. This means that their connection must still not be connected yet. Like strings that weren’t tied yet.

How will Shiloh know then?

Nevada frowned a little at his train of thought. Shiloh didn’t know about his internal brainstorming and thought he was frowning because he didn’t believe him.

So, he tried to console him in the gentlest voice he could make, “I’m telling the truth. The packs just kind of panicked when they heard about it, but war isn’t the only way to unite the mountains, right?”

Nevada nodded. A bit lost from thinking, he mindlessly said, “Right. There are things like diplomatic marriages.”

The side of Shiloh’s mouth twitched while Lowe immediately knew to retreat. She especially wanted to go after seeing the look that flashed in the alpha’s eyes.

Although it did seem as if her omega master was oblivious about it.