Fallen General's Omega (BL)

As the morning light filters through the room, Noelle slowly awakens. He blinks against the brightness and turns his gaze to the side, where he spots Thorne asleep upright in a chair by the bedside. The soft morning light frames Thorne's features, casting a gentle glow on his face. His blonde hair, disheveled from sleep, spills around him like a halo, making him look like an angel.

Noelle tries to sit up, feeling a mix of relief and lingering discomfort from the heat of the previous night. As he shifts, Thorne stirs, his blue eyes opening to meet Noelle's gaze. 

"You're awake," Thorne says softly, leaning closer to place his palm on Noelle's forehead. The touch is gentle, a familiar gesture that reminds him of last night's events. Noelle, feeling the weight of Thorne's concern and the remnants of embarrassment, turns away and pulls the bedding up to cover himself.

"Little star?" Thorne's voice carries a note of worry as he sits on the edge of the bed. He places his hand on the mound of blankets that is Noelle, his concern deepening. "Is something wrong?" he asks, his tone filled with genuine anxiety.

At Thorne's question, the bundle of blankets trembles slightly. "Noelle?" he asks again, his voice now thick with concern. "Please, look at me."

Slowly, Noelle peeks out from under the covers, his sigh soft but heavy with reluctance. His vibrant green eyes meet Thorne's, but there's a hint of hesitation, his face flushed a deep shade of red. 

"I'm... embarrassed," Noelle mumbles, his voice so small that it's barely audible. 

Thorne lets out a sigh of relief, his lips curling into a soft smile. "Oh, don't worry about it," he says, attempting to ease the tension. "You should see me in my rut. Now that's something to be embarrassed about. It's definitely not okay."

At that, Noelle's eyes narrow with suspicion, studying him as if weighing the truth behind his words.

"Trust me," Thorne chuckles, rising from the chair to stretch. The movement causes his shirt to lift slightly, revealing a sliver of his toned abdomen and a teasing glimpse of a defined v-line. Noelle's eyes instinctively follow the motion, his embarrassment momentarily forgotten as he watches Thorne.

"Water?" Thorne asks, his voice calm and casual as if completely unaware of Noelle's stare. 

"Yeah," Noelle nods, snapping out of his daze.

Thorne returns shortly with a cup, offering it to Noelle, who takes it gratefully and gulps the water down in a few eager swallows. The cool liquid soothes his parched throat, and for a brief moment, the tension in the room fades.

An awkward silence fills the room, the air between them heavy with unspoken words. Just as Noelle opens his mouth to say something, a high-pitched giggle echoes from outside—Mona.

Thorne sighs, rolling his eyes. "I'll go out. You're not fully recovered yet, let me handle it," he says, already heading for the door before Noelle can protest.

With a gentle glance back at him, Thorne offers a reassuring nod and steps out of the room, leaving Noelle to sit there, feeling a mix of relief and something else he couldn't quite name. The sound of Mona's giggling drifts through the house, breaking the brief moment of solitude.

*

Noelle lay there in silence, his mind swirling with thoughts. His heats had never been this intense before. Most of the time, it was just a mild discomfort, something he could easily manage while going about his day. But this time… Was it because he had been suppressing them for too long? Or was it because he was in the presence of an Alpha? The thought made his cheeks burn with embarrassment. The way he had acted, so needy and desperate, was mortifying.

What surprised him even more was that Thorne hadn't given in to his whims. Any other Alpha would have, especially when their Omega was in heat. And Thorne? He was an able-bodied Alpha, after all. No one would have blamed him. Noelle knew that he was Thorne's husband, and it wouldn't have been out of place for things to escalate, yet the fact that Thorne hadn't taken advantage of the situation made his heart flutter with unexpected warmth.

But then again… why hadn't he? Did Thorne not like him in that way? Noelle wasn't unattractive; he had seen the way Thorne looked at him. So why had he stopped? A small seed of doubt began to grow, and Noelle felt his frustration building. Was something wrong with him?

Just as he was spiraling deeper into his thoughts, a small voice broke through, snapping him out of his self-reflection.

"Noelle?"

He glanced toward the door, where a small head peeked in, barely visible. The sight brought an immediate smile to his face.

"Hey, Mona," he greeted softly.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping into the room and approaching the bed, her usual energetic demeanor tempered by shyness.

"Mr. Handsome says you're not feeling too good, and he sent me in," she said quietly, her voice carrying concern as she stood beside the bed.

Noelle couldn't help but chuckle at the nickname she had for Thorne. Unable to resist, he reached out and gently rubbed her head.

"It's nothing too serious, just a little fever," he reassured her, his voice tender.

Mona stared at him with wide, concerned eyes, but his gentle tone and smile seemed to ease her worries. Noelle spent some time with Mona, the two of them sharing lighthearted moments despite the lingering heaviness in his chest from the events of the previous night. But his smile faded a bit when Mona spoke up, her voice laced with sadness.

"My brother says we can't come up anymore because the road is slippery now and we should prepare for winter," she said, her small face clouded with worry.

Noelle nodded in understanding, though his heart sank a little. Winter meant isolation, especially in the hill where their home stood. "Hmm... I understand," he said, keeping his voice light for her sake.

Mona's eyes filled with tears as she sniffled. "I'm sad I won't see you anymore."

Her teary eyes tugged at Noelle's heart. He reached out, wrapping her in a warm embrace. "It's just winter, sweetheart. We'll be up and about once it's over, and then we can go play, okay?"

Mona sniffled again but nodded, her tiny arms wrapping around him tightly as if she were reluctant to let go.

They spent a little more time together, playing small games and sharing stories. Noelle loved how dramatic Mona could be, her exaggerated pouts and puppy eyes making her sadness over the winter break seem so intense. It was adorable, and Noelle found himself smiling through it all. But deep down, he shared her sadness. The thought of not seeing her for three whole months tugged at him as well. He's grown attached to the little girl.

When Thorne finally came in, signaling that it was time for Mona to go, she gave an exaggerated farewell, clinging to Noelle dramatically as though it were the end of the world. Noelle couldn't help but laugh as he gently pried her off.

"Come on, now. It's just three months. I'll be right here when the snow melts," Noelle reassured her with a playful grin.

Still, he couldn't deny the small ache in his chest as he watched Thorne escort her outside. Three months felt like a long time, and with New Year's just around the corner, it would be a quiet, solitary winter. He exhaled softly, trying to shake off the melancholy.