Archive of Our Own ^beta

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“Chay! Where is your fluffy pink sweater?” Fern called from Chay’s bedroom.

Fern is Chay’s best friend. She’s a nice beta girl that grew up next door to him. She’s two years older but because they grew up in similar situations, they have a bond that almost rivals the one he has with his older brother Porsche. Chay’s parents died when he was just a child forcing his hia to become his alpha guardian at just sixteen. Fern moved in with her grandmother within the same year after her parents suffered the same fate. Chay and Fern had become quick friends and Fern’s grandmother began to treat Porsche and Chay as if they were her grandchildren as well. The sweet woman would look after Chay when the alpha was working late nights bartending at Hum Bar. With debt collectors still showing up occasionally at their house because of their good for nothing uncle, his hia was worried about leaving the little omega home unattended. Porsche, in turn, would do any type of maintenance or heavy lifting she needed around her home.   

“It’s on the coat hook, not in my closet.” He called back.

“Thank you!” She said, walking around the corner and heading in the direction of their front door. “I heard Professor Decha’s lecture hall is freezing.”

Fern and Chay shared everything with each other so it wasn’t abnormal at all to see either one in a piece of the other’s clothes. She was smaller than Chay but not by much so when he needed a slutty outfit for the club, he raided her closet, meanwhile, his clothes were oversized on her and perfect for snuggling on the couch. 

“You need to hurry or we are going to be late for our first day.” He called out again.

Fern came into view with the hoodie hanging over her forearm and took the travel mug of coffee from Chay’s outstretched hand. “I’m ready. Let’s go!”

Chay was in his second year of university while Fern was in her fourth. They had decided to move in together as soon as Chay was finished with high school and got jobs at a local cinema to save up. The first couple of years, Fern opted to stay with her grandmother and take the long commute to college until they had enough saved up to rent a condo together. Porsche and Fern’s grandmother helped a lot with their tuition so the least they could do was afford their daily necessities themselves.

They took the bus to school and as soon as they stepped onto campus, they split up. Fern was taking classes for business while Chay wanted to pursue a career in culinary arts. In the years following their parents' death, Chay had watched Youtube and learned to cook using the most basic ingredients and an assortment of spices. Even when his creations weren’t good, they were still leaps and bounds better than any microwaveable meal or instant noodle one could find. 

He gave Fern a quick wave before setting off in the direction of his nutrition class. When he arrived at the building, he stopped in front of a group of large alphas loudly goofing off around a table in front of the door.

His heart lurched and he hoped the brand new very expensive scent blockers he saved up to buy were masking the fear currently souring his scent. Over the years, Chay had been wearing blockers so strong that everyone just assumed he was a beta, which was what he preferred. There were a couple of times when he was working a double, that his blockers had worn off by the end of the night and he was cornered in a dark theater by an alpha that couldn’t take no for an answer. Fortunately, nothing had ever happened. 

It’s not that he disliked alphas, only that most of the debt collectors were just that. Large alphas with thick overbearing pheromones that spiraled his wolf in flight or fight mode. He had only felt completely comfortable around Porsche. The musky cedarwood with hints of rain from his alpha soothed his inner omega and wrapped him in a protective blanket that only Porsche could provide.

Ever since he was young, his hia had warned him about alphas. About heats and ruts, and the potential for pregnancy. He was told about alpha bites being permanent and how to be as cautious as possible. He was on birth control just in case and Porsche made sure he saved back enough money to get him the best scent blockers he could afford and set him up in heat clinics if he needed it. He was lucky his brother was so loving and understanding of his needs; that he could go to Porsche without embarrassment or judgment of his decisions. 

Chay took a deep breath and held it as he walked past them. They continued to berate each other and talk about the pretty omegas around campus. It was as if Chay was invisible. Once the glass door closed with him on one side and the alphas on the other, he let out the breath he had been holding in the form of a deep relieved sigh. 

He used his phone to pull up an email to check his schedule one more time and proceeded to his first class. 

Since it was a new year, most of the classes he attended were all full of ice breaker activities and going over expectations the professors had for them over the next few weeks. Chay was surprised to see some familiar faces of people he had met in classes he had the year before. 

There was one alpha, a third year student named Ball, who Chay had gotten acquainted with in a chemistry course he had in his first year. They were labmates and spent a lot of time talking in class. The alpha had no clear major, he was simply taking any classes he thought would be useful for when he opened his own gym. Aside from Porsche, Ball was the only other alpha Chay felt some level of comfort with. Definitely nowhere near his hia but their friendship spilled outside of class. Ball walked him to his other classes or ate lunch with him on occasions. He was very sweet and gentle and was very much the opposite of the alphas Chay was accustomed to.

He was leaving his last class of his day when Ball caught up to him.

"Hey Chay! How was your break?"

"It was good! I just worked a lot. It was nice to detach from books and not have to study for a while. What about you?"

"I hear that. I barely survived last year. My family went to Disney in Tokyo. It was nice to travel."

Chay was envious. Aside from the handful of times Porsche had taken him south to the beaches, he had never been more than maybe five hours away from home at any given time. He had never been on a plane, or a boat, or a train. He had never been out of the country or seen snow. He wasn't mad at Porsche. His alpha did his best to give Chay a good life and he had, for the most part, but Chay wished that just once, he could go on a proper vacation. 

"Was it fun?"

"Yes, my little sisters met all the princesses and got their pictures and autographs."

"Awww, that's sweet." 

"Yeah. So hey, uh, this Friday after classes a bunch of us are heading to a new club not far from the university. Would you like to come?" The alpha smiled sheepishly but hopeful.

"Uh, yeah, I think I'm free. I'll invite P’Fern."

"Sounds good! Well I have to go. I have football practice." Ball waved goodbye as Chay watched him leave.

Chay had been careful. He didn't date. He never took anyone home and he focused solely on his studies. He didn't want anything to get in the way of his goals. But he couldn’t help the loneliness his inner wolf had been feeling the last few months. It was restless and he couldn't understand why. Maybe this year could be different. Maybe he could start to date and if it starts interfering with his grades, he could end it. 

Chay and Fern’s last classes of the day ended at different times so Chay took the bus back to their shared condo and got them a mini friend date set up. They were both off from work this week so Chay pulled out a small bottle of wine, put their favorite frozen pizza in the oven, and queued up the trashiest show he could find on Netflix. 

A loud shriek sounded from the front door alerting Chay that Fern was home. "Chay! Oh my god! You will not believe what happened!"

"Me too. I think P’Ball asked me on a date. We are going to a new club Friday night so start mentally preparing twenty outfits you plan to try on but end up picking the first one anyway."

Fern let out a tsk sound, annoyed by his correct assumption. She set her purse and messenger bag on the kitchen table as she walked by and flopped down on the couch.

Chay caught something then. A scent he had never smelled before. He was in the middle of plating a piece of pizza, when he leaned forward, sniffing incessantly. It wasn't on Fern or her clothes, more like it hovered over her. It smelled incredible. He couldn’t pick out exactly what he was smelling because it was so faint but Chay wanted to find the source and just drown in it.

Fern gave him a huge mischievous grin and her eyes glittered. "I met an alpha." She sang.

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Kim was finally starting his last year of university. As soon as he got his degree in hand, his father promised him his own branch in the family business. Something legitimate and profitable. He wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted, maybe a hotel or restaurant. Just something legal . 

He drove to school with his main bodyguard, Big, in the seat next to him and a couple other bodyguards in a car behind him. His security detail switched up so much that he didn't bother to remember any names. Big was his only constant so it was the only one he cared to learn. 

One would think, after years of being who he was, he would be immune to the whispers he heard as he walked through his faculty. He always caught some of the same words repeated over and over as he listened. 

Mafia. Rich. Arrogant. Dangerous. Sexy. Alpha.  

Whether it was other alphas shit-talking his existence or omegas and betas fawning over his looks, he never got used to being the center of conversation but he didn’t dislike the ego boost it gave.

He went to all his classes, forced to awkwardly introduce himself to strangers, and getting wide eyed wonder in return. A lot of people in the business faculty, not all, knew who he was. They knew his family, knew who they were and the power they held over the city. 

He had walked into his final class of the day, spotting only a handful of seats left in the lecture hall. He placed himself at the end of a row, luckily with no one next to him. The professor droned on, giving them a detailed breakdown of the large project he expected from them by the end of term. This teacher was a tough one and Kim expected no less. He was brilliant in marketing.

A loud groan sounded from overhead as the vent directly above him turned on, wafting cool air into the room. The girl sitting directly in front of him pulled a pink hoodie from her bag and slid the oversized sweater over her head. She used her fingers to free the long hair still trapped in between her shirt and the hoodie. With a shake of her head, her straight black hair was now laying on top of the pink fabric. 

Within the minute it had taken this scene to play out, Kim had gotten the whiff of a fragrance so tantalizingly delicious, it took every ounce of strength he had to not stick his nose in the crook of this omega's neck and sink his fangs into her scent gland. He had never had a smell hit him this hard, making him ache and yearn for something he never even knew he had been missing. Kim picked up the usual sweetness that most omegas had, this one being tones of chocolate but there was also something fruity and tart, more akin to raspberry and even more notes under that. The aroma had layers to it. Layers that had Kim wanting to peel back and lick to the very center of each one.

He was eager for class to end so he could speak to her, learn about her. But it was as if time stopped. The hands on the clock hung up behind his professor must know how hard Kim was staring at it and decided to go backwards in time just to spite him. As soon as the professor released them, Kim gathered his belongings and stood outside of the front door waiting for his omega. 

His omega.

His wolf was happily dancing over the notion of finding his mate. Ready to protect, provide, and shower his omega in love and affection. He spotted glimpses of the pink hoodie she had on, wading through the crowd of their classmates. 

Just as she was about to walk past him, he spoke, making the girl jump.

“Hey. Can we talk?”

“Hello. Uh, I suppose so.”

Kim walked a few feet to the courtyard with her following behind him. He turned towards her, getting a good view of his omega. She had long black hair, with almond shaped, dark brown eyes. Her lips were thin but pink and she had a few freckles dotting her face. 

Kim felt an odd twist below his navel. Like something was off. He couldn’t understand why. Kinn had told him that as soon as he smelled his mate, he would just know it, and Kim had felt it. He could clearly smell his future in the aroma this omega was giving off but looking at her face to face now, something felt wrong. The way Kinn described his mate, it’s as if the entire world shifted for them. Like every empty hollowed out hole inside his body was filled to the brim and every piece of his soul was realigned and perfectly slotted in place to match his mate fully. But for some reason, looking at this girl had his wolf pacing. Maybe it’s because she didn’t see him as her alpha yet?

The conflict and confusion he felt must have been displayed on his face because she spoke again.

“Can I help you?”

He snapped from his thoughts and forced himself to speak. “What’s your name?”

“Fern.”

“Fern.” He repeated, the word feeling strange in his mouth. “I’m Kim.”

“I know. We’ve had classes before.”

Kim was shocked at her response. He thought back to his classes the year before, trying to place her in all of them but coming up short. He wondered why he couldn’t remember her in any capacity and why he had never smelled her before, and he knew he would have recognized this scent. It felt so brand new and yet so familiar to his wolf. It was as if they had lived thousands of different lives together but this scent was the one thing his mate carried over with them.

“Oh well-” He began, not sure how to approach this situation. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t remember you.”

“It’s ok. You are quite well known around here. I’m sure most of the students in this faculty know who you are. It’s not your fault.”

Kim suddenly felt embarrassed at his status. Never had his popularity ever made him feel shame until now. He cleared his throat, trying to recollect himself. 

“Well I have to go, the bus to my condo will be here soon and I don’t want to miss it.” 

Fern turned to leave, the already faint smell of her beginning to dissipate in the air around them. He had to choke back his whine. 

“Can I take you home?”

Her brows lifted in shock but she didn’t answer.

He softened his tone trying to keep it from sounding like a beg. “Please?” 

She was still in shock but nodded. 

When they made it to the parking lot, Kim gave Big a quick jerk of his head, motioning to the car with the other bodyguards. Big raised one eyebrow and gave him a quick smirk while Kim returned the look with a scowl.

He slid into the driver’s seat taking in a deep gulp of his omega’s fragrance and started the car with a smile on his face. He asked her some probing questions about her interests and where she wanted to take her future. 

She loves fashion and wants to own her own clothing line, possibly a store. She hates neutral colors and loves cats even though she’s allergic. She was talking a mile a minute and Kim was trying to soak up as much of the information as possible. He hated how this almost felt like a chore. Like he was cramming for a test and not absorbing information from his mate. 

When they finally made it to her condo, Kim held his phone up in front of the omega, careful not to touch her. He didn’t want to frighten her. 

“Can I have your LINE? It’s okay if you don’t want to.”

A huge smile spread across her face and he couldn’t help but smile back. 

“Of course! I'm, um, actually surprised you spoke to me.” 

She took his phone and tapped a few times before picking up her own and repeating the process. 

“Why's that?”

“I normally don't get approached by alphas unless they want something.

“Well I'm not like them, I just want to get to know you.”

She nodded and handed him back his phone before gathering her belongings. 

“Have a good day P’Kim.”

When she was safely inside her building, he hit a couple of buttons on his steering wheel and waited for the call to connect via his bluetooth. 

“Yes Khimhant?” His brother answered. 

“We need to talk, I think I met my mate but it doesn’t feel right. ”

“Come straight to my study when you get to the main house.”

“On my way.”

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Fern gushed all night over the alpha she had met. How hot and popular he was. She relayed the dark rumors she had heard about the cold and dangerous alpha, rich and powerful enough to control police and politicians, even the government to some degree. It sounded like a plot straight out of a romance movie and Chay told her as much. 

Seeing as how Fern was a beta, she wasn’t approached super often by alphas. Not any with manners at least. Most of them just wanted something quick, nothing long term and Chay voiced his concerns, but Fern assured him that this alpha was different. As long as he had no plans to hurt his best friend, Chay would be fine with whoever Fern chose for herself. 

The week went by in a blur and by Friday, Chay was already so overwhelmed with his new classes that a night of drinks and dancing to forget about the week sounded perfect. 

“I’m going to rifle through your closet for something sexy to wear.” He announced, walking from the shower towards Fern’s bedroom.

After trying on several articles of clothing, he decided on a fishnet tank top with a hunter green silk overshirt, open and exposing his chest. He had on a pair of Fern’s shorts that hugged his ass and chunky boots.

Fern slapped his backside and he jutted his globes out further. “If Ball doesn’t want you, I’ll take you home sweet cheeks.” 

They both giggled and talked about the alphas they were meeting while Fern applied powders, creams, and colors to his face.

Once he looked presentable, he pulled Fern into a big hug and drizzled her in a touch of his pheromones. Even if she, as a beta, couldn’t detect it. Chay felt like Fern was part of his pack and had scented her most of their childhood together. Her natural aroma was incredibly subtle, just a hint of rose. It smelled like a perfume and remained constant, no matter her mood. 

“Ready, Chay?”

“Yes. I just need to do one thing before we leave.” 

He went to his room and applied a fresh coat of his scent blockers. While he did want to draw Ball’s attention, he wasn’t looking for attention from other alphas or betas.  

When the pair made it to the club, they made a beeline for the bar. They bought a couple shots each to lessen the nerves they had for the night. Once the shots were gone, they both ordered fruity cocktails to sip while they waited for the others to arrive. 

They leaned against the bar and people watched. There was an alpha, they observed, there with his girlfriend but dancing with someone else and was shocked to get a face full of wine. Fern clung to Chay and whispered in his ear as they laughed about the alpha and his luck. 

Chay felt a wave of panic rush over him, his body responding to some unseen threat. He searched around, catching the dark eyes of a man in a leather jacket, tight jeans and long black hair. It was slicked back, showing off the sharp cut of his jaw. He was by far one of the hottest men Chay had ever seen. 

The man looked livid, murderous even. And all that ire seemed to be directed at Chay. He tapped Fern and she followed his gaze before her face lit up. 

“P’Kim!” The girl fluttered to the man’s side and gave him a shy smile before introducing him.

“Chay, this is P’Kim. P’Kim, this is my best friend Porchay.” The man gave a curt nod and slowly wrapped his arm around Fern’s shoulders, pulling her a tad closer to him. 

Luckily, Chay smelled Ball mere seconds before he came up and surrounded the omega in a big bear hug from behind. 

Chay giggled and turned towards him. “Have you been drinking?”

“I have.”

“Hey Ball, good to see you again.” Fern let out a small laugh.

“I just saw you a few hours ago.” He smiled.

“Oh you have classes together?” Chay inquired.

“Yep, I have to take a few business courses if I want to run a gym someday.” Ball replied. “By the way, where have you been hiding? The group is over here.” 

Ball took them to a corner with several tables and a group of people from different faculties around campus. As they introduced themselves, Chay could feel Kim’s eyes on him the whole time. If Fern had not told Chay the man was an alpha, Chay wouldn’t have been able to guess it. He couldn’t smell a thing and surmised Kim was also wearing scent blockers. Ball’s must have worn off from all his sweating because Chay could smell the scent of recently cut grass and freshly squeezed lemonade. There was also the strong aroma of burning charcoal under them. It was one of the most unique pheromones Chay had ever come in contact with, which may have added to his comfort around Ball.

After introductions, the large group broke off into mini conversations with people sitting closest to them. Fern was talking excitedly to Kim while the man smiled down at her, the smile didn’t reach his eyes though. He didn’t look bored but he didn’t look invested.

“So Chay, are you dating anyone?” Ball asked hesitantly.

Chay smiled. “I’m not. I’m single. Why do you ask?”

“N-No reason. Would you like to dance?” 

Chay finished his cocktail and set the glass down before taking Ball’s hand in his and tugging him towards the dance floor. Chay wrapped his arms around Ball’s neck and slid his body closer until the hard pockets of the alpha’s muscles could be felt against Chay’s abdomen. 

They moved in sync with the music, swaying together and giggling when they moved out of rhythm. They were parched and drenched in sweat when they finally left the dance floor to search for water. They made their way back to the group and integrated back into the conversation. 

As the night came to a close, Fern wrapped her arm in Chay’s and began dragging him to the exit. Once outside, Chay had already called a taxi when Kim again eyed the two friends and lightly but firmly pulled Fern from him.

“I have a driver and I plan to send Fern back to her condo.” He said.

“But Chay and Fern live together. It would make more sense to let them share a taxi.” Ball rebutted. 

Fern laughed nervously. “It’s okay guys, I can go back-”

“I want to spend more time with her.” Kim replied, his voice clipped. 

Ball narrowed his eyes. “Fine. Chay and I will follow you.”

He took Chay’s hand in his and dragged him to the taxi waiting on them. 

The ride back to his condo was nice. He laid his head on the alpha’s shoulder while Ball gently drew circles in Chay’s palm with his fingers. When the taxi came to a stop, he was surprised to see Ball get out and escort him to the door. 

Chay fiddled with his keys once they arrived and tried to prolong their goodbye. 

“So, I had a nice night…” He began, not sure how to continue. 

“Me too. Would you maybe want to do this again?”

“Uh…” 

“I mean we can still go with a group, I can-”

“I’d love to. It sounds fun.” Chay quickly agreed. 

“Great. Well then, I guess I better go.” 

“Have a good night, P’Ball.”

“You too Chay.”

Ball left, throwing a wave at Fern as she came around the corner. 

“I’m really surprised he didn’t have you pinned against the door with his tongue down your throat.”

Chay rolled his eyes.

“Seriously. You and Ball were so close on the dance floor, I didn’t know if you would make it to a bed.”

Chay laughed. “Shut up. And what about you, how was your night with P’Kim? He looks boring.”

“He’s just quiet. I’ve never heard of him dating anyone so maybe he just doesn’t know how?”

“Yikes. Good luck.” 

“Least he’s hot,” She shrugged. 

Chay nodded. Fern was right, Kim was very very hot and even he could admit it.

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Kim had gone an entire week without that scent. Fern wasn’t in any of his other classes and he had looked for her all over campus in hopes of accidentally bumping into her. He didn’t want to seem too eager but the lack of his omega’s pheromones was driving him insane.

He got a text mid week though, from the girl he was missing. She had invited him to a club on Friday night. A club that his family owned and he managed. She was meeting up with friends and wanted to see him. He agreed to the set time because he had business to do there anyway. 

After all his classes on Friday, he headed straight home to shower and change, then head to the club early to get paperwork done before she arrived. 

His eyes constantly flicked to his clock and it was a surprise he had gotten his work done at all with as much time he spent staring at the hands moving slowly around the circle. He stood and walked to the window overlooking the club and noticed that Fern had already arrived on the arm of someone else.  

Fury began building in his stomach at the sight alone. After applying a fresh coat of the scent blockers he had in his desk, he grabbed his leather jacket and swung it over his body then bolted down the stairs. He was just in time to see Fern leaning into the guy and whispering into his ear before they both burst into giggles. His smile was enchanting and Kim could see the appeal.

The boy stiffened then began scanning the club before his eyes locked on Kim’s. He was about the same height as Kim with cute brown curls and soft features. He was adorable. Even with his anger shimmering below, Kim felt a flush of warmth cascade down his body and settle just under his navel. The boy tapped Fern, then she turned towards him and excitedly made her way to Kim. 

Her sweet chocolatey aroma flooded his lungs and Kim had to suppress a groan of pleasure at the way his body just melted against the fragrance. The sour raspberry notes were there but it still wasn’t very strong. Not as strong he knew omega scents could be and wondered if she was also wearing blockers or just had a very good hold of her pheromones. 

He couldn’t smell the boy Fern was with and assumed he was a beta. Kim hoped the beta wasn’t attached to Fern because he wouldn’t lose his omega now that he had found his perfect mate. 

Another alpha wrapped his arms around the beta Fern had introduced as Porchay. Ball, the other alpha, was all muscle with a scent that reminded Kim of the blistering heat of summer. It was awful. He hated summer. It was hard to wear leather while sweating, the fabric always stuck uncomfortably to his skin. 

They followed Ball to another group and Kim began to regret his decision to come. He wasn’t very social and didn’t really have friends. Fern was his only reason for coming so when the group broke off, Fern immediately started speaking to him about her life and her plans for the future. She had just gone into a story about her upbringing and the role Porchay played in her life, when Kim zoned out.  

He looked over at Porchay and Ball. They looked like a cute couple but for whatever reason, his wolf seemed to perk up in the boy’s presence. He was agitated. Annoyed at why his attention seemed to be solely focused on this beta and not his omega, more so when he noticed the couple drift off to the dance floor to get as close as possible. That fury from earlier returned and he could only assume his wolf saw Porchay as a threat to his omega, even wrapped around another alpha several feet away. 

He refocused all his concentration on Fern. If they were going to make a future work, it would be wise to learn as much as he could now. After a couple of hours of listening to her talk with a few guiding words here and there, the group was dispersing, funneling out of the club and into the night.     

The possessiveness he felt seeing his omega gripping onto her beta friend was palpable. He knew it was just his stupid alpha instincts taking the reins on his emotions but he couldn’t stand seeing the closeness of them and how handsy the two were. 

After being plunged into Ball’s annoying aroma of burnt meat, charcoal ash, and rotten lemons, the two were separated and Ball took Porchay with him. Kim breathed a sigh of relief even if his wolf howled in protest. He felt a disconnect from his inner alpha lately and needed to figure out how to get them back on the same page.

On the ride to her condo, Fern tried to probe him with questions about himself and his family, all of which were only one word answers. She went quiet when she decided she wasn’t making any headway. When they arrived, his driver parked in front of the condo building with the two not really speaking. He observed the couple in the car behind them walk by and giggle their way into the building. 

Ball was walking Porchay to his door like a polite gentleman and Kim, the heel that he was, had no plans to do that with Fern. She tried again, asking him a couple more questions. He tried to answer better than before but the responses were still lackluster. He didn’t mean to be short but his mind was focused on the pair that were probably standing in front of Porchay’s door, their lips locked in a goodnight kiss. He felt his mood sour further at the thought. 

Fern had taken the hint that this was as good as the night was going to get between them and leaned in towards him. He caught the slight hint of chocolate before her lips pressed against his cheek and she drew away. His body hummed in pleasure at the gesture and he watched the girl leave, throwing a quick wave over her shoulder. 

The weekend passed in a flash and by Monday morning, he was craving those soothing omega pheromones like a drug addict craving a hit. In his haste to get to school, he had even forgotten to put his scent blockers on prior to leaving his home. He despised the fact that he was now a slave to his biology. He never minded being an alpha. Before he had bedded omegas and betas alike and never had an issue with their smell. Some he liked but never had he yearned for them. Needed them to an irrational degree. But by the time his last class arrived, he was all but foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. 

Today she was wearing a light purple sweater and smelling decadently rich. She sat next to him during the class and he just stared at her, consumed by the aroma. It was still very weak and he had begun to wonder if she was purposely holding back. If maybe she was holding her scent hostage to keep him as level headed as she could. They were both in their last year of college and really needed to focus so any unnecessary stress was ill advised during such a crucial time. It made sense and he internally thanked her, he would not be able to focus if her scent was any stronger. He couldn’t wait for the day where she let loose though, where they would finally be able to blend their pheromones into one. 

Mortification sunk in as he felt his cock harden at the notion. He shifted in his seat to rearrange himself and turned his attention to Professor Decha.

When the class was finally over, he walked alongside Fern as she prattled on about her plans for her final project. As they entered the courtyard, Porchay stood from the table he was sitting at and strode toward them. 

“Hey Chay!” Fern called out.

“Hey Fern, I waited for you so we could ride home together. Hello, P’Kim. Good to see you again.”

The beta had a big smile until his steps slowed, his smile faltered, and his eyes snapped to Kim’s. His pupils dilated and he began gulping in large breaths of air as if he had just run around the block. It was the oddest shift in demeanor Kim had ever seen and for some reason he felt very uncomfortable with the way Porchay looked at him. Like he was simultaneously lost and found at the same time. 

“Porchay.” He greeted, as politely as he could.

“Please call me Chay.” His voice was soft and breathy. His large doe eyes were still transfixed on him.

Kim nodded then turned from Porchay to address his omega. “Actually Fern, I was wondering if you wanted to grab some ice cream? We can swing by your condo after so you can get ready for work and I’ll take you before your shift tonight.”

“Uh...” Fern smiled shyly before looking between Kim and Porchay. “That sounds great actually. Chay, I think I’m going to go with P’Kim, okay? I’ll see you at work tonight.”

Kim’s eyes traveled back to Porchay. His eyebrows were furrowed in confusion and his mouth was downturned into a frown. He wanted to know what that look was for and felt his irritation bubbling up. He was probably upset that Fern had chosen Kim instead of him. His wolf paced angrily, and for once they were in agreement. Porchay wanted his omega and he refused to give up his soulmate now that he found her. 

Kim wrapped his arm around Fern’s waist and started to guide her to his car. Chay’s body lurched and it looked like he planned to reach out but planted his feet, fully regaining control of himself. His eyes once again met Kim’s and the uncertainty and hurt that flashed in them extinguished Kim’s anger and replaced it with pity. There was nothing wrong with the beta. He was sweet and cute but nothing could compete with the pull of a mate’s bond. Nothing.

“Have fun.” Chay’s voice sounded defeated, resigned. Kim urged Fern forward but gave a quick look over his shoulder to see the boy readjust the backpack on his back and head in the direction of the campus bus stop. 

Just as Kim turned back, he felt an odd tug in his ribcage. Like a tight cuff being loosened. His wolf, once more, paced inside him.

Chapter Text

🤍🤍🤍

After the night at the club, Chay and Ball had continued to text all weekend. He really liked talking to the alpha. Ball was sweet and Chay liked his gentleness. Ball was also really funny and anyone that could make Chay laugh was someone he wanted to spend his time with. They set up another meeting mid week to study together. It was still early on in the semester so they had no real need to study but he wanted an excuse to meet up with the alpha without directly stating it. He wasn’t ready to fully admit his feelings or label what they had. It was still too early, too fresh and Chay wanted to take his time and go into the dating world with caution.

The first day back after the weekend had been a drag. Not even the large cup of coffee he had could prepare him for the day. One class after another, his mind being crammed full of information. When the day ended, he waited on Fern. They would have to juggle classes and work now so their time together would be sparse. 

Upon seeing Fern and Kim, he stood to greet them. Chay didn’t really like the alpha. Kim was cold and always looked at him like he was an annoying gnat buzzing around. But for Fern’s sake, he would treat the man with respect. Fern seemed to really like him and Chay wanted his best friend happy.

He had only made it a few steps when the aroma hit him. The mouth watering fragrance of wine. A full bodied, bold red wine. Black currants with hints of violets and cedar. A cabernet sauvignon aged to perfection. 

He swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth and raised his eyes up to greet the alpha. His alpha. He knew it before their eyes even met. Kim was his alpha. As soon as he gazed into the dark pools, the connection snapped into place. The overwhelming urge to submit and soothe washed over him as his inner omega keened. 

He knew mates existed and not everyone had one. Porsche had told him how the world takes a backseat to your match and it couldn’t be more true. The Earth could burst into flames right at this second but in this moment, only Kim mattered. 

Kim .

How could he not have seen before how strong of a name that was? Or how beautiful his alpha was? High cheekbones, dark eyes, and a jaw so perfectly defined, it looked like it was sculpted by an artist. His entire form, from his long dark hair to his boots, looked like it was curated just for Chay. 

But as exciting as all this was, it didn’t feel complete. He could feel the bond now, formed right after the snap. But the thread linking them was as thin and delicate as a spider web. One wrong move felt like it could sever what little bond they had. 

The conversation was muffled, almost as if he were underwater and then his mind finally comprehended what was said. 

Chay watched in horror as his alpha draped his hand over his best friend's waist. His omega clawed forward to yank it away but just as soon as he was about to act, he forced himself to remember the situation they were in. 

Kim had chosen Fern. 

Kim didn’t want him. This explained the hostile attitude and looks of disgust. Chay wasn’t good enough for his soulmate. The pain radiated deep inside him, deeper than any depth he had gone before. He wanted to scream. Or cry. Or run. Or all three. But instead, he watched Kim steer Fern to the parking lot and to his car. 

It wasn’t until he was on the bus watching the familiar scenery fly by, that he realized how heavy the predicament was. 

The week was awful. He couldn’t think about anything but Kim. What he was doing, who he was with, and how Chay could find a way to catch that scent again. It was maddening having a craving you couldn’t satiate. He had barely seen Fern either. Which was another situation in itself. He had a hard time looking at her. She was everything he wasn’t. Everything his alpha wanted, and it killed him to know he couldn’t be that. She was beautiful and sweet and so outgoing. The life of the party truly, and talkative. She had friends everywhere so it wasn’t a surprise that she was preferred over Chay. 

He had been avoiding Ball as well. Chay had canceled the study group, lying and dishing out an excuse about having to work. He had stopped reaching out as much and their texting back and forth had subsided some. After finding his alpha, he couldn’t bear the idea of being with anyone else. It felt wrong. But still Ball persisted, dead set on trying to make something work between them even if he didn’t come right out and say it.  

Chay had to work tonight and according to the calendar they both used to write their schedules, Fern was off. He was glad. As of late, when they did see each other, she would talk about Kim and probe Chay about Ball. Chay really didn’t want any part in either of those topics.

For a Friday night, it wasn’t super busy. Chay went about his job, bagging popcorn, tearing tickets, and guiding customers to their seats. He was just about to restock the candy display when he caught the scent of his alpha. 

Every issue he had this week seemed to bleed away along with the frustration he felt and the pain that never seemed to wane. The aroma was different now. A riesling wine this time. Apricots, honeycomb, and jasmine. Lighter and sweeter.

“Hey Chay!” Fern greeted him from the other side of the counter. 

Her hair was down, bangs pulled back with cute butterfly hair clips and make up that highlighted the best features on her face. She was in a flowery dress that hung nicely on her form and she had one of Chay’s shawls that matched the white sandals on her feet. 

Chay focused on Fern, not daring to look at Kim while she spoke. “Can we get a small popcorn, a pack of gummy bears and two small sodas?” She questioned, looking at Kim for verification. 

“One large soda. We can share.” 

Chay looked up then. His hair was tucked back in a ponytail and he had on a black suit coat and a dark blue dress shirt, unbuttoned low enough to showcase the crease of his pecs. His jeans were tight and conformed to his strong thighs.

Kim was staring down at Fern, his expression soft and affectionate. That’s why his scent was so light and sweet, he was happy. 

Chay felt his emotions split in two. On one side, he was happy that his alpha was happy. On the other, he was devastated at not being the object of his joy. He felt his heart shudder and further break at the notion. 

He must have made a noise because the alpha’s head snapped to him so quickly, it’s a surprise he didn’t injure his neck. He looked confused and angry and Chay could only guess that it was his way of telling Chay to keep his mouth shut about them.

He felt his face flush in embarrassment. He was a rejected mate and needed to try to wrap his head around that. Without looking back at them, he went and retrieved their snacks and typed the items into the register while Kim used his card to pay. They left and headed to their theater. Chay looked up once more to catch Kim lacing the fingers of their free hands together, giving her a wide smile. 

He was left alone in the lobby and used that idle time to go into the backroom and break down against a freezer full of ice cream. He had never felt so conflicted and broken in his life. So full and empty at the same time. He had a mate which was rare and special in itself but at the same time, there was a void there. Like finding his alpha created a giant spot in his heart that sparked so much joy but the fact that there was nothing in it, just a black hole, left him feeling incomplete.

After wiping his face and recollecting himself, Chay began to clean the concession stand. The last movie of the night, the one Kim and Fern were seeing, finished and Chay waited awhile, tending to other closing responsibilities before going in and sweeping the theater. He took a tentative step in and looked around to make sure they were gone. He started sweeping and a short time later, he smelled it. The scent of his happy alpha. He looked around, noticing the empty bag of popcorn, half a pack of gummy bears and the soda… with only one straw in it. Chay hated the question his mind procured. Had they kissed yet? 

In one of the seats was the coat Kim was wearing. It was drenched in his alpha’s scent. Chay picked it up and took a quick peek around to make sure he was really alone before bringing the clothing to his nose and sucking in a deep inhale. 

It was like a kaleidoscope of colors burst in his mind. Bright neon tie dye, whirlpooling behind his eyes. The aroma made him lightheaded and he had to grip the back of a chair to keep from falling. After steading himself, he folded the article of clothing and set it back down to finish his task. Once done, he scooped the bundle up and carried it with him.

He clocked out, locked up the theater, and took a taxi back to his condo. He held his breath as he unlocked his front door and slipped in. He snuck around, hoping to avoid Fern and get the suit coat in his room undetected. He had just managed to open his bedroom door when Fern called for him. He threw the items on his bed before closing his door and turning towards her. 

“Chay, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“You seem different. Maybe upset?”

“No, I’m okay. Just stressed because this semester will be very demanding.” 

“I understand. Please let me know if I can help at all. Okay?”

Chay nodded as Fern leaned in to give him a tight squeeze. It was at this moment that he was glad his best friend was a beta. They had poor pheromone detection and had she been any other classification, she would have undoubtedly smelled Kim all over him.

Chapter Text

🖤🖤🖤

Kim was delighted when he received a text from Fern asking if he was free at the end of the week. It meant his omega was interested and wanted to establish something, anything between them. He knew they had some work to do but he could be patient and wait for her. 

When the date arrived, he picked Fern up from her condo and instead of the nice restaurant he wanted to take her to, she wanted to see a movie. Kim wasn’t thrilled with that idea however. They couldn’t have a conversation and get to know each other in a dark theater where they couldn’t speak. But once Fern opened her condo door and flashed him a smile, he couldn’t say no. Whatever made his omega happy, made him happy. And she seemed so happy. 

As Kim drove, all he had to do was ask how her week went and she was off giving him a detailed list of her day by day activities. He tried to listen and keep up as she rattled off names of her friends and professors, the subjects she liked and didn’t like, and the food she ate throughout the week. Nothing of real substance, but he tried to remember anything she mentioned liking or disliking, things that annoyed her, and just paid attention to the cadence of her tone.

But as soon as they arrived at the cinema, it was as if a chalkboard had been wiped clear. Everything he had noted about her was gone. 

“You don’t talk much do you?” She asked. 

He gave her a playful shrug and offered his arm.

She grinned. “I don’t mind talking for the both of us.” She then shyly looped her hand around his. 

Kim felt a sense of pride having the lovely omega on his arm even if something tiny nagged at the back of his mind. 

Kim let her choose the movie, some horror flick about a killer doll, and steered her into the lobby to the concession stand. He was so busy fixating on his date that he didn’t notice the beta behind the counter. 

“Hey Chay!”

Her smile grew and Kim felt a pang of annoyance at her excitement to see him. But he wouldn’t let it show on his face or in his demeanor. 

“Can we get a small popcorn, a pack of gummy bears and two small sodas?”

“One large soda. We can share.”

Kim didn’t plan on partaking in any of it. He had a limited palette and wasn’t one to snack between meals. 

Fern blushed, her cheeks pink as she smiled up at him. As he smiled back, a noise so distressing, so hauntingly heartbreaking cut through him. His eyes sought out the source of the sound and found himself staring down at the beta. His hand twitched as an incredible urge to pull the boy into his embrace, to soothe him from the hurt, crashed over him. He had no idea where the compulsion had come from and assumed it was just a deeply embedded alpha instinct he had. 

Kim felt a small twinge of possessiveness. He wished this beta would get over whatever crush he had on Fern. She was Kim’s mate. This beta could find someone else. Another sweet beta girl for a sweet beta boy. But no matter what, Fern belonged to him and he wouldn’t share. 

Kim watched as Porchay procured their snacks then gave them a tight smile. One just as hopeless looking as the boy himself. With Fern by his side, they walked towards their theater. But with every step something felt so off. Something he couldn’t pinpoint. He reached for Fern’s hand, braiding their fingers together. A physical touch to anchor him amongst the chaos he had been feeling lately. He stole one more quick glance over his shoulder just in time to see Porchay escape through the backroom with tears falling down his cheeks. Kim swept the sadness he felt and the image of the crying beta away and focused back on his date.

The movie, in Kim’s opinion, was boring. However he did enjoy the gasps and small screams Fern occasionally released. The way she watched most of the movie peeking from in between her fingers or the way she buried her head into his chest and only rising when Kim assured her the danger had passed. On the way home, they discussed the movie at length and Kim lightly teased her until they were both laughing. 

When they arrived back at her condo, Kim walked her to her door.

“Do you want to come in? Chay won’t be home for at least an hour.” Fern asked, her voice a slight octave higher. 

As much as he would love to, he didn’t want to come face to face with Porchay again tonight. Something about the beta really bothered him and until he could figure out why, Kim didn’t want to be near him. 

Kim cleared his throat. “I would love to but I have to get back home. I have plans with my brothers tomorrow morning.” Fern’s face fell slightly. “But I had a really great time. Did you?”

She smiled. “I did! I really like spending time with you.” 

“Me too.” He replied letting the silence hang between them.

She gazed up at him from under her lashes and her pink tongue lightly glided over her bottom lip. He felt a small flutter in his stomach and leaned in while she stood on her tiptoes. Their lips met and then… Nothing.

As they shared their first kiss, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand but not in an exciting way. It’s not that she was bad at it but it felt no different than any other kiss he’d ever had. This wasn’t the earth shattering type of first kiss true mates shared. The thin bond that was there didn’t strengthen. It remained just as nonexistent as it always had.

When he pulled back, her face was a bright pink, glowing from her pale skin. She shyly bid him a goodnight before disappearing into her condo. 

“Goodnight, P’Kim.”

“Goodnight, Fern. I’ll text you later.”

“Okay.”

The door closed and then he heard the sound of metal locks sliding into place. He was in a daze as he walked back to his car. He needed to seek Kinn out again. There was something seriously wrong and he couldn’t understand why. Was he sick? Was she?

The rest of Kim’s weekend was spent at the main house’s medical wing or in Kinn’s office. He was given a medical exam and everything seemed normal. His pheromones were healthy and strong. There was nothing physically wrong with him. Even a small session with the family psychiatrist proved nothing abnormal. Kinn did some research and confirmed with their medical staff that in order for a bond to manifest out of thin air, it was a sign of soulmates. Sure, people mated using bites which can establish a bond, but to feel that pull from a simple smell of their scent was beyond destiny. But both parties had to accept each other for the bond to strengthen. 

“That can’t be right, P’Kinn.” 

“It’s right here, Kim. You have to accept each other. If one resists mentally from the bond, it doesn’t strengthen and over time, it fades.”

“Like you lose your soulmate?”

“Essentially?” Kinn shrugged. “Yeah, you can move on but you will never feel whole or complete no matter who you end up bonding to. Are you sure she’s the one?”

“She smells like she’s mine. Her scent calls to me. I can’t explain it more than that.”

Kinn nodded. “Sounds about right then. Well one of you is resisting.”

“It’s not me. I accept her.”

“That's why your wolf is confused. It can’t reach across the bond if one of you is rejecting it. It would be like walking into someone’s house without knocking, you could be met with hostility from the omega.”

“What do you suggest I do?” Kim sighed, crossing his arms.

“Keep taking it slow. There is no booklet for love. The bond will solidify the more she falls for you. Woo her with the Theerapanyakul charm.” Kinn grinned.

Kinn was right. Love wasn’t a race. Kim would be patient, he could do that. The hard part was keeping his wolf on a leash. Especially when he wanted to do so many things at once. Scent her, mark her, claim her. But he would do no such thing without her consent. 

When Monday rolled around, his talk with Kinn had reinvigorated his drive to please his omega. He had a newfound hope that with time, she would accept him as her alpha. As his last class approached, he was practically bouncing in place. He and Fern had exchanged light texts over the weekend but he was more than excited to see her face to face again.

He waited in his seat as students filed in with no sign of Fern. A short time later, the professor began still with the omega missing. A few more minutes went by when the door in the back opened. Fern quietly snuck in and shuffled past Kim in the empty seat next to him. She was no longer missing but something was. Her scent.

When she sat, she muttered a quick apology to him and pulled her laptop from her bag. As she booted the device up, Kim leaned over as casually as he could and took a couple of discreet inhales. A floral fragrance hit him. He wrinkled his nose and fought back a sneeze. It wasn't an unpleasant aroma but it wasn’t Fern. Was this a perfume? And if so, where was her natural scent? Was she wearing blockers to cover her pheromones? If so, why? 

Anger flared in his chest. Their bond was already struggling to form and here she was deliberately tampering with her aroma. It wasn’t fair. He would wait for her to be ready, that was no issue but it felt like a slap in the face. Could she not trust him? Did she see him like all the other alphas that just took what they wanted and treated their omegas as less than? It stung to know that she could possibly think any of this about him.

By the end of the class, he was seething. As soon as the professor released them, Fern had only uttered four words when Kim gave her a curt reply and flew from the classroom.

“P’Kim, do you want…”

“No, I’m busy.”

He didn’t want to be near her. Not when he was this angry and not when she didn’t smell right. 

Chapter Text

🤍🤍🤍

Chay spent the rest of his weekend in a sort of emotional limbo. He cried at the loss of a mate that seemingly wasn’t his to begin with. Anger and frustration with Kim for his rejection. Couldn’t he see what a blessing this was? A fated mate was the other half of one’s soul. Chay was perfectly crafted for him. He was confused about where to turn next. How does he navigate something like this? And in between all of those emotions were bouts of pure joy. Chay wrapped himself in Kim’s oversized coat and bathed in the remaining scent. The aroma had started deteriorating as soon as it was off Kim’s body and now it was barely enough to linger on his skin. Chay tried to snuggle in as much as he could and get the fragrance to permeate deeper with no such luck. In a couple of days the scent would fade and he would only be left with a hollow reminder of a mate that didn’t want him. But for now he could just pretend. 

When he arose Monday morning, he looked horrible. He had barely eaten a thing or showered.  His eyes were puffy and his skin held no glow. He begrudgingly stepped into the warm stream and began to think of his next options. Once clean he stepped out, applied his scent blockers, dressed for class and headed to the kitchen to make some toast. While the toaster worked, he did a quick online search of rejected mates. He scrolled down and opened the first search result. 

The link took him to a forum of other rejected mates and their stories. He began to read the voices of others in the same situation he was. Ones where their former mates had issues with who they were as people or finding each other at the wrong time. Homophobia. Distance. There was one account Chay read where one person’s mate already had a bonded spouse and child that they refused to leave. Every story was sad but there was a silver lining to each one. They had fought the bond and over time it vanished and they were able to find someone else. He was so engrossed in the stories that he didn’t hear the toaster ding.

“Chay?” 

He jumped at hearing his name and spun to find Fern standing there. 

“What are you making?”

She leaned over his shoulder to look at the counter but out of fear of her seeing his phone, he locked it and hastily shoved it into his pocket. 

“Toast. Would you like some?”

“Yes. Apple jelly and honey on mine please but we have to be quick. I’m so sorry I’m running late today. I was up late texting P’Kim.” She mused.

Chay was holding a spoonful of jelly when he froze upon hearing the alpha’s name. He really needed to form a plan and soon. Chay didn’t want things to become awkward if Fern and Kim ended up getting serious at some point and he wasn't about to end his friendship with Fern so Kim would just have to deal with it. With his thoughts swirling, he didn’t see the jelly slide off the spoon and land on the counter with a splat.

“Chay!” She laughed. “Are you okay?”

She grabbed a napkin and wiped the amber gel off the counter.

“Yeah I’m fine. Just a tad tired.” He faked a yawn.

“Oh by the way, do you have a sweater I can use?”

“Shit. I didn’t do any laundry over the weekend, they are all dirty. I’m sorry P’Fern.”

“It’s okay.” She looked at her watch and let out a yelp. “We’re late!”

They raced to the bus stop but unfortunately missed it by mere minutes. They had to wait twenty minutes for the next one. When the next bus finally arrived, Fern escaped to do homework she didn’t finish over the weekend and Chay went back to researching. He carefully tilted his phone so Fern wouldn’t see the screen by accident and started a new search on fated mates and consequences of not bonding.

Before long they were getting off the bus and bidding each other goodbye for the day. Chay luckily only had one class this morning and planned to spend the rest of the day in the library. 

He headed in the direction of his class and quietly slid in when he noticed it had already started. Ball threw him an enthusiastic wave from his seat across the room that Chay tried hard to return. Ball was such a sweet guy. Chay didn’t deserve the eye of someone so genuine. 

When the class was over, he packed up his belongings while Ball bounced over to him. 

“Hey Chay! How was your weekend? You, um, never texted back.” Ball said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

“Oh, I’m so sorry P’Ball. I was busy with school work… You know how it is.” Chay replied, ashamed of the lie that left his lips. 

“Oh… I understand. The workload gets really heavy in your second year.”

“Yeah…” 

The silence was extremely awkward but it didn’t last long before Ball’s golden retriever energy returned. 

“So what class do you have now? I’ll walk you.”

“I am finished with classes today so I was going to sit in the library for the rest of the afternoon.”

“That’s where I’m going! I have to meet Fern. She and I have a project assigned together. Technically there are four of us but the other two are really flaky. I’ve had classes with them before and they barely attended.” Ball rolled his eyes. “Anyway, let’s walk together.”

Ball began to give Chay a rundown of his busy weekend followed by a play by play of the university’s football game on Saturday night. He had just started to tell Chay about his new workout routine when a familiar voice cut through the air.

“Chay! Ball!” Fern called from behind them. 

“Hey Fern!” Ball greeted.

“Chay, what are you doing here?” 

“I have some research to do.”

“Ahhhh.” 

The three stepped into the library and found seats amongst a group of people Chay recognized from the club. 

As conversations picked up around him, Chay found his attention drifting back to his phone. After hours of reading, Chay had learned that with time and separation from Kim, the bond would break and he would be free from the emotional turmoil he was in. A lot of the people online suggested finding someone else to fill that void. The company and closeness of someone else, especially their pheromones, would aid and combat the loneliness and unrest of the rejected mate’s inner wolf. 

It wouldn’t be easy. It was going to be the hardest thing he had ever done. But Chay was sick of feeling like this. Like Kim’s dirty little secret. Like the other person in Kim and Fern’s relationship. They all deserved to be happy…. Even if his fated mate was in the arms of another. In the arms of his best friend…

Chay shook his head and the painful images that came with it. He could do this. He would break the bond and set them both free. At that moment, Ball laughed loudly at something and the librarian immediately shushed him. Muffled giggles erupted from the group.  

Chay’s eyes settled on Fern. She had her arms crossed on the table with her head on top, faintly snoring. Ball smiled down fondly at her before shaking her shoulder. She groaned and tried to swat his hand away.

“Fern, you need to get up. I think you are late to your next class.” 

At his words she shot up and scrambled for her phone. 

She groaned again, louder and deeper. “I have been late to all my classes today.” 

She quickly stood and grabbed all of her belongings.

“Oh Chay before I forget, I probably won’t see you the rest of the day. I’m going to ask Kim if he wants to grab dinner after school.” She grinned. 

“Have fun then.” Chay smiled back but it was an empty gesture.

She threw a quick wave over her shoulder and disappeared through the library doors. 

He sighed. There was no way he would be able to focus on studying now. His mind was an absolute mess. He stood to pack his own belongings and head to the bus stop when Ball stopped him.

“Are you leaving Chay?”

“Yeah, I’m not in the mood to study so I figured I’d just go home and binge watch something trashy.” 

“Ahhh. Well Todd told me practice has been canceled for tonight so my schedule is clear…. If you want company. I love trashy tv.” 

Company. He was reminded of the website and all the suggestions of finding a mate replacement. They said it didn’t have to be romantic or sexual in nature. One alpha said his omega best friend helped him ease the hurt and the two didn’t actually date until a couple of years after the bond was already broken. 

“Uh yeah, that sounds great actually.”

Ball beamed. “I can drive us.”

They bid the group farewell and Chay followed the alpha to the parking lot. Half an hour later, they were sitting on the couch in Chay’s condo and he had the remote in hand scrolling through all the options. 

“How about Alpha Omega Island?” Chay suggested.

“Sounds good! I haven’t seen the new season yet.”

He hit play and cozied into the cushion. Chay loved this dating show. A group of alphas and omegas are put on an island together to see if any love matches surface. It’s always messy but entertaining.

After a few episodes, they paused to order pizza and grab drinks. 

They were mid meal when Fern stomped in. 

“Phi, I thought you and P’Kim went to dinner?” A small growl rose from Ball at the mention of Kim’s name. Faint, but Chay heard it. 

“I think he’s mad at me and I have no idea why.” She huffed, throwing herself on the end of the couch. “I went to ask him out and he just bolted.”

“Maybe it had nothing to do with you? Like maybe something came up?”

“I guess. I texted while I was on the bus but he hasn’t responded yet. He’s so hot and cold with me. And sometimes when we are together, he seems like he’s miles away. Like someone is forcing him to be with me. Why are alphas so complicated?”

Ball choked on the pizza in his mouth. 

“Oh! Sorry Ball. I meant all alphas except Ball. You are incredibly sweet. Why can’t more alphas be like you?” 

Chay could see pools of pink popping up on Ball’s cheeks and the alpha averted his eyes. Chay sensed the embarrassment and changed the subject.

“Do you want some pizza P’Fern? We are about to watch the finale.”

She nodded then grabbed a slice and took a huge bite. 

When the show was finished, they discussed the results until Fern stood and stretched. 

“I’m going to see if I can get a hold of P’Kim. Goodnight Ball, drive safe.” 

With a wave she was gone. 

“I should go, I have an early class.” Ball stood and walked towards the door with Chay following behind. “I had fun with you.”

“I had fun too.” Chay admitted. 

“I’ll see you later.” 

Ball left and when the door clicked shut, Chay took in a deep breath. He could do this. Baby steps. 

Chapter Text

🖤🖤🖤

Two weeks had passed since his angry departure from class. When he had calmed down days later, he told Fern that he was upset because of family issues and she seemed to accept the response. There was no doubt that the girl knew who his family was and knew better than to ask questions. 

Since then, her scent had fluctuated erratically. Some days he caught hints of it and some days it wasn’t there at all. It was so jarring that he wondered if the omega had a pheromone defect. Some genetic disorder that caused her to struggle with her scent, they were extremely rare but still happened. The only other logical explanation was scent blockers. 

But even then, the scent that tantalized him so much in the beginning, now had a slight sour note to it. It was the oddest thing Kim had ever experienced and he couldn’t think of any excuses for it. 

It was midweek and he was leaving his last class of the day when his phone notification tone went off. Fern told him she was in the courtyard. The two had plans to grab food before her shift at the movie theater started. 

When he arrived, she wasn’t alone. Her roommate Porchay was there with Ball. He wasn’t a fan of either of them. The alpha was a typical jock and Porchay… made Kim uncomfortable. Anytime he was around the beta, his inner wolf tensed, pacing and attentive to every shift in the boy. 

“You are a genius Ball!” Fern laughed. 

The alpha blushed. “Nah, it was just an easy solution to the problem.”

“What problem?” Kim blurted out.

“Hey P’Kim!” Fern greeted. “So Ball and I have a project together in our money management class and a small issue arose but Ball was able to fix it!”

“I see. Well feel free to come to me if you need any advice. I’ve taken those classes before.” Kim stepped closer to Fern, taking her hand and weaving their fingers together. 

He didn’t miss how Porchay stepped back towards Ball, distancing himself from the couple. Instead of satisfaction at the action, he felt annoyed. Porchay kept his head down, never looking at Kim in the slightest. 

“Are you ready to go Fern? I’m hungry.”

“Actually, can Ball and Chay come with us?”

Out of the corner of his eye he could see the beta’s head snap up, a look of pure horror written across his face. It grated greatly on Kim’s nerves.

“I’m sure they don’t-” Kim started.

“Yeah, I mean, we um-” Porchay's quiet voice also protested.

“We’d love to!” Ball agreed readily. 

“Great!” Fern agreed. “Let’s go!”

The two walked off together, animatedly discussing restaurants in the area and the food they loved. 

Kim stood staring in disbelief while Porchay hugged his middle, his body shaking slightly.

“Are you okay?” He asked, his voice a bit gruff. 

The beta nodded but continued to stare at the ground. Kim sucked his teeth. “Let’s go then. Let’s get this over with.” He growled.

The beta jumped but obeyed, following a few steps behind him.

The ride to the restaurant was much the same. Kim and Fern sat in front while Porchay and Ball sat in the back. Fern and Ball were talking so much, neither he nor the beta could get a word in edgewise. He parked the car and the two filed out, taking the noise with them. Kim closed his eyes, basking in the quiet for a few seconds. The click of the unlatching of a seat belt brought him back to reality. He had forgotten he wasn’t alone in the car. A moment later the back door opened and Porchay stepped out, lightly closing the door back. Kim let out a long drawn out sigh and opened his door. He already had a hard time connecting to Fern and now he had to fake interest in other people. 

When they stepped inside, the waitress seated them and it was around then that the two finally caught on that they were the only ones talking.

Fern cleared her throat and looked at Kim and Porchay. “So what are you guys going to order? I'm thinking about getting spicy papaya salad.”

“I want a burger. If I'm going to cheat on my regiment, I want something greasy.” Ball announced. 

“I think I want basil fried rice and a small side of hot & sour soup.” The beta said so softly, Kim barely heard him.

Kim gave him an odd look. “That's exactly what I want.”

“Oh that's cute! You two have the same taste in food!” Fern giggled.

The waitress took their order and while they waited, Kim stared at Porchay. There was something so foreign yet altogether so familiar about him. Kim couldn’t put a finger on why this boy made him so unnerved. He was small for a beta. Petite and lean. He had fluffy brown hair and his eyes… Porchay took that moment to look up and Kim was able to catch the full beauty of them. A deep brown, the same shade as his hair, with tiny gold flecks sparkling in the light. It was as if his eyes held the universe, the gold glitter morphed into mini galaxies for Kim to explore and get lost in.

“Kim?.... Kim!”

Kim snapped out of his trance and looked over at Fern. 

“What, sweetie?”

“Are you okay? You zoned out five minutes ago.”

“Yeah I'm fine. Just tired.”

He gave one more quick look at Porchay who was staring at the table again and trembling. 

“Why are you shaking?” He addressed the beta directly.

“I'm just cold.”

Just as Kim went to remove his coat, Ball had already shrugged his off and draped it over Porchay's shoulders.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

Kim's skin felt too tight all of a sudden and he had to swallow back a snarl. What the absolute fuck was was wrong with him? He looked at the faces of those around him and they too mirrored his confusion. The table remained quiet until the food arrived then they continued to eat in silence. After that, Kim drove them back to the university. Normally he would drive Fern to work but right now, he wanted to be alone to sort out his thoughts. He gave Fern a quick peck on the cheek then as soon as everyone was out of the car, he raced to the main house. 

Kim hated admitting he was a coward but he was and ran as soon as he began to feel weird. He didn’t speak to Fern the rest of the week. He was too embarrassed and ashamed that he seemed to be failing as her alpha. It was strange that she didn’t try to reach out either. Even during their class the following Monday, her mind seemed preoccupied. She would normally talk his ear off but this day, she was just staring off into space. 

He cleared his throat. “Fern?”

“Hmmm?” She murmured, not looking at him.

“Do you want to go on another date?”

“Uhh, sure but can we do something more relaxing?” 

“Have anything in mind?” 

“Well Ball and Chay had a date in the condo.”

“Ball and Chay are dating?” The words flew from his mouth before he could stop them. 

“Well Chay hasn’t come out and told me but I sort of interrupted them a couple of weeks ago and they…” She heaved a sigh, one heavy with something. “They looked close. I think Ball likes Chay and I’m pretty sure Chay likes him too.”

It shouldn’t have been a surprise but it was. They were both single, good looking guys. They had every right to date each other. Then why did he feel so bad? 

“So date night on the couch in my condo?” Fern probed. “You can even choose the movie this time.”

“Sounds good. Friday night?”

“Perfect! I can’t wait!” She smiled and he returned it, even if he wasn’t feeling it. 

Before his date, he went back to Kinn. He needed more advice. The bond felt weaker than it had ever felt before. Delicate and fragile. And every day, every minute, he could feel it fading. 

“I dunno Kim. I’m not sure what to tell you. If she isn’t accepting you as her alpha, then you may just have to prepare to be a rejected mate.”

Kim paced in front of his desk. “But I want a mate. They are special, a blessing from destiny. Mating anyone else feels so wrong . Like I’m settling for second best.”

“I know. I know. Trust me, I understand. Have you been releasing enough of your pheromones?”

“Sort of. I still wear the blockers around school but I don’t reapply if I plan to spend time with her. She wears them too, I think. Some days I smell her scent and some days I just smell her perfume.”

“Maybe you aren’t releasing enough.”

“We have a date Friday night, I could try to up the amount.” 

“Try that. If it doesn’t work, you may just have to let her go.”

Kim ran his fingers through his hair and sighed in frustration. “I think you may be right. I am going nuts trying to make this work.”

Kinn raised an eyebrow. “Falling in love shouldn’t be work, it’s effortless.”

When Friday rolled around, he left his last class then went home to freshen up.

He washed off his scent blockers and took the time to fix his hair. With one more look in the mirror, he drove to Fern’s condo looking very much like the strong and capable alpha he was. 

Within seconds of knocking, Fern had the door open and pulled him into the residence. Kim was immediately hit with her scent. The sweet smell of milk chocolate with fruity undertones. With the fragrance so much more pronounced than it had ever been, Kim was able to pick up the raspberry he originally smelled but also something nutty. Almonds perhaps? The smell was so complex but there was still a hint of something acrid lingering. He couldn’t tell what it was though.

She motioned for him to sit on the couch then drifted to the kitchen to get them drinks. While Fern was busy, Kim scrolled through the selection of movies on demand and picked the sappiest romance he could find. He also began to leak his pheromones. Slowly drizzling the aroma on the sofa and pillows. Fern reappeared and handed him a glass.

“Alpha’s Forever Omega?” She read the screen and raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t take you for a man into romance.”

He shrugged. “Sometimes I’m in the mood for a good love story.”

Fern continued to read the synopsis. “Peach is a chef with his own catering company and Fluke is the son of a large company being forced into an arranged marriage. The two fated mates meet at a bar and allow the connection to pull them to a corner for a heated kiss. Unfortunately an emergency pulls Peach away before he is able to even get Fluke’s name and Fluke doesn’t remember how Peach looks, just how he smelled. In a large city like Bangkok, will the two fated mates ever find each other again or will Fluke have to marry the omega his parents picked for him? ”

Kim smiled. “I guess we have to find out.” He patted the seat next to him and hit play on the remote. 

Fern sat next to him and the movie began, blaring a soft piano melody into the room. As they watched, Kim reached over and gently laced their fingers. He upped the pheromone amount into a steady stream. Not enough to permeate into the hall or other units in the building, but his scent would remain lingering in the condo for days to come. 

The couple on screen were frustrating. They were so close to one another but yet missing the connection every time. Like Peach stepping off the subway train through one door while Fluke stepped onto the train through a different door at the same time, or Fluke accidentally dropping something at the same time Peach rounded a corner. But each time they missed each other. It was like ships passing in the night.

Fern leaned into him, snuggling into his side and laying her head on his chest. Hopefully this worked. Just a night of romance would help them sort out their emotions. He wanted his mate so badly he could taste it. He wanted his omega.  

Near the end of the movie, Peach’s catering company had been hired to cater an outdoor wedding. But upon arriving, he was stunned to see Fluke, his alpha, as the groom. He couldn’t bear to see his mate promise himself to another. Peach made sure his staff was prepared to cook and serve the guests then made for the exit. A gust of wind blew his scent to Fluke. Without a second hesitation, Fluke bounded down the aisle towards Peach.

“You’re the omega I’ve been searching for.” Fluke declared before kissing Peach. 

The wedding guests clapped and a violin strummed until the two kissing faded into black and the credits started. 

 “Well that was a sweet movie. The ending was rushed and sort of cheesy though.” Fern voiced, sitting up and stretching. 

“I agree. It was nice.” Kim chimed in. “I understood Fluke’s character and the pressure he must have been under. Wanting something so bad but not knowing what that something is.”

Fern looked at him with unsure eyes then there was a flash of something he couldn’t decipher. He leaned in to kiss her and she hesitated a beat before reciprocating. Just like before, the kiss was nothing special. And Kim felt nothing. 

She leaned back, pulling Kim with her until she was laying flat on the couch with Kim on top of her. He pressed her into the sofa until a fresh whiff of her scent filled the room. He smiled through the kiss. Then without notice, the wonderful sweet smell turned repulsive. Burnt chocolate, sour milk, and rotten fruit. 

Kim immediately jumped back on the other side of the sofa and fought the bile in his throat. The smell was pungent and made his stomach churn. 

“What’s wrong P’Kim!?” Fern asked, alarmed. 

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?”

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She shrieked. 

“Why will you not accept me as your alpha?” He snarled. 

He could no longer control his anger. He had been patient like she wanted but enough was enough. They were going to lose their bond if they didn’t figure things out.

“ My alpha? ” She laughed sarcastically. “I thought you were different from the rest of them but I guess not. I will never allow just any alpha to claim me.”

Kim winced. So it was true, she didn’t see him as her alpha. To her, Kim was no better than the rest.

“Not to mention, I don’t like how you treat my friends. Ball is sweet and kind and Chay has been my best friend for years. He is family to me.”

Kim was shaking, too upset to think of a response. She was right about that. He didn’t like Ball or Chay but he was always courteous to them. 

“You know what? I think we are done here. I don’t think we mesh well as a couple and I don’t feel the same way about you anymore. I think you should leave, Kim.”

“But Fern, please, let me-”

Kim tried to sputter out anything to salvage the night and the relationship but it was too late.

“Please leave. I don’t think we have anything more to talk about.”

Kim stood and left as fast as he could from the building. He couldn’t believe this was happening.

He was a rejected mate.

Chapter Text

🤍🤍🤍

Chay had been careful for two whole weeks. He avoided Fern if he knew the beta had seen Kim, and on campus there were a few close calls where his path might have crossed with the alpha if Chay didn’t take an alternate route. He hadn’t seen Kim at all, talked to him or smelled that delicious scent. It didn’t help though that his mind was always on his alpha. No. The alpha. Kim wasn’t his no matter how badly he wanted it to be true. 

When he was out of class, he texted Fern. She said she was with Ball in the courtyard. He knew the pair had a group project together but with as much as the two had spent together, the project should be done already. Fern saw more of Ball than Chay did at this point.

As he approached the picnic table, Fern let out a high pitched giggle. It was a bizarre sound. He had never heard Fern laugh like that. 

“What’s so funny?” Chay asked.

“Oh hey Chay!” Fern greeted. “Nothing really. Ball just made a silly joke. Well a pun. He’s really funny.”

The alpha smirked. “I like making people smile.”

“You do a good job.” She beamed. “Anyway, we are talking about our project.”

“Oh well carry on. I will listen to music and study while you two work.”

“Sounds good.” 

Chay parked himself on the bench next to Ball and pulled out his laptop. 

A short time later Fern’s shriek cut through his music. 

“You are a genius Ball!” 

“Nah, it was just an easy solution to the problem.”

Just as Chay took his earbud out to listen to the conversation, a deep timbre sounded out.

“What problem?”

Chay knew who it was as soon as he heard it, and a shiver involuntarily weaved down his spine. Oh how he wished Kim would say his name just once.  

“Hey P’Kim! So Ball and I have a project together in our money management class and a small issue arose but Ball was able to fix it!”

“I see. Well feel free to come to me if you need any advice. I’ve taken those classes before.”

The alpha stepped closer, close enough for Chay to smell, but he couldn’t allow his hard work the last two weeks to be in vain so he stepped closer to Ball. The scent of summer enveloped Chay. Ball never wore blockers and while his scent wasn’t as mouth watering as Kim’s, it was nice and refreshing and it kept him calm. 

 “Are you ready to go Fern? I’m hungry.”

He was glad they were leaving. Being in the same vicinity as Kim was already hard enough. 

“Actually, can Ball and Chay come with us?”

He wanted to cry. How much worse could his life get?  

“I’m sure they don’t-” 

Even the alpha didn’t want him around. He wanted Fern all to himself. 

“Yeah, I mean, we um-” Chay tried to help the situation along. He just wanted to put distance between them. 

“We’d love to!”

“Great! Let’s go!” 

As Fern and Ball walked away, Chay began to contemplate what bad thing he had done to deserve this? It felt like ever since he was a child, he had been struggling with one bad thing after the next. The death of his parents, a good for nothing uncle that sold anything of value they owned, poverty, alpha loan sharks intimidating and threatening him, and just as the dust settled and he was improving his situation, now this. A mate that wanted nothing to do with him. Would he ever know peace or be good enough for anyone? 

“Are you okay?” 

He nodded, unable to meet Kim’s eyes. 

“Let’s go then. Let’s get this over with.” He snarled angrily. 

Chay didn’t want to get in Kim’s car. He didn’t want to be in his personal space and he didn’t want to be anywhere near his scent. But luckily, as soon as he got in the vehicle, he noticed the scent was old. Chay breathed a sigh of relief. Kim wore blockers. Even with the scent as old as it was, it still smelled amazing. He squirmed when his cock betrayed him and twitched at the aroma. Chay took in breaths through his mouth to avoid smelling his alpha seated just in front of him. He zoned out during the ride to the restaurant, throwing all his focus into breathing. It wasn’t until he was alone with Kim that he snapped from his trance and scrambled to get out of the car.

When they were finally seated, Fern tried to include Chay and Kim into the conversation but Chay wasn’t in the mood to talk. Not when he and Kim were harboring such a life changing secret from the others. 

“Oh that's cute! You two have the same taste in food!” 

He almost flinched at the observation. Seems to be the only thing they have in common. 

Chay felt the overwhelming sensation of being watched and looked up. His gaze met Kim’s. The alpha was staring at him, intently focusing on Chay’s face. And the emotions there were mystifying. Kim was confused. It was like he was seeing Chay for the first time. Really seeing him. His confusion diminished and then it gave way to wonder. Chay could feel the light pull of the bond. It was only a touch but he felt it nonetheless. He wanted to have hope. That Kim would come to his senses and realize they belong together. 

As Kim gazed at him, Chay fought the urge to reach for him. To cup Kim’s face in his hands or scent him or something crazy like kiss him. His body began to shake with the energy he was using to keep his hands in his lap instead of touching his alpha everywhere. It was no easy feat. Not when he was going against his primal instincts. Not when his inner omega was howling in protest, ordering him to mark and claim their alpha.  

“Kim?....” Fern called once but Kim’s attention was solely on him. “Kim!”

Then as quick as the snap of a finger, Kim’s eyes searched for Fern.

“Are you ok? You zoned out five minutes ago.”

“Yeah I'm fine. Just tired.”

Tired wasn’t how Chay would describe it. Curious, perhaps even enthralled. But the alpha didn’t look tired. 

Kim looked at him once more then spoke. “Why are you shaking?”

“I'm just cold.” The lie came easily. Fortunately, he was wearing a tank top so it didn’t seem far-fetched.

Kim shuffled to remove his coat but it wasn’t even off his forearms before Chay was engulfed in the warmth of Ball’s zip up hoodie. 

“Thank you.”

Something happened then. Something that shook up everyone at the table. Kim sneered at Ball and a low growl rumbled in his chest. Possessive and protective. A warning . Ball’s face went as white as a sheet. 

Kim looked at them one by one, baffled by their faces but no one wanted to enlighten him on why everyone was silent. 

And that silence continued. The rest of their meal and the ride back to campus. 

With a quick peck on Fern’s cheek, Kim was gone. Ripping out of the parking lot as if the hounds of hell were chasing him.

“Chay, do you want to hang out with me tonight?” Ball asked. “I was going to suggest dinner but since we already ate...”

He was about to decline when a small voice in the back of his mind reminded him that he needed someone else to help him through Kim’s rejection. After the occurrence at the restaurant, he wanted to hold on longer. Maybe Kim would come around but he knew better. 

“Uh sure. What do you want to do?”

“Oh you two are still going to hang out?” Fern asked, a slight edge to her voice.

“Yeah, I want to spend time with Chay… alone.” Ball responded, applying emphasis on the last word.

“How about you two see a movie?” 

“Um, I’d rather not go to work on my day off.” Chay replied sheepishly.

“We could go to the mall and window shop?”

Chay smiled. “That does sound better.”

“Well, have fun then. I have to go to work.” Fern’s tone was cool as she turned and headed towards the bus stop. 

Chay followed Ball to his car in the parking lot and they set off to the mall. He tried to pour all of his attention into Ball and the conversation about his plans for the future and the gym he wanted to open. But in the hollowed out hole where his mate was missing, his omega was daydreaming over their alpha and the look in his eyes when he gazed at them. 

They went store to store, window shopping and playing around. It was fun and for the first time in a while he laughed and smiled. He didn’t feel any pressure being around Ball. Occasionally their fingers would brush against each other while they walked and Chay wondered what it would be like to hold his hand. He wasn’t bold enough to find out though.

Their evening finally came to a close when Ball drove him home and walked him to his door. 

“Thanks for hanging out with me Chay.” 

“No problem! It was fun, P’Ball.”

“Are you busy Saturday night?”

“No, I'm off this weekend. What did you have in mind?”

“I’m going to the club after practice. Want to meet me there? It’s the same one we went to at the start of term.” 

“Sounds good. I’ll be there.”

“So see you at school?” 

Chay nodded. “See you at school.” 

The alpha leaned in and placed a quick kiss on his cheek then was down the stairs before Chay could process it. 

He was glad Ball had left because as soon as he did process it, a shudder of disgust ran from his head to his feet. It was a sweet gesture and Chay couldn’t blame Ball for having these feelings. Had Chay not met Kim, he would possibly find it romantic. However, Chay had met his mate and the thought of anyone else doing the things his mate should, just felt repulsive. People said this was common and it would take time but how long? How long would the thought of another person’s hands on his body make his stomach churn?

When Friday morning rolled around, he was ready to distance himself from Kim again and continue trying to break the bond holding them together. As he opened his door however, he was surprised to see Fern holding his favorite coffee order. He glared at her suspiciously until she broke down and explained that she and Kim had planned a date at home and apologized for planning it without asking him first. They both agreed that it would be best for Chay to stay in his room while Kim was over. 

His day went by as normal. He attended all his classes and when the bus stopped in front of his condo, he went to the corner store to pick up some snacks. Once safely in his room, his anxiety rose. In a short time his alpha would walk into his home and spend time with someone that wasn’t him. He could have gone out. He could have found something to do to keep him out of the condo, but it had been a long week and he wanted to spend the night relaxing. But how could he relax?

There was a loud knock at the door and he heaved a deep sigh. Just as the happy mumbles of a couple in love seeped under his bedroom door, he picked a series on his laptop and put on his headphones.  

It had been no more than a half hour and Chay could smell him. It had been a long time since he had scented the aroma this fresh. The fragrance of dark and rich red wine. Sweet and bitter all at once. Chay could almost taste it. He tried to ignore it. He tried not to notice how uncomfortable he became, how he couldn’t sit still and how he found himself digging deep into his closet to find the coat jacket that no one realized he had in his possession. He didn’t need to rub the jacket over his skin for it to stick because the pheromones lingered in the air and clung to him. He snuggled into the fabric and basked in having his alpha’s scent everywhere all at once. 

A couple of hours had passed and Chay was beginning to feel very warm. He wanted a drink to cool himself down. He tried listening at the door but didn’t hear anything, perhaps their date was over? He carefully opened his door and stepped into the living room behind the couch. 

What he saw, though, cooled his body all at once. It felt like he had been dunked into ice water. Fern had her hands around Kim’s neck and she was pulling him down into the couch while they kissed. And Kim seemed more than enthusiastic about the activity. His hands were on her neck, in her hair. Chay clapped a hand over his mouth to hold in his sobs and quietly escaped back to his room. 

He slid the headphones back on then opened his loudest playlist and turned the volume to max. He shoved Kim’s coat onto the floor. He couldn’t even look at it. After a couple of minutes, he thought he heard a door slam and the faint smell of sour grapes and vinegar. Another ten minutes went by and he thought he heard another door slam.

Even surrounded by his scent, Chay fell asleep crying, mourning the official loss of his mate. 

When Chay woke the next day, he didn’t realize how long he had slept. His skin was hot and he still felt uncomfortable. Kim’s pheromones had saturated their condo. He hated how much his wolf loved that. Couldn’t that dumb furry beast realize that Kim was not their alpha? 

He felt dizzy and headed to the kitchen to grab something small to eat. Maybe he just needed food. When he stepped into the shared space, Fern had already left for the day which was odd. She didn’t mention having anything to do today.

Chay tried to be productive. He emptied and refilled the dishwasher, washed a load of clothes and just as he vacuumed the living room, he noticed Kim’s scent heavily on the throw pillows. He lifted one to his nose and breathed deep. God this scent was delicious. He wished there was a way to bottle it so he could keep it when Kim no longer was in his life and another alpha was in his place. Just a small reminder of what could have been.  

As the day progressed, he felt worse. His skin grew hotter, tighter, and his stomach ached. He must have caught something from someone. Chay was still months away from his next heat, the birth control he was on helped regulate that. 

When night fell, his phone buzzed. Ball wanted to know if Chay still wanted to go to the club with him. He honestly didn’t feel great but after what he saw last night and the heavy scent of Kim still around, he wanted out of this apartment. He wanted to break this bond as fast as he could. He shot back a confirming text and got ready. He spiked his hair and threw on a tank top and tiny skinny jeans with rips in the thighs exposing his skin. After applying his blockers and make up, he was ready to go. 

As Chay stepped into the club, his body pulsed with the beat of the music. He hoped he looked sexy because he felt the complete opposite. He walked around the club twice with no sign of Ball so he parked himself at the bar and ordered a water. Chay people-watched while he waited but the thick scent of several alphas at once bothered him. He started to sweat and his skin felt like it was boiling. He was suddenly lightheaded and decided it was a good time to leave. But just as he stood, an alpha wrapped his arm around Chay’s waist and whispered in his ear. 

“Hello gorgeous, you are one of the prettiest little betas I’ve ever seen. Let me buy you a drink?”

“No thank you. I’m leaving.” Chay responded, trying to get out of his grasp. 

“Oh come now. The night is young.” He persisted, pulling Chay close and sticking his nose far too close to Chay’s scent gland. 

“Let him go.” 

Oh no. Of all the people he wanted to see right now, Kim was the very last one, but he would be lying if he wasn’t happy to be saved from the man that couldn’t take no for an answer.

With Kim’s command and the snap of a finger, two bodyguards pried the man off him while two more escorted the man out. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yes P’Kim.” 

“Good, let me take you home.” 

Chay nodded and took one step forward, but he was weak and his legs buckled. Kim caught him before his knees hit the floor but he was suddenly in Kim’s arms and one sniff from his mate was all it took. 

His cock hardened and he suddenly remembered Kim’s lips and hands the night before, but in his mind Kim was kissing his lips and his hands were on Chay’s body. He vaguely heard Kim tell someone to bring the car around to the back before the haze and the fog took over. 

Chapter Text

🖤🖤🖤

Kim finally calmed down later that night but he was still just as forlorn. 

“I thought you were different from the rest of them but I guess not. I will never allow just any alpha to claim me.”

Her words echoed in his head like a church bell. Had he really been too pushy?

He wasn’t ready to give up on his mate so he tried calling and texting to apologize, but they went ignored. 

Had she really meant it when she said they were done?

He received no response all day Saturday. Even after he sent one asking if he could bring her dinner when he was finished at the club. 

Kim was seated at his desk, shuffling a stack of papers and throwing side glances at his phone. The paperwork had been done for a while now and he was rereading the documents for the third time. He knew he was wasting time while he waited for a reply, but one never came. Kim checked once more. She had read it but not responded. 

He cursed under his breath and decided there was no point in sticking around here. He stood from his desk and walked downstairs to leave when he spotted Porchay. His wolf perked up then immediately its hackles rose. There was a big alpha twice the size of Porchay with his hand around the beta’s waist. Fury flared in his chest but he tamped it down. If Porchay wanted to seek out someone, he had every right. But as he approached, he could see how distressed the beta was and observed him trying to squirm free. This alpha’s attention was unwanted.

“Let him go.” 

The alpha looked at him but didn’t release his hold so Kim snapped his fingers. His bodyguards jumped into action to see the man out. 

“Are you okay?”

Chay looked unwell, red skin and unfocused eyes. Perhaps he was already intoxicated.

“Yes P’Kim.” 

A bright idea came to him. 

“Good, let me take you home.” 

Kim could take the beta home as a gesture of goodwill, and he would get to see Fern as well. He could explain how he helped Porchay in a moment of need and hopefully Fern could see sincerity in the action. 

Porchay nodded and took a step forward. Luckily Kim had been watching him, because in a split second he crumbled into Kim’s arms. 

“Big, pull the car around back. I’m going to Fern’s condo.” 

Porchay clung to him as they walked through the employee hallway and out to the back alley. The beta was groaning and murmuring incoherently.

“We’ll be back at your condo soon, Porchay.” Kim muttered as he helped the boy into the limo and slid in beside him. 

Kim looked out the window as the limo moved.

“Alpha…” 

“Hmm?” He responded without looking. 

As the vehicle made a wide turn onto the main street from the alley, a sudden jerk sent Kim flying and on top of Porchay’s small form. 

The divider lowered and his driver called back. “I’m sorry Khun Khimhant. A man on a bike wasn’t paying attention and I had to swerve to miss him. I will be more careful.”

As the divider went back up, Kim caught Fern’s scent. It was faint but it was there. He was near the crook of Porchay’s neck, close enough to his scent gland to see the dried white paste over it. Why was he wearing blockers? Betas had such light scents already. Kim couldn’t fight his curiosity and reached into his coat pocket to pull a handkerchief out. Before he thought better of it, he used it to wipe the blockers off. Porchay’s body arched at the sensitive touch and he whined.

“Alpha…”

The limo filled with Fern’s scent.

No… 

Not Fern.

Porchay.  

Chay...

Mate. His wolf provided. 

Every interaction he had with Fern played through his mind. The days with little to no scent, her unwillingness to work on their bond and the dissociation he felt with her. Then images of Chay replaced it. The possessiveness his wolf felt in the boy’s presence and the look of pure longing laced with agony in the omega’s eyes when he looked at Kim. Chay wasn’t upset because of Fern, he was upset because Kim was his alpha. 

As the realization of his mistake dawned on him, the threadlike bond thickened. Within a blink, the connection strengthened and snapped in place hard enough to make him dizzy. It was like an itch had been scratched. Weeks of pent up frustration and confusion melted away and a sense of rightness replaced it. He felt relaxed in a way he didn’t fully understand. Complete and whole. 

Kim looked down at his beautiful omega, studying everything about him. Chay’s flushed face, the sweat beading his skin and his half lidded eyes.  

Mine. 

His cock swelled as he took in another deep inhale. Chay’s scent was different. A deep and rich dark chocolate, spiced with cinnamon and cayenne pepper. There was another underlying aroma, the obvious scent of an omega in heat. He let out a frustrated groan and his eyes rolled back as he tried to swallow his arousal. He moved his hands to the leather seats, trying to keep them from skating over Chay’s heated skin and exploring the vast plains of his body.

“Main house!” He yelled. 

The divider lowered and the driver spoke again. “Are we diverting to the main house?”

“Yes! Tell them to prepare a heat room!”

“Right away, Khun Khimhant!” The divider wasn’t even fully up yet when he felt Chay squirming. 

The omega had opened his legs allowing Kim to slip in between them, and his hot hands were roaming Kim’s body. Over his chest, his abdomen, then into his pants. Chay’s hand encircled his hard cock and then let out a very omegan whine. 

“Alpha, please… mate me.” Chay begged as he inclined his head and licked a stripe over Kim’s scent gland. 

Kim closed his eyes and ground out, “Chay we can’t. You are in a heat haze and I refuse to touch you until you are coherent.”

Before he could avoid it, Chay pulled him into a kiss. When their lips met, it was just as Kinn described it. The world disintegrated around them and the only thing keeping him from shattering too was Chay’s lips on his. The kiss confirmed their status. The bond seemed to vibrate with them connected like this, urging them forward. 

While they kissed, Chay wrapped his legs around Kim’s waist and he began grinding his hard cock against Kim’s abdomen. Chay let out a long moan and Kim caught the hint of another scent. It was buttery sweet, similar to toffee, and he knew without needing to check that it was Chay’s slick . 

“Hurry!” He bellowed to the driver as his claws and fangs extended. 

Kim’s body was feverish and he could feel the moisture of his sweat collecting on his skin. He tried to breathe through his mouth to keep from smelling their combined scents, but every few breaths, he would inhale and almost shudder in pleasure at the aroma.

He sunk his sharp claws in the car’s upholstery. The fabric shredded easily, leaving him with fistfuls of leather and foam. He was fighting every instinct he had. Every animalistic urge to fuck Chay into the seat and leave his mark on Chay’s neck for all to see. To breed him and fill him full of come so no one could question who Chay belonged to. 

Ours.   

There was a sharp pain as Chay’s fang nicked his lips and his hips involuntarily jerked. He moaned into Chay’s mouth, rubbing his cock against the omega’s belly. Chay mewled helplessly beneath him as his hips reciprocated. 

Kim looked into his omega’s glazed eyes as they rutted against each other. Those dark orbs promised him so much. A future full of new fields to explore and places to hide. With their foreheads touching, they panted together, sharing the same breath. Chay was getting close, his mewls turning into groans of pleasure.

His wolf howled with delight, urging him to claim and devour what was theirs. 

“Bite.” Chay breathed, tilting his head in submission. 

Kim purred, running his fangs over Chay’s throat, trailing down until he hit that gland pumping out the scent that drove him wild. He had a split second of clarity before he sank his teeth into Chay’s shoulder. 

Chay keened, his hips stuttered, and his body arched into Kim. Seeing his little omega coming undone for him was just enough to send him over the edge right after. 

They lay panting, both exhausted and sticky from the come trapped in their underwear. The car stopped and the door flew open. 

“Kim what is this about you needing a heat room?” Khun asked before his eyes landed on the scene and he gasped. “Did you mate him?” He screeched.

“No, I bit next to his gland but get him away from me.” Kim begged. “I’m far too close.”

“You heard him.” Khun said before reaching a tentative hand in. “He’s in rut and we need to separate them.” 

The bodyguards worked quickly, pulling the pliant omega from the limo and carrying him through the corridors to the medical wing.

“Kim, who is this omega?” Khun asked, wrinkling his nose.

His brother could probably smell the sex in the air but Kim was so in tune with his animal that he couldn’t process the feeling of humiliation at the moment.

“ My omega.”

“I thought your omega was Fern.” Kinn chimed in as he joined them. 

“No, I was smelling Chay on her. There’s no doubt that he’s my mate.”

“That explains why you are in rut.” Kinn began. “The omega’s in heat and your wolf triggered a sympathetic response to it. His body is ready to be mated and bred, and your body accepted the challenge.”

Kim groaned as his arousal spiked again. 

“Kimmy, get to the medical wing. We can set you up with a separate room. The heat hall is isolated from the rest of the medical offices so no one will bother you. I’ll make sure of it.”

Kim nodded and made his way inside the compound. He looked lethal, more predator than man as he stalked the halls in search of his omega. Kim knew where everything was in this house but followed Chay’s scent instead. It took him exactly where it was supposed to. Chay was in one of the rooms fully equipped for an omega to safely ride out his heat. 

Each room had a large bed, a bathroom, and a mini kitchenette. There was a fridge with bottles of water and electrolyte drinks and the cabinets had power bars and healthy snacks to keep the omega fed. There was a dresser with comfortable clothes and a nightstand full of lube and toys of varying shapes and sizes, some with and without knots. 

The best part of the room was the doors. They were made of a thick iron that alpha claws could only hope to penetrate. Chay would be safe from him.

Kim stood in front of the door he knew Chay was in. He could smell him. His legs would carry him no further. His wolf growled at the thought of the clinically clean room. It wouldn’t smell like their mate. Not like this spot right here. So instead of heading to the next heat room for him to ride out his rut, he sat down and leaned his back against the door. 

For three very long days, Kim was forced to hear every whine, every moan, and every orgasm Chay had through the door. He could hear Chay calling for his alpha, for Kim , to fuck him and fill him. His wolf was going insane, hearing their mate so needy, so distressed begging for them with no way to get through the door. And the scent. It drenched the air and Kim drowned in it. That spicy chocolate laced with Chay's heat and the sticky sweet aroma of his slick. Kim wanted to taste it so bad. 

Kim resisted at first, encouraging Chay and telling him that he could get through this alone. But after Chay’s third orgasm, Kim could no longer control his desire and pulled his stiff cock out to stroke alongside the omega. His cheering went from inspiring to downright filthy. He coaxed the omega, telling him exactly how his alpha wanted to bend him, break him, and claim him. About how badly Kim wanted to taste every inch of his flesh and bury his knot as deep as he could into Chay’s tight hole. Over and over Kim’s voice and words brought them both some relief from the heat of their biological prison.  

By the fourth morning, Kim was a mess. He hadn’t eaten or showered and barely slept. He had a mixture of old dried come and fresh sticky come coating the inside of his boxers and his cock was sore from the abuse his hand subjected it to. He had been so busy trying to help Chay through his heat as best as he could, that his needs were pushed to the side. 

“Kim?” He heard a voice call. 

He looked up to see Khun standing over him. 

“You need to go shower and get something to eat. I need to check on the omega but I refuse to open the door with you here.” 

“But-”

“Kim, go.” Khun pushed, wrinkling his nose. “You smell like a come rag. I swear as soon as we are able to, I will let you see him.” 

Kim knew his brother was right. He looked and smelled disgusting, and he was starving. Chay had fallen asleep hours ago and the heat aroma had started to taper off so his omega would be okay for an hour.

He stood and walked out of the clinic and made his way to his suite. Kim tried to use the back hallways and corridors that were usually abandoned. He really didn’t want anyone to see him like this, but there was no doubt that his scent left little to the imagination and everyone could smell it. 

Once in the privacy of his room, he stripped and stepped into the shower. Kim took his time, cleaning his body thoroughly. When he was finished, he dressed in a tight t-shirt and jeans. It was casual but sexy. 

When he arrived in one of the dining rooms, there was a buffet spread out for him. As he filled a plate, he felt the first burst of emotion through the bond. Fear and panic. His omega had just woken in a strange place so it wasn’t a shocking emotion for Chay to feel. Nonetheless, Kim tried to eat quickly so he could get back to his mate. He was eager to get back to Chay and have an actual conversation with him. There was a long list of questions he couldn’t wait to ask.

After eating, he went back to the buffet line and grabbed a plate for Chay. He spent way too long contemplating what to take him. What did his little omega like? What type of food did he enjoy? He smiled to himself, Kim couldn’t wait to ask him. He ended up filling a second plate with a random assortment of foods then headed back to the clinic. 

The hair on the back of his neck rose as he noticed a ton of bodyguards near his mate’s room, the room he had just spent his heat in. He was about to snarl a warning when he spotted Khun with a worried look on his face. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“Uh well, Kim, good thing you’re here. It’s just that- Well-”

“Spit it out.” He gritted.

“Your omega is gone. I woke him and took his vitals. Everything was good. He was lucid and told me he felt fine. I left to get him a hot meal and some coffee and when I came back, he had vanished.”

Kim growled and sprinted to the security room. He set the plate down and shoved Arm out of the way to check the cameras. 

He found the right timestamp and watched a skittish Chay appear, sneak out of the medical wing and through the halls until he found an employee exit. From there, the outside cameras caught him walking to the nearest bus stop.

Chapter Text

🤍🤍🤍

“Chay? Chay?”

He heard his name faintly being called and opened his eyes. All too quickly a flood of fluorescent lights blinded him. His head throbbed and his eyes stung. He closed them again for a few seconds then slowly opened them back up, adjusting to the brightness. 

“That’s it, little one.” His eyes focused on a tall man with red hair and a canary yellow bathrobe. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.” Chay winced at his rough voice.

“Here.” The man held out an open water bottle.

Chay took a couple of swigs. The cool water soothed his raw throat. “What happened? Where am I?”

The man walked around the bed and grabbed some medical equipment then began to take Chay’s vitals while he spoke. 

“Does the name Theerapanyakul sound familiar?”

Chay shook his head so he continued. 

“Well you are in a heat room in our mansion. My brother brought you home a few nights ago because you were in heat.”

“But my heat isn’t for a few more months. My birth control regulates it.”

He gave a knowing smile. “The only time it fails is if you are around very concentrated levels of your alpha’s pheromones. So do tell, what were you and my baby brother Kimmy up to that caused you to go into heat?”

Chay froze at his words. “P-P’Kim?”

“Yes, Kim is my little brother. Your alpha. He brought you here to ride out your heat.” 

His skin flushed almost as hot as when he was feverish and he felt like he was swallowing glass. His head pounded as he tried to recall any details in his memory. 

He remembered not feeling well but agreeing to meet Ball at the club anyway. There was a pushy alpha who wouldn’t leave him alone and then there was Kim. He protected Chay, but after that the details dissolved into haze. He thought harder. There was a fuzzy car ride where Kim was on top of him, and he wouldn’t touch Chay even while Chay begged. More begging followed by flashes of this room filled with the scent of his alpha… His alpha in rut. Kim’s bold wine smell had shifted into a dry wine. Dense and smokey with hints of burnt cherry, peppercorn, and oak. 

Chay was convinced his mind was playing tricks on him when he could recall Kim’s sultry timbre echoing obscene and vulgar phrases. Commanding and urging him to completion. He could even still smell his alpha’s scent, his arousal and his release. But he didn’t dare think that was for him. It was a biological reaction that neither of them could control. Kim was dating Fern. And… Chay had thrown himself at the alpha, begged for his mark and his cock.  

“Your vitals are fine and it seems you didn’t have any complications. Your pulse is a tad high but you did come out of a heat haze in an unfamiliar environment. Here are some clean clothes.” The man set a stack of folded clothes at the end of the bed. “Go ahead and get washed up. I’ll be back to check on you soon. Kim’s around too and I bet he is dying to see you.” 

With a wink, he strode out of the room and closed the door behind him.  

“Kim’s around too and I bet he is dying to see you.”

Panic began to well in his chest and his body shook in fear. Kim was going to hate him for forcing him into a rut. He knew the conversation was coming, the one where Kim would sit him down and tell him that he didn’t want Chay. And he would have to be fine with it. He would have to accept Kim’s decision. After all, Chay would only want him as a mate if Kim chose him.  

For now, he would just leave. Perhaps if he left, Kim wouldn’t be as mad. Maybe he would think that Chay wanted this to be just as hush hush as he did. As painful as it was, Chay wouldn’t betray him. He wouldn’t reveal the secret they had. 

He pushed himself out of the bed, feeling every ounce of energy his body lacked. His moves were sluggish as he found his clothes from the night at the club. They smelled disgusting. A mixture of come, sweat and his and Kim’s combined scents. He tossed them in a trash bag and pulled on the fresh clothes Kim’s brother left for him. 

As he left the room, Kim’s scent hit him strongly. It was as if Kim had sat in this spot for days. His heart thumped painfully. He tried to remind himself that it was only because of instincts. The alpha’s wolf smelled an omega in heat and acted accordingly. That’s it. 

He spotted a handkerchief on the floor and quickly dipped down to grab it. It smelled so much like Kim. Chay looked around and quickly stuffed it in his trash bag of clothes then slowly walked through the building. Hall after hall he walked without seeing a soul. For a man rumored to be in the mafia, their security was surprisingly bad. Finally he spotted a maid pushing a cart of linens outside and followed.

The sun was warm on his skin as he traced the large walls to the main gate. A bodyguard nodded as he passed and he slipped out of the place easier than he thought was possible. Chay dug in his pocket for his phone but it was dead.

What was he to do now?

He headed in the direction of the sound of traffic. Where there was traffic, there was transportation. Chay walked four blocks until he found a bus stop. He stood away from others until the bus arrived and then he drifted to the back. Chay was well aware how he smelled and avoided the eyes of judgment he knew were on him. 

After a small commute, Chay arrived at a bus stop close enough to his condo to walk. He trudged up the stairs, his heart heavy with the guilt of his actions. How would he look his best friend in the eye after what he had done?

He needed to escape for a bit. Get away from the pressure of everything. He couldn’t stand seeing Fern. Seeing her so happy with an alpha that destiny deemed his. 

He unlocked the door and quietly crept to his room. The unit still smelled like Kim. It was no wonder he went into heat, it would probably take another week with the windows open to clear the aroma. 

Once there, Chay filled a duffle bag with all his clothes, school work and any necessities he would need while he was away. He dug into his closet, found Kim’s jacket and shoved it into the trash bag. He was still in heat, technically. The symptoms had lessened significantly, but it was still there. He was still horny and occasionally leaking slick. Riding out the rest of it with Kim’s scent was preferred. 

He snuck back into their kitchen and wrote “HOME” in big capital letters on their schedule. Fern would know immediately what was going on. Chay headed for the door, stopping behind the couch to grab the throw pillows and adding them to his collection. With the condo locked back up, he made it just in time to hop on the bus. From there, he took three more buses to the quiet neighborhood he and Fern were raised in. 

The little white house looked worse for wear. The mailbox was overflowing and the lawn was overgrown. He stepped inside expecting to smell his hia, possibly even see Porsche laying on the couch, but it was empty and the house smelled stale. He took to the stairs until he reached his brother's room and opened the door to find it empty as well. His hia’s scent was long gone, perhaps by weeks. 

Where was he? Porsche never mentioned any reason for leaving. 

He went to his own room and dropped his belongings on his bed, digging deep in his duffle bag until he found his phone charger. Chay plugged his phone in and let it charge. While it did, he looked around. It had been ages since he had been home, and aside from the dust, it looked just how he remembered. 

A small ball of warmth flashed in his stomach and before he knew it, his instincts had kicked in. Chay removed the items from the trash bag, including his come stained and sweat soaked clothes from the club, and arranged the small pile of treasures on his bed. He would lightly rub each prize against his blanket, trying to get the scent as embedded into his nest as possible. 

When his wolf had settled, he went downstairs to see if he could find anything to eat. The fridge was empty apart from some condiments and a few bottles of water. He took a couple bottles and searched the cupboards. Luckily Chay was able to find some crackers. He took his measly breakfast and headed back upstairs to turn on his phone. 

As the device booted up and notifications pinged on the screen, an incoming call came through. 

“Hello?” He answered.

“Porchay, where are you? Fern has been worried sick.”

“I’m sorry hia. I-” He hesitated, unsure of how much he really wanted to reveal. “went into an early heat and I was in a heat clinic.”

Porsche sighed in relief. “I’m so glad you are safe. Where are you now?”

“I’m at home. Our home. I needed a week away. Where are you, by the way?”

“On the coast. I was offered a fishing job that pays well so I will be out at sea for a couple of months.” 

“Oh… Well I miss you hia.”

“I miss you too. Relax for a bit and I’ll call back later.”

They hung up and Chay pulled his laptop out of his bag. He turned it on and started to type up a very apologetic email to his professors about his absence. Luckily most colleges were sympathetic to student’s needs, and understood that these unavoidable biological occurrences happen. 

Once that was taken care of, he finally turned to his text messages. Chay had been avoiding them like the plague but he needed to check in with Fern and Ball. He tapped the app and opened Ball’s conversation. There were a couple apologizing for being late to the club- Ball had been held up. Then they switched to asking where he was, an hour after the agreed meet up time. The messages went back to apologizing and asking if he was okay. He typed out a quick response about having some personal things going on and that he would reach out when he felt better. 

He closed the conversation and opened the one from Fern. They started off curious, asking where he was and when he was coming home, then turned frantic. She was so worried and it made him feel even guiltier. The last message had come twenty minutes ago. 

[I saw the writing on our schedule. Please just tell me you are okay. I’m so worried.]

He sighed and began to type. 

[I’m fine. I went into heat from stress and decided to go home to relax. I’ll be back next week. 😊]

He tried to make it sound as happy as possible, even adding a happy face at the end just to reassure her that everything was fine. Because it was. The last three days didn’t happen, and he would continue his life as such. Maybe a week away would help him recover his footing and regain his drive to break their bond. 

Speaking of which, he could feel their bond now. He had felt different the moment he woke. Almost like a door to a new room had opened in his mind, but he tried to ignore it the best he could. But now that he had a chance to truly just sit and feel it, it thrummed in his chest, alive and dancing. He wanted to explore and reach through the bond, but he could already feel the anger radiating off of Kim’s side. He didn’t know why, but he could only assume it was his fault. Why else would Kim be angry?

Now that all the necessary people had been contacted, he put his phone on silent and ate his snack. He could feel his arousal dialing up, but he didn’t feel in the mood to take care of it. Fortunately at this stage in his heat, it wasn’t an all consuming urge, more like an irritating nag that he could ignore. Instead, he snuggled into his Kim-scented nest and fell asleep.  

Hours later, a noise startled him awake. The sky was painted pastel, welcoming dusk. Chay reached for his phone and checked the time. He had slept for hours. It wasn’t super abnormal for an omega though, not after a long heat. It was an omega’s way to recoup the energy lost. 

He rose from the bed to try and seek out what that noise was when he heard another one. Someone was downstairs. At first, his sleep fog mind provided Porsche, but then he remembered that Porsche wasn’t in town. 

Another noise, this one closer, like the creak on the stairs. He reached for a baseball bat he had stashed in one corner. The very one he used to defend himself against the loan sharks. There were footsteps coming down the hall, stopping in front of his door. He raised the bat, ready to swing when the knob turned. There was a sudden surge of anxiety through the bond, mixing with his own, just before the door burst open. 

Chay didn’t think and swung the weapon.

Chapter Text

🖤🖤🖤

Kim was irrationally angry. Why did his mate just up and leave like that? Chay still smelled so good, and what if another alpha (like the other night) took an interest in him? 

Kim grabbed his keys and fled to the nearest bus stop. 

Nothing. 

He then checked the face of everyone he passed on the way to Chay and Fern’s condo. Then when he arrived, he knocked for five minutes with no response. His next location would be the university. 

He walked aimlessly around the giant campus, his eyes seeking out Chay, Fern, or much to his chagrin, Ball. He checked the library, the stadium, the cafeteria, anywhere he thought Chay might be. It made him even angrier to know how little he knew about his mate. Kim didn’t know Chay’s major, his classes, or faculty. He also didn’t know any of Chay’s hobbies or where the omega liked to hang out between classes. 

He wasn’t surprised Chay bailed, Kim was a shitty mate. An alpha smells their mate and bonds, it’s instinct. 

Who the fuck messes up something this easy? 

Kim did. And he did it spectacularly. 

After hours of scouring the campus, the day classes were ending and the night students were coming in. Kim was heading towards the parking lot to see if Chay was at the theater working when he heard a familiar voice coming from the direction of the library.

“I’m not sure how to tell Chay.” 

A different voice, also familiar, followed.

“Me either.” 

Kim rounded the corner, half running before stopping in front of them. Ball growled at him, an obvious display of hostility, and Fern jumped in front of Ball, her eyes wide. Kim didn’t miss the subtle way Ball's fingers curled around her hip.

“What do you want, P’Kim? We’re broken up and I don’t want to get back together.”

Given the last few days, he was generally confused, and it took him far longer than he wanted to admit to process what she said. 

“Oh! No, no, no!” He said, waving his hands in front of her. “I need Chay. Have you seen him?”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you need with Chay?”

“I, uh…” He fumbled. “I just need to see him.” 

“Nope. Spill it or I won’t tell you.”

Not once, since the realization that they were mates, did Kim think about how he would tell Fern. Especially since Chay and Fern were best friends. So he decided honesty was the best course of action.

“He’s my mate.”

“Your what?” She shrieked. 

“My mate. Weeks ago, I smelled him on you and assumed you were my omega. I’m guessing he wears scent blockers and I thought he was a beta. I’m sorry for leading you on and acting like a possessive ass. I thought you were him.”

He braced himself for her rage but instead of anger, she expelled a relieved sigh. 

“Thank god,” She breathed heavily. 

Kim cocked his head to the side, “What?”

“Well… It’s just that…” She blushed. 

Ball cleared his throat, “Fern and I are dating.”

His mouth fell open. “You’re dating?” 

“We have been developing feelings for each other for a while but we were both… unavailable. The night you two broke up she showed up to my dorm in tears. She slept in my bed while I slept on the couch. The next day we spoke and decided to make it official. I liked Chay but I think over time I could sense that he wasn’t as into me, and Fern and I spent so much time together that I found myself naturally drawn to her.”

“Now that we know Chay is your omega, he won’t be upset when we tell him that we are dating. Since you know… He wants you.” Fern added. “You two always acted super weird around each other and Chay’s been distant lately. I knew he was upset about something but every time I asked, he said he was fine. I would have never guessed that this is what he’s been hiding.”

Kim remembered the devastating looks of grief and despair on Chay’s face every time they met. The desperation to be with the one that his soul was calling to. His heart clenched at the notion of causing his little omega so much pain and distress. Every interaction he had with Chay had been so wrong and awkward. He couldn’t imagine how gut wrenching it must be to see one’s mate with another. And Kim had been doing it for weeks, shattering Chay’s heart over and over. 

“Please tell me where he is.” 

Kim wasn’t begging yet but he wasn’t above it. He would get on his hands and knees and beg Fern in front of the entire university if that’s what it took. 

Chay’s scent had been taunting him for weeks. Small whiffs of that lovely aroma that consumed every part of him. Now he wanted to know the person beyond the fragrance. What Chay likes, dislikes, his hopes and dreams. Anything he is willing to share, Kim wants to hear it all. 

“As long as you promise to treat him right. Chay’s had a rough life and he’s finally in a good spot. He doesn’t need some alpha asshole to ruin it.” 

“I will be as good as gold.”

She gave him another hard look before sighing. “He went back home.”

“The condo?”

“No. Home. It’s a ways from here, near the outskirts of the city. I told you once before about how we knew each other. Do you not remember?”

“I do.” He lied. 

He didn’t remember. He couldn’t recall when it was mentioned, and to be completely honest, he didn’t remember much of what Fern had told him over the course of their relationship. No matter what she told him, he could never retain it. 

“I’ll text you the address.”

Fern took out her phone and typed. 

“Sent.” 

Kim’s phone dinged and he opened the message. 

“Thank you!”

He copied and pasted the address into the gps and turned towards the parking lot. 

“P’Kim, just so you know, Chay’s favorite snack is fried bananas. There's a little old lady that runs a stall right around the corner from his house.”

He grinned. “Thank you.”

“Chocolate sauce on the side.” Fern smiled back. “Now go.”

He nodded and darted to the parking lot. 

Before long he was making the journey to Chay’s home. It was fairly far from the university, and by the time he got closer it was approaching dusk. Kim kept his eyes peeled for the vendor, and just as Fern stated, the fried banana stall came into view. He stopped, bought two orders, and proceeded to Chay’s house.

When he caught a glimpse of the small white building, it gave him more than enough information to Fern’s comment about “Chay’s rough life”. The omega’s family was not well off. In fact, Kim wouldn’t even put them as middle class. He wanted to know more about Chay and the life he was dealt. What horrors had his sweet omega been through? 

He felt a small tug on the bond. Coaxing. Persuasive. Inviting. Tempting him to find his mate and give Chay everything he deserved. 

Kim knocked on the front door three times but no one came. He peeked in the windows, finding all the lights off. It would appear as if no one was home, except there was a lit window on the second floor. 

He pulled his phone from his back pocket and turned on the flashlight. He slunk around the house, jumped over the fence and tried every window until he found the back sliding glass door unlocked. As he prowled around, he used his light to look at the many picture frames he found around the living room. 

A small family of four. Two parents and two little boys. Kim could tell in each picture who Chay was. His brother looked a lot like him but different in how he carried himself. Through the pictures, he watched Chay grow up, but at one point the family photos went from four to two. There was a small newspaper clipping in one of the frames that gave him the answer to the question that died on his tongue. 

While he moved through the dark space, he didn’t watch where he stepped and hit his leg on a chair. He fell forward, stumbling into a coffee table. He hissed out a swear, and then his eyes landed on a stack of paperwork. Overdue notices and medical bills. The more he saw, the more he understood. 

He strode to the stairs and took a deep breath. His mate was up there, just mere feet from Kim and completely lucid. He could almost smell the faint scent of chocolate from where he stood. 

Each step to the second floor had his adrenaline soaring. He tried to quell his bubbling anxiety, but even as he stood in front of this door, scenting his mate on the other side, the questions in his mind still worried him.

What if Chay didn’t want him? What if he hated Kim’s guts for what he put Chay through? What if Kim ended up as a rejected mate for a second time?

His heart thudded hard in his chest as he turned the door handle. 

A whoosh of something cut through the silence, and he immediately ducked on reflex. He looked up to see his omega with a baseball bat in hand, staring at him in wide eyed horror. The once pleasant aroma soured. That same burnt chocolate, spoiled milk, and rotten fruit smell drenched the room. Fear lanced through the bond, strong sensations of dread and trepidation. Enough for the guilt he felt to gnaw at him even harder. He never wanted Chay to be afraid of him.

He stood back up and gently filled the room with his own pheromones. Small gusts of protective yet soothing alpha scent. 

“Shhh. It’s okay, Chay.” He murmured. “Everything is fine. Calm down.”

Chay’s tense body began to unfurl, laxing under the currents in the room and through the bond. Chay dropped the baseball bat, a droopy smile breaking out on his face. 

Kim beamed. It was the first true smile he had brought his mate. After a couple of minutes, Chay seemed to snap from his daze and narrowed his eyes at Kim.

“What are you doing here, P’Kim? Couldn’t you have knocked?”

“I did. But no one answered.” 

“What do you want?”

You. All of you. Mine.

“We need to talk.”

For a quick beat, a look of anguish bathed Chay’s face but he quickly schooled back his features to indifference. 

“If it’s about the last few nights, then don’t worry. I won’t tell P’Fern. Thank you for keeping me safe. I’m sorry for forcing you into that position.” 

The comment stung. It would have hurt less if Chay had actually hit him, but it was a blow nonetheless. He was still willing to deny what they were to keep Fern happy, to keep his alpha happy. A sacrifice that Chay never needed to make in the first place.  

He took a step closer to Chay. 

“Fern and I broke up days ago. I don’t want her… I want my mate.”

Chay flinched at the word. Kim couldn’t be offended. It was the first time the true nature of what they were to each other was voiced out loud, after weeks of Kim dating his best friend.

“Why?” 

“Why what, Chay?”

“Why do you want me? You-” He swallowed hard. “You chose Fern. She made you happy. I don’t want to be a consolation prize.”

“You aren’t!”

Chay gave Kim a wary look.

“I swear it. I’m not lying, I want you. I’ve been a complete moron and I’ll explain everything. Will you hear me out?”

“Fine,” He replied coolly. 

“Can I ask you for something first?”

“What?”

“Can I kiss you?”

Chay’s eyes widened in surprise and his cheeks flushed a rosy pink, but after a small pause he nodded hesitantly. 

Kim stepped closer to Chay and cupped his cheek with his free hand. The last sound before their lips met was a hitch in Chay’s breath. Upon contact, the floor seemed to crumble beneath him. He plunged, letting the sensation of freefalling overwhelm him. His adrenaline soared once more, the blood rushing through his veins and pounding in his ears. 

Kim could taste his omega’s lips. He could taste the pining, the flavor of hope, and a hint of insecurity. His hand slid through Chay’s hair, letting the strands weave around his fingers and allowing him to pull the omega closer, deepening the kiss. Chay’s hands fisted into the fabric at Kim’s sides, kissing him with fervor, as if this would be the last time, the only time they would do this, and Kim felt it. Every lonely night, every thought of self doubt and desperation. 

This was exactly the type of kiss he expected from his mate. The kind in fairytales and happy endings. The ones you feel deep down, far enough to reach the very core of your soul. And it felt so much better now that Chay was a willing participant. 

Just as their passion started to heighten, their scents swirling and mixing together to create a new delicious fragrance, Chay whimpered and pulled back, panting and gulping in air. The bond was alive, humming and vibrating between them.

He groaned and rested his forehead against Kim’s. 

“I’m dreaming. I have to be. This is the only explanation.”

Kim chuckled, “This is real, I promise. I’ll tell you the full story while you eat the treat I brought you.”

“You brought me something?”

Kim felt a small pang of humiliation as he held up the bag in his hand and opened it for Chay’s inspection. He felt like his gift was completely inadequate for the situation at hand. He should have brought more. A bouquet of flowers, a card, a plushie, jewelry. Anything heartfelt to apologize to Chay. 

However, upon spotting the snack, Chay’s face lit up. “Fried bananas? It’s my-”

“Favorite?” Kim guessed. “I know. I was told to buy some from the stall at the corner.” 

Chay reached in and pulled out a container of chocolate. “Chocolate on the side.”

Kim grinned at him and Chay returned his smile. 

“Definitely dreaming,” He murmured.

Chapter Text

🤍🤍🤍

He couldn’t believe this was real. Kim was here. And his alpha was here for him . He’d even acknowledged Chay as his mate. It was hard not to miss the bond there. It had become an extra part of him, like he had gained a new sense that solely focused on Kim. 

“Can I ask you for something first?”

“What?”

“Can I kiss you?”

The weeks he spent watching his alpha from afar, yearning to touch and taste him, they had made Chay weak. He wanted to be selfish for once. This may be the only time he would get to feel his mate’s lips on his. The only time he could indulge in the delusion that Kim could be his. The alpha could still wake tomorrow and find himself wanting Fern back. Wanting his first choice.  

When Kim pressed his lips to Chay's, his stomach dropped to his feet. It was as if the universe's center of gravity shifted. Instead of them being ants that existed in the vast cosmos, they became the main focus. The world, planets, and galaxies revolved around them. Waiting with baited breath as the two shared a kiss so divinely right, so exquisitely perfect, that time came to a halt for them. 

So many of those lonely nights, he had dreamed of Kim coming to his senses and kissing him the way a mate is supposed to. Touching him and caressing him like they were really lovers. But the dreams paled in comparison. It was so much more than his imagination could conjure. It didn’t help that he was still technically in heat and he could feel everything in his body ten times more than normal.

“Definitely dreaming,” he murmured.

The alpha chuckled again, the delightful noise sending small tingles through his body far enough for him to feel in his fingertips.

In a bid to calm his urges, he excused himself.  

“I’ll get some drinks, make yourself at home.”

He left the room before Kim could say anything, and made his way downstairs to the kitchen. Chay opened the fridge, the little light illuminating the dark room, and laid his forehead on his arm while he let the chill soothe the fever on his skin. 

When he felt like he had a better handle of himself, he reached in, grabbed two water bottles, and went back upstairs to hear Kim out. Chay owed him that much.

As he turned the corner into his room, he immediately flushed from head to foot. In a haste to put distance between them, he had forgotten the nest he had made in his bed. The nest that was a very obvious tribute to the alpha he had thought about during his heat, the alpha he craved even through the pain.

Kim was surveying the items, occasionally picking one up then laying it exactly how he found it. 

“I was wondering where this went,” he murmured, looking over his coat jacket the night he took Fern to the movies. “Where did you find it?” Kim turned towards him.

“I… I…” 

Chay was too embarrassed to form a sentence. He looked down at the floor, the shame thick in his voice. 

“I found it… at the movie theater.”

“Ahhh,” was all Kim said. 

Chay looked up and this time the alpha was holding up the handkerchief. Kim leaned in and took a sniff before Chay rushed forward, snatching it out of his hands and hiding it behind his back.

He blushed further, feeling the heat in his face. 

“I’m-I’m sorry.” He whined. “My wolf...”

“Nesting is normal during an omega’s heats. You can’t control it, no need to be embarrassed. If anything I should be the one embarrassed.”

Chay met his eyes, questioning.

Kim’s voice lowered and his nostrils flared a tad. “That handkerchief still smells like my come.”

Chay swallowed hard, trying not to picture the act of that particular aroma getting into the fabric. 

“May I?” Kim asked, motioning to the bed.    

At Chay’s nod, Kim carefully crawled into his nest, lightly running his hands over the items, scenting them and refreshing the lingering stale fragrance. 

Pleasure bloomed in his stomach and his omega preened, drooling at the thought of their alpha scenting their nest. His wolf was pushing forward, driving him to join his mate.

When they were both settled in the small bed, Kim opened the bag and pulled out one of the orders of bananas. He handed it to Chay, then reached back into the bag and pulled out the container of chocolate sauce. 

“Go ahead and eat, and I’ll explain how stupid your alpha is.”

Chay raised an eyebrow and dipped one of the bananas into the chocolate container Kim was holding. He took a bite and nodded slightly, encouraging Kim to continue. 

From there he told Chay how he met Fern, and how her scent had affected him. About how he felt the first night they went out, and the weird nagging sensation that something was wrong.  

Chay was captivated while he listened. Kim had always been so quiet, so stoic, that it was amazing he was able to keep such a calm face with so much boiling beneath. 

The conversation stopped momentarily for Kim to pull out a second order of bananas for Chay, and continued when he began eating again. 

Kim then detailed the struggles he had while dating Fern, and his misconceptions about the nature of Chay’s feelings.

“You thought she was your omega?”

“I did. She smelled just like you.”

“And you thought I was her beta bestie trying to steal her away because I was in love with her.”

“Yes.” 

Chay cringed. “P’Fern is like a sister to me. I could never see her like that. We have been neighbors since we were kids. We share everything together. Clothes. Secrets. Our lives are completely intertwined.”

“I know that now.”

The next part was Kim’s older brother’s advice about drenching their apartment in his scent, and the impending break up they had.  

“Explains why I went into heat early.”

Kim became visibly uncomfortable and Chay felt a tiny flame of anger through the bond.

“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know you were in the apartment.”

Chay gave a small shrug. 

“How did it feel kissing her?”

“You saw us?” Kim choked out.

Chay nodded. There was a flash of guilt in Kim’s eyes.

“To be honest, I didn’t feel anything. It was no different than kissing anyone else.”

Chay swallowed hard. “And with me?”

Kim’s gaze met his, “I felt everything.”

“What about my scent? What does it smell like to you?”

Kim laughed darkly and reached up, using his thumb to swipe at something on Chay’s lip. He put his thumb in his mouth then sucked loudly. “Like milk chocolate.”

Kim leaned in, capturing his lips once more. 

“I’m so sorry.” He murmured through kisses. “I’m so, so sorry.”

His lips traveled around Chay’s face, his cheeks, forehead, and chin while the apologies kept coming. He then moved to Chay’s jaw, then further to his throat. 

“How could I not see how perfect you are for me? My perfect omega."

Kim’s hands rested on Chay's hips and his lips made contact with Chay’s scent gland. Fire rose in his belly and he began to wonder if this was when Kim would mate him. 

“I feel so bad for what I’ve done. I’ll repent for the rest of my life if you want me to.”

Kim’s cheek rubbed against his gland and his pheromones picked up. Kim was scenting him, making him smell owned. 

He was mentally preparing himself, ready to become Kim’s mate in every essence of the word until Kim pulled back. 

Kim reached for a bottle of water and opened it, holding it up for Chay. 

“Drink this.”

Chay took the bottle and gulped the cool water down. 

“Now lay down.”

Chay’s pulse spiked once more and Kim turned off the light. He laid down behind Chay on the bed and snuggled in close, feeling the alpha’s nose near his ear. 

“Sleep Chay, I’ll keep you safe.”

Chay’s heart fell slightly, and he felt a tiny bit of disappointment. Did he really want to be claimed already? Perhaps it was the lingering remnants of his heat urging him to breed.

Despite the disappointment, he couldn’t be too upset. With the truth out there, he could already feel Kim’s adoration for him. The bond didn’t lie, Kim was smitten with him. He finally had his alpha, but he was still worried he would wake tomorrow and this would all be just a dream. 

🖤🖤🖤

“I’ll get some drinks, make yourself at home.”

Kim watched Chay disappear into the dark house and turned to look at his surroundings. With Chay gone, he could fully take in Chay’s childhood room. 

It was small and plainly decorated. Nothing flashy, but the bare minimum a child needed. The room didn’t hold a lot of personal touches. Just a few photos of Chay and his brother and some academic awards displaying his achievements. As he glanced around the room, his eyes caught sight of the nest Chay had constructed in his bed. 

Kim walked over, shuffled out of his shoes and sat at the edge of the bed. He inspected the items, picking one up, giving it a sniff, and placing it back. His wolf barked happiness after each piece. They all smelled like him. 

Omegas lined their nest with items special to them. Whether it be a comforting item, like a stuffed plushie from childhood, or perhaps a shirt with super soft fabrics, omega’s nests were very personal. And Chay lined his with items that smelled like him. He wanted to laugh, or cry, or possibly both. Chay wanted his scent to help him with the remainder of his heat. 

Chay’s scent filled the room once more, then soured slightly as Kim picked up his jacket. 

“I was wondering where this went. Where did you find it?”

He was unsure how his little omega came into possession of it. He hadn’t seen it in weeks, and couldn’t remember the last place he wore it. 

“I found it… at the movie theater.”

“Ahhh.”

He remembered now. That date with Fern watching the terrible killer doll movie. 

He set the jacket back down exactly how he found it, not wanting to disturb the items in Chay’s personal space, and caught sight of the handkerchief he used in his rut. He grabbed it next and heat filled his face- it still smelled heavily of his come. 

The next thing he knew, Chay had snatched the item from his hand. He looked embarrassed, and Kim could faintly feel Chay’s shame through the bond. 

“I’m-I’m sorry. My wolf..”

He was quick to reassure Chay. “Nesting is normal during an omega’s heats. You can’t control it, no need to be embarrassed.”

He meant every word. This was natural for them. It was something beyond their control. 

With Chay’s permission, he crawled into the nest and drenched it in his pheromones. His aroma was far too old on those items. On some the smell had long since vanished. He knew Chay would appreciate this gesture. 

And he did judging by Chay’s scent. It had sweetened slightly, on the verge of morphing into happiness, but Kim knew Chay was still cautious about him just showing up out of the blue like this. 

With both of them comfy in Chay’s nest, his mate’s hands full of the sweet treat he brought, Kim told hiss omega the story about how he met Fern, and how he felt about Chay. How he was so sure something was wrong with Fern or her pheromones. How hard he had to try to get Fern to accept him as her alpha.

Chay was quiet the whole time. Patient. He occasionally asked a question or two but waited for Kim to get everything out. 

After he finished, he felt more stupid than he ever had. He barely knew Chay and he was sharing one of the most humiliating moments of his life. But of all the people he could be open with, it was his mate. If he wanted Chay’s forgiveness for this horrible mistake, he had to be honest.

“Explains why I went into heat early.”

The guilt was back once again. He felt awful. It was partly why he wore scent blockers. His brother Khun was an omega, and Kim had seen first hand how bad heats could get. How the haze takes over, and how some alphas take advantage of the omegas in that state. And his own mate could have been put in a position like that. He thought back to the night he found Chay in the club, and the man that had been heckling him just as he was hitting the cusp of the haze. His wolf growled, flaring his anger, but he was able to reign it in before it became noticeable. 

“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know you were in the apartment.”

He hated how nonchalantly Chay shrugged at something that serious. 

“How did it feel kissing her?”

“You saw us?” 

At Chay’s nod, he remembered the smell of delicious milk chocolate shifting to something repugnant. His poor omega had seen them kissing on the couch. Kim wished he could erase those memories for him. 

“To be honest, I didn’t feel anything. It was no different than kissing anyone else.”

“And with me?”

How could he possibly describe how vastly different they were? How kissing Fern was just fine, but kissing Chay felt incredible. 

“I felt everything.”

“What about my scent? What does it smell like to you?”

Those big brown eyes stared at Kim, his breathing paused while he awaited a response. Kim noticed a spot of chocolate just on the corner of Chay’s lip. With one swipe, the gooey liquid was transferred to his thumb. Kim held Chay’s gaze while he sucked the sweet fluid off. 

“Like milk chocolate.”

Chay’s cheeks darkened in color, revealing his pleasure. Kim surged forward in that moment, wanting to taste the chocolate still lingering on Chay’s lips. 

“I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry.”

Once he started, it was hard to stop. The apologizes gushed out along with his body’s demand to explore his mate. Find out all the ways to please him. To show Chay his devotion now that he knew the truth. Chay’s aroma began to shift, deepening and tingeing with his arousal. Heat bubbled under Kim’s skin and his cock thickened.

But Fern’s words about being like all the other alphas rang in his head. He wouldn’t let anything go further. He had to remind himself that while they were mates, they didn’t know each other. He didn’t know how Chay felt, and they had barely had one conversation together. Kim wanted them to mate when they were ready. He wanted Chay to know that Kim respected him, and his position as an omega. 

His omega.

He took in one last inhale and drew back. Chay was flushed, sweating, and Kim could see the need on his face. He was still in heat, Kim could still smell it.

He grabbed his bottle of water and held it open for Chay. 

“Drink this.”

As Chay drank, Kim’s wolf let out a couple of happy yips. He would take care of his mate from this point forward. Love, protect, and provide. It was his duty as Chay’s alpha. 

Chay’s anxiety spiked once more, but when he was finally in Kim’s arms, safe and sound, the anxiousness bled out, giving into his exhaustion. However, Kim didn’t miss the disappointment Chay felt through the bond before sleep claimed him. Had Kim done something already to displease him?

Chapter Text

🤍🤍🤍

Sunlight poured into his room, waking him after a peaceful night. He could feel his alpha behind him still, snoring softly. 

He tried to slip from the bed without waking Kim but the alpha’s arms around his waist tightened further. His body was flush against Chay’s back and he began to murmur Chay’s name. With a tilt of his mate’s hips, he could feel Kim’s desire for him. Even with denim covering it, Kim’s hard cock was bulging against the fabric.

Chay gasped when Kim thrusted again, no doubts what he was dreaming of. Chay’s cock also began to swell, wondering what filthy images were going through the alpha’s mind to make him this hard. 

Kim jerked awake with a throaty groan. After a few seconds of quiet, more than likely Kim’s mind waking and taking in the scene, he extracted his arms from Chay, muttered a comment about needing to shower, and fled the room.

While he was showering, Chay stood and plundered through his drawers for something for Kim to wear. He found a pair of sweatpants for the alpha but Kim’s chest was much more built than Chay was so he slipped into Porsche’s room. His hia was more built than Kim so he was bound to have something his mate could wear. He retrieved a light pink t-shirt and took the bundle to the bathroom. He gave a light knock on the door before opening it and setting the clothes on the bathroom counter. 

He willed himself to close the door, not allowing himself one peek at Kim’s wet body through the glass no matter how enticing the temptation. He sat on the edge of the bed waiting, not sure what to do while Kim showered. The water shut off minutes later and a beat after, Kim appeared with a grimace on his face.

“What’s wrong P’Kim?”

He frowned deeper. “I look horrible in pink.”

Chay giggled slowly at first until it turned into peals of laughter. Chay didn’t know why but seeing this big bad mafia alpha upset over the color of his shirt made him laugh even more. 

Kim’s lips curved into a confused smile, not understanding why Chay was laughing. But as Chay continued, he eventually joined in, emitting a few snickers of his own. 

When the laughter died down, Kim came over and sat next to him. 

“How are you feeling? I mean your heat?” Kim leaned into him and took a big inhale. “If I didn’t already know, I wouldn’t be able to tell you had one.”

Chay felt the telltale signs of a blush creeping up his neck. 

“I feel fine. No after effects or anything…” He trailed off.

“What do you want to do today?”

“You’re spending it with me?” He inquired.

He didn’t really know what to expect when he woke. He thought maybe Kim would leave. Return to his life in the busy city. Promise to call Chay later, but he didn’t think Kim would stay. 

Kim gave a hum of agreement. “I have been searching for you for weeks. I want to spend time with you. Get to know you. Do whatever you want to do.” 

While Chay pondered that question, his wolf reminded him of those primal needs that never left.

Mate. 

Claim. 

Breed.

He cleared his throat. “Uhhhh.” His voice wavered. 

“How about you show me around the area? I want to see where you grew up. Maybe we can go shopping.” 

“You like shopping?”

“I like spoiling.” Kim grinned, the sunlight glimmering off his teeth.

It was an appealing gesture. One Chay had trouble accepting was true. An alpha, a very hot alpha, wanted to spend time with him. Learn about him. Cater to him. The thought was enough to send his pulse into overdrive. But again, the bond showed no deceit, no ulterior motives, no change. Kim was happy, and if at all possible, that sweet riesling wine smell was sweeter than he remembered, taking on more fruity notes like apple and pear. 

Once dressed, they went out. Chay showed Kim his old schools, his favorite park as a child and the internet cafe he used to visit weekly with friends. They had lunch at Chay’s favorite restaurant and shared a dessert together. When he offered to split the ice cream, Kim just opened his mouth wide and allowed Chay to feed him. 

Kim was engaging the whole time, eyes focused on him while asking question after question and replying truthfully if Chay asked one of his own. He couldn’t have imagined another date being this perfect. This was a side of Kim he had never seen before. Fun, flirty, and doting. Not even Fern had described Kim like this.

The last place they visited was a local mall. As they browsed, Chay had to stop Kim numerous times from buying him items that were worth more than his monthly bills combined. A new phone, a bracelet, and he even hinted at getting Chay a car so he didn’t have to take the bus. However, the only thing Chay would allow his alpha to indulge him with was a new fluffy hoodie. 

“She’s not allowed to borrow this one. Your scent smells so wrong on her,” Kim ordered. 

Chay liked this side of him. Demanding and possessive. 

As the day turned to night, Chay suggested they grab take out for dinner and watch tv on the couch. They could have gone anywhere, done anything but they had been surrounded by people all day and Chay wanted to be alone with his alpha.  

Chay picked his favorite romantic movie. One with a sweet love story and a whirlwind romance. Two friends who grow up side by side, one with a secret crush on the other. They separate for college and by the time they reunite, both boys have grown into men. Men who know what they want and need.   

It was the type of romance Chay wanted when he was younger. Something spontaneous and exciting. 

A few times throughout the movie, he caught Kim’s hand twitch in his direction. Just as Chay gained the courage to reach out for him, Kim moved his hand.  

Towards the end of the movie, the couple on screen made love. They whispered ‘I love yous’ into the night and shared their bites. Chay wondered if Kim wanted the same. Did Kim want Chay’s mark on his neck?

The ancient yearning was there, bubbling under his skin all day and his wolf never let him forget it. 

When the movie was over, an awkward silence hung there. He told Kim he was going to shower and get ready for bed. It was his way of asking an unspoken question of whether Kim would stay or not. 

Kim cleared his throat. “I’ll wait in your room.”

Chay rose and headed to the shower, taking the time to clean every part of himself. 

He knew what his heart was seeking. It had been calling him for weeks. He wanted Kim, he wanted this bond and he wanted his alpha. He was sick of wasting time and unless Kim stopped him, he wanted the full experience tonight. 

When he stepped from the shower, he didn’t get dressed. He just wrapped himself in a robe that was far too small for him. It was just short enough to cover his ass cheeks but that was it. Chay walked through the house to his room to find Kim sitting on the edge of the bed, his body taut and posed. He looked just as nervous as Chay felt. 

“P’Kim.” He whispered softly. 

Kim looked up and as soon as his eyes landed on the tiny mint green robe, he swallowed. The resounding click in his throat was an audible reminder of how quiet it was. 

“I-” 

He started but Kim jumped from the bed, rubbing his hands over his thighs and stuttering out. 

“I should get us more water.” 

Kim strode to the door but Chay called out to him.

“P’Kim, please..”

He froze then turned back towards Chay. With Kim’s gaze on him, he summoned every bit of courage he could and untied the robe, letting it fall and giving Kim a full glimpse of him. 

“Can we mate?”

Kim’s eyes were bulging, darting over his body in a hungry frenzy. 

He licked his lips. “Are you sure you want that? So soon? Once we do it, there’s no going back. You’ll be mine.”

Instead of a spoken response, Chay flooded the room with his pheromones. His scent was already laced with arousal and Chay was able to watch the shift in Kim as he detected it. His pupils blew wide and his nostrils flared. 

Kim’s aroma returned the arousal. That dense and smokey wine. It smelled so delicious that Chay wanted to drink it into incoherency. With their two scents swirling and blending, Chay slowly closed the distance. His hips swayed with every step, hoping to exude some semblance of confidence. 

When he was in front of Kim, Chay wrapped his shaky hands around Kim’s neck and tugged him into a kiss. One infused with every bit of lust, adoration, and love he could muster. One that told Kim what he wanted, his yearning to be claimed, his desire to belong to his mate. 

Chay broke from the kiss then stepped backwards until his legs met the edge of the bed. He proceeded to climb up on the mattress then position on his hands and knees, presenting himself to his alpha.

🖤🖤🖤

The room was mostly dark with only a faint amount of moonlight to partially illuminate the rest. There was something under the blanket tugging his sleep pants down and before his next thought, a wet heat engulfed his cock. He gasped and arched, seeking more of the warmth. He pulled the covers back exposing the source of pleasure. 

Chay was on his knees in between Kim’s legs, his big brown eyes full of desire and his mouth working Kim’s length. His tongue snaked out, lapping the fluid leaking from the slit at the top. Over and over he would take Kim’s cock, massage from the base up with his lips then lick up the precome dripping freely. Kim’s hips started to thrust, using Chay’s mouth to bring himself to the brink but just as he was about to hit his peak, he woke with a start. 

The sunlight was bright. Vastly different from the moonlit room he was just in. It took a few seconds to realize he was in Chay’s bed, pressed close enough to his body that Kim couldn’t explain away his erection. 

He wanted to relish his mate’s scent but with his cock this hard and his wolf just under his skin, he quickly put as much distance between them as he could. 

With a mutter under his breath, he disappeared into the bathroom and into a very cold shower. The water helped calm him, evaporating all the lustful thoughts. 

 When he stepped out of the shower, he noticed the clothes Chay had left. Kim frowned. He really disliked pink. As a child, he really liked the color until Khun gave him the nickname ‘Peach’ because of it. The nickname followed him all through grade school and into college. 

He donned the clothes and went back to Chay’s room. 

“What’s wrong P’Kim?”

“I look horrible in pink.”

Chay began to giggle, a high pitched and gleeful tone. The sound was so beautiful to his ears. He giggled some more until they turned into fits of laughter so infectious, Kim laughed too even though he was unsure why. 

He sat down and proceeded to question Chay on how he felt. Kim wanted to spend the day with Chay but only if he was well enough to do so. 

When they had finally settled on a plan. Chay got dressed and showed Kim his small side of town.

With each new location, he could almost see Chay reliving his memories. And it was easy to see how he was shaped by his environment. A few times Chay had slipped up and almost revealed something personal. A fear he had about alphas, missing money, and physical confrontations. Kim had been in the mafia long enough to finish painting the picture Chay tried to erase.

There were quite a few times where Chay had mentioned his brother as well. Describing Porsche as the hero in his life. But now that Kim had found him, he vowed to protect Chay, even if Chay did reject him as a mate, Kim would always protect him. 

The sour notes in Chay’s scent had lifted and now instead of milk chocolate he smelled, it was white. Much sweeter. He could also detect toasted coconut and pecans. His happy aroma was downright delectable. 

Conversation was easy. There was no confusion, no hesitation and no force on his part. He didn’t have to concentrate on forcing himself to focus on Chay, he just did. He didn’t mind listening to Chay talk and as soon as Chay had answered one question, Kim had five more at the ready. The more he learned, the more he seemed to fall. Chay was an avid reader and a hopeless romantic. He loved cats and coffee. He’s never been on a vacation and his perfect date involves a picnic and stargazing. 

He hated claiming he was in love with someone so soon but he was. Kim was in love with Porchay. His omega seemed too good to be true. Like Chay had stepped out of his deepest fantasies into real life. But he supposed, this was exactly what a mate was for. To be the other half of one’s soul. 

The day flew in a flash. It felt like Kim had blinked and it was night again. With Chay in his new hoodie, they curled onto the couch to watch his favorite movie. And it didn’t disappoint. It was heartfelt and sweet with a good dose of angst and high levels of sexual tension and passion. It was truly an amazing watch. 

At times, however, Kim had trouble focusing. Chay’s pheromones fluctuated with the movie. When the leads were happy, Chay was happy. When the leads were sad, Kim caught that acrid odor. When the leads were making love, Kim could smell Chay’s arousal. And that scent lingered… After the ending and into the bathroom. Even now with Chay standing at the door, the very small robe hiding the very bare minimum, Kim could still smell how horny Chay was.

He was seconds away from making a mistake. From taking their relationship too far too fast. So he stood to leave. 

“I should get us more water.” 

“P’Kim, please..”

His name was so soft, Kim thought he imagined it. 

There was a storm brewing inside him and he wanted nothing more than to bend to the prehistoric urge to pin Chay down and knot him. 

An urge that he could ignore. Until Chay slipped the robe off, revealing miles of skin with hills and valleys Kim wanted to map with his mouth. 

Chay was breathtaking. From the messy curls on his head to his dusky pink nipples, his lean abs to his pretty cock and slender thighs. Kim tried not to stare, he really tried but with Chay’s body on full display at his own request, it was hard not to appreciate his beautiful form. 

“Can we mate?”

He didn’t know Chay wanted to solidify their bond. Not this early on. Kim wanted to go by Chay’s timeline. However, he didn’t expect their timelines to be so close together.

He didn’t want to ask. He wanted to take, to dominate and demand his ownership. But he needed to make sure this is what Chay wants. That he was well aware there was no going back once Kim gave him that mark. Chay would be his, body and soul.

His tongue felt thick as he swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth. 

“Are you sure you want that? So soon? Once we do it, there’s no going back. You’ll be mine.”

The warm waft of Chay’s pheromones told him what words didn’t need to. Peppery and sweet like a mug of spicy hot chocolate. Kim’s eyes didn’t leave the omega as goosebumps prickled along his arms.

Chay wanted him and at that point he gave in. He didn’t want to fight it anymore. With Chay’s intoxicating fragrance condensed and overflowing into the room, he returned it. Letting Chay know his feelings were reciprocated. 

He didn’t know when Chay moved, or when their lips met. But the lust in his veins amplified by ten. He could feel his wolf there, just beneath getting ready to fulfill his destined duty. 

Chay stepped back, his eyes locked on Kim with every step. He climbed on top of the bed on his hands and knees. And before angling his body just so, he tossed Kim a sultry look over his shoulder then tilted his hips, giving Kim a perfect view of his tiny hole, already wet with his sweet smelling slick.  

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He waited, hearing Kim’s heavy footsteps one after another coming towards the bed. There was a rustle of clothing being removed then the bed shook as Kim climbed onto the mattress behind him. 

One of Kim’s hands rested on his asscheek while a finger on the other hand slid down the crease of his ass, stopping right at the pucker of his hole. It twirled in his slick, rubbing at the entrance. He moaned then gasped when it tentatively pushed in. The digit slowly invaded him, cautiously testing the muscles. In and out. One finger, then two.

“So tight,” Kim murmured absentmindedly. 

Kim’s hand squeezed his ass while his fingers stretched him open. They were experienced in their motions, even a slight brush against Chay’s prostate had his eyes rolling. 

Kim gave a hum of approval and then the plundering digit disappeared. Chay took a deep inhale expecting to be breached with Kim’s cock, but instead he felt Kim’s hot breath right against his entrance.    

“Are you sure you want to be mine?” Kim asked once more.

Chay was nodding before the question was out of his mouth, “Yes.”

Kim purred a delightful sound before his wet tongue laved against wrinkled skin.

Chay’s fingers curled into the sheets and he let out a moan so loud he could feel the blush spread across his cheeks. Kim’s tongue was hot and wet, demanding entry inside. And after some persistence, Chay’s body relented. 

He buried his face into his pillows, trying and failing to stifle the sounds coming out of his mouth. But with every noise he made, the deep scent of Kim’s arousal spiked around them. 

Wet sounds of slurping and smacking seemed deafening in the quiet of the house, further amplifying Chay’s embarrassment and the color darkening his cheeks. Over and over Kim’s tongue lapped at his hole, trying to clean up every bit of slick he produced. 

After a few minutes, Chay felt Kim’s fingers press back inside of him. This time they had a purpose, seeking out the special spot that made him see stars. His hips rocked, trying to propel those fingers deeper. 

“Such a good omega. Presenting your perfect little hole for your alpha and responding so well to his touches.”

Chay whimpered at the praise. Another hand reached between his legs, encircling his rock hard cock and jerking him in tune with his driving fingers. He was so close, his body taut with tension.

“Come, Porchay. Come for your alpha.” 

At Kim’s command and one final stroke, he cried out. Groaning as his cock released onto his sheets and his body devolved into a sopping puddle, spasming with the aftershocks.

He was a mess. Almost immediately the sweat on his skin cooled against the air, making him tremble slightly from the chill. Kim’s spit mixed with his own slick dripped down his inner thighs and Kim leaned in, licking at the fluid.

There were gentle strokes along his back, light fingertips drawing circles on his skin while Kim’s husky voice filled his ears.

“You sound so hot when you come. Turn around, I want to see your face.”

Chay flipped over onto his back, and for the first time he was able to see his alpha naked. And what a sight he was. Sweat beaded his skin causing his long strands of hair to stick to his face and neck. The moisture continued over his collarbones, well defined pecs, and the hard muscles on his abdomen. Chay used his fingers to trace the valleys between the solid pockets. His gaze dropped further to the deep set v-shaped grooves leading to Kim’s swollen cock. 

With post orgasmic clarity, Chay was suddenly shy. He looked away, unable to meet Kim’s eyes. Their bodies were vastly different and being naked under his alpha’s inspection was intimidating. 

Kim’s eyes trailed a path along Chay’s body and his fingers followed. The fire blazing in his eyes as he stared down at Chay seemed to ignite every part of Chay’s already warm skin.

From there, Kim’s ministrations became careful. Almost as if testing Chay’s reactions to certain touches. Kim lightly rubbed his scent gland, traced his belly button and gently tugged on his nipples, all while placing kisses everywhere his mouth could reach.

Occasionally Kim would lean up to kiss his lips with both a softness and possessiveness that Chay didn’t quite understand, but he enjoyed nonetheless. 

And Chay loved this, whatever it was. This devotion to his body, to his needs and desires. 

It was only when he was fully hard again did he want the tender touches to change. He wanted heat, passion and lust. He wanted Kim.

“P’Kim…”

His mate looked up, his eyes hazy as if he were in a trance. Chay gently pushed him onto his back and placed himself in front of Kim. With their eyes locked Chay licked his lips, watching recognition register in Kim’s features. 

“You don’t-” He began, his words ending on a long moan. 

Chay inclined his head, taking the angry red crown of Kim’s cock into his mouth.

He started with small licks and sucks, swirling his tongue over the head and taking the broad organ little by little into his mouth. 

Chay didn’t know what he was doing and tried to mimic what he had watched in porn. But if Kim noticed Chay’s inexperience, it didn’t show in his actions. Kim gasped, he moaned, he hissed. He ran his fingers through Chay’s hair, rubbed his cheek with his thumb and always tried to maintain eye contact. 

He used the edge of his tongue to press the prominent thick vein on the underside from root to tip, being rewarded with a burst of Kim’s salty precome when he hit the slit at the top. He dipped his tongue in trying to lick up more of Kim’s essence, then started the process over again. Each time the silky skin became harder, stretched taut. 

Pride bloomed in his chest. He could feel how close Kim was, how good of a job he was doing pleasing his alpha. 

Chay’s own erection throbbed and ached between his legs and he reached down, giving himself a few strokes to ease the tension.

Kim’s hand flew to the base of his cock and gripped hard, fending off his approaching orgasm. 

“On your back,” Kim gritted through his teeth. 

Chay scrambled to obey, doing exactly what was asked. 

Kim chuckled, the noise stirring butterflies of anticipation fluttering in his belly. 

“Such an obedient little thing.” 

Chay opened his legs wide allowing Kim to slide between them. Kim’s palm pushed his thighs back, his body curling in. This position exposed his hole for the alpha, and allowed Chay to get an up close view of his own anatomy. 

He leaned down, giving Chay’s entrance a quick lick before lining his length up. 

Kim paused, looking at him. Chay nodded unprompted and felt the hot tip pressing in. It was a slow glide, his slick helping the smooth stretch. 

“More,” Chay hissed.

He watched as inch after inch disappeared, feeling the burn from the stretch as Kim seated himself inside of Chay’s body. 

Chay’s wolf sighed in contentment. He felt stuffed. Crammed full to the brim with his alpha’s thick heat. The pain was there, but the satisfaction he felt overrode it. He bore down, clenching his muscles and feeling the delicious burn all over again. 

“I won’t last if you keep doing that,” He growled.

Chay was amused seeing Kim this close to the edge, this close to unraveling. It added to the rapture of the moment. 

“Maybe I don’t want you to last. Maybe I want you to mark me inside and out.” 

His alpha tossed him a look that would have froze his blood before, but now it just made it boil. Kim closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths through his nose. He opened them again and Chay could see that fire there, blazing into something wild and uncontrolled. Kim’s bruising grip eased off his thigh and he leaned over Chay, anchoring both hands on the wooden headboard of the bed. 

Kim’s lips were on his, their tongues seeking each other while he eased out of Chay’s body until only the crown remained. Then he slid all the way back in without pause. 

Chay didn’t stop the whine that built in his throat, nor did he stop the other sounds when Kim did it again, faster each time he plunged inside. 

He developed a steady rhythm, one easy enough for Chay to follow, meeting Kim’s thrusts with the same fervor he was receiving. 

Their mixed aroma was almost suffocating, drenching Chay’s nest, his room, and he bet it even scented the lower levels of the house. 

Kim’s grunts turned to groans and his thrusts were getting shorter, rougher, and more earthstattering as he pounded into Chay. 

Pleasure was building just below his navel and the subtle brushes of Kim’s cock against his prostate were adding to that gratification with every roll of his hips.

“P’Kim, I’m getting close.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth, Kim wrapped his hand around Chay’s weeping cock, urging him on. 

Possessiveness and lust surged through the bond at an alarming speed. Kim’s claws and fangs elongated, and his irises began to glow red around the edges. His scent condensed down to an aroma so concentrated it felt like a weight blanketing them. A clear sign his wolf was right there, just beyond the surface, waiting for his mate.

Kim’s voice was deep. Raspy and dark. Stating an inevitability, not a request, “Such a good omega, taking your alpha’s cock so beautifully. You will bear my mark, Chay.”

With Kim’s order, the ball of pleasure in his belly expanded and popped, sending bubbles of euphoria thrumming through his veins. Wetness erupted between them, his cock spilling all over their abdomens. 

Kim let out a roar and Chay felt something nudging at his entrance. Before he could form another thought, the bulb of Kim’s knot stretched him open, sliding inside and sealing them together. There was a gush of warmth against his inner walls and the tremor of Kim’s cock releasing within him. 

Kim howled above him, triggering his omega wolf to crane his neck in submission at the sound of their alpha. With a strike so quick, his fangs penetrated Chay’s scent gland. The pain was muffled by another wave of ecstasy. A wave so good he lost complete control of his actions. He heard himself screaming, the sound almost like a ring in his ears. His claws dug into Kim’s back, his toes curling and his eyes rolling so hard his head spun. 

He felt Kim lick the wound before pulling back and tilting his neck in return. Chay’s wolf didn’t hesitate. In an instant, Chay’s mouth was latched to Kim’s scent gland, fangs embedded while blood filled his mouth.

Kim shouted, his cock twitching and spurting out more come inside his channel. Chay retracted his fangs, lapping at the crimson circles left behind. 

The bond that he had felt before strengthened a significant amount. Opening up their minds to each other in a way he had never experienced with anyone else. He could feel the alpha’s misplaced love for Fern, the confusion he felt for weeks, the anger. Then guilt. So much guilt. Self deprecating doubt and sadness. Chay could feel how bad Kim felt about the start of their relationship. How unintentional it had all been.

Hovering over him, Kim’s tense body was starting to lax, his energy bleeding away. Chay stared at his exhausted alpha in complete disbelief as he untangled their limbs and bodies to allow Kim to spoon him while they were still knotted. 

“P’Kim?”

….

“P’Kim?”

He wanted to talk about what he felt. To soothe the alpha’s conflicted emotions, but the soft snoring behind him confirmed that his mate had gone straight to sleep. 

It would have to wait. 

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Chay was perfect. His lean form was elegantly on display, nude and flawless. His scent gland was pumping out a steady stream, and he took on the position most ideal for mating. 

An alluring offering wonderfully catered to Kim’s tastes. Like a moth to flame, it called to him. He took two strides to the bed and removed his clothes, his body rippling with anticipation.

Once naked, he climbed into the bed, placing himself behind Chay’s waiting body. 

Electricity buzzed around them. He didn’t even need to reach through the bond to feel Chay’s anxious energy. Nervous but excited. Kim felt the same. He had been dreaming of this.  

He ran his finger between the globes of Chay’s ass, coating his digit in the clear slick before gently pushing his finger into the opening. It was tight, sucking on his finger as he went in and out. 

“So tight.”

He couldn’t believe this omega was his. This lovely, gorgeous creature was so much more than he deserved. 

“Are you sure you want to be mine?”

“Yes.”

Chay’s reply was breathy. Needy. And his scent deepened, sickly sweet, inviting him to indulge in more. So he did. 

He leaned in, swiping his tongue over the pucker. A low moan came from Chay as he lowered himself onto his elbows and pushed his face into the mattress, trying to stifle the sound. Urged by the action and the buck of his hips, Kim held his waist firm, forcing his tongue into the tight ring and licking from the source of Chay’s slick. 

It was a very intimate act. Filthy and sinful. Kim had never done this with any previous partners. He wanted to save at least one thing for his mate, if he ever met them. And seeing his omega taking so much pleasure from just his mouth alone reaffirmed he made the right decision.   

Chay fisted the sheets as Kim’s mouth worked him over. He added fingers, exploring Chay’s inner walls, searching for the spongy pad of his prostate. With a flick of his wrist, Chay cried out. 

“Such a good omega. Presenting your perfect little hole for your alpha and responding so well to his touches.”

Kim gathered some of the slick dripping down Chay’s taint to lube his hand, then reached between his legs and fisted Chay’s swollen length. His omega groaned, his hips jerking slightly. 

Kim continued his motions. Three fingers deep in tandem with his fist stroking. 

He was close. Kim could tell by the sounds he made, by the way he moved his hips. 

“Come, Porchay. Come for your alpha.” 

A high pitched keen broke through the silence as Chay came apart at Kim’s hands. Chay’s fingers fisted the sheets and his hips rocked back with every grope of Kim’s palm. When the waves of his orgasm abated, Kim gingerly withdrew his fingers. 

Slick oozed out, running down Chay’s thighs in rivulets. He inclined his head, taking a few more licks of the delicious fluid before trailing his fingers over Chay’s back, reveling in pleasing his little omega. 

“You sound so hot when you come. Turn around, I want to see your face.”

Kim almost chuckled with how quickly Chay obeyed. He scurried onto his back, opening his legs on instinct. 

Those big brown eyes were on him, traveling his body and soaking in his toned physique. It was like fingertips ghosting his skin, a tangible touch traversing Kim’s body with just a gaze alone. 

They dipped lower, zeroing in on his very achy cock. Chay’s eyes widened and his lips parted slightly. Rosy red pools popped up on his cheeks, and as soon as their eyes met his bashful omega looked away.  

Chay was so beautiful. His hair was tousled, framing his face, and his lightly bronzed skin glistened with a thin sheen of moisture. Kim couldn’t help but touch him. He looked absolutely angelic. Truly a gift bestowed upon him from the gods. 

He leaned down to give Chay a long kiss before Kim’s hands and lips explored his mate. He placed kisses wherever he wanted. Traced his pebbled nipples, circled his navel, and caressed his soft thighs. When he reached Chay’s toes, he reversed his movements and made his way back up. Over and over he worshiped Chay’s body, learning how to touch him by the gasps and groans he supplied.

Mine.

Yes. Chay was theirs. Their mate. No one would ever have Chay like this. Kiss him like this. Touch him like this. Taste him like this. And Kim would never have another. They could never compare to Chay. Anyone else would always be below him. 

Mine. Mine. Mine. 

He was so entranced, so deeply committed to memorizing every scar, every freckle on Chay’s body, that Kim barely heard him speak. 

“P’Kim…”

As he raised his head, Chay placed his hands on Kim’s shoulders, gently shoving him away until he was on his back. Before he could question Chay’s motives, the omega settled himself between Kim’s thighs and his tongue darted out, gliding over his bottom lip. 

He realized Chay was planning to reciprocate, but Kim didn’t want it to feel like an obligation. 

“You don’t-”

He could barely get the words out before Chay lowered his head, engulfing the tip of Kim’s cock. Warmth surrounded him, heat followed by Chay’s tongue flicking around.

Chay’s plump lips thinned around his girth as Kim’s cock disappeared into the warm cavern of his mouth. The movements were amateur. Unskilled and cautious. But Kim could see enthusiasm twinkling deep in Chay’s eyes. Sense the eagerness through the bond. Excited to learn and please his alpha. And it heightened Kim’s arousal even more than it already was.    

Kim watched him work. Diligent and attentive. Absorbed in prioritizing and maximizing Kim’s satisfaction. And Kim rewarded his efforts, making noise to reinforce what he liked. 

His pleasure mounted with each pass of Chay’s mouth. With each and every lap of his tongue. His cock was leaking like a faucet and his omega greedily licked it all up. 

Chay’s hand strayed between his own legs, and the jerky movements left little doubt that he was hard once more, needing his alpha to fill him.

All too quickly Kim’s orgasm approached, and he gripped the base of his cock to keep his knot from inflating and his seed from spilling. He didn’t want to come until he was buried deep inside his mate.  

“On your back.”

When Chay shuffled into place this time, he couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Such an obedient little thing.”

Chay was so eager and Kim fed off of it. Shared the emotion with him. He was more excited than he had ever been.

Chay was on his back, his thighs open, and the expression on his face was anxious but ready. Kim then placed his hands on the back of Chay’s thighs and pushed his body as far up as he could. At this angle, Chay will be able to see everything he is doing. 

At his inspection, Chay’s entrance twitched, releasing a dibble of slick. Kim ran his tongue over the pucker, capturing it with his mouth. 

He took one more look at his mate, and with Chay’s nod he pressed himself inside. 

He hesitated, just the tip within, but his omega was impatient.

“More.”

He obliged, propelling his hips forward and delving deeper. Delicious searing heat encased him. Tight, hot, and wet. 

He watched Chay’s little ring expand, stretching and gripping his cock with every inch inserted. When his length was snug inside, Chay’s muscles rippled, squeezing him like a vice grip. His eyes rolled back. The sensation bordering on euphoric. 

Once. Twice. On the third time he ground out.

“I won’t last if you keep doing that.”

A teasing smile played on Chay’s lips. 

“Maybe I don’t want you to last. Maybe I want you to mark me inside and out.”

Kim tensed, his alpha snarling and pushing himself to the forefront to accept the challenge issued by their omega. To fuck into their mate and knot him, make him submit.

When Kim thought he had a better handle on his inner wolf, he laid his hands on the headboard for leverage. He sought out Chay’s mouth, his lips and tongue to distract him from the onslaught. When Chay was invested in their kiss, Kim withdrew his hips, his cock barely staying inside then driving back in. 

Chay whined, the noise not fully out of his mouth when Kim repeated the movement. The second whine turned into a gasp, then a moan. 

He set a steady pace. The sounds became louder. They were a testament to his omega’s pleasure. A symphony of bliss that he was conducting.   

This moment was amazing. Their bodies were in sync, melting into each other. The bond between them exchanging their shared delight. Their scents blending into one and wafting around them. The wolves beneath their skin, ready for the right stage to claim what was theirs. 

With each pump of his hips, every drag in and out of Chay’s body drove him closer to the edge. 

“P’Kim, I’m getting close.”

He was ready to make his omega come. Ready to claim and knot his mate. 

His mate.

He couldn’t believe this was real, finally mating the one destiny deemed his. 

The gold flecks in Chay’s eyes glowed, his claws and fangs lengthening as his beast rose to meet him. His wolf rushed forward in return, getting as close as he could.   

“Such a good omega, taking your alpha’s cock so beautifully. You will bear my mark, Chay.”

Chay cried out, his body arching into Kim. Come burst onto Kim’s belly, coating him in Chay’s essence, in a possessive layer of his thick pheromones. 

His knot swelled, bumping against Chay’s entrance with each thrust. He canted his hips, the bulbous bulge slipping past the tight ring and interlinking their bodies together. 

Kim’s hips stuttered as he unleashed, his orgasm ripping through his lower body and inside of Chay. The omega turned his head, baring his neck for his alpha. Without hesitation, his wolf bit down, sinking its fangs into Chay’s scent gland. 

Chay screamed, his body taut with another orgasm as more fluid oozed from the tip of his cock. He rocked, his knot grazing Chay’s walls while he shook and twitched beneath Kim. 

He laved his tongue over the puncture wounds on Chay’s neck, stopping the bleeding with his spit. Chay’s eyes were glowing brighter, his wolf demanding ownership, so Kim tilted his own head in return. 

A sharp pain pierced his scent gland, the act solidifying the bond completely. His mind was overwhelmed with Chay’s emotions. How he felt now and the heartbreak he felt before. The longing. The rejection. The torment and anguish. 

He could feel all of it. 

It was draining, feeling so much of the pain that he caused. The remaining bit of energy he had was fading, utterly spent from everything. 

With the last ounce of strength he had, he moved Chay’s legs, his knot still inside, twisting until Chay’s back was against his front. Love radiated from the bond and with his arms wrapped protectively around Chay, he and his wolf fell into a deep slumber. 

Chapter Text

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Chay stirred. He took a couple of deep breaths then opened his eyes slowly. Sunlight filtered in from his curtains, the house itself quiet. Beyond the walls, however, was the sound of a world alive. Traffic, pedestrians, and city noises. There was a soft hum closer though. Soft snores in a steady rhythm filled his ears, the gentle gusts of breath hitting his neck. His alpha was still sleeping. 

His alpha. 

It was real. Last night was real. 

Chay remembered what it felt like to have Kim stuffed full inside him, the way Kim’s hands gripped him, and the feeling of being owned and dominated. The lust ruling their adrenaline and letting their instincts take over.  

It wasn’t a dream. Pleasured aches from within his body, the throb of his mark, and the bruises left from their lovemaking. All the sensations he cataloged further proved that.

He belonged to Kim, and Kim belonged to him. 

He smiled to himself, his heart fluttering at the notion. 

Chay turned until he was facing Kim. They were both still naked, Kim’s knot deflated and his cock laying limp against his thigh. 

His eyes traveled up Kim’s body, every inch a gorgeous reminder of how lucky he had been to be blessed with someone he wanted so badly. But he was biased. He could have been given to someone that society deemed as hideous, but he would still want that alpha more than anything, because he would belong to Chay.

When his gaze finally drifted to Kim’s face, he was met with dark eyes. Soft and playful with a hint of amusement. 

Chay averted his eyes, embarrassed by being caught ogling his mate. 

“Good morning Porchay,” his voice was husky, thick with sleep. 

“Good morning alpha,” Chay returned. 

Kim’s eyebrow rose, “None of that alpha stuff. Not this early in the day, or we won’t make it out of this bed.”

Chay blushed, “Okay, P’Kim.” 

Kim leaned in, placing a chaste kiss on his lips, then one over his mate mark before rising from the bed, “I’m going to shower. Would you like to join me?”

As heavenly as a shower sounded, he was feeling far too shy.

Chay studied the floor, trying hard to not stare at Kim’s nude form, “No that’s okay, P’Kim. I’ll use my brother’s bathroom.”

“I’ll leave the door unlocked in case you change your mind,” Kim gave a toothy grin before strolling bare through Chay’s house.

His heart pounded slightly at Kim’s flirting. He liked it, even if it made him blush furiously. 

He rose from the bed, raided his drawers for a new set of clothes, and grabbed a clean towel from the linen closet in the hall before heading to his brother’s room to shower. 

The hot water fell over his skin, soothing and relaxing his sore body. He took extra care to clean himself, thoroughly scrubbing come, sweat, and spit from his body. He took longer than he should have, indulging in the relaxing stream. 

When he finally emerged from his shower, his bathroom was empty. So was his bedroom. He went downstairs hearing the clank of dishware. Kim was in sweatpants and nothing else. His hair was slicked back and he had a grin on his face. Chay felt joy coming through the bond and a smidge of pride. 

Kim looked up, his grin getting wider, “Come eat.”

Chay approached the table, looking down at the food. Pancakes, oatmeal, rice, eggs cooked three ways, muffins, congee, a couple of types of meat, veggies and fruit bowls, and a mountain of condiments. 

“What is all this?”

“I ordered delivery. I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat so I got some of everything. Here.”

Kim handed him a cup of coffee then spread out several types of sweeteners and creamers of varying flavors. 

His mate waited, observing Chay’s every move. He popped the lid off of the cup then reached for three creamers, two sugars and one packet of caramel drizzle. Chay used a spoon to craft his drink, taking a sip here and there, then adding more of what it was lacking. 

Kim watched carefully, attentive to each ingredient. When it was finished and to his liking, Chay took a large gulp and sighed loudly. 

“Perfect.”

“Your plate,” Kim handed him a plate and silverware next. Chay looked over his choices. He spooned scrambled eggs on his plate with a pancake. He added some veggies to his eggs and squirted ketchup on top. He used a fork to fish strawberries and blueberries out of the fruit cup and placed them on his pancake with a drizzle of honey. With the addition of three links of sausage, his meal was complete. He picked up his utensils and began to eat.

Kim had his chin resting on one of his palms, his features deeply etched his interest with Chay. 

“Fascinating,” he murmured, “This is kinda how I like my breakfast too.”

The alpha then plated his own food, his selection almost mirroring Chay’s. Instead of honey on his pancakes, Kim used chocolate sauce. In place of ketchup, Kim used hot sauce. He also chose bacon over sausage, and added a scoop of rice and veggies topped with some soy sauce. 

They ate in silence but their heads were anything but quiet. They stared at each other, sharing a conversation through just their bond. Not in the literal sense, but using emotion. They were playful, breaching the bond to the other’s mind, testing where the limits were. Dancing through the invisible link between them. At one point they met halfway, surprised with the other right there. 

They giggled around mouthfuls of food. After that, the playing died down and they finished their meal. 

From there, they did everything like an average couple would. They shopped together, cooked together, ate together. Cleaned, bathed and made love. For a week, they experienced the domestic bliss their future could hold. 

And it was amazing. Complete. Chay learned so much about Kim and it further solidified how perfect they were for each other. How well one complimented the other. 

When the week was over, they didn’t want to part, but reality was calling. This small slice of heaven was an end goal they could work to. It gave Chay more motivation, a drive to complete school and a future to look forward to.

With his meager belongings packed up, Kim drove him back to the condo he shared with Fern. Hand in hand they walked up the stairs and paused at Chay’s door. Neither were ready to say goodbye, so Chay invited him in. 

He unlocked the door and pushed, bombarded with a unique scent when the door opened. The scent was deep and rich, a crackling campfire, toasted marshmallows and musky earth. Not as alluring as Kim’s scent, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

Kim lifted his hand to Chay’s neck, rubbing it over his mark, his neck, and his back. His alpha was frantically scenting him for some strange reason.

A low growl reverberated through the bond, Kim’s wolf was in full protective mode. As they stepped in, smacking sounds filled the air along with hushed sighs. Ball and Fern were on the couch, kissing and fondling. 

“Oh!” Chay released a surprised sound. The growl through the bond became louder. 

The couple on the couch detangled from their heavy petting session, both bright red from head to foot. The pleasant smell soured, charred wood and decay.

The howl began to quiet, and it took him longer than he wanted to admit that it was because of Ball’s scent. It was one of intense arousal, and Kim’s wolf felt threatened by his mate inhaling the tantalizing aroma. 

Chay was just as embarrassed finding his best friend like this. 

Everyone was looking everywhere but at each other. 

“I think you should leave, Ball. I need to talk to Chay,” Fern finally spoke.

Ball gave a half hearted nod and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. 

Kim cleared his throat. 

“I think I should leave too.”

Kim wrapped his arm around Chay’s waist and gave him a deep kiss. One that made Chay’s belly flip inside out. 

“I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, P’Kim,” he responded, dazed from such a delicious farwell. 

And just like that, he and Fern were alone. 

She stood and narrowed her eyes at him. 

Chay knew he was in trouble. She had only given him that look a couple of times, and it meant that she was indeed upset.

She made her way to the kitchen, flung open a cupboard, and grabbed two wine glasses. She then opened the fridge, pulled out a bottle of wine, and popped the cork out. Fern filled both glasses and pushed one across the kitchen bar towards him.

She gulped down the contents of her glass in one go. 

“P’Fern, I-”

“Wait.”

She filled her glass again and drank about half before sighing. 

“Okay.”

She walked back to the couch and sat down, patting the spot next to her. 

Chay picked up his glass and followed her, sitting beside her.

“Porchay, we have been best friends since we were children. From then til now, 

he have never hidden secrets from each other. Maybe from P’Porsche, but not from each other. I have told you everything. Why would you withhold something like this from me?”

Her voice shook and he could see the pain in her eyes. 

Chay whined, his omega distressed from seeing her so hurt.

“I would have never given P’Kim a second glance had I known he belonged to you! No alpha is worth our friendship to me. Had you told me the moment you knew, I would have broken it off with P’Kim. I knew something was wrong, but you’ve never really shown any interest in anyone so I didn’t know your issues were over a mate.”

She began to cry, and Chay gently took her hand and rubbed his thumb over her palm, trying to soothe her. 

“I feel like such a horrible person. Not only did I ruin your bond, I started seeing Ball even knowing you two were interested in each other. But I couldn’t help how I felt about him. He reassured me that you didn’t feel the same way but-”

“I didn’t!”

“I should have talked to you first.”

“I should have talked to you. I should have told you about P’Kim, but I thought he didn’t want me. I thought because you’re a woman or because you’re so pretty that he wanted you more. I didn’t know he was confused. I didn’t mean to hide it. I just wanted the two people I care about most to be happy.”

“Even at your own expense?” she snapped, “This wasn’t just any guy Chay, this was your mate. I would have never forgiven myself if I was the reason why you had a broken bond.”

“I tried to break it. In the beginning, I did like P’Ball. He’s very sweet and gentle but… once I caught Kim’s scent, my omega repelled the idea of anyone else, so I was using him to break my bond with P’Kim. I read online that it doesn’t have to be romantic, just another alpha’s pheromones can help. So I tried but it wasn’t working.”

Fern leaned in and gave him a tight hug while she sobbed. 

“You are my best friend and your happiness means so so so much to me. Please don’t keep anything like this from me again.”

“I won’t. I’m so sorry for upsetting you, phi.” 

She pulled back, sniffling and wiping her eyes.

“I’m sorry too, Chay. I wish I would have known, or I wish you would have told me. I never would have gotten in the way of true love.”

Chay blushed, “Well we haven’t exactly said the ‘L’ word to each other yet.”

She flashed an exasperated look, “You are literally wearing his mark, and if I could smell his pheromones, I would bet you are dripping with them.” 

Chay giggled but didn’t fight her observation. He could still smell his mate on himself. 

“Now then,” She stood and headed to the kitchen to grab the wine bottle, “I would like for you to start at the beginning and tell me every juicy detail, including what you were up to the last week and a half.”

Chay laughed, “Only if you tell me about you and P’Ball.”

“Deal.”

Chapter Text

2 Years Later

Chay traced his name, the glass smooth under his finger. Pride swelled in his chest as he looked over his degree. He had worked hard for this and deserved it. With this piece of paper, he could find a job at a nice restaurant and work towards owning something of his own one day. 

It had been a rough couple of years trying to navigate the pressure of classes and school work, as well as keeping up his friendships and relationship with Kim. Even with the bond, they had to learn to communicate what they needed.

Kim had been a solid presence in his life since they bonded. His alpha spoiled him in more ways than one. Whether it was material items or just a simple home cooked meal, Kim indulged his every need. Anything he desired, Kim would make it happen. Even his physical wants were met without delay.   

Chay took his framed diploma, rolled bubble wrap around the glass, and tucked it into a box. He went around his room adding all of his oher framed photos and small trinkets laying around. It was moving day, and he was boxing up everything he owned. After Fern graduated she was adamant that she wanted to stay roommates with Chay, until he too was finished with school. 

When Kim and Fern had graduated, Kim went on to pick up more work within his family’s business, and Fern used her degree to get a job with a fashion magazine. While it wasn’t exactly what Fern had in mind, she was more than happy to work in the field she loved so much, regardless of where. At one point, Ball had wanted to open his own gym, but when he finally graduated he was offered a job as a children’s football coach. He readily agreed. The pay wasn’t amazing, but he made enough and he loved working with the kids. 

Now that Chay and Fern were both finished and both had mates it was time to depart and live their lives separately. Fern was moving with Ball further into the city. Their home would be closer to the building she worked at. Kim had suggested Chay live with him at the mansion, but the thought of living with so many people, so many eyes on him at once, in a mafia compound no less, made him incredibly uncomfortable. At Chay’s distress, Kim retracted the suggestion and told Chay that they could get their own place. Their own luxury condo in a less busy part of the city. 

“Are you all packed up?” Fern popped her head in, inspecting his very bare room. 

“Almost. I’m just waiting for the movers to pick up my furniture.” 

Fern nodded, her hands fidgeting in front of her body, “Well all my stuff is moved, and we need to stop by Ball’s house to pick up the rest of his boxes.”

“Oh.” 

A lump formed in his throat now understanding why she was upset. 

“We knew this day was coming, P’Fern.”

Tears collected in the corners of her eyes while she tried to blink them away. 

“I know, it just felt like it happened way sooner than it was,” Her voice broke on a sob. 

He rushed forward, taking her in his arms and drizzling his scent all over her.

“Shhhh. We will still be best friends no matter how far apart we are. We can still go double dating, and you can call me anytime you need me.” 

He felt her nod against his chest. 

“I’m going to miss you, Chay.”

“I’m going to miss you, too.”

“Fern, do you have everything?” Ball called from the front door. 

She gave Chay one more quick squeeze and stepped back, wiping her eyes and trying to contain her sniffles. 

“Remember, we have a lunch date next weekend, then we can go shopping. Retail therapy solves everything.”

She giggled, “Sounds good.”

“Hey Chay!” Ball greeted, finding them in Chay’s room. 

“Hey P’Ball!”

“Fern, my mom said she made your favorite for dinner.”

Her eyes lit up. 

“Green curry?”

“Yep.”

“I can’t wait,” she squealed, “I better get going. I’ll text you later, Chay.”

“Bye P’Fern.”

They left, leaving Chay in a tangled ball of emotions. 

He walked around his condo reliving some of the memories they shared here. By the time he had cried his last tear, the movers were arrived followed by Kim. 

They moved the remaining items of Chay’s, and Kim drove them to their new home.

With the final box unpacked and everything in its place, Chay dropped to the couch with an exhausted huff. 

“Tired, love?” Kim asked. 

“Yes, I’ve been packing and moving stuff for days. I’m exhausted.”

Kim gently tugged him up from the sofa. 

“Well I have a bubble bath running for you. Go soak and relax your body.”

Chay groaned, “A hot bath sounds amazing.”

He shuffled to the master bathroom, stripped, and eased into the hot water. 

It was heavenly. Relaxing his aching muscles and calming him. 

After a relaxing soak, a wonderful smell drifted into the bathroom, urging him out of the tub. 

He found his robe, the tiny mint green one that Kim loved, and floated back to the living room. 

The lights were dimmed, candles lit around the room. His favorite movie was on the tv screen along with his favorite take out laid out on the coffee table. Kim was sitting on the sofa waiting for him and filling two glasses with wine.

Kim smiled.

“Surprise. I know our anniversary was days ago, but I still wanted to celebrate with you.”

Chay gasped, his eyes pooling with tears. Kim smelled his distress and stood, pulling Chay to the couch and flooding the room with his soothing pheromones. 

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot. I was so busy with finishing school and moving that I didn’t remember. I'm a terrible mate.”

“You aren’t a terrible mate. You were busy. Besides, I also forgot. It wasn’t until Ball texted me about his and Fern’s anniversary that I remembered.”

“I guess that’s true,” he sniffled, “What did P’Ball get P’Fern?”

Kim grinned, “Check your phone.”

Chay picked up his phone and opened his text messages to Fern. There was a picture. It was a shot of Fern’s hand with a very large diamond ring on her ring finger. 

“He proposed?” Chay exclaimed. 

“He did,” Kim grinned, “I went with him to pick out the ring.”

“Awww. I’m happy for them.”

“Me too. They are cute together.”

The conversation went quiet and Chay felt his face heat in shame. 

“I didn’t get you anything P’Kim. I’m sorry.” 

“Shhhh. I don’t want anything. Just you.” 

Kim leaned in and kissed him. Loving and tender. Sweet enough to make him tear up again. 

“You are all I need. My omega,” he murmured. 

Kim pulled back and cleared his throat, “I do have a gift for you though, Chay.”

“You do?”

“Yes,” he stood and reached inside the bookcase for an envelope. 

He sat back down and handed it to Chay.

Chay gingerly opened it and found plane tickets to the United States.  

He gasped. 

“What’s this for?”

“Well you’ve never been on vacation, and I need a break from work. I figured since you haven’t found a job yet, and school is over, it would be the most opportune time to take a long vacation.” 

Chay found himself sobbing now, “I’ve never been on a vacation. Ever.”

“I know. I want to share this with you.” 

“I love you, P’Kim.”

His heart was full. Kim was everything that he dreamed about. Besides their rocky start, Kim had been a model mate. Perfect in every way. Everyday Kim strived to be better, and Chay could see it. The way he memorized every detail, even small, insignificant things. 

And now his alpha was giving him the one thing he had always wanted. It would seem childish to some people, but it meant a great deal to Chay. And he was going to be able to share it with Kim. 

“I love you too, Porchay.”

He snuggled into his alpha’s chest, inhaling the fragrance of their now mixed scents. Over time, their aromas had blended, fusing and unifying them as a couple. As mates. 

Now that scent was his favorite smell in the world. It smelled like love. Like safety and protection. But most of all, it smelled like home.