Rain first met Prapai when he got stuck in the rain.

It had been raining all day that day. His mom took the only car they had, so he and Chay decided to pitch in for a taxi. But Chay went home before him as Chay needed to be at the bookstore and his money was only enough for a bus.

So he had been hanging around at the library, getting his English homework done and waiting for the rain to calm down into a brizzle at least. He was diligently working when a finger appeared, "You got it wrong right here, Nong."

Rain looked up and saw a handsome face and a friendly smile. He couldn't help but grow his own smile. "Really, Phi? Thank you. English is not my strength."

"Do you mind if I help you with it?"

What Rain thought:
'God, this man! Not only handsome outside but also handsome inside. He even asks for permission to help. Perfect!'

"No, Phi! I'll be grateful." Rain smiled wide enough that his cheeks hurt.

So they were doing the work for thirty minutes, with Pai patiently teaching Rain, before introducing themselves to each other. Pai was getting his Master's Degree in International business. He finished his bachelor's at NYU but had to return to Thailand because his father was sick. So he had to take over the family business.

"But your father is ok now, right Phi?"

Pai smiled at how caring Rain sounded. "Yes, he's better. But he still has to go easy on working. I'm hungry. Do you want to eat, Rain?"

Rain was halfway through nodding when remembered his financial state. Then he shook his head. "No, Phi. You go eat. I'll just finish my work here."

But then his stomach grumbled. Rain could physically feel his embarrassment creeping on his face, reddening it. Phi didn't tease him. Instead, he said, "Come on, accompany Phi here. I hate to eat alone."

Pai was already grabbing Rain's stuff, so he had no choice but to follow. Pai let him choose his food and drink no matter how long it was. Not once did he grumble in annoyance like Rain's friends, except Chay.

Chay's motto was: Better make full use of your food and drink. Since you paid for it, might as well eat and drink what you like.

Since Rain could become indecisive about what he wanted, Rain could take up to ten minutes just to choose. But Pai, like Chay, didn't mind. He just let him be.

Soon, a one-time thing became regular. His friendship with Pai was away from his friends' eyes as they only met when Rain's friends were already long gone. Master students took classes mostly at the later part of the university timetable. They also ate, drank, and did homework at the most secluded part of campus.

Rain didn't want to talk about Pai with his friends since he thought that was nobody's business. Chay only knew because he accidentally met them at the canteen.

He liked it, this secret. Not gonna lie, he liked this cool Alpha Phi's undivided attention on him.

No one in his life ever had that kind of devotion for him, except ... Well. That whirlwind storm guy.

Now that Phayu has come back to his life, he doesn't know how long this private secret can last. He knows Phayu is capable of finding any information he wants no matter how vague Rain's pointer is.

"Rain," Pai calls. "Do you have an appointment today? This is Saturday, might as well have some fun."

"Erm," Rain initially wants to say 'No' immediately but he remembers just how many people Phayu has assigned to him. "No," he says after a sigh. "But if you want to take me anywhere, there is a new protocol since someone who is filthy rich inserted himself into my life. He assigned me bodyguards and drivers. I have to sneak my way to see you just now."

Pai frowns. "New stepfather?"

Oh, Rain wished!

He scowls but doesn't answer, so Pai just makes an assumption that what he said hits right.

"Ok! I can do sneaking very well, don't worry. So do you want to come with me?"

"Where?"

"To this brand new bar, my friend has."

Before Rain can say anything his phone dings.

'Rain, Phi can't come to your home today. There's work to do with Phi Kim. See you tomorrow. Behave."

'Why did he bold and underline that word?', Rain scowls again. It's annoying! He's not ten.

Something shifting the gear in Rain's head. So he displays his brightest smile and says to Pai, "Sure, Phi. Do you mind if I take a friend with me?"

***

'Something came up. I'll send Big for you.'

That was the text Chay got from Kim. It made him boil with rage but he translated it to a smile. It startled one of the guards out front.

So when he went to campus, he stubbornly wouldn't take the car Kim provided for him. He started his old bike while Big begged him not to, citing one hundred reasons. But that reason didn't have anything to do with him.

"What am I supposed to say to the boss, Khun?" Big said, holding the steering for dear life. He wouldn't dare do anything physical to Chay. Kim said unless it was between life and death situation, nobody could touch any part of Chay's body except Kim.

Chay knew that from observing and played it to his advantage.

"Say Chay send a 'fuck you' to your boss!" Chay said in a low menacing voice before getting out of there.

So when Rain proposed this idea, he didn't object.

Tomorrow they will start their internship. Might as well use it to unwind themselves. Today they found out which company will house them for an internship. Luckily Rain's assigned company and his are in the same building.

He didn't forget to off his phone and told Rain to do the same.

So here he is.

The bar is cool. Like, super cool. Clearly who did it has money to burn. It is dominated by woods, so it feels warm enough for the older generation. But the lightning of the bar made it modern enough to attract young people.

Rain is explaining it to him in architectural language. That kid is fascinated enough to not be able to stop talking. Poor Phi Pai is entertaining him enough for the both of them.

A handsome guy stands beside where they sit, giving Chay his dimpled smile.

"Oh, guys, meet my friend, Josh. He's the owner."

Chay observes his appearance from his expensive shoes and makes his way up before the guy slips in to sit.

Very handsome, mixed race. An alpha. Comes from old money just like Prapai. Not gullible. Definitely not someone you want to cross, because, from the feeling of his palm, he is not shy for guns.

Still not at the same caliber as his alpha, though. No, no. That guy is on an entirely different level.

Their eyes meet. Chay puts his best-disinterested eyes, but it seems to have the opposite effect.

The way he shakes hands is ... Interesting. He lingers longer on Chay than on Rain. There is a light brush of his thumb on Chay's skin. Once. Twice.

Chay gives a polite smile after he subtly breaks the handshake.

"Thank you for coming," Josh says. Smooth deep voice. His fingers inch closer to Chay's. Chay doesn't back out. Just an inch more, they will touch.

Well, he has manners and courtesy it seems.

For a while, the conversation resumes without Chay's participation. Rain can be entertaining. He enjoys his friend talking about architecture. It's his passion. Porchay envies Rain, for having an actual dream, not just means to survive.

Then something hits.

Pheromone.

To him only?

He's eyeing Rain. He doesn't seem to smell it, so this is subtle. But still not enough because Pai smiles.

Chay takes a sit back and puts more distance between him and Josh. But the guy pursues. He leans his body forward.

Damn. This is not good.

This... interest, it seems different from all the suitors Chay had encountered. Not because it is too straightforward. Chay had handled straightforwardness just fine before. No. It's because it's pulling him to the way he doesn't want.

It's not supposed to pull him. He has a mate. A true one. So whatever this guy is, he is a professional charmer. Chay had read about this kind before. They are as rare as dominant alphas. Charmer can be an alpha, a beta, or an omega.

So, that is why Chay worries. It's more troublesome because of the 'who' factor. This guy, although to the world he seems to be a friendly nice guy, Chay knows he is more feral than any guy that had put interest in Chay. Maybe even more than Kim.

But then he hasn't seen Kim put his negative sides on blast.

Everything between Chay and Kim has been moderate. They still tiptoe-ing between one another. Learning by observing.

His hands are playing with the edges of his glass. He knows someone's eyes are on him, watching his every move. He feels like a prey and Chay hates being a prey.

Why does he seem to attract the most troublesome of the bunch?

"Josh. Your parents gave you a foreign name?" Rain asks, innocently. Chay stays silent.

"Yes. My mother is French."

"Oh. No wonder you look so ... Foreign."

Chay smiles at Rain's silliness.

"You should smile more often," Chay's eyes snap, looking at Josh, "It suits you."

"Thank you," he says politely.

"Are you a beta?" Josh asks, carefully.

"Does it matter?"

"No."

Chay nods once, letting the silence stretch between them. Rain and Pai's voices dominate the surroundings once again before Rain excuses himself to the bathroom. Chay scans the surroundings for a potential threat. When he finds none, he stays in his seat.

The pheromone gets stronger. Annoying.

Why is it that people find his disinterest attractive? Chay doesn't get it.

"It won't work," he says to Josh, still quietly. He is sure Josh hears him just fine.

Josh's lips quirks up a little smile. He knows, but he still asks, "What is?"

"Your pheromone, it won't work. Not on me."

"Why is that?"

Chay plays with his glass again. "Just doesn't. I don't need to elaborate."

Josh knows what Chay means: you're a nobody to me. I don't need to answer you.

"What if I want to be significant enough for you to answer me?"

Chay laughs, amused that Josh knew what he meant. "Not interested."

"What if I can make you?"

A lazy smile plays on Chay's face. "Because you're handsome?"

"Thank you for calling me handsome."

"You're welcome."

"Anybody calling you beautiful before?"

"Many."

"Wow, not very humble." That's not a criticism, he enjoys it.

"Just stating the fact."

Josh laughs. "I think I fell in love with you at first sight."

"Too late. I'm mated."

Josh is now eyeing his scent gland. "Either you're lying or he doesn't care enough to claim you."

"Of course, I care about my mate, Hiranchai, what are you talking about?"

Eyes snap to where the sound originates, including people who are close enough to hear. All, but Chay, who still plays with the edge of his glass lazily.

He just doesn't want to look at Kim right now.

***

Kim thinks he is already extra patient with Porchay.

For the past few days, he learned what Chay likes and dislikes. Chay dislikes being commanded, he doesn't unless necessary. He indulges his mate on anything a man his age wants as Chay never voiced his wants, except for food. Chay likes his stupid bike, he doesn't tell his employees to steal it and burn it somewhere.

He never denies his mate anything and he respects him to the highest degree.

He is very lenient and soft when it comes to Chay to the point his employees think he grows a second head when he talks to his mate or tolerates his actions.

Chay can do things to Kim and people can be dead if they do the same thing.

Chay likes to touch him and he can touch every part of his body he can reach. He doesn't care about timing. It doesn't matter if they are alone or there are people around them.

Kim even feels Chay doesn't care how Kim feels about it. He doesn't care that his touch burns Kim, leaving a burst of lust and wants in its wake. Sometimes Kim has to arrange his face to not let other people even be suspicious that he grew hard the moment Chay touched him.

He can't even imagine how it will be once they make love. Having all parts of his body touch that soft fragrant skin of Chay's. Having his mate writhing, moaning, and screaming under him. Watching Chay tilts his head in pleasure as he rides him.

Fuck.

His patience grows thinner by the day.

But Chay is not always sweet. He can't be painfully ignorant and stubborn.

Like when he heard a report of Chay going to an ob-gyn clinic from Big. He already could guess the why. It wasn't that hard of a puzzle. But still, he was angry.

Chay should've told him. He should've communicated this with him. Kim would've said ok. It was Chay's body. He holds the prerogative to it.

Still... They were mates. That should've counted something.

Kim knew Chay didn't understand his anger. He could tell by his puzzled expression. But, once again, still ...

So he decided not to contact Chay for the rest of the day, hardened his own heart, and pulled his will to the max. He kept saying to himself that he would give in once Chay contacted him.

But every time he saw his phone, there was nothing from Chay. Even this morning, he was stubbornly taking that God-condemned bike to his campus to pick up his interning letter.

If there was no emergency, Kim would've come to the campus himself and shake his beautiful stubborn mate until he understood about safety.

So imagine what he feels when there is a ding on his phone and a picture of his mate pops up. In a bar. On the same table as Prapai Sangngey and Josh Hiranchai.

For all the people in the world, he just has to pick two of the most dangerous Alphas that come from old houses.

His ongoing headache just got stronger.

He massages his temple, putting pros and cons in his head before pulling the trigger to end the life of a traitor, and tells his men to send the others to his compound and fetch the cleaning crew.

"Get the car ready," he commands, still massaging his temple. Phayu is already gone. He can hear his bike.

He tells the driver to speed up and finally there in record time.

He walks in long steps and Chay is on a grabbing distance in an instant. There is a tell that his mate knows he is here. He sits straighter before slumping again. His stand of 'I don't care'.

"You're his mate?"

Kim answers with a little curd nod and a whole lot of attitude on his face.

Then Josh laughs. "What sin have you committed in your past life to have a Theerapanyakul as a mate?"

Chay doesn't answer, but his eyes slowly find Josh's.

Fuck. He hates it. Kim thinks that kind of way of giving people glances should only reserved for him. It's too sexy, too intimate.

Does Chay even know that?

Josh continues, "They are the poster boy for possessiveness and overbearing jealousy, you know?"

Chay raises his brows, in acknowledgment. He scans his surroundings again. Pai is gone. To fetch Rain, he thinks.

"You know?" Josh sounds genuinely surprised. "You heard about Annakinn then. He found a mate last year and boy was that guy literally trapped. But I can't blame him. Theerapanyakuls have so many enemies that they can't even pee in peace."

Chay smiles, but his smile is a sad one. It painfully squeezes Kim's heart. "Shut the fuck up, Hiranchai!" he hisses. "Ter," he calls, "Let's go home."

Chay doesn't even acknowledge him, let alone comply.

Josh watches them with a smile on his lips. Porchay sees it and gets up from his seat. Even in an angry state, he knows that disobeying Kim is a bad thing. People will question Kim's authority over him now that they know Chay is his mate. He doesn't want people to talk bad about his mate, even when Kim doesn't care. He opens his wallet and places his money on the table for his and Rain's drinks.

Josh takes his hand and places the money back on his palm. "On the house."

Porchay smiles and puts it back on the table again. "That's a bad way to run a business, Khun," he says before stepping to leave.

Kim stays to warn Josh. "If you touch my mate again, I'll cut one of your fingers for every touch."

Josh just smiles. "No promises, Kimhan. No promises."

***