Archive of Our Own ^beta

“There he is again,” Kiet swoons, his gaze fixed somewhere in the crowd of parents waiting for their pups. “Never misses a day, that one.”

“Who?”

“Him,” the Omega points at a guy standing off center in the crowd. “Tall guy, black hair, blue button down tucked in his denim jeans. He’s here every day.”

The door to the school opens and a flurry of children come running onto the playground, all of them eager to return to their parents. Among them is a little girl with her too big, colorful bag hanging from her shoulders and a drawing in hand. She runs up to an Alpha and clings to his legs as soon as she’s in reach.

“Who is he?” Dao asks, looking at the Alpha and the pup curiously. “And who’s that with him?”

“That’s little Chaisee, Khun Rain’s pup,” Nali answers for Kiet, who is still fawning over the Alpha. “A wonderful guy but he’s such a scatterbrain. At least… from the few times that I’ve talked with him.”

Rain may be clumsy and forgetful, but he’s a good father who loves his daughter very much. A tad too protective maybe, but Nali can’t blame him. Little Chaisee is his first pup (and last, he once blurted). All first time parents go a little haywire with their protective instincts.

“That’s Khun Rain?” Dao asks in surprise. “I thought he was an Omega?”

Nali snorts. “That’s not him, but that is his daughter.”

“So who’s he?” Dao points to the Alpha taking Chaisee’s bag and hanging it from his shoulder.

“I…huh,” Kiet huffs. “I don’t know? All I know is that he’s here almost every day.”

Nali nods in agreement. She also doesn’t know who the Alpha is, but given that Chaisee seems familiar with him, he must be someone close to her. Perhaps her father? Nali can see the resemblance between them. They have the same dark hair and similar bushy brows…

“He must be Khun Rain’s partner.”

“Dang,” Dao sighs. “Why are all the good ones taken?”

“Damn right,” Kiet agrees with a deep sigh. His usual soft, lavender scent spikes with something akin to disappointment. “Khun Rain is a lucky man.”

Several meters away from them, the Alpha squats down in front of Chaisee. “Did you have a good day, puppy?”

“Yes!” Chaisee squeals. “Pup colored today!”

“Can I see?” The Alpha scrunches his nose at the pup when she presents her drawing to him. “Look at thaaaat, Pup the artist!” he gasps with such honest pride. He ruffles her hair fondly and then picks her up, rising to his feet with the little girl settled on his arm. “Shall we stick it to the fridge for Papa to see?”

“Yes,” Chaisee nods firmly. “Wanna show Papa!”

The Alpha scrunches his nose again, making both Kiet and Dao coo. He walks off as Chaisee snuggles up to him, holding her securely in his arms.

“He’s wonderful with her,” Kiet swoons, leaning his cheek to his folded hands. “I want ten of him.”

—

The next day at pick up, Chaisee comes shuffling over to the Alpha. His whole demeanor changes when he sees her rubbing her eyes and sniffling quietly. Both Kiet and Dao make quiet noises, and Nali can’t help but be affected either when the Alpha’s scent changes distinctly.

“What’s wrong, puppy?” he asks and crouches down to get on eye level.

“Want Dada,” Chaisee hiccups, looking like the saddest puppy around. “Is Dada home?”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” the Alpha caresses her cheek, “not yet, but we can call him in the car if you want? I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”

Chaisee whines and rubs her eyes again.

“Cheer up, lovebug.” The Alpha thumbs the tears from her cheeks and tilts her chin up to look her over carefully. “Will a hug make you feel better?”

“Yeh…” Chaisee nods with another whine.

“C’mere then,” and the Alpha cradles her in his arms. The pup melts into it easily, hiding her face in his shoulder. She kicks her feet a few times and squirms in his hold, but even from afar, Nali can see that it isn’t out of annoyance, it’s because she’s truly just upset. “Poor puppy,” the Alpha strokes her back soothingly. “He’ll be home soon, I promise.”

“Can he not be so attractive, please?” Kiet grumbles, watching the two walk away. “Poor girl is crying and all I see is attractive Alpha. Unfair.”

Nali snorts. Unfair indeed.

In the following two weeks, the Alpha picks Chaisee up punctually. Always arriving at the same time, standing in the same spot, waiting patiently and never even looking at his phone, like many of the other parents do. He radiates a certain serenity that attracts a lot of eyes to him, but he never pays it any attention. His focus is solely on the little girl running from the building straight into his arms.

And he’s so gentle.

“How come we don’t know his name?” Kiet asks at one point after both their daughters run off to the sandbox. “He’s here every day, so how come no one knows who he is or what his name is?”

Nali shrugs. “Ask him.”

Kiet whips around to look at her with wide eyes. “I can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“Because,” he hisses, “he’s with his pup.”

Nali huffs. “That didn’t stop you from stepping up to me two years ago, did it?”

“Ai’Nali,” Kiet grumbles. “That’s mean. Just because you’re an Alpha doesn’t mean you can tease me.”

“Am I not your friend?”

“Uyyy, Nali.” The Omega sighs. “Never mind you.”

Nali chuckles and looks over to her daughter playing in the sandbox. Clearly it’ll be another bath day tonight.

“Look, all I know is that Khun Rain has a partner,” she tells Kiet. Both look over to Chaisee, who’s enthusiastically telling the Alpha about her day. “I know he does drop offs, but I’ve never seen him before, so for all we know, your mystery Alpha is Chaisee’s father.”

Kiet pouts. “Unfortunate.”

Nali raises her eyebrow.

“Not– ugh,” the Omega rolls his eyes. “You know I don’t mean her having a father. I mean him being unavailable is unfortunate.”

Dao comes over to them. “Who are we talking about?” She follows Kiet’s gaze until it falls on the Alpha tapping Chaisee’s nose playfully. “Ah, I see.”

“Kiet wants to know his name,” Nali so helpfully supplies.

“Ai’Nali!” The Omega growls in annoyance. The expression on his face reminds Nali of a wolf about to charge on his prey, so she wais in apology. She doesn’t want to upset her friend.

“I heard it’s Phayu.”

Kiet whips around to face Dao. “Phayu?”

“Mhm, one of the other parents heard Khun Rain gushing about his ‘P’Phayu’, so I’m guessing that’s him.”

Nali contemplates the name while she looks at the Alpha and comes to the conclusion that it doesn’t quite fit him.

“You know what,” she speaks up. “Next time I see Khun Rain, I’ll ask him, okay?”

A smile breaks out on Kiet’s face. “Naliiiii,” he cheers happily, and dives in to hug her. “You’re the best!”

Nali has no intention of being a homewrecker nor will she let Kiet be one either, but having a crush from afar can’t hurt. Asking Rain for a fellow Alpha’s name is the least she can do. Best case scenario, the Alpha is no more than an uncle since they do look a lot alike. Worst case… Nali and Yim will have their hands full of a heartbroken Omega.

—

Nine days go by.

Nine days of Kiet lingering around during drop off to catch a glimpse of ‘Phayu’. Trying to run into him dropping Chaisee off, to make small talk, to see if it’s the same guy – but he never succeeds. Either Chaisee is already happily playing in the classroom when Kiet arrives or she comes running in with Rain on her heels – the Omega scenting her goodbye and watching her go until he looks at his watch and rushes out.

Each and every time Nali smells the slight tinge of disappointment in Kiet’s scent increasing.

“Nali, you’ve talked with Khun Rain before, haven’t you?” Kiet asks on the tenth day. He tears his gaze away from the Alpha wiping another bout of tears from Chaisee’s cheeks, to scrutinize Nali.

“Yeah, why?” She carefully zips up her very giggly and squirmy daughter’s jacket. “Stay still, love,” Nali chides her, and reaches to straighten her collar.

“Well, because… because…” Kiet sighs, then shakes his head. “Never mind.”

Nali looks at him weirdly. “What’s wrong?”

“Uncle Kii angy?” Nin, Nali’s daughter, looks at him with big, doe eyes. “Don’t be angy, Uncle Kii!”

“Oh, darling. I’m not angry,” Kiet assures and ruffles her hair.

Angry? No. Disappointed? Certainly. Nali has known her friend long enough to recognize the difference in his scent.

“Put him out of your head, Ki,” she says. “Mated or not, I don’t think he’s interested.”

“You think so?” There’s that sour spike in his scent again.

“There’s plenty of Alpha's out there for you,” Nali puts a hand on his shoulder, “just don’t go fishing in an empty pond.”

Kiet sighs and turns to watch the Alpha leave the school grounds with Chaisee in his arms. “He’s just so…”

Caring. Loving. Mysterious. Just Kiet’s type.

“Uncle Kii, you come home with us?” Nin pulls on his sleeve to get his attention. “Mommy promised to make Kai heow!”

“Kai jeow, honey,” Nali corrects gently, and chuckles when Nin replies with; “Is what I said!”

“You know what, we will,” Kiet says. He sinks down before both of their children. “You’d like that too, right bub?” He caresses his daughter’s cheek. “A yummy dinner at aunt Nali and aunt Yim’s place, hmm?”

Kiet’s daughter nods enthusiastically. “Yes! We stay over too? Papa pweaaaaase.”

“Of course you can!” Nali answers before Kiet turns it down. “We’ll put the mattresses on the floor and build you both a pillowfort to sleep in tonight, how does that sound?” Both girls squeal and clap their hands excitedly.

A fun night might just be what Kiet needs. A night to distract him from his pining for Chaisee’s (potential) father.

Nali really hopes she gets to talk to Rain soon. Sort out this matter once and for all.

—

Soon, apparently, is next Monday.

Nali is just rising from tying her daughter’s shoes (she’ll never listen to Yim again, ever. Velcros all the way!) when she sees Rain passing by.

“Khun Rain,” Nali calls to get his attention. He doesn’t seem to hear her though, too busy balancing both Chaisee and her backpack in his arms. Luckily Nali is determined in finding out the identity of Kiet’s mysterious Alpha, so she hands Nin over to Dao and rushes to Rain before he leaves the school grounds.

“Khun Rain, hi,” she steps in front of him and wais. She’s not usually this forward, especially not with people she rarely speaks with, but she also promised Kiet something and Nali never backs out of her promises. “It’s been a while!”

Rain and Chaisee share an adorably similar expression of surprise. The parentage is undeniable. Endearing, to say the least. What’s even more endearing is the way Chaisee shies away from Nali by pressing her nose and forehead to Rain’s cheek.

“Nali,” Rain greets her with a polite wai. The movement causes Chaisee’s backpack to slip from his shoulder causing the Omega to sigh and pull it back up clumsily. “Sorry– ugh– long day.”

Nali smiles kindly. She can empathize.

“Anyway,” Rain pulls himself together and smiles sheepishly. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? I’m so busy these days, I barely have time to pick up pup.” He strokes Chaisee’s back lovingly, leaning his cheek to her hair. “But my schedule should be clearing up soon!” the Omega chirps.

That’s an in if Nali’s ever seen one.

“Khun Rain, have you met my friend Kiet before?”

Rain’s brows furrow slightly and he mouths the name to himself quietly.

“His daughter is in your daughter’s class too. Here, if you’d allow me…” Nali turns to retrieve Kiet from where he’s standing a little further back, and pulls him toward Rain.

“Ai’Nali,” the Omega grumbles. “What are you doing? I was about to–”

“Kiet,” she cuts him off and gives him a pointed look. “Meet Khun Rain, Chaisee’s father.”

Rain looks between them a little skeptically. Nali supposes she can’t blame him.

“Kiet and I have been meaning to tell you how wonderful your partner is,” Nali comments when Kiet remains silent. He’s lucky he isn’t staring at Rain, but he comes quite close.

The compliment seems to relax Rain, because he pipes up immediately.

“My P'Phayu is the best,” he smiles dreamily. “Isn't he, pup? Isn't your Dada so great?” Kissing her cheek as she nods shyly. “He wishes he could pick her up, but my Alpha is a busy man unfortunately. So he does drop offs instead, doesn't he, sweetheart?”

Chaisee nods again and then hides her face in Rain’s neck.

Well that settles it then. The Alpha picking Chaisee up isn’t her father. Nali can’t say she’s surprised, but still… she had expected him to be. The little girl obviously knows and trusts him a lot. She even smells like him – anyone with a nose can pick up their similar scents.

Kiet makes a sound of confusion. “Excuse me for prying, but doesn't he pick her up everyday?”

Rain frowns and tilts his head to the side with pursed lips. “No?”

The confused silence that falls between them stretches long. So long that Chaisee whines and squirms in Rain's arms. The Omega soothes her with a gentle caress to her back and sniffing her hair quietly.

“Then…” Kiet halts, lips twitching in nervosity. Nali can sense a slight tinge of worry creeping up on her friend. “Then… who’s the Alpha… you know… picking her up?”

“...My brother-in-law usually… but I was free this afternoon so…” Rain offers hesitantly, following it up with a; “P'Saifah...? Tall guy, dark hair, permanent 5 o'clock shadow on his face…”

“Brother-in-law?” Kiet’s eyes bulge. “You mean... he's not… your partner?”

Rain snorts loudly. “He wishes.” He hoists Chaisee up on his arm, who looks like she’s trying to crawl away into the safety of her father’s arms. “P'Saifah is Chaisee's uncle. That's all.”

“Well that explains a lot,” Kiet mutters under his breath.

“Excuse me?” Rain raises an eyebrow. It’s very slight, and Nali supposes Kiet doesn’t even notice, but Rain takes the smallest of steps back while tightening his hold on Chaisee.

“Uh!” Nali jumps in quickly. Kiet won’t like what she’ll say next, but she’ll repent later. There’s no way she can let Rain think whatever it is he’s thinking right now. “See the thing is, your brother-in-law’s looks caught the attention of quite a few parents including Kiet here because, well–”

“Nali!” Kiet protests.

“What? Let me help you!”

Rain’s expression softens, but the furrow of his brows stays. “Did he–” the Omega then sighs. “Did he pick her up in his coveralls again? Ugh, I’m sorry, I’ve told him time and time again not to show up covered in grease but sometimes P’Saifah just doesn’t list–”

“No, Khun Rain, his outfits are fine,” Nali chuckles. “I meant that my friend has a crush and he’d like to know if your brother-in-law is single.”

“Omygod,” Kiet groans and hides his face in the palms of his hands. “Omygod I can’t believe you just did that.”

It takes him a little while, but Rain’s brows level out and a slight smile appears on his face not long after. “Heh, well, he is single, but I can tell you he’s not interested.”

Kiet peeks at Rain through the gaps between his fingers. “He’s not?”

Rain shakes his head.

Kiet lowers his hands from his face while a whine sounds between the three of them. Had it not been for Chaisee fussing in Rain’s arms, Nali would’ve thought it to originate from Kiet.

“Why not?” Kiet pouts, sounding not too far off from whining like the little girl in front of them.

“Ai’Kiet,” Nali elbows him. “That’s personal.”

Rain leans his cheek to Chaisee, planting a kiss to her hair before saying; “It’s alright. P’Saifah’s not interested because he doesn’t want to be. Not now, not ever.”

A silence falls between them. Not awkward. Not weird. Merely Nali and Kiet processing what Rain just said.

The penny drops faster for Nali than it does for the Omega.

She’s heard of Alphas staying unmated by choice. Those who don’t want a mate or to mate. You don’t hear about it often because bonding and procreating are still highly encouraged by society, but with recent changes in what is socially acceptable, more and more Alphas are coming forward.

And not just Alphas either. Omegas and Betas too.

“O-oh…” Kiet stutters. “Is he–...”

“Mmhm, he is,” Rain nods.

Asexuality is perfectly normal. Albeit sad for Kiet, because it means his mystery Alpha, also known as Chaisee’s uncle Saifah, is not at all interested in anything Kiet would want from him.

It explains a whole lot about the Alpha ignoring and avoiding any and all interested gazes thrown his way.

“He’s a real nice guy, though!” Rain beams happily, as if the Omega in front of him didn’t just have his dreams of finding his perfect Alpha crushed. “His beard might make it look like he’s all rugged, but he’s a big softie at heart, just like my P’Phayu.”

This time, Nali is sure it isn’t Chaisee she hears whining.

“Right, pup?” Rain nudges Chaisee with his chin softly. “We love Uncle Fah, don’t we?”

“Love,” Chaisee nods her assent, quite obviously not in the mood to lift her cheek from her father’s shoulder. “Uncle Fah and Pup best fwiends.”

Nali can’t contain the coo that escapes her, especially when the little girl yawns and asks; “Papa, we go home now?” cozying up to her Omega father like she intends to become one with him, the way Nali has seen her own daughter, Nin, do to Yim countless times before, too.

“Yes, sweetheart,” Rain answers with a soothing purr. “Dada’s waiting for you at home already.” Two of his fingers lift her cheek from his shoulder, bringing her close to rub their noses together, something the little girl seems to love by the way she relaxes and giggles for the first time since Nali stepped up to the both of them.

“How about we move up nap time, mmh? We’ll call Dada in the car and tell him to prep the nest for us. You think he can do it?”

A bigger smile breaks out on the little girl’s face and she goes right back to her original spot on Rain’s shoulder, rubbing her cheek over his collarbone. “Nooooo,” she giggles again. “Papa do it better!”

An identical smile adorns Rain’s face as he repositions Chaisee on his arm, this time uncaring about her backpack slipping down his shoulder.

“Then we’ll help him, yeah? We’ll teach him how.”

“Teach Dada how,” Chaisee agrees with a firm nod.

With another smooch to her hair, Rain switches his attention to Nali and Kiet again. “If that was all, we’ll be going home now.”

Nali wais politely and then bids them farewell, but not without thanking the Omega for his honesty – which he absolutely didn’t have to show them. Further proving to Nali what a wonderful guy Rain is.

She tears her eyes away from Rain and Chaisee walking off school grounds to peek over at her friend, who’s uncharacteristically quiet. The look on his face makes Nali want to pull him in her arms, because it’s nothing short of pained disappointment.

“Hey,” she nudges him. “Chin up, Ki, at least now you know.”

Kiet takes a deep, long breath in, releasing it in an even longer sigh. “Yeah…”

Nali pulls him in with an arm around his shoulder. “Wanna take the girls for ice cream to take your mind off?”

“Ice cream, the park, and noodles and wine at your place later?” Kiet’s unintentional puppy eyes glisten with gratitude.

“You got it,” Nali chuckles. “I’ll ask Yim to bring home a bottle, any particular taste you’re looking for?”

“Bitter.”

~~~

Half an hour later, a BMW kept in pristine condition pulls up at a modern type family home, parking next to a well maintained Range Rover and a freshly polished Audi.

"Alright, pup, here we go," Rain says, lifting Chaisee from her car seat. He's barely set her down on the pebbled driveway when the little girl bolts from his arms.

"Home home hoooome!"

Rain gazes at her lovingly as she runs up to the front door without a care in the world. Still so energetic despite her long day at school, though from the way she was yawning in the car earlier, the Omega knows she'll go down fast for nap time.

"That's right, sweetheart, we're home," Rain purrs, unlocking the door.

A delightful mixture of scents welcomes them as soon as they step inside; ozone and lightning the most prominent but soon making room for petrichor and mist to seep in. As he toes off his shoes to put them (and Chaisee’s, who leaves them lying around in favor of running into the living room) away, Rain’s mind wanders back to the conversation from earlier.

Despite the school year almost coming to its end, Rain hasn’t spoken with the other parents a whole lot yet. It’s not like he never drops Chaisee off or picks her up, it’s just that he’s usually in a rush doing so.

He sometimes wishes he could be more involved, like staying behind a little longer to watch Chaisee go in and play, or see her look back at him and watch her wave until he’s out of sight, the way Phayu’s described pup doing before. The time the Alpha had told Rain how Chaisee had waved at him and blown hand kissies until Phayu absolutely had to turn the corner lest he never get to work is still fresh in the Omega’s mind. Much like the petulant stomp to the ground that had earned him floor time right after.

Rain still thinks it wasn’t deserved, hmpf. Phayu was showing off! How else had he expected Rain to react to such an obvious display of his impeccable time management? Mean Alpha. The absolute meanest. It’s not Rain’s fault he runs late almost every morning. It’s not! Rain just starts work incredibly early!

Though hopefully not for long anymore… As soon as the paperwork goes through, he and Phayu will finally have their own firm and then Rain can decide for himself how early he starts working. As soon as that happens, and as soon as everything’s settled down, he’ll have more time for small talk with the other parents. Until then, Rain will have to suck it up and accept that the one who spends the most time with pup at school… is Saifah.

Saifah, who the other parents apparently thought was Chaisee’s father.

“P’Saifah my mate?” Rain utters under his breath as he steps into the living room. His head tilts to the side automatically, brows pinching slightly. The longer he thinks about it, the more puzzled Rain becomes because Saifah has never shown any interest in the Omega, or anyone for that matter.

Though when it comes to their pack, Saifah has wanted nothing more. The Alpha has always been crazy about his niece. The very first moment he laid his eyes on her, he vowed his love for Chaisee, and Rain for blessing his twin with a pup.

Unfortunately for the single parent Rain met earlier, that’s as far as a love confession Saifah will ever go.

“What was that?” Saifah breaks the Omega out of his thoughts, looking up at him from his spot over on the couch, balancing a giggly Chaisee bouncing on his legs. “Looking for a mate? Pretty sure ol’ Yu will have something to say about that, Rainyboy.”

Rain scoffs. “I have a mate, thank you very much.”

The shit eating grin on Saifah’s face singlehandedly adds fuel to the fire of Rain’s sassiness always lurking beneath the surface.

“P’Saifah, did you know…”

Saifah raises his brows. “Know what?”

“You’re quite popular.” Rain plops down onto the couch next to the Alpha and his daughter. “Well, for a guy like you at least.”

“Oi,” Saifah growls good-naturedly. “Be nice to your brother-in–” he cuts himself off with a groan and bends forward slightly when Chaisee aborts her jumping and drops herself down onto his lap to curl up to his chest. “Ouchie, pup, be careful with Uncle Fah, yeah?”

“Am caweful,” Chaisee answers innocently, purring as Saifah strokes her back lovingly. “Pup sleepy, wanna cuddle.”

“You’re a cuddle monster,” Saifah coos, and wraps his arms around the pup to softly sway from side to side. “Luckily I’m a pro-cuddler. Aren’t we a perfect match, hm?”

Rain supposes he can’t fault some parents mistaking Saifah as being pup’s father, because the image of them snuggling on the couch is tooth rottingly adorable. It distracts him enough to almost forget about his teasing. Almost.

“No wonder they thought you were pup’s father,” Rain sighs melodramatically. “Tell me, P’Fah, what’s your favorite flower? I’ll bring ‘em to your grave since P’Phayu won’t be happy to hear you’ve taken his place.”

Saifah’s shocked “Huh?!” is drowned out by a deep and dangerous growl followed by footsteps padding down the stairs.

“P’Phayu!” Rain squeaks, feeling his heart skip several beats like he’s just been caught doing something naughty. “It’s not what you think!”

One thick, bushy brow rises, intensifying the Alpha’s already stern expression. “No?” His usual ozone scent becomes even more potent, urging Rain to scramble up from the couch and into his arms. Possessive hands reclaim their rightful spot on Rain’s waist, tugging him as close as physically possible – and then even closer still. “I don’t come down the stairs hoping to see my darling and hear him say strangers think my brother is the father to my only pup?”

“No!” Rain rushes to say. “I mean– no, well, yes but– aarrgh P’Phayuhuuu.”

“Oh Yu,” Saifah snorts, not nearly as affected by Phayu’s brooding aura as Rain is. “Don’t get your knot in a twist.”

“P’Fah!” Rain says scandalized. To his relief he sees the Alpha’s hands cupped over Chaisee’s ears.

Phayu bares his fangs at his brother, but there’s no venom behind it. Nor does Rain detect any sort of tension in Phayu’s muscles the way he usually does when his mate strongly dislikes something – which can only mean one thing.

“Alpha,” Rain grumbles. “Meanie. Stop teasing me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, baby,” Phayu’s lips curl up into a smile, “Should I leave the teasing up to you then? By all means, my love, go on.”

“Yeah, Rainyboy, you mentioned me being popular?”

Damn these twins, Rain thinks. Why did he form a pack with them again?

Though annoyed, Rain is not one to back down so easily. He’s more than used to the daily teasing, even if it’s sometimes very, very annoying when they back each other up.

“At pup’s kindergarten,” the Omega continues. “You’ve made quite the name for yourself, P’Fah.” Rain snuggles back into Phayu’s arms much like Chaisee is cuddled up to Saifah, quietly yawning and eyes drooping. It’s definitely nap time soon. Phayu hums and plants a kiss on Rain's temple as if he can read the Omega’s mind.

“Have I now?” Saifah asks.

“Mhm,” Rain nods. “Did you know there’s a single dad who’s set his eyes on you? They came up to me for your name, hoping you weren’t my mate.” Phayu’s hold on his hips tightens. Rain pats his hands soothingly in response.

“Oh that.” Saifah then shrugs. “Lemme guess, strawberry blond hair, lavenderish scent to him and whiny tone to his voice?”

Rain's mouth drops open a smidge at the perfect description. "You knew?"

"Of course I knew. He's not subtle at all."

"But... but..." Rain stammers, too taken aback by the revelation to form a coherent response.

"I might not be into the whole romance scene, but I do understand social cues, Rainyboy," Saifah chuckles. "The guy's been throwing heart eyes at me since the first time I picked up pup. I just don't care enough to do anything about it, because I'm there for Chaisee, am I not? She's my priority, not some single dad who thinks I'm 'perfect Alpha material'."

Above Rain, Phayu huffs a laugh. "He said that?"

"Mhm, I heard it in passing a handful of weeks ago." Saifah makes a face. "It kind of made me uncomfortable, but what can I do about it? He's free to like whoever he wants. It's just not gonna happen 'cuz I'm not interested, you know that. I'm there only for my niece."

Saifah is such a great guy, Rain might be a little in love with him. Not in the same way he loves Phayu of course! No way! Rain loves Saifah platonically. If ever there was someone he'd trust with Chaisee's life besides himself or Phayu, it's Saifah. The Alpha who gets on Rain's nerves more often than not by being equally as sassy as the Omega himself. The Alpha who treats Rain's pup as his own, who takes care of her and Rain and even Phayu when needed, even when it isn't needed. The Alpha who prioritizes family over everything else.

Rain wouldn't wish for anyone else in the world to be a part of their pack.

"I told him," Rain confesses, suddenly feeling like he has to. "I told him you're not interested and never will be. I'm sorry, it wasn't my place to do so I just– it's so normal to me... and you're right because he was so whiny about it–"

Phayu huffs another warm, loving breath of a laugh, caressing Rain's upper arm. "Whinier than you, baby?"

Rain scrunches his nose at his mate in feigned anger, earning him Phayu booping the tip of it in adoration.

“No doubt whinier than Rain,” Saifah chuckles. “See, your boy knows when to stop, that guy doesn’t.”

Phayu lifts a brow at Rain, not convinced in the slightest. Rain’ll agree with Phayu on this one, just this once.

“He kept gushing about me as if I wasn’t standing within hearing range. And you’re fine, Rainyboy. I should honestly thank you for letting him know, maybe it’ll get his lovesick eyes off my back.” Saifah shakes his head, readjusting Chaisee on his lap, careful not to disturb her steadily nodding off. “Besides, who’d treat schoolgrounds as a dating pool anyway? Imagine being that shameless. You’re there for your kid, not to whore yourself out to the nearest Alpha you think is–”

“Fah,” Phayu chides, tone low in disapproval. The Alpha lets go of Rain to make his way over to the couch, lifting Chaisee from his brother’s lap. “Don’t say that in front of my pup. You know I don’t like it.”

“I know, sorry, that was too far.” Saifah sighs. “Pup’s half asleep, I don’t think she heard.”

Once safely in her father’s arms, Chaisee yawns and rests her cheek to his shoulder, murmuring something none of them is able to decipher. It’s yet another thing she inherited from Phayu; both losing their ability for coherent speech when tired. Phayu holds firm that he doesn’t babble, has never once babbled in his life, but Rain knows better and finds it adorable.

“What was that, sweetheart?” Phayu purrs, rubbing gentle circles over her back.

"Nest inspehwtion," Chaisee repeats sleepily, yawning into Phayu's shirt. "Teach Dada how..."

Phayu looks to Rain from his periphery, confusion and curiosity adorning the face the Omega loves so much.

Rain nods solemnly. "Pup has some pointers for your nestmaking skills, Alpha. Nothing much, mostly a few minor details."

Chaisee had talked Rain's ears off during the car ride home. First about a drawing she created that morning, then the games she played, the thai script symbols she's starting to recognize – and then promptly went off track and rambled on about a story Rain didn’t quite follow but guessed was about the last time Phayu took her to a building site that she loved which reminded her of the nest and how she was going to show Phayu 'how to do it right'.

Though from the looks of her now, all comfortably snuggled up in Phayu's arms, she won't even make it up the stairs.

"My little pup," Phayu purrs and plants a kiss on her hair. "Off to the nest with you, mh?"

Rain bites back a smile at Phayu emphasizing the 'my' possessively, catching Saifah rolling his eyes at the same time. His Alpha is a confident man. There's very little that can bring him down or put a dent in his ego, the Alpha too self-assured to care for such 'irrelevant outsider opinions' as he once put it himself, but the one thing that stirs all sorts of emotions within him and blurs the lines of his sacred values- is his daughter, specifically his ability to take care of her.

Phayu steals a kiss from Rain as he walks past, heading for the stairs. "Coming with, baby?"

To the outside world Phayu may look like he's got himself all figured out, but as natural as it came to him, Rain knows Phayu still struggles with certain aspects of fatherhood. Rain does too sometimes, a lot of the time actually, but they always, always figure it out together.

And if they can't, they have the pack to fall back on.

"You go first, Phi," Rain answers. "I'll be right there."

"Mmmh, don't take too long," Phayu hums, already halfway up the stairs. "The nest is waiting for you too."

The Omega has to fight the urge to follow his Alpha up the stairs, the promise of warmth and comfort nearly too tempting to resist, but there's just one more thing Rain wants to clarify before snuggling up with the loves of his life.

Because as different as Phayu and Saifah are as fraternal twins, their personalities don't differ too much from each other.

"You know, P'Fah," Rain sits down next to him briefly. "Even if I tease you for being mistaken as pup's father, it doesn't bother me."

The tilt of his face and the furrow of his brows remind Rain of Phayu and Chaisee (their genes are strong). "What are you saying, Rain?"

"It doesn't bother me because you love my pup more than anything and because I know you'd step up and be her father should the situation call for it. I know you never wanted pups for yourself, so I’m saying thank you.”

Saifah’s usually pungent scent of lightning dulls, allowing for his softer, more earthy tones to rise to the surface.

“And if someone bothers you again,” Rain mimics dragging his thumb across his throat, “you leave it to me, yeah?”

Saifah chuckles. “Should I be scared?

Rain stands back up from the couch, presenting Saifah with his most intimidating face to date; “Terrified. No one touches my pack,” and promptly switches back to his usual playful self. “But first, gotta check up on the nest! See if it’s up to my– I mean, pup’s standards. She gets real fussy if her favorite blankie is in the wrong spot. So particular… I wonder who she got that from… anyway!”

Rain’s already half way up the stairs when he turns back to the Alpha on the couch once more. “You know you’re also welcome in the nest if you want, right? Anytime.” And because he’s still Rain, he adds; “So long as you keep your hands to yourself, I already have a mate. You couldn’t handle me even if you–”

“Bye, Rain!”