"Tul!" Cirrus dashes across the room, reaching Tul in a mere second. The Omega smiles once he sees Cirrus, and the feeling of happiness finally comes to him.
"It's a beautiful female Omega..." says Tul with a soft voice.
"Emi. Let's pick that name."
Tul frowns. He remembered Cirrus hated that name when he first proposed it to that Beta. "I thought you disliked the name?"
Cirrus chuckles, but then, his tears slowly roll down his cheek. "I have no right to name her when I was absent during the labor. So, the honor is yours," his hand rubs Tul's hair. "You must be in a lot of pain... I'm sorry..."
"It's okay. Thank God, I have Ezra and Caspi! And Fa managed to come home in time with the gynecologist," says Tul. He fixes his posture, feeling sore after a long day.
"Where's Emi?" asks Cirrus.
"Ah... she's sleeping in the nursery. Don't worry, Fa has already done the ritual," Tul replies. Cirrus sighs in relief.
Next to their bedroom, Ezra walks out of the nursery after he lifts the protection barrier for the safety of the newborn. He chants something at the front door as the final step before descending downstairs and joining his family in the living room.
Ezra hands around some refreshments for everyone in the living room. Fa comes from behind, helping his hardworking Omega. Caspian is lying his head on Peinaire's lap, still asleep. Peinaire softly strokes his hair, and a feeling of worry slips in.
After a while, Cirrus and Tul come out of the room. They slowly descend downstairs and join the family as well.
"Thank you, everyone, for the help. My soul was almost flying when the Beta helper called me just now," says Cirrus. He was at the airport when he received the call before immediately rushed back to A Nation.
"The gynecologist said," Tul is fine. But, perhaps, this will be the last time for him. He can't bear any cubs anymore," says Fa. He sits on a single sofa, sipping his drink while conversing.
"It's okay. Just one cub will do. Besides, Tul has reached his late 30s. The risk is much higher when Omegas gets older," Cirrus gives Tul a tight side hug.
"Excuse me, but how old is Tul?" Ezra frowns. He sits on a small chair, studying Omega's features.
"He's turning 35 this year. We're ten years apart," Cirrus replies.
"Wait, what?" Ezra shrieks in disbelief. "Tul looks younger. I know he is older than Cir, but not that old!"
Tul scoffs a bit before he suddenly winces when he feels a sharp pain down there; a normal reaction when you put pressure on the muscles.
"Wait until you hear about Caspi and Pein..." Fa points his finger at them. Peinaire glares at Fa, almost throwing a cushion across the table.
"They were studying at the same school in Europe, right?" Ezra asks.
"Yeah. But Pein is Caspian's senior. She is the alumnus when she chose Caspi as her mate," Cirrus replies.
"Old granny loves young blood..."
"Shut up, Fa! You're no different! Should I expose some information, too?"
"You better not!" Fa warns Peinaire. She backs off after she realizes that she almost tosses Fa into a fire pit.
Ezra frowns in silence. He has an interest in knowing the secret that Peinaire mentioned just now. He scoots closer to her, whispering something.
"Hey, you can just share that with me privately..."
Peinaire glares and smirks at Fa. The Golden Alpha turns blue, warning her with his sharp gaze.
"Pein... you better not!"
Peinaire ignores Fa. She turns, facing Ezra with a teasing look. "You know, Fa used to have a lover when he was just a middle schooler. So damn romantic for a silly boy who still believed there's a monster under his bed!"
"Really? That's cute!" Ezra shrieks. Fa gives him a sharp gaze. That young Omega grins widely at Peinaire, totally ignoring Fa. "Spill more tea, please..."
Peinaire smirks. She's been investing in this for so long, just waiting for the opportunity. And now, the opening is here. "You want to know who Fa's first kiss was? He was our distant cousin..."
And for that, the throw cushion flies across the room and hits both Ezra and Peinaire. Both of them laugh it away, no heart feelings indeed. Ezra gives Fa a teasing look, totally into this tea so bad!
"Don't blame me, Fa. You started it first!"
"Doesn't mean you can spill tea on my mate!"
"Oho, does it bother you?" Peinaire laughs. Fa turns pale, face as white as the snow.
"You old granny!"
"I am only a year older than you, okay? And.. come to think of it, our finding mate method is no different; except for the location!"
Fa scoffs. The more he retaliates, the more Peinaire might expose him. So he chose to suck the anger and be it. Peinaire—on the other hand—smiling ear to ear, tasting the victory.
***
"You're quite wild. No doubt," Ezra keeps teasing Fa, even until they reach their bedroom.
"Who hasn't anyway? We have our young days. Of course, mistakes do happen..."
"Well, I don't!" Ezra smiled at Fa, always proudly for his good behavior.
Fa turns around and traps Ezra between his hands. "Aha, tell me where we first met? You're supposed to sleep at that time, but there you are, playing basketball with some Alphas and Betas."
"At least, I never kiss any of them..."
The corner of Fa's lips crooks up. He leans closer to Ezra. "You're jealous...?"
Ezra replies to Fa with a pair of glistening eyes. "Nope! I am elated because I have a point to tease you!" That obnoxious Omega grins.
"Not jealous? Not even a bit?"
"Nope. Not at all!"
Fa sighs, his head bows low, and his forehead rests on Ezra's shoulder. Then, he looks back at that male Omega, face turns deadly serious. "Ever wonder what it feels like kissing me?"
Ezra gulps, eyes linger down to Fa's lips. That pair of juicy lips slowly intrigues his desire. "We did kiss before. You forced me, remember?"
"That's different. It's by force. I didn't enjoy it, either..." Fa slowly leans closer and closer towards Ezra. He tilts his head to the side a bit, only 10 degrees from the center. As their gap is getting narrow, all of a sudden, Ezra places his palm onto Fa's chest, blocking the Golden Alpha from carrying on the game.
"If you kiss me now, I consider it as by force... because I don't want it..." Ezra whispers. His breath is hitching under Fa's lips, halting his lust to spike up. He knows, if he gives in, the next time they meet, Fa won't respect his space. He just wants to teach the Golden Alpha to behave around him. Everyone knows Ezra is not that obedient Omega, he runs his own rules. So, Fa better play with his rules.
Fa chuckles, nodding his head faintly before he backs away from his Omega. He knows Ezra is trying to rule him, as they still haven't bound with each other. He asks himself to calm down and wait patiently. Once he marks Ezra, he won't give him a chance him.
Never.
***
"You're sick, yet you still have a nerve to help..." Peinaire's nagging voice welcomes Caspian as soon as he opens his eyes. He stirs in bed, cracking his sore bones.
"Can't help it. Tul's pheromone was leaking, it kinda annoyed me," Caspian rose up from bed, walking past the room straight into the bathroom.
"You're becoming sensitive lately. Perhaps, you're getting older," Peinaire casually starts the conversation.
Caspian studies his face in the mirror. He looks sick; sunken cheeks and red eyes. "Maybe. That's why," he replies in short.
"Should we go to the doctor?"
"No need to. I think it's because of the cold weather. Winter is coming," Caspian sits on the toilet. He takes some time to calm himself; rubbing his face with his palm. "You know I am sensitive to cold."
"Hope so."
Silence.
Caspian opens the water valve, letting the water flow into the tub. He grabs something from the cabinet next to the door. He takes a while to unbox the small package, places it at the bottom of his lower body, and waits. Then he puts the thing on the sink and washes his hands.
After a short brief of shower, he comes out and checks. He sighs a bit, looking at himself in the mirror, before disposing that thing in the dustbin.
Those two lines appear strong, just like last week. And the other week.
Caspian's heart sinks in between two lines. Now the feeling is surreal. It's scary.