TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

Physical and emotional abuse, physical violence

I regret it already. Not because I came to a hotel with an Alpha, but because it’s suddenly raining, and I let Riku to go home alone. I did try to accompany him to go home, but Riku is stubborn as f*ck. I think he’s a bit mad at me because I accepted Yato’s offer.

“He still didn’t reply yet?”

A man standing right in front of the bathroom door, with a towel on top of his head. His hair wetted the floor, but he doesn’t care at all. He lit a cigarette and sat at the bed, beside me.

I put my phone on the bed. Without trying to answer him, I stand up, planning to go to bathe.

However, his hand grabbed my arm. “Wait here.”

He loosened it after I go back to sit. Put his cigarette in the ashtray, he calmly opens the towel which was stayed covering his body.

His abs, his broad chest, I can see them vividly. What is it? Is he trying to seduce me right now?

If I were an Omega, I might’ve been blushing since earlier. However, of course, this body of him doesn’t excite me at all. Not to mention that my actual type is his body’s opposite.

“Don’t get the wrong idea.” He laughed. “Look here.”

He turned his head so I can see the red mark that adorned his neck. He smirked at me. “I am marked already. Don’t worry.”

I frowned. “Then, what do you mean by ‘paying with my body’ earlier?”

“Of course, it was a lie.” He giggled. “I know exactly that you’re an Alpha, and I don’t have an interest in Alphas, too. However, I have an order to you, so I can’t help but lie.”

“What kind of order that you have to lie in front of Riku?”

Yato leaned on the wall, lit another cigarette, then inhaled it deeply. He exhaled it, and says, “Riku is a good boy. He’s cheerful and has positive vibes. He’s so caring, likes to help people if he can, even though so stubborn sometimes.”

I didn’t expect him to say something about Riku. I think they’re just acquaintance, but they might have been closer than I thought.

“Are you his ex, by any chance?”

“No, not at all.” He smiled, though I can see the sadness in his eyes. “I knew Riku from a close friend of mine. He always said to me that he had a big crush on this Omega. They were friends since middle school, so I thought they’ll go out sooner or later.”

Usually, Yato would turn his cigarette off when it’s still half. However, right now, he inhaled it until his fingers were going to be burned.

“Long story short, he introduced me to Riku, as his boyfriend. Of course, I was happy for that. Like I said earlier, Riku is sure a good boy, so I’m glad that my friend had a good partner. Since then, I befriend with Riku. Even though we aren’t that close, we’re still good friends.”

I’m still waiting patiently for him to continue his story, which is honestly interest me, and I probably will get a clue about that bastard.

Yato changed his position to look at me. With his serious face, this is the first time I see him with that expression. “A lot had happened back then, and I couldn’t just tell everything that I know between them, so I’ll just stop here. The point is, I want to ask you one thing. This will be the payment for your order.”

It's kind of upset me that he wouldn’t continue his story, but he’s right. It’s not Yato’s right to tell me about Riku’s past, without Riku’s knowing.

“What’s it?”

“Protect him. Even though you both aren’t going together in the future, but be a good friend to him, and protect him.” He sighed rudely, looks like he frustrated. “Though I don’t know who exactly you are, how can you become Riku’s roommate so suddenly, and why was Riku lied to me—about you being a former gangster, but one thing for sure … you aren’t a bad guy. So, please, protect him.”

That was really unexpected, and makes me just more curious about what happened to Riku in the past.

“I won’t ask you to be his boyfriend or something like that, but you should protect him with all you can.”

My head hurts. It’s not like his request is so hard, but I’m suddenly worrying about Riku. How’s he doing? Does he home already?

Yato giggled. “What’s wrong? That’s not difficult, right?” He pat my shoulder.

I sighed. “Without you asking, I’m going to protect him anyway. Are you sure it’s all you want for the payment?”

He nodded. “Sure. Oh, and …,” He rummaged his bag, looking for something. “Take this.”

I accepted it with confused. I think I’ve ever seen it before. “What’s this?”

“Suppressants.”

Oh, no wonder it looks kind of similar to Riku’s.

“Your pheromone’s quite stronger than other Alphas. It annoys me, you know, so I think your rut is close. You should try to remember your cycle, especially when you’re living with an Omega. You don’t know what’ll you do to him when you aren’t in your senses, right?”

He’s right. My body’s been strange lately. If it’s going to be the real rut, I just hope that it wouldn’t hurt Riku.

“Thanks.”

We fell silent for a while, busy with each other’s phones. I looked at my phone. Riku still didn’t reply to me. Is he that mad? He didn’t pick up my calls either.

“He’s probably still working. No need to worry like that.”

It’s afternoon already. I hope Yato’s right.

“Iori,” He offered me cigarettes. “By any chance, do you like him?”

I shook my head, refused his offer. “No. I have debt with him, so at least I’m trying to treat him the best I can do, before I could pay him back.”

He smirked. “Oh, well then.”

It’s still raining outside. I’ve never thought that rain would piss me off. I used to like it when there’s rain, because it makes me more relaxed, so I could write well.

Damn it. My head hurts even more, and my vision started to blurry.

“Hold on, Dude!”

Slap!

My cheek feels so hot, but good thing, it makes my senses back.

Yato poured water into the glass, then gave it to me. “Take your suppressants.”

I nodded, followed his order. My body feels better not long after I took it. It kind of shocking, actually. How can medicine reacts this quick?

“I think you should stay at home for several days. Judging by how bad you handle the rut, are you a late bloomer?”

It’s even my first rut—is what I wanted to say. Of course, I can’t say it.

“Is it that bad?”

He sighed. “It’s dangerous. It usually takes one whole week, or more. Make sure to lock your room, so nobody can enter it.”

I gulped. “How if I just take the suppressants during the rut?”

“Yes, you can, but it’s still dangerous.” He grabbed his car key after looking at the window. The rain’s finally stopped. “Anyway, just take the suppressants regularly and try to relax yourself. Let’s just go home for today, I’ll drop you off.”

It’s not my right to get mad at him like this. I know it, but still … how can he accept Yato’s offer without thinking twice? They’re both Alphas! Actually, just why the hell Yato was being like that, though?

Anyway, it’s not the right time to think about them. I should go home quick, then prepare for work.

However, today’s sure my bad day.

Why should he come?

“I’ve been waiting for hours. Just where the f*ck were you?”

“Hahh ….” You should handle it, Riku!—is what I always said to myself whenever this guy came. “It’s not your business.”

He grabbed my jaw rudely. “What? Say that again!”

I tried to control my breath. It’s not like this is my first time, so I should be okay.

“Cough! Aghh ….”

His pheromones got thicker. This is bad. I feel so dizzy, my vision started to blurry, but I shouldn’t let this thing controlled me.

I grabbed his hand even though it’s difficult. With my weak hand, I scratched it as hard as I could. At least it made him took his hand off and gives me time to run away.

However, I know it all aren’t going smoothly.

“Aghh!”

He slapped my cheek, enough to make me couldn’t move my head. As if not satisfied, he was going to punch me in the stomach. However, he stopped before he does it. Instead, he grabbed my hair to make me open the door.

I can’t even move a single finger. His overwhelming pheromones, the burning sensation in my cheek and head … I feel like my consciousness is going to lose.

At this point, I just hope to die.