Golden light spilled from crystal chandeliers, catching on the edges of champagne flutes and polished silverware, turning the long table into a river of warm amber and soft shadows. The walls were cream, the chairs upholstered in velvet the color of old wine.

One of the friends, at the end of the table leaned forward, grinning as they lifted their glass.

“Alright, enough talking,” he said, voice bright with excitement. “Beau’s not escaping tonight! So let’s make sure his pockets suffer for it.”

“Aww, man, he ditched us for years,” another groaned dramatically, though their lips curved in amusement. “But… yeah, I’d forgive him just for that face.”

A ripple of laughter passed through the group.

Glasses were picked up one by one, slender stems caught between fingers, light reflecting in liquid gold.

As their glasses met in the middle, crystal against crystal, a bright, ringing note echoed.

When they parted, silence followed for just a breath. Then, one by one, the glasses were lifted again. A pale hand raised its glass toward soft lips, and a small sip was taken, drawn past cherry-tinted lips with effortless composure.

Warmth slipped down the throat, slow and steady, settling deep within the chest like a quiet bloom.

Only then did Beau lean back, a quiet breath leaving him as his gaze drifted across the table, resting on each of them, as if moments like these didn’t come often.

“You’re all so dramatic,” he murmured, setting his glass down with a soft click. “I didn’t ditch anyone.”

His lips curved with an ease that felt almost unfair. A smile that didn’t chase attention, yet held it captive. Dark eyes dipped into soft crescents, dimples pressing deep into his cheeks as a sharp canine revealed itself for a fleeting second.

It was the kind of face that stayed, warm enough to draw you in, dangerous enough to make you regret it later.

“If my study sessions abroad took longer than expected,” he continued smoothly. “I fail to see how that’s my fault.”

For a very brief second they almost let him get away with it.

Yun slammed his glass down on the table, the sound sharper than he intended, the champagne sloshing against the crystal sides.  

“Yeah, yeah,” He scoffed, dragging the back of his hand across his lips before pointing lazily at him. “Study sessions, my ass.”

His eyes narrowed, though there was something oddly… sulky about it. “Three years, Beau. Do you even know how bad Jolly took it when he found out we wouldn’t all end up in the same university?”

“Hey,” Jolly cut in immediately, sitting up straighter. “I was emotionally affected. There’s a difference.”

“Yeah,” Yun shot back dryly, “you were crying into my hoodie at two in the morning.”

A laugh burst out from across the table.

The only girl among them leaned forward, elbow propped against the table as she watched Yun with clear amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Wow,” she drawled, dragging the word out. “Yun’s acting like a man in love.”

That earned an immediate reaction.

“Duh,” she added, grin widening mischievously. “Bet he didn’t have anything fun to play with while Beau was gone.”

Yun looked like he was about to commit a crime. “Watch your mouth,” he snapped, shooting her a sharp glare that had absolutely zero real bite to it.

“Oh?” she leaned back, completely unbothered. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll expose every embarrassing thing you did in high school.”

She gasped, offended. “You wouldn’t.”

The noise kept rising, voices overlapping, playful threats flying back and forth, the kind of chaos that only came from years of knowing each other too well.

Beau watched it for a moment. The way their arguments had no real edges, just familiarity wrapped in noise.

‘I missed this,’ he realized, the thought quieter than everything around him.

Before it could settle too deep, he leaned forward, cutting into the chaos with a low. “Alright, alright—break it up.”

And just like that, attention snapped back to him.

“I get it,” he said, raising his hands slightly in mock surrender, a smile still tugging at his lips. “You’re all deeply traumatized by my absence. Noted.”

“Damn right we are,” Yun muttered.

Beau huffed out a soft laugh. “So I’ll make it up to you,” he continued, tone easing into something warmer. “I’ll hang out more. No excuses.”

He tilted his head slightly, gaze flickering between them. “Happy?”

Hours slipped by so easily it almost felt unreal. Plates came and went, replaced by richer dishes, sweeter desserts, stronger drinks. Laughter softened into something slower, stories stretching longer, voices dipping into nostalgia as they circled back to childhood memories they all somehow remembered differently.

One by one, they were starting to go down. A head dropped onto folded arms. Another leaned too far back in their chair before giving up entirely and slumping forward.

The once lively table had turned into a battlefield of half-empty glasses and completely defeated Alphas.

Beau had been in the middle of telling them about his boyfriend, how he couldn’t wait to see again after so long apart.

But the words died in his throat as he took in the scene around him. A quiet huff of laughter left him.

“…Actually,” Beau muttered, shaking his head slightly, “maybe I should save this for next time.”

He reached for his glass, about to take another sip.

“Keep going,” The words slipped in, lazy and unbothered.

Beau froze for a fraction of a second before turning toward the speaker.

Yun was still sitting upright, though barely. His posture had loosened, one arm draped over the back of his chair, the other holding his glass loosely as he swirled the remaining liquid inside.  

“I’m still interested,” Yun said, slower this time, but firm. A faint shrug followed. “So, finish talking about your fiancé.”

There was a brief pause as Beau stared at him. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Yun hummed, like he was considering that, before taking a slow sip of his drink. “But seriously.” His gaze flickered back to Beau. Less teasing now, more curious. “…you were saying something important.”

Beau let out a snort, fingers still loosely wrapped around his glass.

“Since when,” he murmured, voice laced with quiet amusement, “did you get this invested in my love life?”

His gaze slid toward Yun, a teasing glint settling in his eyes. “And fiancé?” he added with a low hum, lips curving faintly. “I don’t remember proposing yet.”

Tiny dimples appearing for just a moment before disappearing again. “How are you already promoting him to that position?”

Shifting in the seat, Yun let the chair tilt onto last two legs, balancing lazily like he had zero concern for gravity, or consequences.

“That’s still the same thing,” he said, voice slow, unfazed. “As long as you’re serious, it’s basically decided.”

The chair tipped just a little more. But Yun only exhaled, tilting his head back slightly as he looked at his friend through half-lidded eyes.

“I’m interested,” he continued, almost lazily. “Because you—” he pointed vaguely at him with his glass “—aren’t the type to fall in love like this.”

A quiet scoff left him, something close to disbelief slipping through. “Honestly, we all thought you’d just… never find your mate.” A short laugh, around the edges.

“So what’s so special about him?” Yun added, the words rolling off his tongue as he finally let the chair fall back onto all four legs. He leaned forward this time, forearms resting against the table, gaze sharpening just a little despite the alcohol haze.

“…this omega of yours.”

That made Beau pause. Then his brows lifted slightly, something almost offended flickering across his face.

“Oh?” he said lightly, though there was a faint edge under it. “Did I miss the part where I said his secondary gender?”

A slow, almost innocent smile pulling at his lips. “Ah… my bad,” he added, voice smooth. “He’s a beta, actually.”

That was enough to make Yun choke on his drink, his expression snapping into the most serious Beau had ever seen.

“And his specialty?” Beau continued, leaning forward slightly now, resting his chin against his knuckles like he was genuinely considering the question.

“He’s cute,” he said simply. Slender fingers tapped lightly against the glass. “And he’s exactly my type.”

A beat of quiet, then his gaze slid back to Yun, playful yet razor-sharp, like a spark ready to ignite.

“Unlike some people,” he added sweetly, “I actually have a type.”

That mix of warmth and edge settled between them. Yun held his stare for a long moment. Then, almost imperceptibly, his eyes narrowed.

“…first of all,” Yun started slowly, setting his glass down with exaggerated care. “that’s slander.”  

Beau blinked, caught mid-smile, and let his hand drag through his hair, a soft groan escaping him.

“And secondly,” Yun continued, raising two fingers with pinpoint precision. “betas can’t be anyone’s mate. Think practically, Beau.”

“Who said love needs to follow rules?” Beau murmured, dragging a hand down his face, hair slipping between his fingers. “I don’t need some stupid marking to call him mine. I love him, Yun… and I’ll make him my partner.” His fingers lingered at the nape of his neck, head tilting slightly, eyes locked on Yun. “You don’t even know how hard it was. He was always giving me the cold shoulder. Just because of the fact you said.”

Large hand slammed down on the table, making glasses rattle, the sleeping Alphas stir, and even the flowers tremble in their vases

“Dude,” Yun spat, voice rising, the alcohol barely masking his frustration, “I bet his ass won’t feel soft like an Omega’s. You’re an alpha, Beau. You need an Omega. That’s how it works. That’s why marrying an Omega is—”

“Excuse me?!” Beau’s eyes flaring as his voice cut through the room like a whip. “I’m not marrying him just to fuck him! And this—this isn’t love you’re talking about!”

In an instant, Yun was on his feet, the chair dragging against the floor with a jarring, almost angry screech.  

“Beau,” He said, stepping closer, shadow falling across the table, “you haven’t fucked an Omega yet. That’s why you’re saying this.” His tone was sharp, unapologetic. “You’ve never felt it, so you don’t know how addictive it is. That beta you’re talking about? The second you experience how fun it is to suck and fuck an Omega’s cunt…”

Those vulgar words made Beau’s stomach twist. ‘Ugh… here we go,’ he thought, a bitter twinge creeping in. He had hoped Yun had changed, but this casual way of talking, of treating an Omega like nothing more than a desired thing, made his skin crawl. Beau didn’t like it, and he hated that he felt his temper flare despite himself.

“…you wouldn’t even think about that beta again,” Yun finished, voice lower now.  

Night air clung to Beau’s skin, sobering him just enough to make everything feel sharper, the irritation still simmering low in his chest.

One by one, they had managed to haul their friends into taxis. Jolly had been the hardest.

“Hold still—” Beau muttered under his breath, adjusting his grip as Jolly practically melted against him.

“I am still,” Jolly slurred, completely unhelpful, his arm dangling loosely over Beau’s shoulder. “You’re the one moving…”

“You’re dead weight,” Beau shot back, exhaling as he shifted him higher onto his back.

Yun was walking ahead of them, his steps steady the words that still hung between them like smoke after a fire.  

A sharp look shot after him, but it didn’t linger. For a moment, Beau almost didn’t follow.

But Jolly shifted slightly on his back, mumbling something incoherent, and with a quiet curse under his breath, Beau adjusted his hold and followed anyway.

The duplex stood quiet, wrapped in dim light and sealed windows. A stillness lingered that felt too calm after the noise of the restaurant.

Yun walked ahead like he owned the place. Which, judging by the way he carried himself, he probably did.

By the time they reached the entrance, Beau’s tightened jaw had eased, just slightly.

A sharp press on the bell from Yun, and within seconds, the door swung open.

A maroon-haired Alpha stood there, barely given a moment to react before Yun stepped in, already grabbing Jolly by the collar and dragging him off Beau’s back like dead weight.

“Handle him.” Yun muttered, shoving Jolly forward.

“Whoa—” the Alpha stumbled a step, barely catching Jolly before he completely collapsed. “What the—?”

“Still breathing, unfortunately,” Yun replied flatly, brushing his hands off.  

The Alpha huffed out a quiet laugh, adjusting his grip on Jolly. “Rough night?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Yun cut in. “Just don’t let him choke on his own stupidity.”

Beau stayed quiet behind them, rolling his shoulder slightly now that the weight was gone, but his gaze stayed on Yun.

The Alpha’s eyes flickered up then, finally noticing him properly. A slow grin spread across his face. “Oh,” he said, tone shifting into something more amused. “Reunion I guess?”

Yun didn’t respond. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling like his patience was already running thin. “Handle him first,” he said shortly.

The Alpha raised a brow, but didn’t argue. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, already turning to drag Jolly inside. “Relax. I’ll tuck your little disaster in.”

He paused for just a second, glancing back over his shoulder, eyes glinting with something teasing. “…don’t break our prize while I’m gone.”

Last few words shouldn’t have meant anything. Just a careless remark, light enough to pass as a joke.

But it was the tone, that made Beau go still. The word echoed in his head, louder than it should have been.

‘Prize?’

Thick brows pulled together, confusion twisting into something sharper. ‘What… did he mean by that?’

A strange tightness crawled up his throat, like invisible fingers pressing in, slow and deliberate. His chest felt heavier with each second, something instinctive and unexplainable settling deep in his bones.

It didn’t make sense. He didn’t realize the moment the door shut. Didn’t notice a firm grip around his wrist.

Beau jolted, his head snapping slightly as Yun dragged him forward without waiting. His steps stumbled once, twice, barely catching up as his thoughts lagged behind his body.

To be continued...