Arthit was sprawled over the sofa, legs laid on the armrest while he flipped through the channels on the TV.
Finally settling on a music channel, he put away the remote and grooved to the beat of music while eagerly waiting for his mate who had went to meet his family.

Mate!

Even after ten years, he still couldn't believe that Kongpob — a crown prince chose to pursue an ordinary alpha like him. Not only did he pursue Arthit, but was ready to leave his claim to throne when his princely status became a hurdle in their mating.

Arthit didn't know how to feel about that, he had recently came to know of this fact. Kongpob had told him that according to Royal rules, the throne goes to eldest which was his twin Singto.

  And Arthit always believed him, till he witnessed huge fight between the brothers in which his peace advocating mate— Kongpob had delivered a punch straight to Singto's jaw, the power of which would have knocked out all the crown prince's teeths should he not been a werewolf — one of the strongest alphas at that.

" Fucking claim your mate... before you go berserk Khun Singto...stop lusting after his look alike... "

Hmm...so instead of going after his mate, Singto had hots for his look alike? Arthit wondered who could it be? Kongpob had always been tight lipped about that.

" I am not lusting — "

" Oh of course not " Kongpob cut him off, as if he already knew what Singto was going to say. " You were just a stupid teenager who rejected his mate and a coward adult who isn't owning up to it and pleading their mate to take them back. "

As expected Singto's wolf had picked out only one word to listen...

" You think I am a coward? " Singto had growled, eyes glowing red.

" I don't think you are a coward, I know you are a coward —" Kongpob bit back.

While Arthit did see Singto lunging at Kongpob, he wasn't fast enough to stop the attack.
Singto had partially shifted mid air and clawed Kongpob shoulder who surprisingly didn't retaliate in action.

" Submit " Singto demanded baring his teeth, clearly his wolf was in control and demanding submission of an alpha he saw as competition.

Competition is all Kongpob has always been to Singto. They weren't close like Arthit was to his nong, they were heirs to the same throne — contender since birth.

Vines are that as babies, both princes were adamant on pushing the other off the cradle when they were put in same one . Arthit could only understand this as primal instinct to survive and that same instinct right now demanded submission from Kongpob which he reluctantly gave by lowering his eyes that were glaring right in to now volatile alpha.

Dissatisfied, Singto growled again.
" Submit "
Kong bowed his head a little, eyes downcasted and staring at Singto's feet, that seemed to calm down the wolf enough to give reigns back to his human.

" Make your claim before someone else lay their claim" Kongpob hissed while Sinto growled in warning " and I warn you it won't be long and I will be standing there to say ' I told you — "

Well, logically, Arthit didn't really blames Singto for knocking Kongpob out. Mates are always a topic that should be avoided. Still he was furious for an outsider dared to attack his mate on his own territory.

Exercising his rights as alpha of the territory,Arthit banned Prince Singto from ever entering Shadow Creek without his express permission.
Even after getting the permission, there will be always a wolf to supervise prince's meeting with his brother or any pack member of Supreme pack.

He can understand Singto's reaction...
Mates were always a sensitive topic for wolves. But, for Singto, it was a sore spot.

No one knew what happened to Singto's mate. Some claim that they died, some claim that Singto rejected his mate. It looked like rejection did happen and may be Singto's mate was still single, that is why Kongpob was urging him to grovel at her feet and beg a chance at happiness.

Mates were gifts from godess after all. And after finding Kongpob, he had come to know worth of it.

His chain of thoughts were broken by click of the door that his superior hearing senses picked out, even over loud voice of music.

" Kongpob... " Arthit whined " You are late."

" Aww, phi... I told you, there was some emergency at palace. Someone broke in to palace last night. I was told that the thief trespassed in to Singto's private garden and even his room.
Grandma told me in confidence that Singto seems to have taken a liking to the person and that she had ordered her loyal servant to tail the trespasser. "

A brow raised in indignation, Arthit sneered " So we will have a trespasser as our queen or king consort ?"

" Nah! Not after the trespasser stealing Singto's ring! " Kongpob added laughing
" That was really funny I tell you, the man wasn't even aware that his ring was stolen until I pointed it out to him. "

Kongpob was having a hearty laugh remembering Singto's bewildered expression when he pointed at his empty middle finger but Arthit had more urgent concerns to take care than laugh over  Singto's misery.

" And... Did the culprit got captured? " He asked breaking off Kongpob's boasting.

" No, phi. He or she was smart enough not to leave any evidence. Singto is pretty pissed over being royally fooled and grandmother had passed a Royal decree to catch the perpetrator before midnight. Every alpha is being contacted — "

As if on cue, the mobile rang indicating a call.

" Hello " Arthit greeted.

" Alpha Rojanapat, " Greeted the man on other line..." I am chief secretary of Royal palace, you must have heard of the unfortunate event that took place last night. Her Royal highness queen dowager had passed a Royal decree for the thief to be caught before midnight. This case has to be dealt secretevly. All the alphas have been requested to submit their findings, if any, directly to the Royal court and not speak a word of it to the news.

The evidence gathered so far has been sent to official email — " Rest of the words were garbled in Arthit's brain. He thinks he knows the tress passer or atleast an acquaintance of his/her.

" Kit ..." Arthit bellowed as soon as his younger brother picked up the call. His alpha voice slipped in despite his herculean efforts to reign in his wolf  " I have just recived the news that someone broke in to Prince Singto's  private garden and mutilated it — "

" Oh, come on... " Kit scoffed over the exaggeration " I saw the video footage... It's all over social media. They just picked some queen of night... It was not like they uprooted the garden and danced over the plants... "
Media were making it sound like if was some kind of bomb attack or robbery.

Geez!

" Whatever the details be...I just need to know you weren't involved— "

Kit furrowed his brows done" Why do you think that in every wrongdoing, I will be involved? "

" Experience... " Arthit answered in a heartbeat " Now stop arguing and tell me that you weren't one of the wolves that breached the Royal palace . "

Kit gave only an annoyed huff as a response. 

Arthit could clearly imagine Kit rolling  eyes at him, but he didn't care. With his younger brother's knack of doing stupid adventures, he needed to make sure Kit didn't  take Royal palace as some adventure land he could break in and have party — not only as his older brother but also as alpha of pack he needed to make sure his family and kin are safe.

" Kit " Arthit urged and younger heaved a  defeated sigh over the phone

" I wasn't one of the wolves that breached the royal palace..." Kit  repeated in a flat ass voice.

Arthit immediately heaved a sigh of relief . His shoulders taut as bow, relaxed considerably.

" Thank God. I was so worried—"

" I was the only one"

His relief didn't live long, the words uttered so casually almost gave him heart attack.

" Come again! " Arthit fumed.

" I..." Kit stuttered a bit, taking a deep breath he managed to gather the courage to face the consequences of his action.

" I was the only one that breached the Royal Palace and picked queen of night from the Royal garden. "

" You stole a queen of night from Singto's personal  garden ? " Arthit yelled, his blood pumping vigorously, the vein in his forehead ticked like a bomb, about to pop off any minute.

" Picked not stole... It wasn't like I picked a diamond or something. It was a stupid flower for god's sake. And there were ten of them... "

"They are more valuable than diamond for Singto... and you already know that You idiot!  " Arthit yelled " And you even stole Singto's ring? You know Singto will have your head for that —"

" But he wouldn't know it was me, phi..." Kit argued.

" Oh really? " Arthit scoffed " He wouldn't  recognise his brother in law's younger brother who keeps talking shit about him to anyone who would listen? "

" No, he won't " Kit replied confidently.

" Please enlighten me, how it is so khun genius ? "

" Because I was dressed as a girl." Kit couldn't keep  the pride out of his voice.

It was an ingenious idea and Singto looked enamoured with him. He even helped him run out when guards were chasing him...

His sololiqy was interrupted by a loud shrill " You not only breached Royal Palace, you even disguised yourself? "

" I couldn't waltz in with my real identity , now can I? " Kit yelled back.

Arthit was always like a mother hen... Don't do this... Don't do that... It was just a flower for God's sake. And if Singto throws a hissy feet over such a small thing then.. he doesn't deserve to be a king. Shouldn't King's be all mature and understanding?

Looks like its time to start he rebellion against the King.

In his opinion, Phi Kongpob would be thousand a times better ruler than that sullen Singto. The man had stick up in his ass for God's sake. Always with such a serious face... he looked like he had years of constipation ... Can't he fucking smile? Such a waste of a handsome face!

What?

You are surprised that he called his enemy handsome?
Well, prince Kongpob and Singto were identical twins. And he wasn't  stupid enough not to acknowledge that.

" Are  you listening to me? " Yelled a thundering  voice. His alpha nad his brother / almost father — Arthit.

" Yes. " Kit mumbled hurriedly.

" Why did you stole Singto's ring? "

" When did I say I stole Singto's ring? "

" Kit... " Arthit warned for the younger was not only crossing the line as his nong but also as his pack member. " Why did you stole the ring? "

" I just took back what was mine " Came the trembling voice before call ended.