When Tee's eyes started slowly fluttering open, and immediately faint breathing caught his attention from beside him. And for a second or two, his eyes refused to open, afraid of the cruel, vengeful ones he knew for certain would greet him.

Instead, he lay his exhausted body on his bed — it felt like his bed — melting into the soft mattress while he mentally readied himself for his impending death. For a moment, he accepted death wholeheartedly; he was so, so tired; so how could he not? However, when realization caught on; Vee-Vee — his son was also in harm's way, the omega's heart thundered and his eyes opened at the speed of lightning, and he prepared himself for the worst, perhaps a bloodbath.

Yet... What he saw was no harrowing bloodbath. It caused uncomfortable shivers to race down his spine, though, and Tee's lips quivered and he so terribly wanted to scream and cry, because he did not know what Kai was doing; what evil tricks he had up his sleeves.

Kai was sitting on the bed next to Tee, his back turned from the omega while he cradled a sleeping Venn in his arms. The wolf's eyes were on Venn the whole time, too; he did not notice the bed slightly dipping when Tee woke up, or perhaps he did not care. Either way, dread pooled into Tee's stomach: he needed to get Venn away from Kai's revengeful hands.

Tee did not stare too long at Kai's sinful face despite how badly his heart wanted to. Instead, in a quick movement, he shuffled next to Kai and snatched his sleeping son from the wolf's hands and he raced to the opposite end of the room with Venn pressed up to his chest. "Why are you here?" he questioned in a panicked voice; his breathing shuddering and his legs trembling.

Kai stood up, and although he did not seem mean and frightening like Tee remembered; the omega knew not to judge Kai's pretentiousness.

"Tee, calm down," Kai spoke in a frighteningly calm tone. Tee's inner omega purred nonetheless. He needed his bastard alpha, and he hated how desperately he needed Kai. "Don't be —"

"Why are you here?!" Tee raised his voice.

"Tee," Kai said in an authoritative tone.

Tee did not like where this was going.

When Kai took a step forth, Tee took a step back and hissed when his back collided against the cottage wall. He had nowhere to escape. He didn't care about his own death; he cared about his son — their son. Was Kai heartless enough to end Venn's young life too?

Tee did not know — he really did not know what craziness was running through Kai's mind.

"Are —" Tee gasped, his fingers tightening against his son's tiny frame. "Are you here to kill us?"

Immediately Kai stopped and frowned. "What?" he said, almost in disbelief, almost as if what Tee said offended him greatly. "Tee. No — Tee, why would you think... I'm not here to kill you."

Kai was obviously lying. He was a trickster, the evilest of them. Tee knew this — he knew not to trust Kai... Then why the hell did his heart still ache for the monster?! Then why knowing Kai was there to slaughter him like Kai had promised only cause his heart still ache for his traitorous alpha? Dammit!

Tee stomped a foot into the ground. "Why did you choke me, bastard?!" he yelled while tears unknowingly streamed down his face.

Kai slumped his shoulders. "I... I was just teasing you — I'm sorry," he said.

He sounded remorseful; sounded ashamed and pained, or perhaps Tee deceived himself into believing Kai was actually joking.

"Teasing?" Tee's voice cracked and he gulped down a sob. "You tried to kill me!"

Venn was startled awake by Tee's voice.

"Tee, please," Kai's eyes softened and his words turned into a whisper when he noticed the baby whimpering in Tee's arms, seconds away from bursting into tears.

Tee quickly wiped away his own tears and looked down before he started hushing and rocking his son until Venn went back into a deep sleep. A minute passed, and then two... Although he did not notice Kai's dark, soulless eyes on him; he felt it boring into him, as if trying to snatch his soul. Yet, it did not feel threatening and that made Tee's stomach boil with this deep-rooted arousal, he shivered, and his betraying heart warmed with need, and he turned wet between the legs just by his alpha's presence, by his alpha's mercy to not harm him when he could've easily done so.

What was wrong with him?

Was he so desperate for Kai?

Had Kai not wronged him enough?

A low growl rumbled from Kai's throat and Tee felt truly pathetic and free at the sob that escaped his mouth. He needed his alpha — words could not describe how much he needed his alpha.

Tee moved from where he stood and walked over to Venn's crib. He was shivering, and he knew Kai knew too. Regardless, he felt slightly reassured that Kai wouldn't cause him or Venn any harm.

"If you're not here to murder us like how you murdered my Grandma, why are you here?" Tee asked, barely above a whisper after he placed the sleeping baby back in his crib. "What do you want from me and Venn?"

"Venn?" Kai's eyes reached for Tee's own. "Is that his name? Venn?... Did you think of me when you named him?" When Tee's jaw ticked because it was true, Kai's face lit up. "Oh course you did," he concluded in a whispered, pompous tone.

"Leave," Tee hissed.

Kai's face morphed back into a somber look. "Tee... Don't say —"

"If you're here to make fun of me — just leave," Tee sniffled, no longer caring about the fat drops of tears leaking from his eyes.

"No," Kai bit out through a clenched jaw. "I need you."

LIES!

All lies.

"What tricks are you playing?" Tee asked, his palms fisted tight by his side. "Don't do this to me — can't you see I... I... Just stop. I —"

"I can't live without you okay!" Kai gritted his teeth and took a one step forth before halting.

It seemed Kai did not want to upset Tee or frightened him any further. Yet, his face was clouded with helplessness and frustration.

Tee's body unintentionally shuddered with a piping-hot need.

Tee loved when Kai got frustrated.

Sometimes, back when they were together, Kai would come home with frustration after not getting enough blood to quench his thirst. When he was frustrated, he wasn't Kai; he was a monster, a killer, a frightening force, and he would snatch Tee by the neck from wherever Tee was — be it the garden or the kitchen, the bedroom, or the back pond. Kai would fuck him. He didn't care whether they were outside in the open, on the floors where the floorboards bite at Tee's knees, or in the pond soaking wet.

Kai was cruel whenever he was frustrated, and he took his cruelty out on Tee.

It was never hurtful though.

Kai never harmed him; never raised a hateful hand on him.

He was good; gentle and demanding; overpowering and understanding.

Tee loved it.

And a part of him wanted Kai to unleash that very frustration onto him, right there and then.

Tee shuddered at the thought and he recoiled within himself before he spoke. "Kai, if what you're doing is deceiving me like before, forget it," he said instead of voicing his dark-rooted desire. "I... I —"

Kai took a couple of quick damning steps towards him and Tee was sure the alpha had enough — he was sure Kai intended to hurt him for real this time, perhaps rip his throat out and leave him for dead.

However, Kai did none of what was expected.

Instead, the prideful and pompous wolf dropped to his knees in front of Tee with his head lowered; a sign of absolute submission; one unknown and unheard of coming from an alpha, much less a predator alpha, or one as powerful and as rare as Kai.

Taken aback, Tee gasped and his eyes doubled.

What was Kai doing?

"Tee, I'm not deceiving you," Kai said, sounding desperate before looking up at Tee with pleading eyes. "Tee," his voice cracked. "Everything hurts. My heart hurts. When you left — you, you took my whole heart with you. I cannot breathe when you aren't around me. I'm miserable without you in my life... I've wronged you because of my own selfish ways... Now I cannot live without you."

Tee's fingers itched to touch his alpha; he resisted.

"Kai —"

"Please forgive me," Kai begged, inching closer to Tee on his knees while tears soaked his cheeks. He was outright crying; looking weak and pathetic. "Tee." Tee did not move when Kai leaned in and rested his forehead against Tee's left thigh before releasing a contented sigh. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. I don't deserve you," Kai went on through quiet sobs. "And — and I don't blame you for lying to me about Venn — I don't... Can we just start over? I just... I love you so much... I'm nothing without you. I'll do anything, Tee — anything you want — just please don't push me away, please. Please, please, please... I beg you."

"You killed Grandma, Kai," Tee found himself saying.

"I," Kai opened his mouth and closed it twice. "I can't undo the things I've done," he settled on saying, cautious of his words. "And I've done some terrible things in my life. But I can be better — I can be better for you. For our son. Please, just give me a chance. Please?"

This caught Tee's attention.

"What do you mean better?" he asked.

"I'll... I'll be good," Kai said with great difficulty; as though the words itself disgusted him — or scorched his flesh, or ate his insides.

A strange, slithering feeling coiled into Tee's stomach.

The thought of Kai — this alpha, mean and wicked by nature somehow changing himself. Turning good. There was nothing good about Kai; he could never be good. The word itself was foreign to Kai. It seemed rather absurd that he would consider becoming good.

Why?

Why would Kai want to mold himself into some...

Some saint?

Some epitome of goodness?

It made no sense, and Tee found himself loathing the idea. He did not want Kai to be good. He loved Kai all raw with evilness and mercilessness, and his cunning and sinful nature. His mind refused to accept Kai any other way. He refused to accept Kai any other way.

Tee gulped before he spoke barely above a whisper. "What if..." he finally looked down at the wolf. "What if I don't want you to be good?"

A spark lit up in Kai's eyes. "Then..." he said, looking directly into Tee's eyes. "I'll be whatever you want me to be."

Tee sensed no lies to Kia's words.

It was clear as daylight that Kai loved him; loved everything about him. Kai longed for him, and his touch and his presence and his voice. Kai was begging like a wounded animal; down on his knees, he was begging Tee to keep him and nurture him. Tee loved this feeling. This feeling of complete power he possessed over his alpha. If only he had known earlier — if he had known he could sculpt Tee into anything he pleased... But did he want to? No. He didn't want to control Kai. He didn't crave power. He wanted a home with his son and his alpha in it to protect and care for them. He just wanted Kai.

"You know how hard it was for me?" Tee asked in a whispered tone.

Kai's face went blank as if he was having difficulty digesting Tee's confession. "Baby?"

"Day in and day out — do you have any idea what I went through because you weren't here?" Tee said in a firm tone. "I was so scared of being alone... I'm still so scared."

Kai snatched his wrist in a tight squeeze. "You don't have to be scared anymore," he said, slowly getting off his feet.

Kai hesitated for a while before leaning his forehead against Tee's own. This caught the omega by surprise, and his breath hitched at the closeness, the warmness igniting from Kai. Kai smelt so welcoming too; Tee closed his eyes and breathed in; how much he missed this.

"I'm here, I'll take care of you, pretty," Kai continued and touched Tee's cheek with featherlight tips. "I'll never let you leave me again —"

Kai's last words sounded very much like a threat.

Tee knew he should be afraid, but he liked it. To think Kai wanted to keep him forever and take care of him and protect him and love him and feed him.

A low whine rumbled up Tee's throat when the alpha's heavy palms gripped the sides of his waists. "Tee, baby — I'm here," Kai whispered and kissed his forehead lightly.

"Why didn't you come for me earlier?" Tee breathed out, his head still lowered and eyes still closed. "I waited for you. I looked out for you, but you were never there. Do you have any idea how badly I needed you? Venn needed you too, and you weren't there... I missed you so much... I thought you wouldn't come... I thought you didn't love me enough."

Kai cupped Tee's cheeks like he was a delicate flower. "Didn't love you?" he repeated, seemingly deeply offended. "No-no-no... I searched the whole of Thailand for you."

"Really?" Tee asked with hopeful, big doe eyes.

"Mm," Kai hummed, brushing the pad of his thumb on Tee's lips. "You're more than enough... Our son... Venn... He's... He's our son but it's you I want more than anyone... Always you."

Always him.

Tee felt deeply pleased, and found himself melting; his body going lax for the first time in months despite the change in Kai's eyes.

"Kai," he said in a humming voice, disregarding Kai's flaring nostrils. "I just need —"

Tee gasped and his body trembled when Kai snatched him by the hair and yanked his head back to expose his next. Everything happened so fast. From instincts, his hands came up, pressing against Kai's chest to push him away. Yet the alpha ignored him and leaned into his face with a snarl on his face and heavy breathing in his chest.

Not knowing what was happening, Tee gulped as Kai went lower and lower before he rested next to his scent-gland and inhaled sharply.

Tee's heart thundered in his chest and he wondered if Kai would bite down.

A part of him hoped the alpha would — he hoped so —

Kai growled alarmingly deep next to his neck. "What. Is. This. Smell?" he punctuated the words next to Tee's scent-gland before he pulled away enterally and his fingers were back around Tee's neck, squeezing sickeningly tight. "Who had you been fucking while I was away?" he gritted with a changed voice.

Tee recognized it immediately... It was the monster living inside Kai.

It was Kai's wicked wolf.

Tee whined, staring into Kai's darkened eyes before his own eyes were back to flooding with tears.

"No one," he heaved, nodding from side to side. while his ears went impossibly flat. "Kai — Alpha — no one, I swear... I can't breathe."

Kai's eyes flickered back and forth before easing the pressure around Tee's neck. "Don't lie to me," he warned. "I can smell alphas on you... Why is there more than one?! What were you doing?"

Them? — Them who?

Tee pondered on the thought.

Oh.

Oh.

Kinn and Pol!

A sly smile formed on Tee's lips while he thought about telling his jealous alpha the truth. If he lied, Kai might murder him. But if he told the truth, Kai might murder his friends. Right now he couldn't tell the wolf he had been living with two alphas, nor could he tell him the alphas helped raise their son. Kai might get the wrong idea. He might think they were courting Tee.

"Is something funny?" Kai asked; he did not look amused.

Tee swallowed the lump in his throat and slowly pulled Kai's fingers away from his aching neck. "I made friends," he said through a slight, awkward chuckle. "Just friends."

"What friends?" Kai gritted through clenched teeth.

"They're married," he quickly added. "They're my neighbors — they're really nice people."

Slowly, Kai blink once and then twice.

"Can I kill them?" he was quick to ask.

Tee's eyes widened. "What?" he asked, baffled. "No!" What sort of question was that?!

Kai pulled back from Tee and walked away with annoyance. When he reached the window he climbed through earlier, he leaned against it and groaned. "Why not? You don't have any use for friends anymore You have me... Or do I have to remind you —"

"They helped me," Tee said, following Kai. He didn't know why he was explaining himself — Kai was the one who should be apologizing! "When you weren't there they helped me look after our son. Without them, Venn and I would've ended up begging in the streets. Or worse..."

This caught Kai's attention and after some time his venomous stare disappeared. "Fine," he bit out and turned to look at Tee who stood behind him. "I won't hurt your friends."

Tee sighed in relief and smiled.

Kai was being nice again.

He was learning to accept Tee's new life, this was good.

"But I can smell them on you," Kai sizzled with a black stare in Tee's direction.

The smile quickly faded from Tee's face.

However, before he could ponder on any more thoughts to get his jealous alpha to calm down, Kai came up in a flash and pounced on him. The next thing he knew, he was on the floor, and despite his back taking the brunt of the blow, his fall had been cushioned by Kai's hand at the back of his head. Tee grunted, staring up at Kai with wide eyes. Kai hovered above him like a true predator, caging Tee in between his knees. He also had a mischievous gleam in his eyes, and this provoked a long-forgotten, exciting feeling in the pit of Tee's stomach, down to his cock.

"What are you doing?" Tee asked, puzzled by the wolf's change in demeanor.

Kai flicked the fringe away from Tee's forehead and looked into his wide eyes. "Let me..." he spoke and paused, seemingly contemplating his next words. "Open your legs for me," he settled on a demand. "Let me fuck you, baby."

Despite this arrogant facade, Kai was nervous. He was trembling slightly, and his eyes screamed at Tee with worry. He was afraid Tee might reject him. He was powerless and powerful — a roaring, demanding wolf and a scared puppy wanting to be accepted at the same time.

Tee's eyes traveled to the baby's crib. Their son hadn't woken up; he probably wouldn't. Still, he was there. Tee spoke, "Venn —"

"Is sleeping," Kai cut in, grabbing Tee by the wrists and yanking his arms over his head.

"He's right here," Tee hissed.

Kai rolled his eyes, removed his hands from Tee's wrists, and dipped down to suckle on the omega;s exposed collarbone. "Don't worry," he said with glee in his voice after leaving a bright red mark. "He's just a baby... Babies are stupid. They don't know anything."

How shameless and unmannered could Kai be?!

The color drained from Tee's face. "Kai," he snapped.

"Shh..." The wicked wolf had the audacity to put a finger to Tee's lips and shushed him. "Be quiet, or you'll wake our son. I just want to taste you... Please let me taste you."

Tee yelped when he felt Kai's lips on the lump in his throat, suckling on it. Immediately, his breath caught in his throat and a moan filtered through the room before he snapped a palm over his mouth. This would not do. Their child was right there! "Kai," he hissed again, squirming on the floor. "We still have a lot to talk about — Kai."

"Please," Kai begged beautifully, yanking Tee's wrists back over his head. "Baby, please — just this one time," he said, breathless while grinding his hardened cock against the omega's equally hardened one. Tee moaned lowly. "After tonight I will give you time to think, okay?" Lies. However, before Tee could protest, he was Kai's warm lips on his before he stuck out his tongue, shoving it into Tee's mouth. "Please," Kai whispered into his mouth, sounding delirious; drunk on lust. "Just — Mm — Just let me taste you, baby." Tee was shocked. Kai was tasting him. Kissing him like a starving man; drinking up Tee's hitch breaths and his spit. "Fuck — kiss me back," Kai groaned into his mouth.

Tee snapped out of his trance. He didn't realize he wasn't kissing back —

"I still haven't forgiven you," he resorted to saying into the wolf's mouth.

Obviously it was a lie.

His treacherous heart had forgiven Kai a long time ago.

He was crazy just like Kai. He knew to hide it better though. He blamed Kai — the wolf corrupted his mind, or perhaps he opened it up and released whatever monsters were already sleeping inside. Whatever... Tee didn't care, he needed his alpha, all of him. Grandma would forgive him, he was sure of it. Grandma would understand.

Yes.

Absolutely

Tee closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Kai before deepening the kiss.

He needed this, he needed Kai inside of him, consuming him.

"Kai," he whined.

Kai's lips taste like poison; Tee loved it.

Kai smiled into the kiss before clasping his hands under Tee's backside, lifting him off the ground, and carrying him toward the bed. "Fuck," he groaned into Tee's mouth while the omega wrapped his legs around his waist. "I'm going to enjoy ruining you tonight, Pet."

Tee's eyes snapped open.

What did Kai just call him?