Sky watched as Rain paced around. It had been three days since Phayu left with Tharn and Type, and Rain had been a mass of nerves. As it is, he could hardly sit still, and now, with this, he was worse. And Sky could hardly blame him. The three people most important to him were gone, and he had had no communication from them. It had made him restless and edgy, especially since he had just gotten done with his heat, and he had hardly gotten a chance to bond with his Alpha. Rain's wolf had been just as whiny and had irritated Sky's wolf until the latter had retreated into hiding. But Sky understood Rain better than anyone. Rain was a beautifully loving person; self-sufficient, yet needy, smart, yet silly, organised, yet confused. He was a mass of contradictions, but one thing about him had always stood out. His immense propensity to love. Which is why, he had an unnatural fear of losing people. His kidnapping had made him all the more conscious about keeping people around him, and now, his fathers, and his Alpha were gone, and he was not able to get a handle on his emotions.

They both started as they heard the cars draw up outside. Rain had come back to his own house with Sky after their run, despite Pete requesting him to stay. He needed his familiars, so Pete didn't insist much, knowing the boy was currently very fragile, and not wanting to upset him. Sky had stayed with him all this while, and their friends had also dropped in, doing assignments at the Kirigun home, a place they were all very comfortable in. Their friends had just left, and until they had been there, and they were all working on projects, Rain had been fine. The moment they left however, Rain had resumed his panicked pacing. But now, Rain ran to the bay windows, Sky right behind him.

Three cars drew to a standstill in front of the house. Phayu stepped out from the first, rushing to open the back door from where Type stepped out, looking gratefully at his son's mate. Tharn stepped out from behind him, and held Type's waist, before all of them looked up as one. Rain stepped back and rushed down, throwing himself in his Pa's arms, as soon as they came inside. Then he hugged his Dad, before finally running into his mate's arms. "Are you all okay?" he asked them, worried to death. "We are all fine lu, I promise, okay?" Type said, stroking Rain's hair. They were all seated inside now. Sky had left as soon as he saw that Rain was okay. Phayu was about to speak when his phone rang. "It's my Dad. Please excuse me a minute Khun?" he said. Tharn and Type both nodded, and Rain stared at Phayu's retreating back.

"Dad?" Phayu said, as soon as he answered the phone. "Are you back lu?" Vegas's voice came over the line, sounding a bit worried. "I am. What is it Dad?" Phayu asked. "Did everything go well?" Pete's voice came through now, making Phayu realise that his fathers were probably on speaker. "Everything went great. The resort cannot be closed immediately, so I have left a couple of our guys there, to help Rain's Yayi out. but now that her Alpha is gone, she has no reason to stay there, and well, Khun Type doesn't want her to stay alone either. So she will most likely move here soon," Phayu said. "That's good. Lu, we are on our way to the Kirigun house. There is something we need to talk to you, Rain and Rain's family about," Vegas said. "Is all well Dad?" Phayu asked, now beginning to feel worried himself. "Everything is fine. We will be there in 10. Let's talk then," Pete said, as his fathers cut the call.

He stared at his phone. He hated this habit of theirs, but nothing he said would make them change it. Rome had the same habit, and it annoyed the fuck out of Phayu, but he kept his peace. It would be a bad idea to blow his top in front of his mate's family. But he did roll his eyes and mutter a few choice curses under his breath. "Are you okay Phi?" Rain asked, pouting cutely. "I am fine baby," Phayu said, bopping Rain's nose. He really had the cutest mate. "Why did Khun Vegas call?" Rain asked. "I don't know sweet boy. They said they are coming here because they wanted to meet everyone. They said they will tell us together," Phayu said. "Is that why you looked upset?" Rain asked. "Not exactly. Actually, my fathers have this really bad habit of just cutting off just when you want to ask a question. It's like saying, just you wait," Phayu said, sighing. "And that annoys you?" Rain asked. Phayu nodded, then smiled. "Forget it. Let's go inside and eat something, okay?" he said. Rain happily latched on to his mate's arm and pulled him along with him, almost skipping with joy.

"We are going to eat," Rain said, happily dancing inside the house. "Really? And who said that?" Type asked, raising one brow. "P'Phayu said. His Dad and Pa are coming to talk to us," Rain announced. "Right now?" Tharn asked, looking at Phayu. "Yes Khun. That's why they called," Phayu said, looking sheepish. "Then I will quickly whip something up," Type said, standing up. "Khun, let me," Phayu said. "Yes Pa. Let Phi do it. I will help him," Rain said, pulling Phayu along with him. "Let them," Type said, as Tharn was about to get up and go. "They need time together too." Tharn nodded, a tired smile on his face. He was exhausted and he knew Type was too. What had happened in Ko Phangan, even though they hadn't even lifted a finger, had taken a severe toll on them. They couldn't even imagine what it must have done to Phayu. But the boy had seemed unfazed, earning their immense respect for being their son's mate, and gratitude, for protecting their son and avenging him. They had understood that they would never find anyone better for Rain.

Their musings were brought to an end at the ringing of the bell. Rain skidded out of the kitchen. "I'll get it!" he shouted, as he ran to the front door. A few moments later, they were all greeting Vegas and Pete. Phayu had also come out of the kitchen. "We made steak and mashed potatoes," he said. "So soon?" Type asked, a bit shocked. Even he didn't have this speed. "Rain had already prepped everything. Just the vegetables are being done," Phayu said, smiling, holding his mate close. Pete came closer. "Let me help set the table," he said. "No Khun. You can go and talk to Dad and Pa. We will be done in some time," Rain shook his head. Pete looked at Phayu, who nodded imperceptibly. "Let them be Vegas, Pete. Let's talk here," Tharn said, ushering everyone into their comfy salon.

"I wanted to say this last time too, but we were so stressed about other things, but you have a lovely home," Pete said, looking around. "You also love to travel?" Vegas asked, looking at the sweet knick-knacks lying around. "We do. We used to travel a lot when Rain was younger, and even before that. But once we came back from the US to settle in Thailand, it was only during school holidays," Tharn said. "We understand. Same for us. Now it's a bit more, since the kids are grown up," Pete said. "Hard for us to leave Rain for too long. He would get separation anxiety, if you know what I mean. Now that he has Venice, maybe we will also start travelling a bit more," Type said, smiling. Just then, Rain and Phayu called them for dinner, and all discussions were tabled. It was a complete family meal, filled with joy and laughter, and talk of mundane things.

It was only later, when they were all sitting back comfortably that Vegas spoke up. "We came in so suddenly, you must be wondering why. And you were kind enough not to ask us, but there is something of the utmost importance that we must discuss with you," he said. "Of course," Tharn said. "As you know, Venice and Rome are part wolf, part Lycan. While wolves present any time after 16, Lycans present only after the first rut or heat with the fated mate. We know all this now, because we figured it out after I suddenly transformed. But the process is not that simple. Even after the heat or rut, as the case maybe, transformation may not take place for years, unless it's a blood moon. That is what happened to me," Pete said.

"Around a year after Ven and Ro were born, we were on a holiday in Dunkirk, in a little village in France. Someone had told us that a blood moon would be presenting that day. We were pretty excited, but all of it faded when Pete suddenly started pain all over his body. It is much like a wolf transformation, but more difficult and painful, because Lycan are much bigger creatures than wolves. We had no idea what was happening, and that when a village elder approached us, saying that it was likely that Pete was partially a Lycan. It shocked us, to say the least, but we had to act fast. I quickly locked Ven and Ro inside, and took Pete to a wooded area behind the house we had rented. And it couldn't have been sooner. It was one of the scariest moments of our life, and one I never want to relive," Vegas said.

"Unfortunately, the blood moon is due one week from now. And Ven and Ro will go through their transformations. It is the moment when Lycan becomes one with human, and wolf, so the mate must be near. The pain that Vegas is talking about? Yes, it was there, but it was much easier because he was around. So Chai and Rain will have to be there as well," Pete said. "The thing is, Ro and Pete are both Omegas, so the transformation is somewhat.. subdued, if I may. But Ven.. Ven is a full blooded Alpha, and that means, Rain really needs to be there. His presence alone will soothe Ven as nothing can," Vegas said. Tharn and Type looked thoughtful. "What exactly is it that you need from us?" Tharn asked.

"The night before is the full moon. We would like to hold a handfasting and bonding ceremony for them as we offer our wolves to the Moon Goddess, and ask her to make the journey easier," Pete said. "Like a mating ceremony?" Type asked. "Yes, exactly that. Once they become mates, in the truest sense of the word, only then will Ven's journey become easier," Vegas said, sounding hesitant. "You sound uncomfortable Dad," Phayu spoke, for the first time after this discussion had started. "You see lu, we feel that Rain is too young to be marked. We have only come to ask for a mating ceremony, and that he stays with you during the transformation. We cannot ever expect anything more than that," Pete said, calmly. Phayu nodded, knowing his parents were right. Rain was just 20, and it would not be fair..

Phayu's thoughts trailed off when Rain suddenly stood up. "Wow! You guys do realise that I am 20 years old, right? I am old enough to take decisions on my own, for myself. But you guys didn't even bother to ask me?" he said, sounding hurt. "Rain, baby, that's not what this is. We all love you, and want the best for you," Pete said. "I am sorry Khun Pete, but although I may come across as someone clueless and dumb, I assure you I am smart enough to understand what is best for me," Rain said, taking a step back. "Rain, sweet boy, this was only information. No one is going to take away your right to decide what you want to do, okay?" Phayu said, pulling Rain close to him. "You promise Phi?" Rain asked. "I promise," Phayu said, looking around the room at the older men.