Days Later
The tigers meet with Wren and Sage at the mall a day after their parents leave. They sat in a restaurant, waiting for Hudson to show up. The crew were together on almost a daily basis on campus.
Wren: " Should we go watch a movie after this?"
Lee Ann: "That's not a bad idea. But let's check out some clothes and products first."
Bolin glanced at his watch while sipping on a drink. "It's now 6: 30. If we hurry, we could watch a scary movie."
"Scary movie, huh? Are you inviting a girl? Or will you hold my hand when you start screaming?" Jin showed his teeth.
"Shut up! Stop talking nonsense." Bolin hissed.
"Hahaha...Okay, I won't." Jin surrendered.
"I see the party started without me. What did I miss?" Hudson adjusted himself beside Jin upon arrival.
"Lady Ann wants to check out some products, and my sister wants to watch a movie," Sage said meekly.
Jin sighed at the gentle alpha before reprimanding him for being too formal. "She's Ann, I'm Jin, that guy with the cute cheeks is Hudson and that one..." His eyes landed on his younger brother, "That one is the grumpy tiger." Jin immediately picked up a laminated menu to block the cutlery thrown at him.
"Hey Hudson, is that not your brother?" Wren pointed at a figure that came through the door. Everyone else turned their heads to look.
Wearing a fitted shirt and a pair of black jeans, Michael's built physique made him stand out. With a body most alphas wished they could conjure, it was no wonder many omegas drooled over him.
Hudson snapped his fingers. "Hello, I'm right here; stop making those faces at my brother!"
"What does he even eat to get that body? I bet he has a huge..." Jin's mouth got smothered by a hand.
"Don't joke like that. Ahh, disgusting!" Hudson withdrew after feeling a lick in the palm. Jin cracked up, feeling satisfied.
"Guys, act chill! Don't look, but I think Hudson's handsome brother is heading this way," Ann whispered. They all stopped messing around and sat up straight after that tiny bit of information, trying to act normal.
"Hi." A masculine yet smooth voice resounded in their ears. Smiling and nodding, they responded.
"Brother, you could have called if you needed me." Hudson stood.
"No need." Michael ruffled his neatly combed hair, taking a few noticeable glances at Jin. "Can my friends and I join you guys?"
Hudson scratched his head at his brother's unusual request but said nothing. "We're on our way to watch a movie...," Bolin began but regretted it after someone pinched him hard.
"You can join us." Wren jumped in.
"Okay. How about we get a bigger table?" Michael waved at three other people at the entrance and excused himself for a while.
Wren: "Lee Jin, Michael wants to eat you up. He kept staring at you."
Hudson cringed at those words. "I'm still here!" He said.
"Pfffft! Dont give my best man a heart attack. Hey Hudson, don't you want me as your inlaw?" Jin poked, making fun of the situation.
"Hmph! I'm quite surprised you've not flirted with him yet, since you flirt with almost everything in sight." Bolin folded his arms. It was true Jin had a habit of flirting and bragging, but he slowed down after his first heat passed.
"Haha! Jealous much?" Jin stuck out his tongue.
"No. But you're going to regret saying that when you see who Michael's friends are," Bolin's face contorts into a frown as Michael shows up with the said friends. The only problem was that the gang wanted nothing to do with them.
"Greetings. Nice to meet you again." Xander graced the gathering with his presence, and his younger brother stood beside him.
"Nope, pleasure's not mine. Sorry guys, but it's time for me to bounce." Jin wanted out, but Hudson held him back. "Jin, we already said yes to them. They'll think you're afraid if you leave like this," Hudson spoke discretely.
The atmosphere gradually turned sour when they got a private room with more space. Michael Jaeger did ask to join them, but had they known they'd be in the same room with the Knox brothers, Wren would have turned him down. After a brief introduction, they find out the third person with them is Darien, the illegitimate son of the Amon tribe leader.
Zhen kept his eyes down and his mouth shut, avoiding the omega. "Jin," Hudson called softly. "No one would try anything in Michael's presence, so you can relax."
During dessert, Bolin could not stand the sight of Xander being affectionate towards Darien. For some reason, he found looking at the young man with a perfectly bright smile and charming dimples repulsive. Seeing Xander respond to everything the person did seemed to upset him more.
"Thanks for dinner; I'll be leaving now." Jin pulled his seat back after quickly finishing his dessert.
"First Tiger of the Lee family, please have a seat," Xander said.
"How about I order another round of dessert for you?" Hudson, wanting to save the situation, drew Jin back down. It was now clear why Michael wanted to have dinner with them.
Xander: "Master Lee Jin, about what happened the other night, I think we should..."
Jin: "Xander, we are not on school grounds. Just address me as Jin. Secondly, I don't know what you're talking about, so goodbye."
Ann: "Jin, please calm down...go ahead, Master Xander."
Xander: "Mn... Zhen apologises for what he did to Lee Jin the other night. He never intended for things to go that far."
Bolin found it intriguing. "Sorry, Xander Knox, but my brother does not want to be reminded of the incident. Pretend nothing happened, just like how you stood still and let your brother harass him." His tone reeked of mockery and growing impatience.
Xander: "..."
"May I remind you, Lee Bolin, how the fight began?" Zhen raised his head, refusing to let his brother get slandered for his actions.
Jin: "That's precious; you let your brother apologise for you, then get defensive when he gets the heat. I never pictured you as a hypocrite."
Darien: "Everyone, calm down; whatever it is, I'm sure it can easily be forgotten."
The gang was taken aback by this person's words and felt offended. Bolin was already irritated by this omega's presence, "So you're saying attempted rape is something simple. That asshole would have been jailed if he were not a clan leader's son. Who the hell asked for your opinion?!"
Darien retreated and kept to himself after being yelled at, but the alpha beside him spoke up. "Be mindful of your words, Lee Bolin." Xander's features tensed slightly.
"Or what? Are you also going to try to molest me in public? I wonder what your mother would say to that?" Bolin struck a chord, banging the table carelessly. It left Michael stunned. This act of conflict resolution was turning into something else. Maybe he should have waited a little longer, he thought.
Lee Ann was very uncomfortable and tried to calm the situation, but again no one listened.
"You have no right to bring my parents into this," Zhen said.
"Why? Are you afraid of what'll happen if they found out their son was a rapist?" Bolin spat out. Now even Jin became worried and wanted to end this awkward apology gone wrong.
"Nonsense!" Zhen Knox clenched his fist, hoping he would not have to repeat the same mistake twice.