Pravat's eyes are fixed on the road, but a small part of his brain still resonates with Jaran's hurtful words, fueling the grudge he holds against him. "How dare he speak ill of my mate? Did he truly believe I was foolish enough to let him harm my mate?" He slams the dashboard in frustration and curses himself for allowing Jaran to walk away with one punch. As an alpha, he should ensure that no other alpha will ever be able to hurt his mate.
Tiwa flinches at the loud sound, emitting a scent of cinnamon and jasmine that shows fear, worry, and exhaustion. He looks at Pravat from the corner of his wet eyelashes, trying to figure out what is bothering him, before reaching out to hold Pravat's hand in his own.
Pravat closes his eyes briefly, then forces his rigid demeanor to soften as he squeezes Tiwa's hand in return. The warmth of Tiwa's skin still emanates heat, but it feels heavier now, promising that Tiwa's heat will linger for a couple more days. Absently stroking Tiwa's knuckles, Pravat ponders various thoughts while keeping his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
There are still things unsaid between them—why Tiwa concealed his omega identity while Decha openly embraced his; why he feared losing everything he had worked for by listening to his heart; why being an omega was seen as a sin in his eyes; and what plans he had for his future.
Pravat turns to look at Tiwa and sees him leaning back against the headrest, tilting his head toward the half-open window. The strong breeze lulls his nerves and relaxes his body after a tiring day. It's good for him, helping his painful heart overcome some things. Pravat knows he needs to talk to him, but that can wait until Tiwa feels okay. Now is not the right time.
Tiwa watches the city roll past, things looking significantly more relaxed and settled than earlier. Cities at night bring a secret pleasure to anyone who has the ability to look at the place as it is, not as one will see it in the day, drowning in the moods of people and motorized transport. His wet eyes shut, the tension in his body drifting away to the constant rumble of the car and the soothing sound of the wind.
A small smile curls on Pravat's lips when Tiwa finally gives up on his exhaustion without trashing his mind. He reaches out to pull him closer, his head ducking and burying into his neck. He leans down and presses a kiss on Tiwa's forehead, feeling warmth in his chest. Humming a tune to himself, he continues toward the hotel with a pretty sleeping omega against his chest.
By the time they get to the hotel, it is nearly midnight. He pulls the car into the parking lot, a dimly lit underground establishment filled with descriptor vehicles that could belong to famous names. After circling a few times, he finally comes across an unoccupied space—something that is, thankfully, tucked toward the back of the parking lot.
Turning toward Tiwa, Pravat carefully scoops him into his arms, being mindful not to wake him from his much-needed rest. Exiting the car, he carries him into the hotel, observing the exhausted and disheartened expression on Tiwa's face. He makes a promise to himself that, as long as Tiwa is by his side, he will do whatever it takes to bring back his childhood baby deer.
When they reach the hotel room, Pravat takes Tiwa to the bath that connects to the bedroom. He takes a hot bath and helps him undress before slipping him into the water. He doesn't let him raise a finger, gently clean his body, wash his hair, or just let him relax before drying him off and getting him ready for bed. He holds him close for the night and covers him with his musk scent, whispering soft, assuring phrases until Tiwa is fast asleep again.
***
Fury! Fury! Fury! The swear on the tip of Jaran's tongue is abruptly cut off along with his air supply, sounding more like a hoarse croak than a violent curse. Vaguely, he turns toward Pravat, but not before catching the look of utter outrage on his face. He growls and clenches his fists, fueling the hatred inside him. "I will kill you, no matter what." He gets up and moves to attack him, but Decha and his cousins hold on to either side tightly and prevent him from doing that.
He struggles to be free as he glares at Pravat and Tiwa with fire in his eyes. He should do something. He can't see them together. It's too much. A growl occasionally leaves his throat as they ignore him and walk down the hallway, embracing each other's arms without caring about anything. How dare they disrespect him?
His eyes narrow dangerously as he stands just ten feet away from them. If only he had a shotgun in his hands, everything would have been complete. He would not only take them, but also destroy this entire arena for deceiving him. In the end, everything conspires against him, destroying all that he had worked so hard for.
"Let's go. Later, we will discuss this." Decha breaks the silence because he is Decha, and he isn't good at letting things stay quiet.
"There's nothing to discuss this," Jaran may be speaking to Decha, but his eyes stay focused on the pair. If looks could kill, they would die a thousand times over. His gaze is so intense that his bandmates' gazes are barely noticeable.
"Okay. Let's go then." Decha rolls his eyes before walking over. "Come on."
Jaran grunts, keeping his gaze on the pair until they are out of sight. It's like they are completely exiting his life. He prefers that it's true. He doesn't want to see either of their faces again, especially that traitor. If he does, he doesn't know what he will do. Maybe he will kill Tiwa first before Pravat for backstabbing him. He growls and burns with rage as his bandmates force him to leave the place.
A few minutes later, they make their way to the parking lot and get in the arranged car. Everyone stays silent and respects Jaran's feelings, so he gets in the passenger seat and leans against the headrest. The car roars into life with its standard deep growl when the engine starts, a sound that particularly reflects his mood. He growls and rubs his hands over his face before crossing his arms over his chest.
The ride is uneven, which scares the hell out of everyone, and at last, it breaks down when the car bumps into a huge stone. Jaran groans and steps out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. His brain feels like it's swimming through everything. It's almost too much, really. He can't even bring himself to think and change anything. He stands outside, taking in the air that he desperately needs.
Unconsciously, tears brim his eyes and make him feel small. He curses under his breath, frustrated with the turn of events. "I hadn't thought that my little brother would become a big man one day and stab me in the back for that crazy shit. It hurts. I knew he had feelings for him, but I never knew he would choose him over me and leave me for him. I didn't know where I'd failed." He falls on his knees and palms his face, sobbing uncontrollably.