On a Friday afternoon as while Nat and Ran sat in the garden under the tree having some tea, until Arisa Came out of nowhere and ran up to Ran.
Ran barely had time to set his teacup down before Arisa threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him over. "Are you okay, let me see you?!" She said as she pulled back and looked at him.
"Are you feeling okay, did he hurt you?" She asked, "I'm fine, why are you acting like this?" Ran asked slightly pushing her away. "You were stuck up in the art studio for 3 days WITH AN ALPHA, how can I not be worried." She stated.
"P'Sa don't say it like that, his not Just an alpha." Ran said slightly pushing her away, "P'Nat is now my boyfriend, so you have to be nice to him." He smiled looking over at Nat who was nervously sitting there.
"WHAT!" Arisa exclaimed, "THIS CANT BE!" She said dragging him into yesthe house.
"P'Sa, calm down!" Ran protested as Arisa practically dragged him through the front doors of the main house.
"This is ridiculous!" Arisa fumed, releasing Ran and pacing the grand hallway. "You can't just… date him! He's an alpha! Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?"
Ran crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Dangerous? He's not dangerous. He's kind, caring, and he's done more for me than anyone else has."
Arisa scoffed. "He's still an alpha, Ran! What if he loses control again? You were locked up with him during his rut! Do you know how reckless that was?"
Ran stepped closer, his voice low but firm. "I trust him."
"You're being naive," Arisa snapped. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
Ran held her gaze steadily. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I love him, P'Sa. And he loves me."
Arisa sighed running her fingers through her hair, "You don't love me, you're just fascinated by the thought of him. This your first time finding a alpha that you can be comfortable around without worrying about pheromones."
"I think he needs to leave Ran, I don't feel comfortable with him being around you."
Ran looked at her disappointed, "I really thought you out of all people will be happy, I'm really disappointed."
Arisa's expression flickered with guilt, but she quickly masked it with stubborn defiance. "I am happy… but I'm also worried. You've never been in a serious relationship before, and he's—he's complicated."
Ran crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. "He's not some dangerous animal, Arisa. He's a person… someone who's gone through so much but still cares deeply. Can't you see that?"
Arisa hesitated, her fingers trembling at her sides. "I see you, Ran… getting attached too fast, putting your whole heart into something that could hurt you."
Ran stepped closer, his voice softening. "I know you're trying to protect me, but P'Nat isn't like that. He makes me feel… safe."
Arisa looked away, struggling to accept his words. "Safe doesn't mean forever…"
"Maybe not," Ran admitted, "but I'm willing to try. Isn't that what love is about?"
Silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Finally, Arisa let out a shaky breath. "I just don't want him to ruin your life." She looked at him one last time and walked away, leaving Ran standing there speechless.
At the corner of the door Nat stands there looking at Ran, he felt guilty Nat clenched his fists, conflicted. He hadn't meant for things to spiral like this. Seeing the hurt in Ran's eyes made his chest ache, but he couldn't bring himself to step forward. He was part of the reason for Ran's pain, after all.
Ran's shoulders slumped as he exhaled a trembling breath, staring at the empty hallway where Arisa had disappeared. He didn't notice Nat at first, too lost in the whirlwind of emotions she'd stirred.
——————————
3 days later:
Three days later, Nat, Ran, and Mali found themselves at Siam Center, the iconic shopping hub in the heart of Bangkok. The modern architecture shimmered under the soft glow of holiday lights, and the air buzzed with a mix of music, chatter, and the clinking of coffee cups from nearby cafés.
Mali tugged at Nat's hand eagerly. "P'Nat can we get some toys!" Before Nat could even open his mouth Ran answered, "sure, where do you want to go?"
Mali's face lit up with excitement. "The big toy store upstairs! They have everything!"
Nat blinked, a bit surprised that Ran had answered so quickly—but he couldn't help smiling. Ran was always softer when it came to Mali.
"Alright, lead the way," Ran said with a chuckle as Mali grabbed both their hands and practically dragged them toward the escalator.
As they ascended, Nat glanced sideways at Ran. "You didn't have to say yes so fast."
Ran shrugged, his expression unreadable. "She's been looking forward to today. I want her to be happy."
There was something deeper behind Ran's words, but Nat didn't press. He simply nodded, appreciating Ran's quiet kindness.
When they reached the toy store, Mali ran ahead, disappearing into a maze of colorful shelves filled with stuffed animals, puzzles, and action figures.
"Stay where we can see you!" Nat called after her.
Ran laughed softly. "Good luck with that."
They strolled through the aisles, pausing whenever Mali excitedly showed them something new. At one point, she held up a large stuffed alpaca with sparkling eyes.
"Isn't it cute?" she beamed.
"It's… something," Nat said with a crooked grin.
Ran chuckled. "You like weird things, Mali."
"Not as weird as you two," she teased with a mischievous glint in her eye before dashing off again.
Nat and Ran exchanged an awkward glance, both caught off guard. After a beat, Nat scratched the back of his neck. "She's… observant."
Ran smirked. "You're just realizing that now?"
Before Nat could respond, Mali returned, clutching the stuffed alpaca. "Can I please get this one?" she pleaded, eyes wide.
Ran pretended to consider it. "Only if you promise not to bring it to the dinner table."
"Deal!" Mali giggled.
As they paid for the toy and left the store, Nat found himself glancing at Ran again.
....
After a few more hours of wandering through Siam Center, their bags filled with toys, clothes, and a few snacks Mali insisted on trying, they decided it was time to head back. The evening air outside was cooler, carrying the scent of street food from nearby vendors.
They headed back to the center parking lot where the driver was waiting for them,
was the best," she murmured sleepily, leaning against Nat's side.
Nat gently adjusted her so she could rest more comfortably. "Glad you had fun, Mali."
Ran walked on her other side, his hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets.
Ran walked beside them, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets as he watched Nat carefully adjust Mali against his shoulder. There was something about the way Nat moved—gentle, protective—that tugged at a part of Ran he'd tried to ignore for so long.
"She really looks up to you," Ran said quietly, his voice almost lost in the hum of distant traffic.
Nat glanced down at Mali, her breathing slow and steady as she slept. "She's… everything," he admitted softly. "I'd do anything to keep her safe."
Ran nodded, understanding more than he cared to admit. Family meant everything, even when it hurt.
As they approached the sleek black car waiting for them in the parking lot, the driver stepped out and opened the back door. Nat carefully slid into the car first, cradling Mali in his arms so she wouldn't wake. Ran followed, settling into the seat across from them.
The quiet hum of the engine filled the space as the car pulled away from the parking lot, weaving through the busy streets of Bangkok. Ran rested his head against the cool window, watching the neon signs blur into streaks of light.
"I didn't expect today to be… nice," Ran admitted after a while, his voice low but genuine.
Nat met his gaze, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes. "Neither did I."
They held each other's stare for a long moment, the air between them charged with something unresolved yet unmistakably real.
Before either of them could speak again, Mali stirred in her sleep, mumbling softly about her stuffed alpaca. Nat instinctively adjusted her, his expression softening as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
———————
As they pulled up to the Tharaporn Estate the driver took all the bags inside the house, and Nat got one of the maids to take Mali in her room. As Ran and Nat walked through the garden towards the art studio Ran spotted Sang in the garden with another guy standing way to close to each other.
Ran narrowed his eyes as he and Nat walked through the quiet, lantern-lit garden toward the art studio. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of night crickets filled the air, but his attention was locked on the two figures standing near the blooming jasmine bushes.
Ran stopped observing the two people, "what are you looking at?" Nat asked as he looked towards the tree.
"Oh who's that?" He asked, Ran shrugged his shoulders, "let's go see." He said as he walked towards them.
As Ran and Nat approached, the faint murmur of conversation became clearer. Sang stood with his back to them, his posture unusually relaxed. The man he was speaking to—a tall, lean figure with sharp features and dark hair—was smiling warmly, his hand resting on Sang's arm in a familiar way.
"P'Sang?" Ran called out, making both men jump slightly.
Sang quickly stepped back, clearing his throat as he turned around. "Young Master…" he greeted stiffly, his usual stoicism snapping back into place.
The other man offered a polite bow, his expression unreadable. "Good evening."
Ran arched a brow. "Who's your… friend?"
Before Sang could respond, the man extended his hand toward Ran. "I'm Rith, an old acquaintance of Sang's. We… go way back."
Nat crossed his arms, studying Rith carefully. "Way back, huh?"
Sang's jaw tightened, though his expression remained composed. "Rith was passing through town and decided to stop by… unexpectedly."
Ran exchanged a curious glance with Nat. "Is that so?"
Rith smiled smoothly. "I couldn't resist seeing an old friend. I'm glad I caught him."
The tension in the air crackled, though neither Ran nor Nat could quite put their finger on why.
Ran's gaze lingered on Rith, sensing there was more to the story than Sang was letting on. Nat's protective instinct kicked in as he stepped a little closer to Ran, subtly placing himself between Rith and his omega.
"Well," Ran said cautiously, offering a polite but strained smile, "it's nice to meet you… Rith."
"The pleasure's mine," Rith replied smoothly, though his eyes flickered toward Sang with something unreadable.
Sang cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly. "It's getting late. I'll escort Rith to the gate."
Before Ran or Nat could protest, Sang gently but firmly guided Rith away toward the estate's entrance. As they disappeared down the garden path, Nat let out a low breath.
TBC