Chapter Text
Dylan woke up the same way he had every day for the past three weeks,
with the taste of someone else’s name still stuck behind his teeth.
He sat up slowly, the sheet sliding from his bare shoulder, revealing the faint curl of an old bite mark on his collarbone. It had already faded. Good. He didn’t want to see it anymore. Didn’t want to see anything that reminded him of the breakup.
Two years. Two years just… ending like a glass slipping from someone's hand. No sound. No warning. Just shards.
His alarm buzzed uselessly on his nightstand. He turned it off with more force than necessary.
Fine. He was fine. He had been repeating that so often it was practically a prayer.
He dragged himself into the bathroom, brushing his teeth with the same blank faced precision he used for everything lately. The mirror didn’t give him comfort, only the familiar grumpy omega scowl, the one everyone assumed meant he was irritated. Sometimes it did. Sometimes it hid the ache underneath.
His phone buzzed. He almost ignored it until he saw the caller ID.
Dad.
Of course. At seven in the morning. Dylan exhaled through his nose, answering with a dry “Yes?”
His father’s voice beamed through the speaker “Dylan Good morning. Guess what?”
“No.”
Pepper, who lived in the room across the hall, opened his own door at the same time and gave Dylan a knowing, sleepy look. He could hear their dad without the phone. Dylan rolled his eyes.
“There is going to be a reunion today” their father announced cheerfully, as if revealing a lottery win. “My childhood friend is finally back in Thailand. After all those years. Can you believe it? And he is bringing his two boys”
Dylan’s eyebrow twitched. “Congratulations to them.”
“Oh, come on, Dylan, don’t be like that.” There it was the tone. Half pleading, half plotting. “His elder son is around your age, it will be good for you to make friends. Especially right now, after your......”
“If you say ‘breakup’ I’m hanging up.”
His father cleared his throat loudly. “…Anyway. You should at least make an effort. The eldest, Jun, he finished his degree in England. Something with… nano… something. Smart boy... Talented. Well behaved.”
Pepper snorted softly from outside Dylan’s room. Dylan shot him a glare.
“And the youngest, Nano.” his father continued, “just started university. Very sweet boy. You will like him. And I think it’s important that you and Jun get along. You used to play together when you were kids, remember?”
Dylan froze mid step.
Oh, he remembered.
He remembered that irritating alpha boy who used to pull his hair just to see him scowl. Who used to brag about winning every stupid game. Who once told him he would grow up to be just as annoying as he was now.
They used to fight every time their parents met. They were oil and fire even back then. Ten or twelve years hadn’t changed anything, Dylan was sure.
“No” he said flatly. “I’m not going.”
“You are” his father said with the unshakable, ruthless cheer only parents had. “Six p.m. Dress nicely. Pepper too.”
Pepper, traitor that he was, called out, “Okay, Dad”
Dylan hung up.
Pepper leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed. His scent, calm alpha warmth, gentle and grounding filled the hallway.
“Before you ask, no, I’m not covering for you” Pepper said.
“You didn’t even let me ask” Dylan muttered.
“Because I know you.” Pepper pushed himself upright. “It’s just a dinner, Dylan.”
“It’s a set up” Dylan corrected. “Dad practically said he wants me to ‘get along’ with that golden child alpha. You know what that means?”
Pepper’s lips twitched. “He doesn’t want you sulking in your nest because of a breakup.”
“I’m not”
Pepper raised a brow. Dylan shut up.
He walked back into his room and dropped face onto the bed.
Jun. Of all the people to reappear in his life.
He could already imagine it.
The polite smile in front of the adults.
The smug smirk the moment their parents looked away.
The flirtatious comments he probably used on everyone because that’s the kind of person Jun always was, annoying, charming and so sure of himself it made Dylan want to throw things.
Golden child.
Perfect alpha.
Everyone’s favorite.
Dylan clenched his jaw. Great. Just what he needed after a breakup.
Pepper tapped on the wall, a comforting sign that he was heading back to his own room. “It won’t be that bad” he called through the wall.
“It will” Dylan replied immediately. He stared at the ceiling.
Tonight, he would have to face Jun Tangsakultham again, after a decade.
And Dylan Zhou was many things, grumpy, annoyed, emotionally constipated but he was not ready for that. Not at all.
By the time six p.m. crawled around, Dylan was already regretting every choice that had led him to this moment, especially being born.
The Zhou family’s dining room looked like a formal event straight out of a magazine spread. His father had decorated the table with fresh flowers, expensive plates and completely unnecessary candles. Pepper was adjusting the last fork, because he was Pepper and couldn’t handle asymmetry.
“Looks nice, right?” Pepper asked, glancing at his brother.
“It looks like Dad is hosting a royal wedding” Dylan deadpanned.
Before Pepper could laugh, the doorbell chimed. Their father nearly sprinted to the entrance and Dylan’s stomach dropped.
They were here.
“Come in, come in” their father’s booming voice echoed through the house. Dylan reluctantly followed Pepper toward the entryway. And then he saw them.
Mr. Tangsakultham, their father’s old friend, greeted them warmly. Behind him stood the two sons.
Nano entered first, an omega with bright, sparkling eyes and a smile so genuine it felt like a hug. The kind of person Dylan instinctively wanted to avoid because they were too soft, too shiny, too everything Dylan wasn’t.
“Hello... I’m Nano” he chirped, bowing slightly with impeccable manners. The scent rolling off him was warm, sweet, blossoming, classic sunshine omega.
Pepper visibly melted. Dylan groaned internally.
Then, Jun stepped inside.
Tall, broad, shouldered, unfairly handsome. Dressed in a fitted button, up that was rolled at the sleeves, revealing forearms that were absolutely illegal. His hair was styled just enough to look effortless and when he lifted his gaze,
His eyes landed directly on Dylan.
Recognition flashed. Followed by something else. A slow, smug, I.. win..by..existing smirk.
“Long time no see” Jun drawled, his voice rich, smooth… and irritatingly sexy.
Dylan’s jaw tightened. “Unfortunately.” Pepper elbowed him sharply.
Jun chuckled, an infuriating sound. “Still grumpy. Good to know some things never change.”
“And you are still annoying” Dylan shot back. “Balance in the universe.”
Mr. Zhou clapped his hands, oblivious to the tension. “See? They remember each other”
Pepper muttered under his breath, “Dad, that’s not the good kind of remembering.”
Nano stepped forward, eyes sparkling as he stuck his hand out to Pepper.
“You must be P’Pepper. P’Jun told me once when we were kids that you were the ‘nice one.’ Is that still true?”
Pepper blinked, surprised. “Uh… I guess?”
Nano beamed. “Great. Then I choose you as my favorite person today.”
Pepper, the calm, mature, unshakeable Pepper, blushed.
Dylan stared. Jun snorted. Nano looked proud of himself. Then Nano gently tugged on Pepper’s sleeve.
“... can I sit next to you? You look like you know how to deal with stressful situations.”
Pepper gave a soft, warm laugh. “Yeah. Come here.”
Great. Now his brother had adopted a sunshine child.
Everyone took their seats. Naturally, their fathers seated Jun directly across from Dylan. Because fate hated him.
Nano sat glued to Pepper’s side, chatting cheerfully about starting university.
“I’m really nervous..” Nano said, swinging his legs slightly. “I don’t know anyone yet.”
Pepper smiled. “You will be fine. If you ever need help, you can call me.”
Dylan watched the interaction like he was witnessing Pepper being kidnapped into the sun.
Jun rested his chin on his hand, eyes fixed on Dylan. “So” he said with that infuriating alpha confidence “Fine Arts, right? Heard you are in your third year.”
“Congratulations” Dylan replied blandly.
Jun raised a brow. “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Wasn’t meant to be.”
Their fathers burst into laughter at the opposite end of the table.
“Ah, young people bantering”
“They get along so well”
Pepper kicked Dylan under the table. Dylan kicked back harder.
Jun watched with amusement. “Wow. Violence already? I must really bring out the best in you.”
“You bring out headaches.”
“Cute.”
“Don’t call me cute.”
Jun leaned forward slightly, voice dropping into something lower, dangerously teasing. “But you are.”
Dylan paused.
Pepper and Nano both stuck mid sentence. Nano whispered to Pepper, “Is this normal?”
Pepper whispered back, “This is… something.”
Jun smirked, clearly enjoying himself. Dylan glared, heat prickling at his cheeks.
He hated him.
He hated that Jun always had the upper hand.
Hated that Jun was still effortlessly charming.
Hated that some part of him, some very buried, very traitorous part, felt his pulse spike when Jun leaned slightly closer.
“Omega” Jun murmured quietly enough only Dylan’s sharp hearing picked it up, “you are flushing.”
Dylan’s fists clenched.
“Shut up” he whispered back, sharp as glass.
Jun just grinned like he had won something.
Nano suddenly clapped his hands. “Let’s talk about something else. Something positive. Like, like hobbies.”
Pepper nodded gratefully. “Yes. Hobbies are safe.”
Nano turned to Dylan. “P’Dylan , what do you do when you are upset?”
Pepper kicked him again under the table.
Dylan sighed. “I paint.”
Jun hummed. “Still dramatic.”
“And you?” Dylan challenged.
“Engineering” Jun replied with a shrug. “Building things. Fixing things. You know, useful stuff.”
Dylan bristled. “Painting is useful.”
Jun grinned. “To whom? Dramatic omegas anonymously crying in galleries?”
Pepper groaned. “Oh my god.”
Nano whispered, “They are so… competitive.”
Their fathers announced dessert but before any plates could be served, Dylan stood abruptly.
“I need air” he said flatly. He left the dining room without waiting.
Jun watched him go, expression shifting, still amused but something else flickered behind it. Something sharp. Something curious.
Pepper and Nano exchanged a look.
Nano whispered, “Should… someone go after him?”
Pepper exhaled. “Jun will.”
As if on cue, Jun rose from his seat with slow, confident steps.
Mr. Zhou beamed at the sight. “See? They are bonding.”
Pepper muttered, “Dad, no, that’s not, never mind.”
Nano poked Pepper. “Should we pray for him?”
“Which one?” Pepper asked.
Nano thought for a moment.“…Both?”
Dylan stepped out onto the balcony, slamming the glass door behind him harder than he intended. The evening air hit his skin, cooler than the dining room but not nearly cold enough to put out the fire still crackling under his ribs.
He gripped the railing and exhaled sharply.
Jun.
Of course it had to be Jun. With his smug face and that impossible confidence. With the exact same ability he had at thirteen to piss Dylan off within thirty seconds.
Dylan shut his eyes, trying to let the night wind clear his head.
He heard the door slide open again.
Of course.
“Wow” Jun drawled. “You storm off dramatically and don’t even wait for your audience?”
Dylan didn’t turn around. “Go away.”
Jun stepped onto the balcony, closing the door behind him. They were alone now. Sealed off from the warmth of the dining room.
Jun came to stand a few feet away. Not touching, not looming… but present. Too present.
“You are still the same” Jun said. “Get annoyed, run away, pretend you don’t care.”
Dylan scoffed. “Please. I’m not running. I’m removing myself from your stupidity.”
Jun laughed under his breath. A low, warm sound that sank annoyingly under Dylan’s skin.
“Right” Jun said. “You are totally unaffected.”
“I’m not affected” Dylan snapped.
“That’s why your scent spiked the moment I sat down?”
Dylan’s grip on the railing tightened.
“Forget everything you think you know about my scent” he hissed.
Jun moved closer. Not invading, just enough for Dylan to feel the edge of his alpha aura brushing against his own. It made Dylan’s heartbeat stutter.
Jun lowered his voice. “I know the difference between ‘angry’ and… something else.”
Heat shot up Dylan’s neck. “Back. Off.”
Jun raised his hands in mock surrender but he didn’t step away. “I’m not here to fight” Jun said softly.
Dylan barked a humorless laugh. “Could have fooled me.”
Jun paused. For the first time tonight, something serious flickered across his face.
“You are going through something” Jun said. “I can tell.”
Dylan’s throat tightened before he could stop it.
Of course, Jun had noticed. Of course he had always been like this, annoying and perceptive, the worst combination. But it shouldn’t matter. Dylan is not teen anymore. Neither is Jun. He can’t possibly read him like they were young.
Dylan turned away from him, staring out at the darkening street. “It’s none of your business.”
“It isn’t” Jun agreed quietly. “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t notice.”
Dylan clenched his jaw. He wanted to snap back. To shove Jun away with words sharp enough to cut.
Instead, what came out was “You don’t know anything about my life.”
“Well, I want to” Jun said simply.
Dylan stopped. Jun stepped beside him, close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed.
Close enough that Dylan could feel every centimetres of tension in the air between them.
“You really haven’t changed” Jun murmured. “Still prickly. Still pretending nothing scares you. Still....”
“Don’t finish that sentence” Dylan warned.
Jun smiled. “...still easy to read.”
Dylan snapped. He turned, face flushed, eyes narrowed. “Stop acting like you know me. We haven’t seen each other in ten years. You don’t get to waltz in here with your golden-boy smile and act like you understand anything about me.”
Jun’s expression didn’t change. If anything, it softened. “It’s not an act” he said quietly. “I remember you. More than you think.”
Dylan’s breath caught. Jun leaned in slightly, not enough to touch but enough to be felt.
Enough to make Dylan’s omega instincts bristle and tremble at the same time.
“You are not as unreachable as you pretend” Jun murmured. “You never were.”
Dylan didn’t move. Couldn’t move. His heart thudded unevenly, a traitor beating out of rhythm. “Why are you saying this?” Dylan whispered before he could stop himself.
Jun smiled faintly. Not smug. Not teasing. Something else.
“Because I wanted to see you again” Jun said. “And now that I have… I’m not planning on pretending you are a stranger.”
The words hit Dylan harder than they should have. His chest tightened. He needed to breathe. He needed to think.
“You…” Dylan swallowed. “You don’t even like me.”
Jun’s eyes glinted with something dark and warm. “Oh, Dylan” he murmured. “I never said that.”
Dylan’s pulse skipped. And that was the moment the balcony door slid open.
Nano’s head popped out.
“Oh Phi” he chirped, bright and oblivious to the near electric tension thick enough to cut. “Um...dessert is ready P’Pepper told me to fetch you before your dad gets worried you two killed each other.”
Jun stepped back smoothly, masking everything behind a charming smile.
Dylan stared at the ground, desperately regaining control of his breathing.
Nano blinked between the two of them, confused. “Why… is the air weird?”
Jun clapped Nano’s shoulder. “No reason.”
Dylan shot him a glare that could fry electricity.
Nano tilted his head. “Are you two fighting?”
“No” Jun said. “Yes” Dylan said. They spoke at the same time.
Nano gasped. “So you ARE soul-bonded enemies”
Jun laughed. Dylan walked past them without a word.
The next morning should have been peaceful.
Should have.
Dylan woke up, got dressed, packed his sketchbooks and tried very hard to pretend last night didn’t happen. He ignored his father’s knowing smirk, ignored Pepper’s gentle “you okay?” his mother’s worried eyes and walked to campus with headphones shoved deep into his ears.
He told himself today would be normal.
He lied.
Dylan was unlocking the Fine Arts building when Pepper’s scent hit him from across the courtyard, calm alpha warmth mixed with something new… soft, sweet, bright.
Nano.
Dylan turned.
Pepper was walking beside Nano, the younger omega practically bouncing while holding a campus map like it was a treasure.
Dylan blinked. “Why are you here?”
Nano waved. “First day at the Vet department. P’Per said he would show me around”
Pepper smiled, warm and helplessly. “He asked nicely.”
Nano beamed. “And he promised to introduce me to the campus cats”
Dylan narrowed his eyes. “…There are no campus cats.”
Pepper pointed. “There is literally one behind you.”
Dylan turned. A cat sat on the bench staring judgmentally at him.
Nano gasped. “Let me pet him....”
Pepper caught Nano before he dove forward face-first. “Nano... Not now”
But before anyone could answer...A new scent drifted in.
Sharp. Clean. Confident. Alpha aura that made Dylan’s heart lurch before he could control it.
Then a voice “Morning.”
Dylan’s shoulders stiffened. Jun walked toward them in a fitted black shirt, ID lanyard around his neck, hands tucked casually into his pockets. Sunlight hit him. It was unfair.
“Why..” Dylan asked flatly, “...are you on my campus?”
Jun smiled like it was the best question he had ever heard. “Started working. The engineering department hired me.”
Nano waved his map proudly. “We are studying here now. P’Per is our guide”
Pepper sighed. “Yup.”
Dylan blinked once.
Then twice.
His blood pressure rose.
“You..” he said, pointing at Jun “..are stalking me.”
Pepper choked on his own breath. Nano gasped in delighted horror.
Jun stared at Dylan. Then laughed. Hard. Not a polite laugh. Not a cute chuckle. A full, head-thrown-back alpha laugh that made Dylan’s face burn.
“Oh my god” Jun said between breaths, “omega, what part of ‘I got hired by the engineering department’ translates in your brain to ‘I crossed countries to follow you around’?”
“You showed up to dinner last night” Dylan shot back.
Jun smirked. “Because our parents planned it.”
“And now you are here.”
“Because” Jun said slowly, teasingly, “I work here.”
Nano raised his hand like a student. “P’Dylan … do you usually assume people stalk you?”
“YES” Dylan snapped.
Pepper patted Nano’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. He distrusts everything. Including the weather.”
“I do NOT....”
“You called the rain ‘suspicious’ last week” Pepper reminded him.
“It WAS suspicious.”
Jun couldn’t stop smiling. Smug. Beautiful. Irritating.
“So” Jun said, stepping closer, lowering his voice in a way that made Dylan instantly defensive, “you think I followed you to your university?”
Dylan crossed his arms. “…Yes.”
Jun leaned in slightly, too slightly for Nano and Pepper to notice but enough for Dylan’s knees to betray him for half a second.
“Why would I need to stalk you” Jun murmured, “when you come running the second you sense me?”
Dylan’s heart punched his ribs. His scent spiked before he could stop it.
Pepper coughed loudly. “HE *cough IS *cough TEASING *cough YOU *cough DYLAN.”
Nano whispered anxiously, “Why does the air smell spicy??”
Dylan stepped back so fast he nearly tripped. “You... you are impossible”
Jun grinned. “You missed me.”
“I DID NOT.”
Nano tugged Pepper’s sleeve. “Is this flirting?”
Pepper whispered, “Unfortunately, yes.”
Nano nodded in wonder. “Aggressive flirting.”
Pepper sighed. “Very.”
Jun finally held up a folder. “Anyway. I need to check in with the department head. Apparently, I’m supervising a new research lab.”
Pepper nodded politely. “Congratulations.”
Nano clapped excitedly. “Phi is so cool”
Jun ruffled his hair. “Thanks, sunshine.”
Dylan glared at the affectionate gesture. Stupid alpha. Stupid soft-spot for Nano.
Jun turned to Dylan with a slow, knowing smirk. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t bother you.” Then he added “Unless you want me to.”
Dylan sputtered, “I don’t... Why would I.......?”
Jun winked. And walked away.
Dylan knew something was wrong the second he opened the door to the Fine Arts workshop and every single omega inside suddenly straightened up like soldiers sensing an invading alpha.
Ugh. No. Absolutely not.
Dylan didn’t even have to turn around to know whose scent had hit the room.
Jun leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching him with that laid-back confidence that made Dylan want to throw paintbrushes.
“Nice place” Jun said, glancing around the studio. “Smells like… ink. And anxiety.”
Dylan glared. “Get out.”
Jun walked in.
“I said get OUT...”
Jun ignored him and picked up a half-finished clay sculpture on a table nearby. “This is pretty good.”
“That’s mine” Dylan snapped, snatching it from his hands. “Don’t touch.”
Jun raised a brow. “Possessive.”
“Protective” Dylan corrected sharply. “Of my work. And my space. Leave.”
Jun’s eyes glinted, amused. “Make me.”
Dylan’s hands curled into fists. His scent spiked irritably (and embarrassingly). A few omegas in the room blushed at the sudden alpha–omega tension.
Jun smirked. Of course he did. “I work on the other side of campus” Jun said casually. “But I thought I would visit.”
“Why?”
Jun shrugged. “Curiosity.”
“LIE.”
Jun took a slow look around. “I didn’t know art departments were this chaotic. Is that a knife stuck in the wall?”
Dylan shoved him toward the exit. “GET. OUT.”
Jun didn’t move. He didn’t even budge. He just stood there, like a wall, solid, annoyingly warm, radiating alpha confidence.
“Seriously, omega” Jun said softly, “you are kind of cute when you are mad.”
Dylan’s heart did something physically offensive inside his chest. “I’m not... Don’t call me... Go AWAY”
“Not happening” Jun replied easily. “We are classmates now. Colleagues, actually.”
“You are a researcher. That’s not...”
“Same building zone” Jun said. “Same university. Same courtyard. Same coffee shop.”
Dylan huffed. Jun smiled, slow and triumphant. “Face it. You can’t escape me today.”
On the other side of campus, Pepper was experiencing what could only be described as sunshine overdrive.
“P'Per Look A dog”
“P'Per Look. A plant. ”
“P'Per Look. A vending machine. ”
Pepper laughed every time. “Nano, there are like fifty vending machines.”
“But THIS one has peach soda.”
Pepper bought him one. Nano instantly declared it his new favorite drink.
The Veterinary building was still under renovation, so Pepper walked him through the temporary classrooms.
Nano stopped at every animal poster.
“Phi. What’s that?”
“A horse.”
“And that?”
“A… different horse.”
“WAH. Amazing. ”
Pepper rubbed his temples, smiling. “You are impossible.”
Nano beamed, practically walking inside Pepper’s personal space bubble, sticking so close their arms brushed every few steps.
Then Nano stumbled over a small stair step.
Pepper caught his wrist immediately, steady and warm.
Nano blinked up at him. “You are like… my safety alpha.”
Pepper coughed. “Nano, I’m ..... whatever”
“No, Phi” Nano insisted, shaking his head. “You feel like a protective alpha teddy bear.”
Pepper flushed. “…Please don’t call me a teddy bear.”
Nano gasped. “A cool teddy bear. ”
Pepper gave up. “Okay, that’s… fine.”
Nano grinned and clung to his sleeve like Pepper was his emotional life jacket.
Dylan finally managed to push Jun one step backwards.
Victory?
Jun just leaned down slightly, voice dropping to that tone Dylan hated, deep, teasing, annoyingly mesmerizing.
“You are really bad at pretending you don’t care.”
“I don’t..”
Jun stepped closer, enough for Dylan to feel the warmth of him. “Your scent keeps flaring every time I speak. That’s not indifference, baby omega.”
Dylan’s breath hitched. His face burned. He shoved Jun again, harder.
This time Jun actually moved back half a step.
Dylan pointed at the door, cheeks hot. “Get. Out. Or I swear.....”
Jun tilted his head. “Or you will do what? Paint me to death?”
Dylan threw an eraser at him. Hard. Jun dodged it with a laugh. He walked out with a lazy wave.
“We are not done, Dylan.”
“Yes we ARE.”
“No” Jun said over his shoulder. “We are really not.”
Just as Jun walked out of the Fine Arts building, Pepper and Nano rounded the corner, Nano holding Pepper’s hand, chattering about animal anatomy.
Jun raised a brow. “Wow. You two already look like a family.”
Pepper choked. “w..we are not. ”
Nano blinked innocently.