The golden light of late afternoon slanted through the windows of the TANGSAKYUEN estate, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Phuwin sat at the table with his tea going cold in his hands, still dressed in his soft home robes. He thought his mother had called him for something simple. A talk. A family meeting. Nothing more.
He was wrong.
His father cleared his throat and set down a folded document.
> "You're to be married. The contract is signed."
Phuwin blinked.
> "Married…?" His voice cracked. "To who?"
His mother didn't meet his eyes. His older brother didn't say a word.
> "pond naravit ," his father said flatly. "The arrangement has been finalized. He offered resources and protection in exchange. You leave in three days."
It felt like someone had poured ice into Phuwin's lungs.
> "You sold me?" he whispered. "You sold me like—like livestock?"
His mother flinched, but his father remained cold.
> "You're an omega. You've always known this day would come. At least this way, your mating has value."
Phuwin stood up so fast the chair scraped loudly against the floor. He couldn't breathe. He turned without a word and ran from the room, heart hammering in betrayal.
Later That Night: At the Park, With Dunk and Fourth
The park was quiet that evening, the city's noise softened by distance. Phuwin sat on the swings like he had as a child, legs pulled to his chest, scarf wrapped tight around him. His eyes were puffy. He hadn't stopped crying.
Dunk arrived first, out of breath, Fourth following close behind.
> "What happened?" Fourth asked, crouching down in front of him. "You've been quiet all week."
Phuwin didn't look up.
> "I'm getting married," he whispered. "To someone I've never met. A monster."
Dunk sat beside him, stunned. "Wait—married? Who?"
> "pond naravit ."
Even *Fourth*, usually the calm one, swore under his breath. "That man's not even an alpha—he's an *enigma*. He's dangerous, Phu."
Phuwin nodded slowly, tears slipping down again.
> "They didn't care. My family just... handed me over like I was nothing. All I ever wanted was a mate who'd love me. Be gentle. Someone kind."
Dunk took his hand and squeezed. "We'll find a way. You don't have to go."
> "I do," Phuwin said hollowly. "If I don't… they'll pay for it. Pond's already claimed me."
Fourth's voice broke. "You don't deserve this."
> "Maybe not. But it's happening."
The three sat there in silence, holding onto each other in the dark, as if trying to slow the sunrise that would carry Phuwin away forever.
---
Phuwin had always believed in love.
Not the kind you read in dusty romance novels or watched through the screen of some fairytale drama—but the kind that bloomed gently, quietly, like morning light spilling over silk sheets. His heat cycles had come and gone without a bond ever snapping into place, but he'd always believed... someday.
He imagined his mate would be warm. Gentle. The kind of alpha who would whisper affirmations against his skin, who'd brush his hair back instead of yanking it, who'd hold him—not cage him.
But on his nineteenth birthday, hope died.
His family didn't even look him in the eyes when they handed him over to **pond naravit **—a name whispered in alleys and feared even in military camps. No one knew what pond truly was. The registry marked him as an alpha, but his scent was wrong. Too controlled. Too... empty. Like something wearing the skin of a man but hollow inside.
And when Phuwin saw him for the first time—tall, dark-eyed, expression unreadable—something in his chest curled tight.
There was no ceremony. No flowers. Just a contract signed in cold blood and a collar fastened around Phuwin's throat like a declaration of war.
> "Smile, little dove," pond murmured, brushing a finger along the side of his neck. "We're married now."
He said it like a threat.
And Phuwin... smiled.
But it wasn't the smile of a happy omega meeting his fated mate.
It was the smile of prey pretending not to be afraid.