Chapter Text
"No Pai."
"But you'd be a wonderful mother my Sky."
It was not the point here. He could not deny he loved taking care of Daw and Pensri but it didn't mean he had to have a pup too. Sky ignored the longing he could feel at the thought of his own baby. What it would mean to carry one and be happy about it. It was a dangerous thought to have. Ones he'd rather not have.
"It's not the point here, Pai," Sky finally said. "We already have two pups. There's enough children around for now."
"For now? So you're considering it?"
Sky wanted to say yes just to see Pai keep smiling like he was. He also didn't want to lie. He didn't even know if he'd be able to have a pup, even if he wanted to.
He had no answer for Pai so he remained silent. It was easier.
Sky turned and turned in the nest. He had been feeling low for a few days and when he woke up this morning the idea of getting out of his room had made him sick. Rain had felt something was off but he had reassured him and sent him to work. It was the best and worst decision he had made. The best because he could not handle his worried alpha and the worst because he wanted Rain's focus on him. He wanted Rain to be here with him and do something. Anything to help him stop feeling so bad.
Sky sighed and reached for his phone. He looked at the black screen. It would be so easy to unlock it and send a message to Rain, ask him to come home. He put back the phone on the nightstand. He will wait for Rain to come home. He might even allow Prapai or Phayu to crawl in the nest if they came home before their alpha.
There was someone next to him next time he opened his eyes. He could hear their breath and feel a hand stroking his back. Maybe he should be worried but every one of his instincts were telling him he was safe. There was nothing to fear here.
Alpha, Sky thought as the scent around him finally registered. He let out a contented sigh and a chuckle answered it.
"What are you doing here? Told you to go to work," he tried to sound angry but knew he had failed when Rain laughed softly. His alpha had a pretty laugh.
"It's past 8pm honey. You slept all day."
"I'm not your honey," Sky mumbled but he was too comfortable to do more about it.
"That's what you focus on, Honey?"
"Told you -"
"I know," Rain said as he stroked his hair. "Are you still feeling sick?"
Sky could hear the worry in Rain's voice and how he was trying not to be overbearing. Just for that fact he could purr. The hand in his hair stopped and he let out an upset growl. Rain started to move again as soon as he heard it. Sky's growl quieted down and was replaced by purrs. It was better like this.
They didn't talk and soon Sky was lulled back to sleep. He was just missing his other mates now. He wanted Phayu's spicy scent around him. He missed Prapai's burning presence behind him. At least he had Rain. Rain would never leave him. He was sure of this.
The next morning Sky was not feeling better and he could see how worried all his mates were. Even Daw had come to him and asked if he was doing okay. Sky had melted at this. Their pup was always trying to take care of everyone. He always watched how Rain behaved and tried to do the same.
Sky smiled as he thought how, a few days ago, Daw had noticed his little sister trying to stand up. He had run to her as fast as he could when he saw her trip on one of the carpets. He had fussed over her for hours after this. He had only stopped after Phayu had told him it was normal for her to fall. It was part of learning. It had earned Phayu the biggest pout of the week and an annoyed baby alpha. Sky had barely held on his laugh anytime Daw crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks. It was adorable.
"I'm okay," he said exasperated as he noticed Prapai waiting at the door silently.
There was something in the other's eyes he didn't like. There was a knowing look Sky would rather not acknowledge.
"Just let the doctor check on you. Just to settle our alpha's nerves."And ours too was left unsaid. It was low. Very low and they both knew it. There was one thing always working with Sky and it was using Rain. He didn't want to make him worry. They were all aware how far Sky was able to go for Rain; how far he had gone before.
He agreed to see the doctor but not to leave his nest.
"Your mates are worried about you."
Sky didn't like that doctor. He didn't need her to state such obvious facts and sound so judgemental while doing it.
"I told them it was just a cold and I'm feeling better now." It was not really a lie. He still felt like burying himself in his nest and ignoring the outside world but less than the previous day.
"What about letting me check and ease everyone's mind?"
Sky looked suspiciously at the woman. As soon as she had stepped in the room he had asked his mates to go out. He didn't want them here. He didn't need them to anxiously hover around him. He sat up and let the doctor take his vital signs while asking questions. After the third time asking about his heat cycle, nausea or dizziness Sky had enough. He took back the arm the doctor was still holding and he stood up. "I think we're done here."
"I just need to do some blood works to make sure that -"
"We're done," he cut in. "You know where the door is."
He could see the woman wanted to add something but made up her mind at the last moment. She had surely smelled how upset he was. If Sky had pushed out his scent a little more to make her go quicker, no one needed to know it.
Sky waited to be sure the doctor was gone before he walked to the living room where his mates were waiting. Rain stood up as soon as he saw him but one glance from Sky was enough to stop him.
"I told you it was just a cold Rain. Why exactly did the doctor ask me about pregnancy?"
Rain looking away was the only answer Sky needed. He was trying to keep his voice low. He knew Daw and Pensri were in the room next door and could hear them. The pups didn't need to hear their parents arguing. "You should know better than anyone here Rain that I can't be pregnant! I might never be able to have a pup again and you know it. So why do you –" His voice broke on the last words. He was not going to cry about this. He shed enough tears years ago and he made up his mind about the fact. Rain tried to reach for him but he didn't let him. The glare he sent Phayu and Prapai was enough to make them stay silent when he saw them getting closer.
Sky stormed out of the room. He already had enough of this day. Hiding in his nest felt like the best option right now. He knew Rain would not dare come to him after what happened. Maybe Sky would feel guilty later to use this against his Alpha. For now he just felt hurt. How did Rain dare do this when he knew – Sky stopped himself before he let the thoughts overwhelm him. He had enough to think of without adding this.
Sky had to have fallen asleep at some point because the next thing he knew was that the door opened and soft steps got closer. He didn't move. He didn't want to speak to anyone. He still felt under the weather even if he had said he was better. Now he was pissed at Rain and at Prapai too. Prapai had been the one to convince him to see a doctor. Phayu was the only one he would allow near him at the time and he knew the other omega would never intrude. They weren't close enough for the other to step in like this. To be fair he had always kept distance with the others, no matter how hard Prapai tried to break his walls. It was easier not to get attached. There was safety in the distance he kept between himself and his pack.
"Mama?" The words were followed with Daw crawling in the nest and cuddling him. Sky pulled him closer and softly sniffed the comforting smell of the pup. He let go of all the other thoughts to focus on the moment. Everything was fine. Their pups were safe and his dumb alpha and omegas too.
"You angry?" Daw said in a small voice. He didn't like how uncertain the pup was; how tightly he was holding on him. It was as if Daw thought he was going to disappear if he let go of him.
"It's okay pup."
"I heard you yell at Pa. He hurt you?"
Sky hid his laugh as he heard the growl in his pup's voice. "What are you going to do pup? Fight Pa?"
"If he hurt you, yes!." There was so much conviction in the pup's voice that Sky couldn't hold on his laugh this time.
"It's okay pup. Your Pa didn't mean wrong. He thought he was helping." He PAT the top of his head and smiled when a cute rumble answered him.
"But he hurt you," the pup insisted. "You don't hurt your pack."
"Sometimes people just don't think before acting. It doesn't mean they want to hurt you," Sky explained softly.
"I'm still upset, just so you know," Sky said when the door opened an hour later and Rain looked inside.
"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have -"
"Cut it Rain," Sky said. "Don't want your sad scent to wake up our pup." The words ended up more soft than upset.
Rain smiled at them. They both knew they were going to be okay. It was not the first time they fought and wouldn't be the last one.