Chapter Text
Kinn
“If you want to take over the family, you have to be strong and determined. It takes responsibility to not only be the head of the family to the outside world. It’s not a mask you can wear at times and then get rid of when you no longer have someone watching you. You’ll be responsible for your brothers and all the people living under our roof soon, Kinn. Be aware of that. And make sure that our line continues,” Korn says without looking up from the chess game he’s playing against Chan.
Kinn bites the flesh of his lower lip. Lately, his father always finds ways to hint at his new favourite topic when they have the chance to talk to each other which isn’t often. It’s obvious though that an heir is what his father wants of him. Even though Korn knows that Kinn has no wish whatsoever to take a mate. Not after- No. No mate, period.
But the issue of an heir… Kinn himself knows that one day just like his father is doing it now, he’ll have to step down as the lead alpha of the Theerapanyakul family. Kinn isn’t the head of the family yet, but it’ll only be a few more months most likely.
“You know I don’t want to take a mate, pa,” Kinn says. He crosses his arms behind his back, hoping that his father will finally take the hint. Of course, he’s not that lucky.
“That’s inevitable. The family demands it. The world we live in demands it. How do you plan to lead the part of the world we have taken as our own? Others will see you as a weak alpha who can’t even find a mate and keep him by his side. That gives you children to rule after your time as the head of the family is over?” Korn looks up this time. He’s still calm, but Kinn knows his father. He’ll not budge from his point.
Kinn knows what this means. What his father demands of him.
Korn looks back at the chess board and moves a bishop to topple over one of Chan’s pawns. “Though a mate is important, the heir is essential. But you can’t have one without the other now, can you?” Korn says.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Kinn sees Pete twitching. The bodyguard normally is part of Khun’s guard, but his omega brother had a little disagreement with the alpha bodyguard. Pete still doesn’t want Khun to dye his hair. Kinn doesn’t blame Pete. He also won’t let Khun close to his hair. Not that his brother’s bad at what he’s doing with his hair, but Kinn doesn’t think that he’ll appreciate the colours his big brother will come up with for him.
“You know I’m still young, I can have children for a long time yet to come. Why rush with something like this? It’s more important to make sure that the transition of power moves smoothly and without interruption,” Kinn tries to argue although he knows that his father won’t budge.
Korn sighs. “There is no reasoning with you today. Go, we’ll continue our conversation another day,” he says, already focusing back on the game of chess. Chan looks up from the board for a second. Kinn doesn’t like the look on his face. Normally, Chan makes sure that his expression’s unreadable, but today Kinn can’t help but think that the head bodyguard of his father tries to measure him up.
Kinn moves his jaw to get rid of the leftover tension that has creped into his body. It always does when he talks to his father lately. Kinn will feel his muscles seizing up, his senses will sharpen as if the alpha in him is getting ready for a fight. Without another word, he turns around and leaves.
Pete and Big follow him on his way through the compound. He barely registers their presence, too focused on finding a way out of what his father wants from him. The child part won’t be that difficult. Although Kinn hasn’t thought about starting a family maybe it could be quite nice to have a child around in this huge sterile, quiet tower of theirs.
Sometimes Kinn does miss the times when he and his brothers were still young before all the fucked up things had started happening. Khun being kidnapped, their mother dying, Kim moving out barely after presenting and being of age.
Maybe a child would bring him some happiness and maybe he could give a child a happy life here as well. Not like his father did even before Khun got kidnapped the first time. How there never was any real love in their home.
But to have a child, Kinn would need a mate and that, that isn’t something he’s willing to do. Not now, maybe not ever.
“Pete, with me. Big, you can take your break now and come back later,” Kinn says, barely looking over his shoulder when he opens the door to his private rooms.
Kinn doesn’t need to look at the two bodyguards to know that they’re exchanging glances. He rarely lets anyone into his room who isn’t one of his night-time companions. He continues walking towards his lounge area, sitting down on the beige couch and waiting for Pete to close the door behind himself and stand in front of him.
For an alpha, Pete’s gangly, and his scent isn’t the strongest. He probably doesn’t even need to use the scent blockers that’re mandatory for all the bodyguards the Theerapanyakul family employs to wear.
“Khun,” Pete says. “How can I help?”
Kinn nods his head towards the black couch to his left for Pete to sit down on. He doesn’t want to look up to his subordinate during this conversation. “When my father said that there couldn’t be a child without a mate, you reacted. You know of another option, do you not?”
Pete shoves his hands under his legs. “Khun,” he says again, lowering his head. “I… I’m not sure whether this counts as another option, but one of my grandmother’s neighbours, they had problems conceiving. So, they went to this clinic, that, you know.” Pete scratches his leg.
“Yes?” Kinn says, motioning for Pete to continue. He’s tired of the day already, no need for his bodyguard to start talking in half-sentences.
“Uh, so this clinic, they do surrogacy. Couples or single alphas go there and they choose an omega to carry their child and they pay them for it,” Pete finally says.
Kinn furrows his eyebrows. “I thought that’s something only betas do. Isn’t there a law against omegas offering this… service?”
Pete nods. “There was yes, but a few years ago the government loosened up the law. It wasn’t in the media that much because there was this scandal going on with the prime minister at the same time.”
Kinn leans back against the cushions. Now, that was an idea. No mate and a child to make his father happy. Win, win. “Thank you, Pete. You can go. Make sure that Big is back on his post before you leave for dinner.”
Pete nods and stands to leave. “And don’t tell anyone what we discussed,” Kinn adds.
“Of course, Khun!”
Kinn stares at the wall for several minutes. A child without having to deal with someone wanting to be his mate, someone who could betray him, use his trust against him. Yes, this might be a good idea.
Maybe.
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Porsche
Grabbing the bottle of Tequila, Porsche makes sure that the shot glasses are lined up correctly before pouring the clear liquid into the waiting glasses. All around him, people are talking, dancing to music or being lip-locked with another person. It’s Friday night and Yok’s bar is full to the brim. Even though his black shirt is half-open in the front, Porsche feels the sweat on his chest forming into tiny drops.
“Here you go, ladies, enjoy the night!” Porsche exclaims and shows the four women his most charming smile. It always works with the crowd. Always. Moving to the beat of the pop song currently playing over the speakers Porsche collects the money one of the women put on top of the bar.
He signals to one of his co-workers that he’ll take his five-minute smoke break before moving through the crowd and towards the back exit. Tonight’s busy and that’s good, it means many paying customers but it’s also exhausting. Porsche lights the cigarette as soon as he’s out in the backyard.
Inhaling deeply, Porsche looks towards the sky then he pulls out his phone from the back pocket of his black trousers.
To: Chay
23:54 – Bro, you in bed yet?
It doesn’t even take a minute for Chay to text him back.
From: Chay
23:54 – Of course I am, hia. How’s work???
Porsche sighs. Why’re little brothers always a hand full?
To: Chay
23:55 – If you’re in bed already why are you still texting me? Go to sleep you’ve got school tmrw
Porsche presses the bud of the cigarette against the wall and types again.
To: Chay
23:57 – And work is fine! Now go. Bed!
Clicking through his notifications Porsche likes a few posts from his friends before scrolling through his banking app. The balance is at a pathetic 34.67 baht. “Fuck!” Porsche hisses. At least he’ll get paid for his shift tonight, but Chay’s school money lurks around the corner and Porsche still doesn’t know how to come up with all the money.
Maybe he’ll have to sign up for another fight soon. He doesn’t like to admit it, but Porsche loves the fights. They make him feel alive, strong, and capable. It’s been a while since he last fought, so maybe there could be some money made through fighting again. He’ll have to send a message to some of his, well, maybe friends is the wrong word. Some people that he knew. Yeah, that sounds better.
Porsche just has to make sure that Chay won’t get wind of him fighting again. His little brother doesn’t like it that his omega hia is off fighting for money against some brutal alpha punks. Chay’s words, not Porsche’s. Chay hasn’t presented yet, but there’s no doubt in Porsche that his little brother will present as an omega as well.
Checking his finances again Porsche sifts through his earnings. Money from Yok for his shifts, some bucks he got for repairing a bike or two whenever the opportunity arose, the monthly check from that clinic.
Porsche’s finger hovers over the last listing. It had been Jom’s idea to sign up for the surrogacy clinic. “Come on, man. That’s the easiest, safest money you’ll ever make!” Jom had exclaimed one night when he, Tem and Porsche were drunk off their asses on some cheap alcohol they’d gotten from the corner store.
“You sign up, they take some tests to make sure that you’re healthy, take a scent sample or some shit like that and then when an alpha or couple like you enough they invite you for an interview to see if they want you as their baby incubator.” At that point, Jom had started laughing.
“And man, you know I love you, but look at you, how you behave, the way you carry yourself. How your body looks and your smell. No alpha in their right mind would look at you and think that you would be the perfect omega to have a baby with. You’re not what one would expect an omega to be like,” Jom had explained.
He had been right. Kind of. Porsche doesn’t look, talk, or act like an omega is supposed to be according to society. He’s too tall, mouthy, and muscular. His scent isn’t sweet and homey. If he wants to, Porsche could overpower most people. No alpha searching for a surrogate would look at him and think yes, this one is perfect to carry my child for the next nine months.
Still, it had taken a while – and more liquid courage - for Porsche to start looking into signing up as a surrogate. Jom had been right. Most omegas that’re shown on the posters and websites of the few surrogacy clinics that work with omegas look dainty.
They’re older, some clinics even state explicitly that they only took on omegas that already have children of their own.
It wasn’t until Porsche’s bank account was so deep in the red that he knew he couldn’t get out of it without some new income stream. Even fighting for two weeks straight wouldn’t cut it. That’s when he really considered it. Porsche was desperate, the pay was good even for just being in their register and called into the clinic every few months for some alpha or couple to look at him and then reject him.
So, Porsche signed the contract after flying through the medical check with green colours. The doctors didn’t like that he was smoking or working at a bar, but what could they say? It wasn’t like this surrogacy thing was his main job. Only if he got picked as a surrogate – and let’s be honest, like Jom said, the chances of that were minimal – did Porsche have to quit smoking, change to a healthier lifestyle and whatever not.
For now, this is a perfect way to make cash. Easy, save and legal. What is Porsche to worry about? It’s not like someone is going to pick him as their surrogate.
Porsche laughs for a second before he locks his phone and pushes it back into his pocket. Time to get back to work. After all, he needs the money.