ELEVEN

Frankly, Klyde never thought he’ll meet the pack again, or at least one of them. But he should have known when he met them for the first time that the bunch were stubborn. Of course, they’ll meet again, it’s inevitable.

It was totally unexpected. He carried on with his life, pushing the memory of meeting the pack at the back of his head and once again buried himself with work in the company. It’s as if the interaction didn’t even happen at all. So, when one day, Aien suddenly quite literally just barged into his office, trailed by his stressed-looking secretary, to say Klyde was shocked would be an understatement.

“Aien?” he uttered bewilderedly, surprise coloring his tone as he watched the beta march in his office. Aien’s eyes roamed around the place before it finally landed on him. A big smile stretched on his lips, eyes lighting up at the sight of him.

“Klyde!” he exclaimed, walking towards his office table. Louis scrambled to follow him, her arms outstretched, seemingly in an attempt to stop him.

“Sir, you’re not allowed to—”

Aien stopped walking to look at her. And is he…pouting?

“What do you mean?” he whined.

“I’m visiting my friend—”

“You need to set up an appointment—”

“Appointment?!” Aien loudly gasped. He sounded so offended, if not for his shock, Klyde would actually laugh at the situation and how ridiculous he looks.

“I am family! That’s my pack mate!”

When did he become a pack mate? He gets he’s married to Wade but still.

“But—”

Klyde decided to interfere at that. He shook his head, trying to recover from the shock he got from suddenly seeing the beta right there. He stood up and quickly walked to them.

“Louis,” Klyde called out.

“It’s fine, don’t worry.”

“See? I told you I’m his pack!”

“But—” Louis wanted to say more but she resorted to closing her mouth instead. She looked at Aien before giving Klyde a short bow and walking out of his office. When the door clicked shut, Aien jumped on him. His long limbs embraced Klyde, and the omega is dumbfounded at the action.

“Klyde!” he exclaimed.

Klyde stood frozen on his spot as he let the beta smother him.

“I missed you!” Aien exclaimed as soon as he pulled away from the hug. He kept a safe distance away but his hands are still holding Klyde’s arms.

“What?” Klyde asked, still recovering from his shock.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you, I missed you,” Aien pouted again.

“I haven’t seen you since last week. Wade won’t let us go to your house. He’s a meanie.”

Oh. Klyde blinked up at him. Did he actually miss him? Klyde never even thought of that.

“I’m sorry,” he said sheepishly.

“I got really busy with work stuff.”

“I see you really are,” came Aien’s quick reply.

“But you should drop them for now, we need to go out.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Let’s go shopping.”

Klyde blinked at him before turning his gaze to the pile of papers he still needs to sign and review. He definitely can’t just leave them there.

“Aien I still have things to finish and—”

“Oh,” the beta said, eyeing the pile too.

“Well you can work, finish what you can until lunch and then we’ll go out. Okay?”

He wasn’t able to do anything as Aien pushed him to sit down on his chair. He had no choice but to do it. He rushed himself, throwing the beta occasional looks as he signed papers after papers. Aien is sitting on the small couch adjacent to the door, he’s busy on his phone. He sighed. Who would’ve thought his day would go by like this.

True to his words, when the clock struck noon, Aien dragged him out of the office. He only gave his secretary a nod to signal that he’s going out as he let the beta pull him away.

Outside, a sleek looking car was waiting for them. They both get in the back seat. He chatted Klyde’s ears off the entire way and honestly, Klyde didn’t understand most of it. But he made sure to smile at him and at least pretend that he’s listening.

“I heard you guys did not go to honeymoon?” Aien remarked, after a moment when he seemingly got tired of talking. His eyes are on his phone so he doesn’t see the way Klyde is fumbling with words to reply.

“We were both busy,” Klyde ended up blurting out, he cannot think of a better reason.

“We really did not have much time to spare for a honeymoon.”

Aien turned his head to look at him, something unreadable on his eyes. Klyde wants to squirm under his gaze. It feels like he’s being scrutinized. Finally, a small smile grazed the beta’s lips, at least enough for Klyde to release the breath he was unconsciously holding.

“Still,” the beta started, lowering his phone to focus on Klyde.

“If you guys find time in the future, you should go. Better late than never.”

Klyde gave him a tight smile, nodding stiffly.

“Oh, we’re here!” Aien suddenly exclaimed. He sat up straight, removing his seatbelt and gathering his phone and wallet in his hand, tucking them in the pocket of the coat he’s wearing. Klyde watched him confusedly. Where are they?

The car they’re riding came to a halt, and only then did he notice the familiar building in front of them. He was so tensed the whole ride that he did not even notice they were heading to Wade’s company. But what are they doing here?

“Why are we here?” he asked Aien, hiding the mixture of panic and confusion in his voice. He quickly unbuckled his seatbelt too when he saw Aien already halfway out of the car. He pushed the door open, quickly stepping out to catch up to Aien who is already walking towards the building.

“Aien!” he called. The beta turned his head to briefly look at him, but continued walking. They both enter the building.

“What are we doing here?” he asked once they were inside.

“We’re dragging Wade with us,” Aien shrugged. Klyde’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?”

Aien sighed almost exasperatedly. They both enter the elevator, pushing the CEO button. “I told you we’re going out, shopping. But we also need to have lunch first, so we’re dragging Wade with us.”

“What if he’s busy?” he tried reasoning. The elevator pinged open and they both step out.

“Then he’s busy. I’ll at least let him know I’m taking his husband with me. But he should never be too busy for his husband, shouldn’t he?”

“I don’t think that’s—"

Aien walks really fast and Klyde is doing his best to keep up. They are greeted by Wade’s secretary. She’s standing on her station far from the door of his office down the corridor. She made a small bow upon seeing them.

“Is Wade there?” Aien asked.

“He is, Mr. Ferrer,” she answered respectfully, not even meeting their eyes. She’s a beta, Klyde notes. He did not notice her the first and second time he went there. is she new?

“Let’s go,” Aien called out to him.

Klyde gave the secretary a gentle bow in return too, before quickly catching up to Aien who is already pushing the double-door of Wade’s office.

“Wade!” came Aien’s loud voice. Klyde stood behind him, looking sheepish. For some reason, he feels awkward to be there.

Wade looked up from the papers he was holding, brows meeting halfway and forming a furrow when he saw Aien.

“What are you doing here?” Wade asked. His eyes trailed from Aien to Klyde. Klyde gave him a sheepish look.

“Rehan?”

“We’re going out!” Aien announced.

“I’m busy,” Wade sighed, eyes back on the beta.

“Did you drag Rehan from his office?”

“I did not,” Aine denied, but Wade already knows the answer anyway.

“Come on, Wade. We haven’t hanged out again since like, two weeks ago!”

“That’s because we are working adults, Aien. We do not have the time for silly hangouts.”

“You talk as if I am a kid without a job?” Aien gasped. His eyes are wide, hands on his chest as he looked really offended. Wade only arched a brow at him.

“Do you?” Wade challenged. Klyde watched the interaction quietly.

“I do have a job. Thank you very much, Pack Alpha,” the beta replied, mocking.

Wade grimaced, “Don’t call me that.”

“I won’t if you come with us.”

Wade’s face is blank, seemingly want to reject but contemplating. His eyes landed on Klyde who was quiet the whole time.

“You should make up your mind faster, Pack Alpha,” Aien pushed.

When their eyes met, Klyde subtly nodded. Quietly telling the alpha to just come with them so it will be over faster. Wade sighed in resignation, sighing as he put the papers he was holding down his table. Aien punched the air, followed by a squeal of “yes!”

“Let’s go, Wade!”

Wade stood up from his seat as he stacked the documents on his table neatly. He walked around his table to approach them. His eyes are set on Klyde.

“Where are we going anyways?” he asked.

“I told you, lunch,” Aien answered.

“Then I’m planning to go shopping too.”

Wade’s eyes shifted to him. “Then I suppose if you’re going shopping, I can go back after the lunch?”

“Of course not. You’re coming with us.”

“Aien, I don’t have time for this,” the alpha replied exasperatedly. His impatience is so obvious. Klyde empathizes with him.

Aien ignored him, turning his back on him and already pushing the door open to go out this time. Wade shook his head as they both followed him out. Wade’s secretary bowed at them again.

“Christina,” Aien called her.

“Yes, Mr. Ferrer?”

“Move all of Wade’s appointment today for tomorrow,” he said. Christina blinked at him in shock, eyes finding Wade.

“Sir?” she called out; voice unsure.

For the nth time that day, Wade sighed. He looks so resigned that Klyde actually wants to laugh at him if he’s not relating to the alpha.

“Just…do what he said,” Wade replied.

“But you have an urgent—”

“Tell them I have a personal matter to attend to. I’m going out with my husband.”

Christina blinked fast, nodding in affirmation. “Noted, Sir.”

“Great!” Aien chirped.

“Now that that has been sorted out. Let’s go eat.”

When they got down, Aien’s car was still waiting in front of the building. The beta then insisted on sitting on the shotgun seat, leaving Wade and Klyde to sit at the back sit. They both sat on the opposite ends of it, both pressed on the window’s side. The car was silent for a while.

“What is this atmosphere?” Aien suddenly asked from the front.

“Did you two fight?”

Klyde’s brows furrowed. What does he mean? He met Aien’s eyes on the rare view mirror. He remained quiet, opting to not answer him but the beata released an exaggerated sigh before twisting his body to face them.

“That!” he exclaimed, arms stretching to point at the space between Klyde and Wade.

“Why is there so much space? You don’t look like a married couple.”

Klyde turned his head to look at the space between him and Wade. It was big enough for another person to sit there, but is it really a big deal?

He raised his gaze to look at Wade when he heard him make a clicking sound with his tongue. There’s a barely concealed irritation on his face, but he also looked partly amused.

“What? Do you want us to make out in front of you so we’d look like a married couple?” Wade said in a mocking tone, probably to make Aien flustered but it was Klyde who turned red at his remark.

“Wade!” he called out. Wade only smirked at him.

“Aww, look at our little Klyde getting embarrassed. Don’t worry, I know you guys do worse things than making out,” Aien teased. It only made Klyde flush even more, not because what he said was true, they are obviously not, but because of the insinuation in his tone.

“Shut up, Aien,” he said quietly, looking outside the car instead.

“Don’t act so shy now, Klyde. I know—”

“Aien,” Wade called, cutting his words. Klyde sighed in relief at the interruption.

“Stop teasing my husband.”

“Aww, look at you getting all protective—”

“Aien,” Wade warned in a firm voice, effectively shutting the beta up. Klyde glanced at them, and he saw Aien pout, twisting back to sit properly on his seat.

“Where are we going anyway?”

“I told you. Lunch,” Aien replied in a sulky tone, pout still on his lips. Klyde wants to laugh at his display of childishness.

“I know,” Wade replied, impatience in his voice.

“But where?”

“You’ll see.”

Klyde’s gaze stayed outside, watching the car they’re in slowly navigate through the maze of other cars in the parking space. Turns out, the lunch Aien planned is at a fast-food chain twenty minutes away from their work. The beta excitedly got out of the car, urging them to hurry up. Klyde squinted his eyes under the harsh rays of the sun.

“Come on, I’m hungry!”

They entered the place with Aien’s driver who volunteered to find his own seat away from them. Klyde closed his eyes to feel the cold air from the air conditioner graze his skin. It’s a pleasant feeling after walking under the heat of the sun.

“There’s a seat by the corner. We should hurry and take it,” Wade said from beside him.

They walk between the tables to reach the booth. Once they were sitting down, him on the window seat and Wade beside him on his right, he roamed his eyes around the place. They look so out of place with their formal suits, contrary to the casual clothes of the people dining which was expected as it is just a fast-food chain. The place is packed with families and students from a nearby university. The chatter of the customers and the shouts of orders are loud, giving life to the place.

“Got anything you like in your mind? I meant the menu, okay? Not each other” Aien asked. He’s leaning on his forearms on the table, in front of Klyde. He once again insisted for him and Wade to sit beside each other. Wade rolled his eyes at him.

“I don’t know,” Klyde murmured. His eyes are set on the big screen displaying the menu although he can’t really read it from this far.

“I can order for us instead?” Aien offered. Klyde turned to him. They can do that.

“What if you get something we don’t like?” Wade asked, clearly working up the beta.

“Everything here is good. If you don’t like it, then that just means you have no taste.”

Aien stood up and skipped his way to the counter. He heard Wade sigh beside him.

“Aien is such a pain in the ass,” the alpha muttered as he sagged on his seat, but quickly sat up too. he turned to look at him.

“I hope he did not just drag you out of your office.”

Klyde released a sigh of his own. “He did let me finish some of my work, but that’s quite practically what he did.”

“That fucker, seriously.”

“It’s fine, though,” he quickly said. Wade looked at him questioningly.

“I think I needed this.”

“Yeah? Work still busy?”

Klyde hummed, eyes trailing down to stare at nothing on the table. The alpha’s gaze is too much for him.

“I’m doing my part, like you said before,” he said. He can feel Wade’s gaze at the side of his face but he stubbornly kept his eyes on the table.

“You already did your part and more when you married me. I should, too.”

“Don’t push yourself too much.”

“You know I have to.”

Silence reigned between them. The loud chatter of the place the only thing that can be heard. When Aien returned, he’s holding a tray of their food. Since it’s only a fast-food place, he ordered three different burgers, with fries and drinks on the side. Klyde’s stomach rumbled at the sight and smell of the food. Right, he hasn’t eaten breakfast as usual in a rush to get to work.

He did not expect Wade to reach out and unwrap his burger for him, even put the straw on his drink and arrange his fries neatly beside the tray. He quietly watched the alpha, while Aien looked at him suggestively. He just shook his head at the beta.

Aien continued to talk while they eat. Klyde forced himself to listen, eager to ignore the presence of the alpha quietly eating beside him, but he can’t even seem to do that. Wade’s presence is just so big, drawing him in.

“Oh right,” Aien said before sipping from the straw of his drink.

“I’m curious about something.”

Klyde chewed for a moment, swallowing his food before looking at the beta questioningly, “What are you curious about?”

“When are you going to have pups?”