Chapter 5

    One year ago

    After that night, Seecha never returned to his previous workplace, eventually losing his job permanently.

    He remembered wandering aimlessly, like someone lost in a forest, searching for a new job. Everywhere he went, he was met with rejection—people shaking their heads and waving him off with expressions of fear and disgust.

    Yet, he understood. Seecha had lived through the peak of the anti-Omega era several years ago. He was among the two million people who had witnessed the infamous online campaigns to eradicate Omegas, becoming painfully aware of the severe consequences caused by a small group of them. For the past year, he had lived like a Beta, convincing himself that he had escaped societal prejudice. But now, he realized the harsh truth: the world hadn’t changed at all.

    To climb out of life’s lowest point only to fall back to square one was an agonizing blow.

    Seecha found himself in a state of shock, the emotional wounds still fresh, leaving him deeply demoralized.

    During that period, he spent his days lying on his back, staring at the ceiling like someone who had lost all hope. It took a week before he managed to muster the will to do anything.

    Sitting in front of a mirror, he brooded over his situation. His skin still bore prominent marks, even though several days had passed. Red and bruised like wilting roses, some areas carried the ominous traces of bite marks, while his chapped lips were only just healing, leaving small scabs.

    At that moment, Seecha knew his life would no longer be smooth sailing. Money that once came easily would now be harder to earn. Jobs might not be available, living expenses would pile up, and the looming debt would force him to re-evaluate how to move forward.

    The outside world felt vast yet stiflingly small, as if it had shrunk to the size of a struggling kitten.

    Jobs that welcomed people like him were few and far between. Seecha’s heart ached at the memory of his carelessness that day. Despite taking his suppression medication properly, he had experienced a sudden heat. Perhaps someone at the bar had tampered with the pheromones or played a prank on other people, triggering his heat and leaving the lone Omega in the establishment utterly unprepared.

    Seecha’s mind flashed back to the impassioned face of the other man from that night. His pulse quickened involuntarily, as if unable to contain itself.

    Fear—this was the most accurate word to describe what he felt at that moment.

    He had no idea if that man would report the incident to the bar owner. And if the owner found out, what would happen next? Would they call the police over his falsified documents? Everything was spiraling out of Seecha’s control, leaving him paralyzed with anxiety and unable to step outside.

    One morning, after weeks of searching, Seecha wandered out to look for work again. Just as he was about to give up and resort to his old methods, he abandoned that idea temporarily.

    "Company G"

    In front of him stood a three-story building, towering in the heart of a small town. On the front of the G building, a large green sign—its color faded but still in good condition—was prominently displayed.

    [Online Delivery]

    Seecha looked up at a small job posting on the side, so inconspicuous that without squinting, one might mistake it for an ordinary flyer.

    His once-empty gaze suddenly flickered with a glimmer of hope. He carefully read every word, his heart racing—until it stopped abruptly at the last line.

    "Omega applicants must be bonded."

    Seecha’s face twisted into a grimace.

    “Why do Omegas always have to deal with these conditions…?” He clutched the papers in his hand tightly, the sound of them crinkling under his grip.

    The soft breeze blowing past did nothing to soothe the flames of frustration burning in his chest. His thick black hair, streaked with hints of red, danced in the wind like it had a life of its own. As the morning sun hit it, the strands refracted into shades of bright orange, lending him an oddly gentle and captivating appearance.

    Seecha stared down at his résumé, unsure of what to do next. He felt utterly defeated, trapped in silence. Not even the birds soaring overhead could draw his attention away from his despair.

    Biting his lip so hard it drew blood, an image from his memory surfaced, snapping him back to reality.

    A small test stick, lying on the table, with two bright red lines.

    Instinctively, his rough hand rested on his abdomen over the fabric of his shirt. His stomach was still flat. By his calculations, it had been over a month since that night with the mysterious man.

    “You little one, you’ve come to the wrong place…”

    He murmured, his tone playful. His eyes, however, betrayed a stillness, like the surface of an undisturbed ocean.

    His expression remained stoic, though it was impossible to miss the deep worry etched into his features.

    Seecha was going to have a child. A little boy, who had just lost the last of his family, was about to bring new life into the world—a life that could be called family once more.

    At first, Seecha’s lips were pressed into a straight line, but they gradually softened into a faint smile of joy.

    He quickly tossed aside his worries, adjusting his mood and expression as if he were a different person. Raising his fist in determination, he exclaimed, “What’s there to be so stressed about? Who says I’m not ready? This dad is more than ready!”

    The word dad felt strange but thrilling. Suddenly, the forlorn man standing there with his head hung low burst into laughter, as if possessed by madness, while the empty streets around them remained silent and deserted.

    Yet Seecha’s pale, bright face seemed to radiate a newfound vibrancy. He hastily wiped away a stray tear with his fingers, giving himself a pep talk as he lightly slapped his cheeks twice.

    “First things first, I need to find a job. Alright, let’s do this. Daily survival comes first.”

    That day, Seecha rushed back to his room. Standing before the mirror, he prepared a small five-baht lump of clay, molding it into an oval shape. He carefully pressed its edges to create a slight curve and used a ruler to carve faint ridges into it. Although it was slightly uneven, it vaguely resembled the inside of a human bite mark.

    He kneaded and shaped the clay until it satisfied him, then painted its edges with black and red markers to make it look more realistic.

    “All done!”

    With great care, Seecha pressed the clay onto the back of his neck, angling it to look as authentic as possible. The clay felt both sticky and soft, requiring an extra gentle touch to maintain its form.

    And so, Seecha crafted a bond mark on his own. He stood before the mirror, nodding in approval at his work, before heading to a job interview the next day with a confident face. With a brave smile, he submitted his documents to the staff at the counter.

    One of the staff members furrowed their brows, glancing between Seecha and his documents before speaking in a somewhat curt tone. “So, you’re bonded?”

    Feigning innocence, Seecha nodded eagerly. He turned to show the back of his neck and replied, “Yes, my husband is a wonderful Alpha!”

    The bond mark looked fresh, seemingly newly made. The staff member gave a small nod without suspicion, stamped his approval, and said, “Next time, if you’re applying elsewhere, make sure to bring your husband as proof. Other places might not make it this easy. Alright, you can start in two days.” He handed Seecha the documents and an employee badge.

    Seecha accepted them like they were hot coals, holding them delicately, saying hastily, “Of course, next time, I’ll bring him along!”

    He said it even though he knew there would never be a next time—he had already gotten what he wanted…

    The employee badge, small and ordinary, seemed like a treasure in his eyes. In the bottom right corner, a red stamp declared: [Bonded] at the back of the words, “Secondary Gender: Omega.”

    Seecha’s eyes sparkled with delight as he carefully stroked the badge.

    Bursting with joy, he tapped his feet excitedly before running out, raising both hands above his head and shouting hooray without a shred of embarrassment, even as passersby turned to look at him.

    A young girl pointed and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong with that brother?”

    Her mother smiled and replied, “He must have good news.” She glanced at him before saying further, “He seems like such a cheerful person.”

    The girl’s wide eyes sparkled. “Then we should congratulate him, shouldn’t we?!”

    Standing on the opposite side of the road as a few cars passed by, her mother nodded in approval. The girl cupped her hands around her mouth and called out, “Brother! I don’t know what’s happened, but congratulations!”

    Seecha froze for a moment, turning toward the voice. Seeing a mother and daughter he didn’t recognize, he waved back enthusiastically. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted, “Thanks, little lady! You and your mom look absolutely beautiful today!”

    Then he bounced down the street, brimming with joy, indistinguishable from the sun in his radiance.

    Present Day

    From the moment he drove onto this road, the path ahead felt desolate and untrustworthy.

    The surroundings were dense with overgrown forests, towering trees crisscrossing so thickly that nothing beyond them could be seen. The heavy foliage and a layer of mist created a cold, eerie atmosphere, with even sunlight struggling to break through.

    Seecha adjusted the kangaroo baby carrier strapped to him, causing the little body inside to wobble. Little Shark, sitting with his face turned inward, tilted his head back from his low vantage point, his curious eyes darting around to take in the mysterious scenery.

    “What area is this exactly...?”

    Seecha swung his leg off the small motorcycle, flipped up the visor of his helmet, and scanned his surroundings. He hoped to spot a house or signs of human life, but everything was silent except for the eerie whistle of the wind.

    Pressing his lips together, he dialed the number of his latest customer. It didn’t take long for them to pick up.

    His voice trembled slightly as he asked, “Hello, where is your house located?”

    “...Oh, alright. I’ll wait here, then. Thank you.”

    After ending the call, the screen of his phone went dark. The movement of his son shifted his attention downward.

    Little Shark squirmed, waving his little legs. When their eyes met, the child offered him a toothless, gleaming smile.

    Seecha returned the gaze with a fond smile of his own, playfully poking his child’s chubby cheek, teasing, “What is it, little one?”

    Little Shark responded with gleeful laughter, snuggling his face into Seecha’s chest affectionately.

    It wasn’t long before the customer finally arrived. The moment Seecha looked up, his initial smile froze on his face.

    From the voice over the phone, Seecha had imagined someone sluggish, perhaps drunk, with little energy. However, the person standing before him was a massive man with an intimidating, scowling face—far from trustworthy.

    The unsettling location only heightened the eerie atmosphere. A chill ran down Seecha’s spine as he stood rooted to the spot, struggling to find his voice for a minute.

    Finally, he extended a trembling hand forward, offering the package. “H-Here you go. That’ll be 250 baht. Would you like to scan or—”

    Before he could finish, a large hand snatched the package from him with force. A rough, deep voice muttered, “Cash.”

    He meant he’d pay in cash, apparently…

    Seecha immediately put away the QR code display and held out his hand politely to receive the money.

    His small hand felt slightly damp. “Thank you for using our service.”

    Standing at 170 cm tall, Seecha wasn’t exactly small for an Omega, and most people didn’t doubt his secondary gender. Yet, compared to the hulking figure before him, he felt like a toy dog facing a full-grown adult.

    Feeling short of breath, Seecha hurriedly mounted his motorcycle. The man’s gaze followed his every move, unyielding.

    His abrupt movements caused Little Shark nestled close to his chest to jostle, his head bobbing with each motion. Through his ear pressed against Seecha’s chest, the baby could hear the rapid, pounding heartbeat.

    Little Shark’s round eyes shifted from his pale-faced father to the towering figure of the man.

    “...”

    “...”

    Having just fed an hour ago, Little Shark’s face wore a sleepy expression. But as he stared at the tall man, his tiny mind began to process the situation. The baby began to squirm in displeasure, seeing the massive figure still standing there unmoving.

    Then, his face crumpled, and he prepared to wail. Noticing his son’s distress, Seecha broke into a sweat and quickly stuffed the pacifier back into the little one’s mouth before he could make a scene.

    “Have a good day. Goodbye.”

    Seecha revved the engine and sped off at high speed.

    The towering man stood still, watching the father and son vanish into the mist with confusion.

    His dark, sharp eyes, like those of a drug addict, glanced down at the package in his hands. Under his impassive expression, betraying no clear emotion, the man tore open the bag slightly. A rare smile broke across his stoic face when he saw the pink hue peeking out.

    Inside were three pink boxes of cookies. While the cookies themselves were ordinary, the real draw lay in the freebies: pink cat-shaped LEGO figurines in various poses. These collectible figures, though past their peak popularity, were still highly sought after by children who enjoyed completing the set. Collecting all twelve unique designs would earn a gold card, which could then be exchanged for an additional item from the promotional lineup.

    The burly man grinned widely, his nostrils flaring. "What design will I get today, I wonder?"

    With that, he bounded away into the forest like Tarzan, disappearing among the dense trees. Sparkling, mismatched filters seemed to surround him, glimmering incongruously as he vanished.

    Moments later, the desolate area was filled with activity. More than two official vehicles pulled up in perfect formation along the deserted road.

    A gust of wind rustled through the trees as long legs stepped out from the passenger seat. Amidst the officers clad in black, a striking blonde hair stood out.

    The view before them was of a suspiciously dense forest. The ominous atmosphere, combined with the tangled mass of indistinguishable flora, gave the area an unsettling vibe.

    Joseph exchanged a knowing glance with another officer and nodded slightly. Raising his left hand, he gave a signal. The lower-ranking officers tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to storm the suspects hiding in the cabin deep within the woods.

    Suddenly, chaos erupted in the previously silent forest. The black-clad officers surrounded the area from all directions, catching the gang of burly men off guard as they sat in a circle, assembling toys. In the split second they had to decide whether to fight or flee, the men scattered in panic, abandoning their toys, which flew in every direction.

    The officers spread out, blocking all escape routes and apprehending those who tried to run. Within roughly twenty minutes, the area was secured.

    The rowdy group of young thugs was handcuffed, though their faces showed no remorse, as if their minds were elsewhere.

    "What should we do with all this stuff?" One officer asked.

    Scattered across a wooden platform were pink cat figurines and cookie packages. In the center lay a white cloth bundle suspected to contain illegal plant substances.

    Joseph surveyed the scene with a sweeping glance. "Collect all the evidence."

    At his command, the officers donned gloves and began carefully picking up the figurines, one by one. “This is definitely a kid’s toy. My daughter loves these too. It seems to be popular,” one officer chuckled as he shook his head.

    Joseph narrowed his sharp blue eyes, silent as he watched three nearly completed figurines being carefully placed into the evidence bag.

    The day before, Joseph’s team had received reports of suspicious gatherings in the area, causing fear and suspicion among the locals. Upon investigation, it turned out the group was not only trafficking illegal substances but also cultivating kratom plants[1] to sell locally.

    Joseph rubbed his temples, muttering complaints about how kids these days were so different from his generation. Yet, even as he grumbled, he couldn’t quite remember what he himself had been doing at nineteen, other than studying and chasing after Tithnuea every day.

    By 4:24 PM, some of the vehicles began leaving the scene, while other officers continued combing the area meticulously.

    “Khun[2] Joe! Khun Joe!” One officer called out urgently.

    Joseph turned his attention away from the kratom leaves, adjusted his gloves and turned to face the approaching officer with a raised brow.

    “What is it?”

    “This, sir. It’s a phone belonging to one of the suspects. The last call was made an hour ago.”

    Taking the phone, Joseph immediately redialed the last number. However, the call was answered by a recorded message from a call center.

    His light eyebrows furrowed. “Looks like it’s tied up in another call,” he said before placing the phone into a ziplock evidence bag.

    He added in a calm voice, “Wait for a while and try contacting it again.”

    The officer saluted briskly, signaling the end of the initial operation.

    Meanwhile, Seecha frowned as he scrolled through his call list, scratching at his helmet and mumbling, “It seemed like someone called me just now. Where did it go?”

    He flicked through over ten names, his confusion growing as he straddled his motorcycle and rested his hands on his hips. He had been on the phone with a customer when a call came through, but when he checked, it was nowhere to be found.

    Little Shark, who had been dozing intermittently all afternoon, stretched his neck, yawning so widely that tears formed in his eyes. His tiny mouth puckered before he nuzzled into Seecha’s chest, restlessly chewing on the fabric of his jacket until it was damp with drool.

    Finally lowering his phone, Seecha smiled and asked, “What’s up, my son? Hungry?”

    The baby burrowed closer, trying to express his hunger despite not fully understanding the concept.

    Realizing it was already late, Seecha reached for a bottle of milk and offered it. But the baby frowned, shaking his head and pushing the bear-patterned bottle away.

    “Ahh!” No!

    Startled by the rejection, Seecha scratched his cheek and glanced around nervously before locking eyes with the baby. Whispering softly, he said, “You can’t, little one. Not here.”

    Determined to nurse directly, Chalarm began wailing, drawing the attention of passersby. Desperate, Seecha quickly shoved the bottle into his mouth.

    Which miraculously silenced him…

    Chalarm had been irritable lately, throwing frequent tantrums, but his protests rarely lasted long before he tired himself out. Once pacified with the bottle, he calmed down, though his furrowed brows remained. He sucked fiercely on the bottle, his tiny ears twitching with each movement.

    Seecha sighed, patting his son’s head and rubbing his back.

    “Good boy. I’ll give you twenty baht as a reward.”

    The baby’s round eyes rolled toward his father’s two fingers as he tried to lure him.

    And of course, it worked…

    Chalarm loved money, whether cash or e-payments—he took it all. His father’s offer was too enticing to refuse. Coupled with his exhaustion, he finally relaxed, closing his eyes and behaving like the good child.

    Seecha smiled wearily, utterly drained.

[1] Mitragyna speciosa is a tropical evergreen tree of the Rubiaceae family (coffee family) native to Southeast Asia. It is indigenous to Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, where its leaves, known as "kratom" have been used in herbal medicine since at least the 19th century.

[2] "Khun" (คุณ) is a Thai title that is used to address someone in a formal or professional setting, or when addressing strangers. It is a gender-neutral honorific that is equivalent to "Mr./Mrs./Miss".