Chapter 6 Unsanctioned Instincts

The studio floor of Akarachin Holdings was a chaotic symphony of flashing strobe lights, soft umbrella diffusers, and high-strung crew members. Everyone in the creative division had been counting down to this shoot for months, the launch of AURA, the syndicate's revolutionary new line of pheromone-suppressing and enhancing products.

Kavin stood behind his heavy tripod, adjusting the aperture on his camera with practiced, fluid precision. He was the picture of unbothered professionalism, his sharp mind completely locking in on the job. His long fingers adjusted the focus ring, effectively blocking out the lingering stress of the previous days.

Upstairs in the glass-walled executive boardroom, the atmosphere was a stark, suffocating contrast.

Phana sat at the head of the dark mahogany conference table, surrounded by division heads. To anyone else, the Chairman looked as imposing and stoic as ever, clad in a tailored charcoal suit. But underneath his calm exterior, his attention was completely fractured.

Directly under his blotter, hidden from the room, lay a high-resolution photograph he had secretly taken on his phone while Kavin was asleep on the sofa in his private quarters. In the photo, the Omega looked utterly soft, his defensive prickliness melted away, his dark eyelashes resting gently against flushed cheeks.

The voices in the boardroom sounded muffled, like they were underwater.

"...budget approvals for the Q3 expansion in the northern sector..." one manager droned on.

Phana didn't hear a word. His jaw clenched tightly, a dangerous, dark amber glint swirling deep within his dark irises. His Alpha instincts were clawing at his insides, screaming at him to abandon this useless meeting, hunt down his Omega, and drag him back into his nest. His patience was thin, burning down to a microscopic thread.

Rut, sitting to Phana's right, immediately sensed the volatile shift in the room's atmospheric pressure. The Enforcer seamlessly cut in, smoothly taking over the presentation and answering the board's technical budget questions before the Chairman's crushing aura suffocated the room's Betas.

Suddenly, Phana pushed his chair back. The heavy leather scraped sharply against the floor, instantly killing all conversation.

"Meeting dismissed," Phana growled, his voice dropping an octave into a low, terrifying rumble.

Without waiting for a response, he stood up and strode out of the boardroom. Rut followed closely on his heels, stepping briskly to match the Chairman's aggressive stride. They reached the doors of Phana's corner office. Phana stepped inside, turned abruptly on his heel, and slammed his palm against the doorframe, releasing a sharp, concentrated spike of Prime Sovereign command that hit Rut like a physical wall.

"Go away!," Phana commanded, his Alpha aura flaring so densely the air turned thick and metallic.

Rut, an Alpha of high rank himself, knew better than to push his luck when a Sovereign was on the verge of a territorial flare. He bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment, stepping back. "Understood, Chairman." He leaves.

Phana slammed the heavy oak door shut and locked it.

He leaned against the wood, his chest heaving as he yanked off his silk tie and unbuttoned his collar. He was losing his mind. He walked over to his desk, opened a locked velvet-lined drawer, and pulled out a small, fine silk handkerchief, the only item he had managed to steal from Kavin's belongings during the elevator incident.

The moment he brought the cloth to his nose, the sharp, intoxicating scent of crushed lemongrass and sweet vanilla hit his olfactory glands.

Phana let out a dark, ragged groan. In Omegaverse physiology, a Prime Alpha inhaling the un-bonded, pure scent of his chosen mate during a state of heightened agitation triggered a primal rut-fever response, an explosive, consuming spike of raw lust. His blood ran scorching hot. His length throbbed hard against his trousers, completely unprovoked, demanding release.

He sank into his leather executive chair, gripping the silk handkerchief tightly against his face, greedily inhaling Kavin's scent until his head swam.

"Kavin..." Phana rasped aloud, his voice broken and heavy with raw desire.

His hand flew down to his belt, unbuckling it with trembling, aggressive speed. He shoved his trousers down, trapping the handkerchief between his lips so he could taste the faint lingering salt of Kavin's presence. He wrapped his large hand around his thick, aching shaft, pumping himself with fast, brutal strokes.

He closed his eyes, his mind flooding with vivid, explicit images of Kavin. He pictured pinning the sassy photographer down onto this very desk, tearing away those stubborn silk shirts, and sinking his fangs deep into the sweet, soft scent-gland at the base of Kavin's neck. He wanted to hear Kavin's sharp insults turn into breathless, pathetic whimpers of pleasure as he filled him, stretching him out, driving his thick knot deep inside Kavin's tight, slick Omega heat until they were both completely drowning in each other's pheromones.

"Fuck... Kavin..." Phana growled into the empty room, his hips thrusting upward into his own hand, his knuckles white. "My Omega... say my name..."

He stroked harder, faster, his chest slick with sweat, calling out for Kavin like a feral beast demanding its mate. But no matter how hard he pumped, his body refused to reach the climax. His Sovereign instincts rejected self-solace; his knot demanded the real, physical warmth of Kavin's body. He couldn't finish.

Thoroughly frustrated, Phana let out a dark curse, zipping his trousers back up with a harsh jerk.

He turned toward his desk monitor and tapped a encrypted key, pulling up a live, high-definition feed. A private camera had been planted high on the studio rafters. He had every right to monitor his asset, his Omega was his to protect, his to watch.

On the screen, Kavin was moving around the studio set, focused and radiant.

Phana watched him like a hawk. But then, his eyes narrowed into lethal slits.

On set, a young Beta model was visibly trembling, repeatedly messing up a pose for the AURA bottle shoot. Kavin set his camera down, walked over with a warm, patient smile, and gently placed both hands on the young Beta's shoulders.

"Hey, take a breath," Kavin said gently, his voice soft as he squeezed the Beta's shoulders to soothe his nerves. "You're doing great. Just focus on the light, not the crowd. You've got this."

High above in the penthouse office, Phana watched the Beta relax under Kavin's touch.

A blinding, murderous wave of territorial rage exploded behind Phana's eyes. How dare that pathetic Beta allow Kavin's hands on him? How dare Kavin offer his softness, his gentle touch, to anyone other than his Prime Alpha?

Without a single thought for protocol, Phana bolted out of his chair, threw open his office door, and stormed down the private corridor toward the studio elevators.

Down on the studio floor, the air suddenly changed.

The heavy scent of ozone, dark timber, and approaching storm clouds began to bleed through the air conditioning vents. Kavin froze mid-step, his nostrils flaring slightly. The terrifyingly familiar Sovereign pheromones were rolling across the room in oppressive waves.

No, Kavin thought, shaking his head as he stepped back toward his camera setup. There's no way he's down here. He never comes to production floors.

He turned to cheer up the young Beta model one last time, but as he spun back around toward his tripod, he slammed directly into a broad, rock-solid chest.

"Ah, sorry…" Kavin started, stumbling back, but a hand forged of steel caught his upper arm, locking him in place.

Kavin looked up. Phana stood over him, his jaw clenched so hard the muscles twitched, his obsidian eyes burning with a terrifying, fiery darkness.

"Why did you touch him?" Phana demanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous, low vibrate.

Kavin blinked, utterly baffled by the sudden ambush. "Touch who? What are you talking about, Khun Akarachin?"

Phana’s dark eyebrows shot up, a sneer twisting his handsome features. "Khun? Since when did I become 'Khun Akarachin ' to you?"

A panicked floor manager rushed over, bowing nervously. "H-How may we help you, Chairman?"

Phana didn't even glance at the staff. Without a word, he tightened his grip on Kavin’s arm and began dragging him straight off the set toward the private service corridor.

"Hey! Let go of me!" Kavin hissed, stumbling as he tried to pull back. "What is wrong with you?! Everyone is watching! Release me!"

All eyes on set were glued to them, mouths agape. Kavin wanted the ground to swallow him whole, another wave of scandalous workplace rumors was guaranteed by lunch.

The moment the heavy fire doors of the service corridor slammed shut behind them, Kavin used all his strength to yank his wrist free from Phana’s hold.

Before he could take a breath, Phana lunged forward, slamming Kavin back against the cold concrete wall. Phana crowded into his space, trapping Kavin between his massive body and the brick. The overpowering mix of Phana's expensive cologne and dense, volatile Alpha pheromones filled Kavin's nose, making his head spin, making him feel almost drunk on the sheer presence of the man.

"Why are you doing this?!" Kavin yelled, his chest heaving. "What do you want from me, Khun Akarachin?!"

"Stop calling me that!" Phana growled, leaning in closer until their noses almost touched. "Why did you let that little boy touch you?!"

"Who?! He was nervous! I was doing my job!"

Phana's territorial dominance flared out of control, the sheer weight of his Sovereign pressure pressing down on Kavin so hard it felt like a physical weight crushing his lungs.

Kavin gasped, tears of pain and overwhelming sensory distress welling up in his eyes. "Stop... you're hurting me, Khun Akarachin..."

The sight of a tear slipping down Kavin's pale cheek hit Phana like a bucket of ice water. The red haze of his rut-fever instantly cleared.

"I'm so sorry," Phana whispered softly, his hand trembling as he reached out, his thumb gently wiping the tear off Kavin's cheek. "I didn't mean to..."

Kavin shoved Phana's hands away with a sharp gasp, turned, and bolted down the service hallway, the heavy footsteps of his boots echoing until he disappeared.

Phana stood alone in the quiet corridor for a long moment. He adjusted his suit jacket with mechanical precision, forced his breathing back under control, and walked back up to his executive suite.

When he stepped into his office, Rut was standing by the desk, his arms crossed over his chest, looking at his leader with deep disapproval.

"Not now, Rut," Phana grunted, raising a hand as he walked toward his chair.

"No, I will say what I want to," Rut countered firmly, stepping forward. He tapped an encrypted tablet on the desk, displaying a recorded video feed. "What is this?"

Phana glanced at the screen, it was the security footage of him dragging Kavin off the studio floor. "Who sent you this?"

"That is not an answer to my question, Phan!" Rut demanded, his voice rising in rare anger. 

"What is this sick obsession with this Omega?!"

"I don't know, okay?!" Phana snapped, slamming his fist onto the marble desk. "I just lost my cool! Seeing him so close to that Beta... I lost it!"

Rut stared at the man he had served and grown up beside for decades. He had never, in his entire life, seen Phana Akarachin lose his composure over anything, let alone a single person.

"I felt like killing that Beta just for being in the same room with my Omega," Phana growled through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing amber.

"He’s not yours, Phan," Rut said flatly.

"Not yet. But soon I will make him mine," Phana vowed dark, heavy conviction in his voice. "I'll have him begging for me."

"So it’s just a sex thing?" Rut scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"It's not just a sex thing!" Phana roared, standing up to his full height. "If it were just about sex, you know I could have fucked a hundred other Omegas to get him out of my system! This one is different! He makes me feral with lust, but at the same time, he makes me want to carry him, shelter him, and reassure him that his bad days are over... I would rather die than let anyone hurt him! Do you understand me?!"

Rut stood completely still, searching Phana's face. The harsh realization settled in the room like lead.

"So... you love him?" Rut asked softly.

Phana clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached. "I don't know! I just know I need him to be mine."

Rut sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Well, you have to apologize to him. You hurt him. Unless you want a lawsuit and an official workplace harassment case filed against you, you better find a way to fix this fast."

Rut turned on his heel and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Phana collapsed into his chair, pulling at his hair. What a mess. He picked up his desk phone and dialed his head secretary. "Track down where Kavin went. Assemble the largest gift basket possible, fill it with every high-end item, luxury perfume, and personal preference on his file. Have it delivered to his desk immediately."

Across the building, Kavin marched into his private office, threw his camera bag on the couch, and sank into his chair, burying his face in his hands.

What the hell was that? What is wrong with Khun Phana?

He could already hear the hushed whispers of the staff rebooting the rumor mill. Suddenly, his phone chimed. It was an official email from HR: The AURA campaign shoot has been postponed. The company will compensate you fully for the scheduling stress.

"Compensate?" Kavin scoffed bitterly to the empty room. "Right. Throwing money at problems... that's all he knows how to do."

Three agonizing hours passed as Kavin sat at his desk, counting down the minutes until the end of the workday.

Just then, his office door opened. A courier walked in carrying the largest, most obnoxiously luxurious gift basket Kavin had ever seen. The courier set it right on Kavin's desk, dropped a small envelope on top, and walked out without a word.

Kavin picked up the small card. It simply read: I am so sorry.

He rolled his eyes and looked inside the basket. His heart did a strange, unwanted flutter. Alongside rare gourmet snacks and imported perfumes sat a pair of limited-edition Nike sneakers in his exact size, the very shoes he had been saving up to buy for months.

How the hell does he know this? Kavin thought, a shiver running down his spine.

"Well, I'm not taking his damn bribes," Kavin muttered.

He lifted the heavy basket, marched out to the executive secretary's desk, and set it down. "Where is Khun Akarachin?"

"He stepped out an hour ago and won't be returning to the office today, Mr. Sirilert," she replied politely. "He also left explicit instructions that you are ordered to go home after receiving his gesture."

"Great. Just great," Kavin grumbled.

He looked back at the basket. Walking back into the creative floor, he held it up. "Does anyone want snacks?"

The entire office went dead silent. Nobody dared reach into a gift meant for the Sovereign's favorite photographer.

"Cowards," Kavin muttered again, rolling his eyes.

He lugged the massive basket down to the parking garage, threw it into the backseat of his car, and drove straight home.

When Kavin pulled up to his bungalow, Sky was already standing at the front gate. The moment Sky saw the colossal gift basket in the back seat, he burst into fitful giggles.

Kavin shot him an icy glare. "Help me bring this inside."

"How did you already know about the basket?" Kavin asked as they set it on the kitchen island.

"Rut told me," Sky chirped innocently.

Kavin froze, narrowing his eyes. "Rut? You call him Rut now? What are you not telling me, Khun Sky?"

Sky cleared his throat loudly, suddenly becoming deeply fascinated by a smudge on the counter. "Oh, look at the time! I should check the oven…"

"Don't change the subject!" Kavin groaned, throwing his hands up as he began venting about Phana's arrogant behavior, pacing around the living room while Sky listened with a amused smirk.

Ding-dong.

A delivery driver stood at the front door holding a sleek, garment bag from an ultra-exclusive luxury tailor. Kavin signed for it, unzipped the bag, and gasped.

Inside sat a breathtaking, custom-tailored designer suit, an exact piece from Kavin's online wishlist.

"Seriously?!" Kavin yelled. "How does this guy know everything I want?!"

Sky folded his lips together tight, slowly trying to back out of the room.

Kavin caught him. "Sky? What did you do?!"

"Okay, okay!" Sky squealed, holding his hands up defensively as Kavin cornered him. "I gave your wishlist to Rut, who gave it to Phana! I'm not sorry! If a powerful, rich Alpha wants to spoil my gorgeous best friend, I am NOT going to stand in the way!"

"How could you?!" Kavin cried. "I told you to stop shipping us!"

"Why?! You guys are so dramatic and cute! How can I not?!"

"Sky!"

"Okay, okay! Read the note first!" Sky pointed excitedly to a small wax-sealed card attached to the suit sleeve.

Kavin opened it. Written in Phana's sharp, elegant cursive was a genuine, heartfelt apology:

Kavin, I crossed a line today, and for that, I am deeply sorry. Please allow me to make it up to you properly. Join me for dinner on my yacht this Saturday at 8:00 PM. The car will pick you up earlier. Please wear one of the enclosed attires.  Phana

Sky let out a high-pitched scream of excitement. "A yacht date! Kavin, you HAVE to go!"

"I'm not going," Kavin said stubbornly, crossing his arms.

It took thirty minutes, two slices of favorite strawberry ice cream cake, and relentless persuasion from Sky before Kavin finally threw his hands up in defeat.

 "Fine! Saturday! But just for the free food!"

Sky squealed, grabbing Kavin's hand to help him pick out matching accessories before excusing himself to answer a fresh text from Rut, leaving Kavin alone in the living room.

Kavin sat on the sofa, staring at the luxury suit hanging on the door. He touched his collarbone, recalling the overwhelming, intoxicating scent of Phana's pheromones in the hallway. A strange, confusing shiver ran down his spine.

Saturday, 12:00 PM

A sleek, black stretch limousine pulled up to Kavin's bungalow.

Kavin stepped out wearing the impeccably fitted designer suit. He looked into the dark tinted windows expecting to see Phana, but the back seat was completely empty. The driver held the door open politely. "Mr. Sirilert, please step inside."

The limousine drove smoothly through the city, eventually stopping in front of Bangkok's most prestigious, flagship luxury watch boutique. The store had been completely cleared of customers.

When Kavin stepped inside, the head jeweler bowed deeply and presented a velvet display box containing a stunning, customized silver wristwatch with sapphire accents.

"I'm not taking this," Kavin said flatly, taking a step back.

The store staff instantly looked terrified, dropping to their knees. "Please, sir! Khun Phana explicitly ordered that you wear this for tonight's engagement! If you refuse, we will all be terminated immediately!"

Kavin let out a heavy, exasperated groan. That manipulative bastard.

Reluctantly, Kavin held out his left wrist. The jeweler quickly secured the heavy silver timepiece onto his arm.

Where is this asshole? Kavin thought, glaring at his reflection in the glass showcase, his heart beating a fast, anxious rhythm in his chest as the limousine waited outside to take him to the harbor.