CHAPTER 4

After drying his hair, Rayne grabbed his phone and left the room. He walked down the hall to his friend Ken’s room and knocked on the door.

After Rayne knocked several times, Ken finally opened the door. He was already dressed and ready to go.

“Oh, perfect! We both got ready at the same time. Let’s go for a walk and grab some dinner,” Rayne said, locking his door behind him.

Both of them slipped their key cards into their pockets and took the elevator down.

When they stepped onto the first floor, Rayne couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the hotel’s theme was.

“Rayne, let’s eat at the beach hotel. I don’t feel like eating here,” Ken suggested.

Rayne had no objection, so he simply nodded, and the two of them headed toward the beach. It was only a short walk away. Even though it was night, the rhythmic sound of the waves brushing against the shore filled the air.

“Rayne, aren’t you cold? Why are you wearing shorts?” Ken asked, giving him a quick glance from head to toe.

Rayne shot him a side-eye. “Says the one wearing only a crop top and jean shorts.”

As they chatted, someone suddenly yanked Rayne back, holding him tightly from behind.

“If you’re feeling cold, let me warm you up!” a familiar voice teased.

Rayne’s eyes widened as he turned his head. It was the same alpha who had saved him earlier—the same one who had proposed marriage out of nowhere. And now, he was being just as annoying.

Without hesitation, Rayne jabbed his elbow into the man’s stomach and broke free from his grip.

Ken’s eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his face. He didn’t know who this stranger was, but it was clear enough—this guy was harassing his friend.

“You motherf*cker,” Ken snapped, his voice sharp as a blade. “How dare you touch my friend without his permission? Do you have a death wish?”

Ken’s fierce words weren’t empty. Being the only omega in a family full of alphas, he was adored and fiercely protected. His three older alpha brothers had taught him every kind of combat skill to defend himself.

Rayne, on the other hand, had grown up differently. An only child, spoiled and cherished by his wealthy family, he had once relied on them for everything. He could have lived as a carefree rich man’s son forever—but as he grew older, he chose to change. Instead of leaning on his family, he began solving his own problems, proving that he wasn’t just a pampered kid anymore.

Rayne, too, wasn’t as defenseless as he appeared. He had been practicing boxing since junior high. At first, he only sparred with other omegas, but on his coach’s advice, he later began fighting against alphas as well.

To everyone’s surprise, he even won competitions against them.

So despite how delicate or harmless the two of them might have looked on the outside, both Rayne and Ken were dangerous in their own way.

“Stay out of this. He’s my babe,” the alpha said, stepping closer to Rayne.

Rayne tensed, ready to kick the man, but then his eyes caught sight of someone else. Just a short distance away, Zephyr was walking towards the resturant. He wore a crisp white shirt layered with a long black coat, his presence impossible to ignore.

Rayne quickly grabbed Ken’s hand and pointed discreetly. Ken’s eyes widened—he was just as shocked to see Zephyr there.

But while their attention wavered, the alpha seized his chance. He suddenly swept Rayne into his arms.

Rayne flinched at the sudden motion, then began to struggle and wiggle in protest.

Zephyr’s sharp gaze immediately locked onto them. The moment Rayne noticed, he quickly shifted his behavior. Instead of fighting, he gently smacked the alpha’s chest with his hands, acting as if he were too weak to resist.

He had to keep up the act. If Zephyr believed he was nothing but a fool, then maybe—just maybe—Zephyr would refuse to marry him.

When Zephyr first noticed Rayne, his gaze lingered only for a moment before he looked ahead again, as if he didn’t care. Yet, despite that, his steps shifted—he turned and began walking toward them.

The alpha holding Rayne stiffened when one of his bodyguards tapped his shoulder nervously.

“Boss… isn’t that Zephyr? From the Black Leopard group? He’s coming this way.”

The moment the alpha heard the name and saw Zephyr approaching, his grip on Rayne faltered. His hands weakened, and he quickly set Rayne back on the ground. A visible tremor ran through him, his bravado crumbling in an instant.

Zephyr reached them with several bodyguards trailing behind, his imposing presence at the forefront.

Rayne glanced back once, rolled his eyes, then turned forward again. Without hesitation, he rushed straight to Zephyr and clung to him, burying his face against Zephyr’s chest.

“Hubby, thank god you’re here!” Rayne said in a soft, trembling voice, his lips forming a pout. “I was so scared. That man wanted to marry me—he was even trying to drag me off to his bedroom to marry me it right away.”

Hearing Rayne’s words, Zephyr’s eyes darkened, a sharp glare cutting straight toward the alpha.

“You’ve got guts… trying to marry my fiancée,” Zephyr said coldly.

The words sent a jolt through Rayne. His head snapped toward Ken in disbelief, silently asking what on earth was happening.

Before he could move, Zephyr’s hand settled firmly on his shoulder. The touch was heavy, commanding—freezing Rayne in place like a statue.

“M-Mr. Zephyr, I didn’t know he was your fiancée…” the alpha stammered, his voice trembling as he looked at Zephyr.

But before he could say another word, Zephyr turned, pulling Rayne with him, and began to walk away.

As they moved, Rayne subtly lifted his hand behind Zephyr’s back, signaling Ken to follow and help him.

When Rayne didn’t see Ken right away, he glanced back and noticed him trailing slowly behind. At the same time, Zephyr’s bodyguards were already dragging the alpha and his men off somewhere else.

“Wait, hubby! Don’t walk so fast—my friend doesn’t have long legs,” Rayne said sweetly, his eyes wide with innocence.

Zephyr’s steps came to a halt. He glanced back and saw Ken following behind them.

“You’re here with your friend only?” Zephyr asked, his voice low.

Rayne nodded cutely, his expression so pure it made Zephyr’s heartbeat quicken despite himself.

“I didn’t expect my hubby to come for me here. You’re so lovely, hubby—I love you!” Rayne said brightly, his voice dripping with sweetness.

But inside, Rayne knew exactly what he was doing. There was one thing he was certain about—Zephyr hated omegas. That was why he tried his best to act as lovely and clingy as possible, hoping to push Zephyr’s patience until he finally grew angry enough to break off the marriage.

Rayne clung tightly to Zephyr’s arm, his lips curved into an innocent smile while his eyes sparkled with false sweetness.

Ken shot him a side glance, already seeing through the act. He knew Rayne too well—this was pure performance.

“Enough. Don’t be clingy,” Zephyr said coldly, pushing Rayne gently but firmly away. “This is only our second time meeting.”

Instead of being hurt, Rayne’s eyes lit up. So that’s it… Zephyr hates being touched. His lips curved into a smirk, sharp and mischievous, though he kept his gaze lowered to hide the evil glint in his expression.

Ken quickly hurried over, putting on a show of sympathy. “Rayne, are you alright? Did you get hurt?” he asked, patting Rayne’s back as though to comfort him.

Suddenly, Rayne looked up at Zephyr.

“Hubby, so you don’t like touching me? Fine. Then I won’t marry you—I’m breaking off this marriage!”

With that, Rayne grabbed Ken’s hand and bolted without looking back, though Ken stole glances over his shoulder to see Zephyr’s reaction.

Zephyr remained standing there, frozen in thought. He hadn’t expected Rayne to bring up breaking off the marriage just because he’d pushed him away.

“Hehe, I’m the best!” Rayne whispered gleefully, a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. “I killed two birds with one stone—I got rid of that annoying alpha and managed Zephyr, my so-called fiancé, too!”

“Hey, man, I think your fiancée likes you,” Ken said casually. “I saw the way he was looking at you.”

Rayne immediately jabbed Ken with his elbow. “Don’t spout nonsense! Zephyr doesn’t like omegas—did you forget he’s mafia?!”

Shaking his head at Ken’s teasing, Rayne dragged him along, and the two of them entered a restaurant to grab something to eat.

They both sat down and ordered beer—legally adults, after all. When the drinks arrived, Rayne took a sip and immediately started laughing.

It wasn’t his first time drinking; he’d tried it at home before, sneaking a swig of his dad’s beer.

“Man, don’t tell me you’re already drunk,” Ken teased, laughing as he downed his entire glass in one gulp.

“Hehe, who’s drunk? Not me! I can easily drink three more bottles of beer,” Rayne declared.

Before anyone could respond, he downed two more glasses in quick succession. Then, suddenly, he clambered onto his chair, looking around proudly as if surveying his kingdom.

Rayne glanced down at Ken.

“Ken, how come you’re looking so fat now? I didn’t know there was a giant elephant hiding inside you! Hahaha!”

“Hey! Who are you calling an elephant? I’m the most beautiful omega!” Ken shot back, offended but flustered.

Their banter hadn’t gone unnoticed. A group of alpha boys sitting nearby had been watching and listening. Now, they stood up and started moving toward Ken and Rayne.

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