Lunar Pack

Chapter 7

Being back at the races felt strange to Rain. He looked around at the betas with their pets. A system he once thought of as normal. Now he saw how wrong it was.

He wonders if Stop will be here tonight. P'Phayu says he has seen him at a few races since that night, but he avoids the big mechanic and P'Pai since his humiliation. Stop is one of the main reasons that P'Phayu hadn't wanted Rain to come tonight, but Rain thinks that he can't hide from his past forever. Not if he wants to help with the rescue missions.

Rescuing Ple and Som had been easy. Their current beta had actually been nice. He had inherited the two from his grandmother, who Ple had described as a kind and loving old woman. The boy had no real desire to have them as pets, actually hated the system, but hadn't wanted to turn them out with nowhere to go either. He had happily turned them over to P'Pai, refusing to take anything in return and had even signed up to help with petitions and other activities having to do with the organization.

Sig was another matter. The beta that brought him to the race was a lot like Stop, but she didn't race herself and had no desire to bet on the races. She only came to the event to be seen.

It was only by Rain managing a conversation with Sig while P'Pai distracted the woman that they found out that she was desperate to become a top influencer in Bangkok. It just so happened that P'Pakin had connections and they were able to make a deal. She would turn over Sig and P'Pakin would introduce her to the right people to grow her brand.

"Three down, thousands to go." Rain says.

P'Pai puts an arm over his shoulder and says, "We have to take the wins where we can get them."

Rain nods, knowing the beta is right. He puts a protective hand over his abdomen as if protecting the secret, he suspects is growing there. He hasn't even told P'Phayu his suspicion yet, wanting to have it confirmed.

P'Pai has another race, Rain stays and watches the beta win but decides to make his way back to the mechanic's tent not caring about the next race. He is almost there when he spots a familiar face in the crowd. Stop. Rain knew it was possible that the beta would be here tonight. P'Phayu said he had been to a few races since that night, but he had hoped to avoid him in such a large crowd. Stop has spotted him as well and is sneering at Rain but doesn't dare make a move with all the guards around. Rain breathes a sigh of relief when the beta turns and goes in the other direction.

Rain is shaking by the time he reaches the tent where P'Phayu is working on bikes.

"What's wrong, sweet boy?" P'Phayu asks. Rain tells him about seeing Stop and P'Phayu asks if he wants to go home.

Rain shakes his head, "I'm fine now that I'm with you. I'll just stay here until you finish."

"I'm almost done, and the other mechanics can clean up." P'Phayu says, "Give me half an hour and we can go."

Rain doesn't protest, he is exhausted and seeing Stop has scared him more than he wants to admit to the alpha.

Sky takes Rain to his appointment with Doctor Malee while Taksa stays with P'Pai's parents. Rain wishes that P'Phayu could have been the one to take him, but the alpha had an important client coming into the garage today.

Rain is on cloud nine as he leaves the doctor with his suspicions confirmed. Doctor Malee says Rain is healthy and she doesn't expect any complications with his pregnancy, however because of his long-term use of suppressants, she wants to monitor his progress monthly.

It's all Rain can do to keep from shouting the news as soon as he sees Sky in the waiting room, but he is determined that P'Phayu will be the first to know so he just smiles and asks if Sky wants to get some lunch.

They go to the porridge shop near the garage, Rain has been craving their spicy egg salad specifically, it's his favorite. They are just leaving when he sees him, Stop. It can't be a coincidence that he is here, he has obviously come for Rain.

"Rain?" Sky asks when Rain freezes in the doorway. He is trying to decide if they should go back in the shop when the beta approaches him.

"What do you want, why are you following me?" Rain asks.

"Did you forget who you belong to?" Stop asks. "I've been looking for you, but they kept you well hidden away until the race the other night didn't they."

"I don't belong to you, not anymore," Rain says.

Stop narrows his eyes, "You dare speak to me like that?"

Suddenly Rain is angry, not just angry, furious. He had been having a good day, the best of days and Stop's reappearance in his life had ruined his good mood. He turns and hands Sky his things to hold, then he rounds on Stop and punches him. It hurts, Rain has never learned how to throw a punch, but there is a satisfying crunch as Stop's nose breaks.

Just then the owner of the porridge shop comes out and demands to know what is going on.

Stop, with blood streaming down his face from his broken nose, squeals and demands that the owner call the police on Rain for assault, but Sky calming explains that the beta had been harassing them.

The porridge shop owner, who knows both Rain and P'Phayu well, tells Stop that if he doesn't leave, he will be the one that he'll call the police on.

Rain has never fought back and suddenly Stop looks a little scared of him. "Rabid dog," he mutters, "Lucky to have gotten rid of you." Rain takes another step towards him and Stop quickly back off, suddenly looking very frightened. He turns and Rain is gratified to see him almost running away.

Rain thanks the shop owner and says, "Let's go Sky." His hand is throbbing, and he just hopes he hasn't broken anything, but even if he has it was worth it.

Back at the garage Rain tells P'Phayu what happened while the alpha gently examines his hand.

"Are you okay?" he asks Rain seriously.

"My hand hurts," Rain whines.

P'Phayu smiles and ruffles his hair, "It's not broken, just sprained. So, you aren't upset at seeing Stop?"

Rain shakes his head. He really isn't. Then he remembers what he was so excited to tell P'Phayu, "I have something to tell you, it's important."

"More important than you punching that asshole?" P'Phayu teases.

Rain nods and says, "I'm going to have a baby, we're going to have a baby."

P'Phayu freezes and stares at him. "Really?"

Rain smiles at the incredulous look on P'Phayu's face, "Really."

Suddenly P'Phayu picks Rain up and swings him around making the little omega squeal.

P'Phayu takes Rain to his appointments every month without fail, but Rain is both in good health and good spirits. Not everyday is perfect but Rain seldom has nightmares now and they have turned the spare room into a nursery. Rain has moved his nest out of the closet as well. He wants his nest close to his alpha so builds a new one in their mutual bedroom instead.

Everyone is excited over the news of the baby, but Taksa is ecstatic. She talks nonstop about her little "cousin" and draws stacks and stacks of pictures for the baby which Rain adds to her gallery in the nursery.

As if it's fate the law preventing the sell of shifters goes into effect on the same day Rain goes into labor. It's a small step forward for their children, but P'Pakin is working on legislation for stronger laws that will help protect the shifters already being held as pets.

Rain looks down into the face of his son and hopes that as the child grows the world will become a better place for them.

Notes:

Sorry the epilogue chapter is a little on the short side.