Garfield managed to drag Sailub back to his place, all the while keeping a close eye on the alpha, who was still bristling with barely-contained anger. As much as Garfield knew Sailub needed to be with Pon to calm down, it wasn't an option right now. Pon didn't need to face the storm that was Sailub's current state. Not like this.
The moment they stepped inside Sailub's place, the alpha didn't waste any time. He stormed straight to his room, shutting the door behind him with a force that made Garfield flinch. Even from where Garfield stood in the living room, he could smell the familiar, comforting scent of peaches lingering in the air—the unmistakable scent of Pon. It filled the space, radiating from the room like a beacon calling out to Sailub's alpha instincts.
But Garfield knew better than to follow him. Not now. Sailub's alpha was still in full control, and until he calmed down, it would be dangerous for anyone to approach him, especially with Pon's scent triggering those deep, protective instincts.
With a heavy sigh, Garfield moved to the kitchen. He needed to give Sailub time to settle, to get his head on straight before they could even think about what to do next. His mind raced as he started preparing food—something simple, yet hearty. Sailub probably wouldn't eat, but it was worth the shot. At the very least, Garfield needed something to keep himself occupied.
As he chopped vegetables, his thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened. The confrontation with Ping, Pooh's outburst—it was all spiraling faster than anyone could have predicted. And now Sailub was dangerously close to the edge. Garfield's gut twisted with concern, knowing how badly this could end if Sailub didn't regain control soon.
While the food simmered on the stove, Garfield pulled out his phone and sent a quick update to Benz. He knew the alpha would already be hearing bits and pieces from the others, but Garfield wanted to make sure he had the full picture. Sailub was volatile right now, and Benz needed to know just how bad it was.
Garfield: "Sai's not in a good place. Got him back to his house. Keeping an eye on him, but he's not calming down. Ping pushed him too far. Keep the others away for now, especially Pon."
He stared at the message for a moment before hitting send. It wasn't much, but it was all he could do for now. Benz would understand the severity of the situation, and with any luck, he'd keep everyone else from making things worse.
As he put his phone down, Garfield leaned against the counter, staring blankly at the food he was preparing. The steady rhythm of cooking helped ground him, but his mind was still churning. How had things gotten this out of hand? Ping's betrayal was one thing, but the way it had shaken Sailub to the core was something else entirely. It wasn't just about Pon's reputation—it was about something deeper. Something Sailub hadn't even admitted to himself yet.
Garfield took a deep breath, glancing toward the closed door of Sailub's room. He could only hope that when the alpha finally emerged, he'd be ready to face the truth—before it destroyed him and everyone around him.
For now, all Garfield could do was wait.
—--
As Sailub entered his place, it was as though his body was moving on autopilot. He barely registered Garfield trailing behind him as he immediately headed for his room—Pon's room. The door closed with a soft click behind him, sealing Sailub inside the small space where Pon's presence lingered, the air thick with the unmistakable scent of peaches.
The nest Pon had built was there, right in front of him. It looked inviting, like it was calling out for him, a place meant to comfort and protect. But to Sailub, it felt wrong to intrude. Illegal, even. It wasn't his space. It wasn't his right.
