Daime wakes up a bit early than Aiden but he has been staring at the dark ceiling for the past three hours. He looks to his side and Aiden is still snoring his dream of pine cones and summer nights.

The serene scene is quite funny for Daime but he knows that this will not last at all. He receives a message earlier from one of his cousins regarding the folder that he had found.

According to him, he overhears Grandmama and Primo's conversation that sounds similar like the information from the folder. Daime's first reaction is a chuckle and follows by a quiet sob.

He does not dare to make it any louder since Aiden is sleeping right behind him. Could this day get any worse?

He chuckles in between sobs and hopes that everything will be okay at the end. But knowing about the information from the folder, Daime knows that he needs to make a move before he loses Aiden.

Deciding on what to do, his cousin suddenly informs him that the announcement will be tomorrow. This information almost gives Daime a heart attack.

Tomorrow. Of all the days in this calendar, why does it have to be tomorrow?

Daime hums in response and groggily thanks his cousin. He puts his phone down and looks up to the ceiling.

He releases a heavy sigh as his sobs settle down and now, he is filled with sadness and guilt.

Sadness from learning that he will be losing Aiden tomorrow, on his birthday. Guilt for himself, from hurting his shallow and fragile heart by accepting this competition to his cousin.

If only he knew from the beginning that Primo already has the advantage—well, he already knew that, he just can't accept that fact.

Daime sighs once again as he wipes these dried tears that surrounds his cheeks. Crying will not solve anything, but it will give him comfort and hides his frustrations about this news.

He looks at Aiden and smiles at him.

"I just wished that you are all mine, my angel. If only you are all mine."

He kisses Aiden on his soft lips before rolling Aiden to his side and hugs him from behind. Caressing and memorizing the every pattern of his scent so that Daime will not forget about it once he is far away from Aiden and Primo.

How did this simple courting turns into something like this? Even Daime does not know the answer.

Drifting himself to sleep, Daime can only wish that everything is just a dream and Aiden is still his.

Only his.

***

Aiden tries to move from the room that he is in right now. The pale figure is in front of him again with his orange eyes and sharp fangs.

The sounds of chains clanging against the bed frame are the sounds that Aiden can only hear the moment he wakes up.

"Stop struggling, Aiden. Don't you think that this is my turn to guide this over-the-top relationship that you got yourself involved at?"

Aiden shakes his head as he tries to scream but there is no voice coming out of his mouth. Apparently in this vast space, Aiden is muted and chained.

He doesn't even know if the figure he is seeing is real or not. Everything that is happening here is too absurd with Aiden.

Well, almost too absurd.

"You looks stupid trying to scream in my space. Fine, I will give you two hours to ask me anything you want to ask and I will answer each question with a riddle. Deal?"

Aiden doesn't have a choice but nods at this figure's condition. He wants to know. Even if he is not good at solving riddles, Daime can help him.

Because Daime is always there for him.

The figure is satisfy with Aiden's reaction at his suggestion and snaps his finger, giving Aiden a two hours of asking question towards him.

"Why am I here? What do you want from me? What did I do to deserve such treatment from you? And who are you?"

The figure chuckles at the bombarded question that Aiden throws at him, the moment he hears his voice. The figure wipes his invisible tears away before sitting down at the edge of Aiden's bed.

"Tomorrow is a very special day for Daime and there will be a surprise waiting for you. Daime will invite you on a date and take you in his special place. He will ask you a question but you will end up hurting him again.

Your answer will turn this relationship fiasco into something much worse than it already is. Use your dumb bird brain tomorrow, because it might be the last day that you will see Daime."

With that, the figure disappears and Aiden finally wakes up from his slumber. He opens his eyes immediately and looks at the digital clock in front of him.

"That fucker, he didn't answer everything that I asked."

Aiden frowns as he remembers the "riddle" that the figure gave him. He wonders what will be tomorrow's special event and why is it so special for Daime.

He looks at the digital clock longer before remembering that he needs to check if the package that he bought from the online shop will be here before Primo's birthday.

Yes. Aiden bought Primo a gift for his birthday. And he hopes that he will like it.

He rolls to his side and sees Daime's sleeping figure and smiles at him.

"Help me with something tomorrow, please. It's something about a riddle that only smart minds can answer."

Daime groans in response and rolls to his right side, lifting his arm towards his head and covers his eyes with his right arm.

Aiden chuckles at the sight and smiles once again. He doesn't believe that Daime will leave him and that figure is just taunting him by spreading lies in his head.

Daime promised that he will be there for Aiden all throughout his life. Aiden nods after remembering Daime's promise and snuggles to the man's chest.

He releases happy pheromones when he feels Daime's comfort in his arms. He whispers the words "I love you" to Daime and kisses him on the lips before Aiden goes straight to dreamland.

Out in the other dimension from this world, the figure from Aiden's dream watches as the future unfolds with Aiden and his dumb bird brain fucks up everything.

He can sighs and wishes that this could change tomorrow, but he doubts that it will.

"If only I can just be the human and he will be the figure then maybe Daime will not be hurt as much like this.

I want Daime to be my Alpha and not that adopted one, who thinks that this Omega soul of Aiden will accept an Alpha like him.

I would rather stay hidden than create a bond with him."