Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Daniels fear.
His eyes softened for a moment as he stared at Draven, but when Draven paused and looked up, his blue eyes landed on a pair of emerald ones, and he smiled.
Daniel’s countenance changed instantly at that smile, his face faltering immediately. Why did that look remind him of something? This cohabitation was anything but comforting.
Yes, he was glad they had put that wretched girl in her place, but what about him? Was he going to continue staying here? His mind drifted to Adrian Valez. Had he truly escaped from that man—or could he really run far enough away from someone who desperately needed therapy?
"Butler Fin, you’re going to the hospital for treatment. For now, forget about the villa and focus on recovery," Draven said after a shared look with him. After a moment of silence, he sent word to the gateman, who dutifully called the driver, and arrangements were made to carry Butler Fin to the hospital.
Daniel, on the other hand, was lost in thought. He didn’t realize Draven had come upstairs until a hand patted his back, making him flinch.
"God, Draven, you scared the shit out of me," Daniel retorted, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Turning back slowly to lean against the barricade, Daniel fell onto the railing, continuing to watch the activity downstairs while his mind shifted into survival mode.
All he could think about was getting the hell out of the city—leaving New York for somewhere like Florida or California, starting something new, maybe building a life there. It sounded simple when imagined, but deep down he knew it wasn’t. Running was never that easy.
"You’re not saying anything, Dan. Or are you angry with Betty?" Draven questioned, still standing behind him.
He was now dressed—thank goodness. At least he decided to put on clothes before heading outside. Otherwise, the staff might have gone mad. After all, who wouldn’t when their hot boss was walking around half-naked? That was a sight to behold—or to wonder about.
"What do you want me to say, Draven? That she’s your fiancée and I’m nothing but your fuck buddy? Oh, Draven, I expected nothing here. Soon I’ll leave, and you’ll probably forget my existence in your life." Daniel chimed in, his tone nonchalant, distant.
Draven’s face twisted the moment those words left Daniel’s mouth.
"No, don’t say that, Dan. As I said earlier, I want to get to know you more. She’s nothing to me. Even the so-called marriage my parents arranged isn’t happening, so I see no reason to hide that from you." Draven stepped closer, slowly wrapping his arms around Daniel from behind, stunning him.
"We just had the best time of our lives, and don’t forget—you’re still in heat. My conscience won’t allow me to let you go like this, not when you’ve struck such a nerve in me," Draven cooed, his soft voice piercing Daniel’s ears.
Daniel stiffened. That touch—God, it felt so good. It was the best he had received in ages, and he wasn’t even kidding. Why was this man so damn attractive—and such a gentleman on top of it all? Almost too perfect.
But he turned, slipping Draven’s hands away.
"I can’t deal with this now. Sorry." Daniel walked off, but before he disappeared from sight, he dropped a bomb.
"And this is ending right away. Breaking off your fiancée’s engagement isn’t a good thing, especially not for a stranger. Besides, you’re probably a manwhore, so I don’t do that."
Draven’s silence after that made Daniel feel oddly satisfied. Finally, he was going to let him go. Finally, he could breathe without someone constantly nagging at him. It didn’t matter how harshly he said it—he just needed to leave. Omega or not, heat or not, he couldn’t stay here anymore.
He had overstayed his welcome and couldn’t encroach further.
Entering his room, Daniel decided to pack his belongings—only to realize he hadn’t even brought anything here.
Wow. So I came here with nothing, huh.
Sighing, he made up his mind to leave just like that. His Creator would provide.
But once again, someone stopped him. A firm hand held his.
"That isn’t a nice thing to say, Dan. Why were you so mean to me? What did I ever do?" Draven questioned, his face looking so adorably vulnerable that Daniel couldn’t look away.
And those eyes—God, why were they so mesmerizing, filled with cuteness, pricking at his heart and stirring his heat? It dawned on him that he had slandered Draven far too much.
"I said it’s nothing, Draven. Or don’t you understand English?" Daniel snapped, irritation in his tone.
But Draven persisted, unfazed by the coldness.
"I recognized you from afar. My instinct spoke to me when we came together in flesh—you’re the one. And I mean it: I won’t let you out of my sight. If I lose you now, I might lose you forever, and I can’t stand that." His words carried a possessiveness that wasn’t Daniel’s cup of tea.
"And I said no. You’re still young, probably a college student, seventeen maybe. I’m twenty—it doesn’t feel right to roll with you," Daniel tried to cut it off, but Draven slid his hands into his.
"I’m nineteen, Daniel. And have you heard the saying ’age is just a number’? Let me take care of you." His eyes dropped to Daniel’s bandaged hands, where the strips had loosened and revealed jagged marks. The ugly wounds made Draven’s face sour instantly.
"Who did this to you, Daniel?" His voice thundered with authority.
Daniel shifted back, his spine hitting a pillar.
"I said, who inflicted such horrible wounds on you? Why the hell didn’t I see this earlier? God, you must be in so much pain." Draven’s eyes softened as he fell to his knees, massaging Daniel’s hands.
"Oh, Daniel, I’m so sorry for being insensitive. This must hurt so badly, and you couldn’t even talk because of your heat."
Daniel blinked rapidly, overwhelmed. What was happening right now? Why wasn’t Draven disgusted by his scars? This young man was something else.
"I don’t think the origin of these wounds concerns you," Daniel muttered, his voice flat with disinterest.
But Draven wasn’t a quitter. From Daniel’s words, his expression, and even the way he reacted when startled, Draven could only conclude that his mind was far from peaceful. Someone—or something—was tormenting him.
"What are you afraid of, Daniel? What’s chasing you?" Draven finally asked, his voice steady.
Daniel froze, his heart racing. How did he know? Was he that easy to read?
"I can protect you. I have the resources to defend you until the end," Draven promised.
But Daniel lost it, slapping him so hard that it stunned him.
"Enough of this nonsense! This isn’t an interview. You don’t have the right to pry so deeply into my life. Who are you to ask all these questions?" Daniel snapped, his voice sharp with dismay.
He had to leave. The faster, the better.
And how did Draven even know he was in heat? Was it because he begged for sex earlier? That couldn’t be the reason. No—he couldn’t know about Daniel being an omega.
Oh damn, Daniel—you really fucked up, he reprimanded himself.
As he was about to run off, Draven’s voice echoed again.
"You’re an omega, right? I was a bit confused, but now it makes sense. The drugs the store owner gave you—I researched them. They’re insecticides, but they also mask a person’s scent. Isn’t that it?"
Daniel’s blood chilled.
"Male omegas are rare, especially in this state, where they’re seen as an abomination. If caught, you’re doomed. You really are in danger." Draven’s gaze fell on Daniel—not angry, not judgmental, only filled with genuine care.
This was getting out of hand.
Before Daniel could reply, a knock came at the main entrance downstairs.
One of the staff announced loudly from below:
"Young master, there are a group of people here. They’re looking for a young blond man named Daniel Morreti."
With that declaration, Daniel’s blood ran cold instantly.
They had finally found him...