Chapter 10
Three days later.
Lucas sat inside his office pretending to work.
Pretending being the important word.
Because for the last seventy-two hours, the Alpha King had reread the same contract page fourteen times while thinking about one person.
Danny.
His mate had not contacted him yet.
Which normally wouldn’t matter.
Except Lucas’s wolf had become unbearable.
Mate ignoring us.
“She’s dramatic,” Ethan muttered from across the office.
Lucas looked up coldly.
“My wolf is not a she.”
Ethan didn’t even blink.
“She absolutely is.”
Before Lucas could respond, the office doors suddenly opened.
And there he was.
Danny walked inside wearing an oversized hoodie, loose sweatpants, and fluffy slippers.
Slippers.
To King Corporation.
The employees outside looked spiritually devastated.
Danny yawned softly.
“Your lobby is too shiny. It hurts my eyes.”
Lucas’s heartbeat immediately calmed.
Mate here.
His wolf purred happily.
Lucas stood instinctively.
“You came.”
Danny blinked lazily.
“…Yeah?”
Ethan watched silently from the side.
Pathetic.
The terrifying Wolf King looked one second away from wagging his tail.
Danny shuffled toward the sofa before dramatically collapsing face-first onto it.
“I had to wake up early for this.”
Lucas walked closer immediately.
“You’re tired?”
Danny looked up slowly.
“Yes. Existing is exhausting.”
Lucas felt unreasonable affection flood his chest.
Cute.
He sat beside Danny carefully.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
“No.”
Lucas pressed a button on his desk instantly.
Ethan stared in disbelief.
The Alpha King who once ignored world leaders was now summoning pancakes for his mate.
Danny rolled onto his back dramatically.
“Your sofa is comfortable.”
“You can sleep if you want.”
“Mhm.”
Within seconds, Danny actually closed his eyes.
Lucas stared silently.
“…Did he just fall asleep?”
Ethan nodded.
“I think so.”
Lucas looked helplessly fond.
His mate truly trusted him instinctively.
Dangerous for a human.
But precious to Lucas.
Twenty minutes later, after pancakes and two cups of hot chocolate, Danny finally sat upright again.
Lucas placed the marriage contract carefully on the table.
“So.”
Danny poked the papers suspiciously.
“If I sign this, you become my fake husband.”
“Yes.”
“And I never have to fight Reed Group’s board members again.”
“Yes.”
“And I get money.”
Lucas almost smiled.
“Yes, Danny. You get money.”
Danny nodded thoughtfully.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
Lucas froze slightly.
That easily?
Ethan nearly choked.
“Wait,” Ethan interrupted carefully. “Shouldn’t you read the contract first?”
Danny blinked at him.
“Why?”
“…Because that’s how contracts work.”
Danny looked toward Lucas.
“Would you scam me?”
Lucas answered immediately.
“Never.”
Danny shrugged.
“See?”
Ethan suddenly understood why predators loved rabbits.
Danny signed the papers lazily without another glance.
The moment his signature touched the page-
Lucas’s wolf surged possessively.
Mine.
Mine officially.
Lucas controlled his expression carefully.
But internally?
His entire existence felt lighter.
His mate had agreed to stay beside him.
Even if only as fake husbands for now.
Lucas would make sure Danny never wanted to leave afterward.
Danny suddenly raised a finger.
“I also have conditions.”
Lucas looked at him calmly.
“Anything.”
Ethan sighed internally.
Dangerous sentence.
Danny sat cross-legged on the sofa while thinking deeply.
“Okay first…”
He pointed seriously at Lucas.
“Your house is huge.”
Lucas blinked once.
“…Yes?”
“I saw pictures online. It looks like a castle.”
“It’s not a castle.”
“It has seven living rooms.”
Lucas paused.
“…Fair.”
Danny nodded firmly.
“So if our bedroom is upstairs and I don’t feel like walking sometimes, you have to carry me.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Ethan stared at Danny in disbelief.
Did this human just casually ask the Alpha King of all werewolves to carry him around the house?
Lucas, however, answered instantly-
“Okay.”
Ethan looked personally betrayed.
Danny continued seriously.
“And not complain about it.”
“I won’t.”
“You promise?”
Lucas’s eyes softened.
“I promise.”
His wolf practically loved the idea.
Carry mate everywhere.
Good.
Danny seemed pleased.
“Great.”
Then he raised another finger.
“Second condition.”
Lucas watched him patiently.
“As my husband, you’ll attend business meetings for me.”
“…What?”
Danny looked entirely sincere.
“You’re already there anyway.”
Ethan started coughing violently.
Danny continued explaining calmly.
“You’re super smart and scary. People listen to you.”
Lucas stared at him.
Meanwhile Danny looked genuinely proud of his own logic.
“So you should just handle all my meetings and paperwork too.”
Silence.
Ethan whispered slowly-
“You want the Mr. King to become your secretary?”
Danny frowned.
“No. Husbands help each other.”
Lucas suddenly laughed.
A real laugh.
Warm and helpless.
His mate truly was unbelievable.
Danny blinked at him.
“…Why are you laughing?”
Lucas leaned closer slightly.
“You’re using me.”
“Yes.”
The honesty made Lucas’s chest ache affectionately.
Cute.
So painfully cute.
Danny continued rambling lazily.
“I hate paperwork. And meetings. And talking to investors. And waking up early.”
Lucas listened carefully like each complaint was precious.
“So naturally,” Danny concluded, “you should do them instead.”
Ethan stared at his king desperately.
Please refuse at least once.
Lucas looked directly at Danny.
“I’ll do it.”
Ethan almost collapsed.
Danny’s eyes widened slightly.
“Really?”
Lucas nodded once.
“You won’t have to handle anything you dislike.”
Something soft flickered across Danny’s face suddenly.
Small.
Unexpected.
“…That’s nice.”
Lucas’s gaze gentled instantly.
No one had ever taken care of Danny like this before.
Lucas could tell.
And it made something possessive and protective bloom violently inside him.
Mine to protect.
Danny suddenly smiled lazily.
“Then this marriage sounds amazing.”
Lucas looked at him quietly.
For Danny, maybe it was just a comfortable arrangement.
For Lucas-
It was everything.
Danny stretched dramatically before standing.
“So when do I move in?”
Lucas answered calmly despite the violent happiness inside him.
“Whenever you want.”
Danny thought briefly.
“Today sounds fine.”
Lucas’s wolf nearly howled with joy.
Ethan looked at the ceiling again.
The Alpha King had truly lost all dignity.
