Chapter 17
Two months after moving into the King mansion, Danny returned to the Reed estate like a victorious royal returning from war.
Except instead of dignity-
He arrived wrapped in an expensive fur-lined coat while Lucas carried him out of the car because “his legs felt sleepy.”
The Reed household watched in stunned silence.
Richard Reed pinched the bridge of his nose immediately.
“You can walk.”
Danny clung tighter to Lucas’s neck dramatically.
“The stairs here are emotionally exhausting.”
Lucas adjusted him higher effortlessly.
“It’s cold outside.”
Richard stared blankly.
“You encourage him.”
“Yes.”
“Constantly.”
“Yes.”
Richard sighed deeply toward the heavens.
Kai, standing near the doorway, nearly collapsed laughing.
“Oh my god. You really turned into royalty.”
Danny looked smug instantly.
“I technically am royalty.”
Then he lifted one hand lazily toward a servant.
“Bring me hot chocolate.”
The servant looked toward Lucas instinctively.
Lucas nodded calmly.
“Add extra marshmallows.”
Danny looked touched.
“See? He understands me.”
Richard watched this entire interaction with the exhausted expression of a man who had accepted fate.
Two months ago his son could barely survive business meetings.
Now he casually ordered people around while being carried by the most feared man in Bayleaf City.
Life was strange.
Inside the living room, Danny immediately occupied the largest sofa dramatically while Lucas sat beside Richard discussing business matters.
Or rather-
Lucas discussed business while Richard tried processing the fact that his future son-in-law looked at Danny like he hung the moon.
Danny meanwhile leaned across the couch eating cookies while texting Kai nonsense memes.
Eventually Kai plopped beside him curiously.
“So.”
Danny blinked.
“So?”
Kai lowered his voice dramatically.
“What exactly do you guys do as fake married people?”
Danny looked confused.
“…What do you mean?”
“Like couple things.”
Danny thought seriously.
“Well…”
His cheeks became slightly pink.
Kai immediately gasped.
“Oh my god. There ARE things.”
Danny shoved another cookie into his mouth defensively.
“We cuddle sometimes.”
Kai stared.
“Sometimes?”
“Mhm.”
“Danny.”
“What?”
“That’s already suspicious.”
Danny frowned slightly.
“It’s comfortable.”
“And?”
Danny avoided eye contact now.
“…I kiss him sometimes too.”
Kai almost screamed.
“You WHAT?”
Across the room, Lucas’s hearing immediately sharpened.
Werewolf hearing.
Useful.
Richard continued discussing hotel investments completely unaware while Lucas listened to every word from the couch behind him.
Danny looked embarrassed suddenly.
“Not like serious kisses.”
Kai looked unconvinced.
“Explain.”
Danny mumbled into his hot chocolate.
“Sometimes he looks too handsome and it just happens.”
Lucas nearly smiled.
Cute.
Kai stared in absolute disbelief.
“And Lucas just lets this happen?”
Danny looked offended.
“He kisses me back.”
Lucas calmly took a sip of coffee while internally feeling extremely pleased.
Kai pointed dramatically.
“Danny. Fake couples do NOT randomly cuddle and kiss all day.”
Danny blinked.
“…They don’t?”
“No!”
Danny frowned thoughtfully now.
“Well we also sleep together.”
Kai choked violently.
“YOU WHAT?!”
“Not like that.”
Danny rolled his eyes.
“We just sleep in the same bed.”
Kai looked ready to pass away.
“And you think this is normal fake marriage behavior?”
Danny paused.
Suddenly…
Maybe it wasn’t.
Kai leaned closer suspiciously.
“What else?”
Danny counted lazily on his fingers.
“He carries me around.”
Lucas’s chest warmed slightly.
“He does all my paperwork.”
Richard looked over suddenly.
“He WHAT?”
Danny nodded proudly.
“He even attends my meetings.”
Kai stared at Lucas across the room.
Lucas remained perfectly composed despite absolutely listening.
Danny continued innocently.
“He buys me snacks whenever I want.”
Kai whispered slowly-
“…Danny.”
“What?”
“I think your fake husband is actually obsessed with you.”
Silence.
Lucas’s wolf purred smugly.
Correct.
Danny immediately shook his head.
“No way.”
Kai looked at him like he was stupid.
“He literally worships the ground you walk on.”
“That’s dramatic.”
“He carried you into the house like a princess.”
“I was cold.”
Kai pointed harder.
“Exactly!”
Danny frowned deeper now.
Actually…
Lucas really did spoil him constantly.
Every tiny complaint Danny made somehow got solved immediately.
One time Danny casually mentioned liking a dessert from another country.
Lucas flew a chef in.
Another time Danny said the mansion hallway looked boring.
Lucas redecorated the entire floor.
Danny suddenly looked toward Lucas across the room.
Lucas was speaking calmly with Richard while adjusting his glasses slightly.
Pretty.
Very pretty.
Then almost like sensing Danny staring-
Lucas looked over immediately.
Their eyes met.
And Lucas’s expression softened instantly.
The change was immediate.
Warm.
Gentle.
Dangerously affectionate.
Danny’s heartbeat stumbled awkwardly.
Kai saw everything.
“Oh my god,” he whispered. “He’s gone.”
Danny looked away quickly.
“No he’s not.”
“He looked at you like you invented happiness.”
Danny’s face became warm.
“That’s not true.”
Kai leaned closer mischievously.
“Wanna test it?”
Danny blinked suspiciously.
“…Test what?”
“If Lucas King is actually in love with you.”
Danny stared.
Then quietly-
“…How?”
Kai grinned like a villain.
“Easy.”
Meanwhile across the room, Lucas’s wolf suddenly became alert.
Danger.
Kai was smiling too much.
Never trust smiling best friends.
