Chapter 14
After the strange incident with Lucas’s eyes, Danny decided on one very important thing.
He was too tired to investigate mysteries.
Maybe Lucas had weird contact lenses.
Maybe rich people evolved differently.
Maybe Danny imagined it because he hadn’t eaten enough sugar that day.
Whatever.
Thinking sounded exhausting.
So instead-
He climbed directly into Lucas’s lap the next evening and demanded cuddles.
Lucas considered this the greatest moment of his immortal life.
–
Three weeks after moving into the mansion, an unusual routine slowly formed between them.
Danny slept late.
Lucas carried him around the mansion whenever he complained dramatically about his legs being tired.
Lucas attended nearly all Reed Group meetings in Danny’s place.
And every night-
Danny somehow ended up curled against him.
Like now.
Lucas sat on the enormous sofa inside his private study reviewing contracts while Danny lay sprawled across his chest beneath a blanket.
The television played some overly dramatic romance series.
A woman on screen cried beautifully in the rain.
Danny gasped.
“She should leave him.”
Lucas glanced down.
“The drama started ten minutes ago.”
“Exactly. He’s already disappointing.”
Lucas hummed softly while continuing to sign paperwork one-handed.
Danny blinked up at him.
“You’re actually doing my work.”
“Yes.”
“All of it.”
“Yes.”
Danny looked emotional suddenly.
“You’re like a sugar daddy sent from heaven.”
Lucas nearly smiled.
Cute.
Danny shifted closer until his cheek rested against Lucas’s heartbeat.
Warm.
Lucas immediately relaxed further against the couch.
His wolf adored moments like this.
Mate close.
Mate comfortable.
Good.
The mansion staff had long stopped reacting to the absurd domesticity unfolding daily around their terrifying king.
At first they feared the human would anger Lucas eventually.
Instead the opposite happened.
Lucas became calmer around Danny.
Gentler.
More alive.
Even Ethan noticed it.
“You smile more now,” Ethan commented one afternoon.
Lucas looked down at Danny sleeping across his office couch.
“I know.”
Danny had fallen asleep thirty minutes into accompanying Lucas to Reed Group headquarters.
Now he slept peacefully beneath Lucas’s expensive coat while soft drama music still played quietly from his phone.
Lucas continued reviewing business reports calmly.
The sight should’ve looked ridiculous.
The Alpha King of werewolves running an international company while his human mate napped nearby surrounded by snacks.
Instead-
Lucas felt content.
Truly content.
It frightened him slightly.
For a hundred years his life had been war, politics, power, responsibilities.
Everything heavy.
Then Danny entered it like warm sunlight and turned ordinary moments into something precious.
Lucas glanced toward the couch again.
Danny’s face was half buried against the pillow.
His lips parted slightly in sleep.
Beautiful.
Mine.
A small whine escaped Danny suddenly.
Lucas stood immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
Danny sleepily opened one eye.
“…Cuddle.”
The single word hit Lucas directly in the soul.
Without hesitation, Lucas walked over and sat beside him.
Danny instantly climbed halfway into his lap while still barely awake.
“There,” he mumbled happily.
Lucas wrapped an arm securely around him.
Danny sighed contentedly against his chest.
Ethan watched from the office doorway silently.
The mighty Alpha King truly had become a glorified pillow.
Lucas ignored him completely.
Instead he brushed his fingers carefully through Danny’s messy hair.
“You should sleep upstairs.”
“No.”
“You’ll hurt your neck here.”
Danny looked up sleepily.
“Then carry me later.”
Lucas’s chest ached painfully with affection.
“Okay.”
Danny smiled softly before closing his eyes again.
And Lucas-
The feared ruler of all werewolves-
Sat there for nearly an hour without moving because he didn’t want to disturb him.
–
Meanwhile across the city, Serene watched everything with growing fury.
“He skipped the northern summit again?”
The werewolf before her lowered his head nervously.
“Yes.”
“All because of that human?”
“…Yes.”
Serene’s nails dug into the armrest sharply.
Lucas no longer cared about pack politics.
No longer attended noble gatherings.
Everything revolved around Daniel Reed now.
Pathetic.
A human weakening the Alpha King.
Unacceptable.
Her eyes darkened coldly.
“If the human disappeared,” she murmured softly, “Lucas would return to normal eventually.”
The room became silent.
The other wolves looked uneasy.
Because everyone knew one thing.
Lucas King loved dangerously.
And anyone touching what belonged to him-
Would not survive long.
–
Back at Reed Group headquarters, Danny finally woke again near evening.
He blinked slowly.
Lucas still sat beside him reviewing paperwork calmly.
Danny stared silently for a moment.
Warm lighting softened Lucas’s sharp features.
His sleeves rolled up slightly.
Dark hair falling carelessly over focused eyes.
Pretty.
Very pretty.
Danny’s chest did that weird thing again.
Lucas looked over immediately.
“You’re awake.”
Danny nodded sleepily.
Then after a pause-
“You really don’t mind doing all this for me?”
Lucas answered without hesitation.
“No.”
“Why?”
Lucas looked at him quietly.
Because loving you feels natural.
But instead he simply reached over and gently wiped chip crumbs from Danny’s cheek.
“You look happier lately.”
Danny froze slightly.
Lucas’s eyes softened.
“That’s enough for me.”
The words settled warmly inside Danny’s chest.
Dangerously warm.
And for the first time-
Danny began wondering if maybe this marriage didn’t feel fake anymore.
