Chapter 24
The room glowed softly beneath golden lamplight.
Snow drifted slowly outside the tall windows while warmth wrapped around them inside the bedroom.
Lucas still knelt before Danny.
Patient.
Dangerously beautiful.
And entirely willing to give Danny anything he wanted.
Danny looked down at him nervously now.
His heartbeat felt way too loud.
This whole situation had spiraled wildly out of control.
One minute he was joking.
Now the Alpha King of werewolves was kneeling between his legs looking at him like worship.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Danny swallowed softly.
“…If we do this.”
Lucas’s eyes lifted immediately.
Danny’s face became warm again.
“You’re doing all the work.”
Silence.
Then Lucas’s lips twitched faintly.
“Of course.”
Danny pointed at him seriously.
“I mean it.”
Lucas stood slowly now, towering over him again.
“You hate effort. I understand.”
Danny nodded proudly.
“Exactly.”
Lucas laughed quietly under his breath before gently brushing his fingers through Danny’s hair.
Cute.
Everything about him was unbearably cute.
Danny looked up at him carefully.
“…You really don’t mind?”
Lucas’s expression softened instantly.
“No.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“I’d gladly spend all night taking care of you.”
Danny’s poor heart nearly exploded.
Stupid handsome werewolf king.
Lucas leaned closer until their foreheads almost touched.
“Tell me if you want me to stop.”
Danny nodded slowly.
Then Lucas kissed him.
Soft at first.
Careful.
Like Lucas still couldn’t believe this was real.
Danny melted almost immediately.
Warm hands wrapped around him securely while Lucas kissed him deeper, slower, like he wanted Danny dizzy with affection before anything else.
And honestly?
It worked.
By the time Lucas lifted him into his arms and carried him toward the bed, Danny’s thoughts already felt soft and blurry.
Lucas treated him gently.
Patiently.
Like Danny was something precious.
Every touch felt warm enough to melt straight through him.
Every kiss made Lucas’s control look thinner and thinner.
And through it all-
Lucas never stopped looking at him like this mattered.
Like Danny mattered.
That feeling stayed with Danny the entire night.
More than the pleasure.
More than the heat.
The overwhelming feeling of being wanted completely.
By the time they finally collapsed together tangled beneath blankets, Danny felt boneless.
Exhausted.
Warm.
And very pleased with himself.
Lucas lay beside him quietly, one arm wrapped securely around Danny’s waist while Danny rested against his chest.
The Alpha King looked calmer now.
Satisfied.
Danny poked his shoulder weakly.
“…You survived.”
Lucas looked down at him with amusement.
“Barely.”
Danny grinned sleepily.
“You’re welcome.”
Lucas laughed softly before kissing his forehead.
“Brat.”
Danny snuggled closer automatically.
Warm.
Safe.
Then suddenly-
A memory flashed across his mind.
Rain.
A hotel room.
A ridiculously handsome stranger.
Danny blinked slowly.
Wait.
His eyes widened.
Then he abruptly sat upright.
Lucas immediately looked concerned.
“What’s wrong?”
Danny stared at him in disbelief.
“Oh my god.”
Lucas tensed instantly.
“Danny?”
“You.”
Lucas blinked once.
“…Me?”
Danny pointed dramatically.
“You’re THAT guy.”
Silence.
Then slowly-
Lucas realized.
Ah.
Finally.
Danny stared harder.
“The club.”
Lucas watched him carefully now.
“The hotel room.”
“Yes.”
Danny’s face became increasingly horrified.
“Oh my god.”
Lucas almost smiled softly.
“You remember.”
Danny buried his face into his hands dramatically.
“I LOST MY VIRGINITY TO YOU.”
“Yes.”
“And then I LEFT.”
“Yes.”
“And I PAID YOU.”
Lucas finally laughed properly.
Warm and helpless.
Danny looked mortified.
“I thought you were some random hot guy!”
Lucas gently pulled Danny back against his chest again.
“I know.”
Danny groaned loudly into the pillow.
“This is so embarrassing.”
Lucas’s eyes softened.
For him?
Not at all.
That night had destroyed him in the best possible way.
Because even after a hundred lonely years-
Fate finally gave him his mate.
Danny suddenly froze again.
Then narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“…Wait.”
Lucas already knew that tone.
Danger.
Danny pointed accusingly.
“Where’s my money?”
Lucas stared.
“…What?”
“The cash.”
Danny looked deeply serious now.
“I gave you a lot.”
Lucas actually looked stunned for the first time in years.
“You want it back?”
“Obviously.”
Lucas laughed against Danny’s hair softly.
“You paid me after breaking my heart.”
Danny blinked.
“…I did kinda ghost you.”
“For six months.”
Danny looked guilty for exactly two seconds.
Then-
“Still want my money back though.”
Lucas buried his face briefly into Danny’s shoulder while laughing quietly again.
His terrifying king image truly died the moment this human entered his life.
Danny poked his chest stubbornly.
“I’m serious.”
Lucas looked up finally.
“Fine.”
Danny looked triumphant instantly.
“But,” Lucas added calmly, “I spent it already.”
Danny gasped.
“On what?!”
Lucas’s eyes softened unbearably.
“Searching for you.”
