Chapter 27

MAX WASN'T surprised when he heard about the reports of last night. He walked Dolly to the car while he buttoned his suit up to the collar. "Janette will help you with everything. Just tell her your request, alright?"

"I don't plan to do anything grand. She said I can manage one of her stores in the city. I promise to do well, Max." The pink dress hugged Dolly's waist tightly. The curves on full display had Max sighing. "We'll meet for lunch, okay? You can visit me."

"I will. We'll work hard for today, sweetheart." Max grinned, but he doesn't feel excited being away from her.

The car sped up to the opposite direction. Max watched as the car disappear slowly from his sight. He patted the back of his right hand, wondering idly if Dolly had recovered from their happy time last night.

"Mr. Duvas is waiting for you, your grace."

Max nodded. "I'll see him."


"What the hell happened, Max? You told me my son won't be anywhere near that Mallory! Now he went home reeking of an unfamiliar scent!" Kael's face lacked the crimson color that it usually blooms whenever he's agitated. Max was reminded that the guy is no longer human. He smiled a little.

"Do you think you can hold it out for a long time? They're bound to be mated for life. The two has to work it out."

"What about that Owell? He showed up in the coven bearing Jeffrey's name. Saying he's a witness and not an accomplice to the murders. What does this mean, Max?!"

"I won't tell you unless you calm down."

His eyes flickered with red light. "I am calm!"

"You know you aren't." Max sat across Kael and folded his knee on top of the other. "The transformation sucks, doesn't it?"

Kael didn't answer. He breathed heavily for a few more times before successfully calming down. He grumbled, "You did Jeffrey an injustice."

"I know. And I'm sorry for it." Max cleared his throat. "As you can see, I've been marked thoroughly. I am determined to live an honest life."

"Shut up. You? You can never change."

He rolled his eyes. "I can see your support for me is actually that huge."

"I'm calling it exactly as it seems. Have you forgotten about your mess last time? Don't make Janette clean up every trouble that you do, Max. She won't be there to back you up every single time. Not when it concerns our son!"

Max' shoulder tightened. This is going to take a very long while to explain.


_______________



DOLLY IMAGINED what her workplace would look like. She can't let herself go to far places with Max' status that's why she agreed to Janette's suggestion. Working at a pastry shop is a dream come true for Dolly. Especially when all she had to do is manage it.

Well, that's what she thought on picture. But reality struck her big time.

The pressure was unimaginable.

"I thought... it's a little store?" Dolly raise her finger only to put it down. The shop had a huge wood carved with the name 'Feliz'. Its design was quite old-fashioned but homey.

Upon entering the double door, she instantly smelled the freshly baked goods and sweets on the counter. Dolly was pleasantly surprised to see them sell cold drinks.

"This is indeed one of our small shops. We have... five branches around the city. A lot of shifter species buy from our businesses because of the coven. It's not bad for profit, right? We, shifters, are still afraid from buying foods from the humans."

Dolly answered almost immediately, "It's because of the MSG."

Janette paused her gesticulating hand. Her mouth twitched as she agreed, "Yes. I guess the amount of seasonings and preservatives does matter."

"Well... ah, I don't know how to proceed with this, Janette. I mean, I don't think I can handle the consequences once I make a huge mistake—"

"Then don't make it." The woman's long, shiny earrings glinted. "The key of having a problem free life is to not make problems itself. Do everything in order, with focus, with a heart. The rest will follow."

Dolly admired her confidence but she can't help but be reluctant. Not everything will go as we planned. This juncture is not exactly small. And this is her first time of doing it. "I guess you're right."

"Don't worry about your co-workers. They know how to respect their superiors. You won't encounter any hitch—" She stopped briefly and grimaced. "Except if the former manager is around. She's quite persistent."

Dolly's eyes widened. "Did she get fired because of me?"

"Yes, and no." Janette shrug lightly. "You do need the position but even if you didn't get assigned here, she's about to have her butt thrown out. It's just a matter of time."

"What did she do?"

"Misunderstandings with the suppliers, orders that didn't come in time because it wasn't really paid off in the first place. She scolded my staff publicly every moment she get the chance. Hmn, if she doesn't get killed under my hand, she would probably end up dead somewhere after her working hours here. She made a lot of enemies in the past."

Dolly exhaled. She wouldn't feel sorry for that woman, then. She deserve to get fired.

"The employees here needed a good manager to handle the nitty-gritty around the store. I'm sure you can do this. Treat it as practice, my dear. Once you're married to an Adenhart, the coven will try to pressure you each time they see your shadow."

She can hear the mild contempt in Janette's voice. She must have gone through the same experience. Dolly will naturally listen to her well.




_____




"GET OUT." Jeffrey rolled out of bed. His waist bruised and aching in a humiliating way. He can't even walk properly. If not for his vampire blood, he wouldn't be able to keep up with Cedric. "It was just a claiming ritual. Why do we need to do it for three times?"

Cedric grinned. Jeffrey drank the sight before tactfully lowering his head. The man looked happy.

"To be sure that the mark works well."

'What a load of crap.' He shook his head. Gathering his thrown clothes, he changed into it with a lightning speed.

"You don't need to hurry, okay? I've seen everything. No need to be shy!"

Smoke rise out of Jeffrey's ears. The arrogant voice of this man didn't fail to squish out the violent attitude out of him. "Shut up! Shut up!"

Cedric crawled out of bed. He followed Jeffrey like a large hound, sniffing a little. "Why do you need to go home this early? Your uncle will be happy to see your mark, you know."

Jeffrey smiled. "I knew you only allowed me to mark you because you want a promotion. Don't worry. I'll tell uncle about your good performance. You should be a councilor by next week. You don't have to—"

Cedric laughed. Jeffrey halted when he noticed the annoyance in him rolling off in waves. 'The man was actually crazy. He laughs whenever he's angry.'

"Don't go. We'll eat breakfast first, talk about our set up and then I'll send you home."

"I'm not a girl that you need to take care." Jeffrey raise a mocking brow. "You held my penis last night. You can't possibly forget that."

Cedric snorted. "It doesn't sound crude when you use 'penis'. You should say 'dick' instead. You can stop acting so proper when you're with me."

Crossing the small distance between them, Cedric kissed him on the nose. "You're quite cute when you're trying to trick me into pampering you without asking for it."

Jeffrey flushed red. He sputtered yet in the end he could only mutter a curse in a small voice. "I don't want anything from you!"

"Yeah, yeah." He winced when he noticed the text on his phone. "Uhuh. Two from work, and three from my buddies."

"Buddies?" Jeffrey asked idly. He tried combing his hair but the bed hair was untamable.

"Fuck buddies. They're asking if I'm free today."

His hand almost let go of the brush. He maintained a cool look when he responded an acknowledgement.

Jeffrey wanted to ask if what Cedric is going to reply to these 'buddies'. But when he saw the smile at the corner of his lips as he type a response, Jeffrey had to bite his tongue.

Cedric never smiled to him that way when they finished. He didn't even look at him longer than Jeffrey longed him to.

It was like he's in a hurry to get it all fixed and done.

Jeffrey would like to say he wasn't disappointed but his parents didn't raise him to be a liar.

It hurt. And it's not a small pinch in his chest but the size of a surging tide. It was heavy. But he can't do anything about it now.

The mark has been given. It's sealed for life.