Chapter 32.1

CHAPTER 32






OWELL was particularly nervous that day. He dressed up, briefly amazed because the rotten scent coming from his body had significantly lessen. He can now move freely move without the fear of offending Jeffrey.

His face still had the morbid color and the gaunt cheeks but he didn't pressure himself. No one can change physically after a few days. It takes years to heal.

The bond at the back of his mind pulse steadily. He tried sending a lot of comfort through their link, allowing the other guy to feel his happiness.

He hoped he can stay calm and wait 'til Owell can finally help him. He doesn't know where they stand, and he's aware that they will face a difficult path. The future is still incomprehensible.

Owell always had an optimistic perception in life. No matter how long he struggle, just give him a little hope and he will continue to hold on. Jeffrey told him that once his statements were proven true, his mate will have a way out.

"Kayden, how's your brothers?"

"They're fine. Have you eaten enough? We have a lot of leftovers here in the facility. You can visit here and have them. You don't have to go hungry, Owell."

"I'm fine. Did they treat you guys well? Don't worry about me. I'm having meals on time."

"Good. The people were good. Though they were curious to see us shift to a bird." Kayden sighed. Owell's eyes burned. The kid managed to sound old when he's just so young. "You're going to see us today?"

"Yeap. After meeting with Jeffrey, I'll go visit. Don't shift, okay?"

"Of course not! We miss you. I easily get scared without you."

Owell bit his lips. "Me too, kid."

If only the situation weren't hard for him. If that man... wasn't detained like an animal. If only his superiors gave him a chance to prove himself worthy of the job, his siblings won't be wronged this way. They would have the opportunity to study well.

Owell walk out of his room. He was escorted outside of the facility and into a black shiny car. The driver turn to smile at him. "We'll meet Mr. Mallory this morning. The heir had told you that, right?"

"He did." Owell smiled. "You are?"

"Call me Daniel." The tone was full of warmth, but the words made Owell blink. "I'm Kayden's mate."

The whites of his eyes turned to black. He all but screeched, "He's just a child!" Where did this man get the guts to inform him as though it was about the weather!

"He's fifteen. I'm just twenty."

"Twenty?!" Owell's hand shifted into claws. "You're a vampire!"

Daniel was shocked with his sudden shift but he remained calm. "Twenty... years older than him. Heh."

Owell's mind clouded over. The lack of control over his feelings is making him dizzy. "No! I don't agree!"

"Hey, look. It's not like I'm going to claim him now. The coven saw that, just like what you have shown me right now, he has a great control of his shifter side. He can transform at will and has a penchant for stealing. They're interested in raising him then have him work for us as an informant."

"He's just a child!" he repeated.

"In three years from now, he will no longer be one. See, brother-in-law? I'm determined to raise him for now then slowly make him open up to me when he's of age."

"You..." Owell found himself a mate. It's not surprising to know that his brothers were blessed to have one as well. It's just that...

His mate is a man, while Kayden has this... Daniel as well. Who will continue their surname? About his mother's teachings about control in transformation?

"Don't worry. I'll take care of your other siblings 'til they can decide what to do for their own. Kayden is my responsibility, so is your family's safety."

"Why do you... accept this so easy? When did you know about Kayden?"

"I saw him being questioned when he walk out of that cargo container. His shoulders were shaking, but his eyes are firm. I know right then and there that he is a fighter." Daniel's black hair went past his ears. The black earring on his left made him look young and defiant. "I can't... think of a reason why fate paired him to me though. I get it, he's cute but he's a man. I can't... get past the thought that I should only treat him as a younger brother and nothing else. Maybe fate gave him to me because I needed a companion and not necessarily a lover? I can do that."

Owell's mouth slack open. "You don't find him attractive? My brother?"

"Attracted in a sense that I want to do him? No. And I'm not saying this because you're his brother. You can sense the truth in my words. I'm not interested to do... dirty things to a child. God, even the thought scares me. I find him cute, in a brotherly way."

Owell didn't know if he's going to be relieved or offended for his brother's stead. "Then why do you still want to care for him?"

"Because he's my mate." He exhaled noisily. "My brother has a fated mate of his own. He left her without a goodbye. He suffered for three years before he can't take it anymore and he all but ran back to her side and beg. See, I know how cruel the fates can get. And I'm not opposed to having him beside me as a little brother. That's why I'm determined to keep him."

"If I can survive this... mess, you won't need to. Maybe I'll allow you to be a close friend to him but nothing more since you said so yourself that you're not interested."

"I will mark him, and he too, to me."

'Naturally.' Owell purse his lips. He crossed his arms and tried to look as intimidating as much as possible. "That's for Kayden to decide."

"Thank you."