Chapter 51

It was too late to ask now, but he couldn't help it. Joshua had the same thought but answered readily.

– Of course. Would I call you suddenly like this just to make a silly joke?

That's true. Dane reluctantly agreed while making a face.

"Are you crazy?"

Joshua burst into laughter on the other end. The refreshing laughter would have made listeners feel an irresistible temptation, but unfortunately, it didn't work on Dane. To Dane, who was still frowning, Joshua spoke with laughter still in his voice.

– I'd like to say I'm in my right mind, but well, you might be right.

Dane didn't say anything to the ambiguous joke that came back. The proposal to get rid of someone who was obviously going to be trouble was too tempting. With Joshua, the handling would be clean, and he wasn't the type to rush in recklessly without thinking of the consequences, so there wouldn't be any dangerous situations. He had promised that Dane wouldn't be harmed, and the compensation was certain. It was an offer with nothing but benefits, not losses.

The problem was that guy.

The biggest obstacle was that the target was Greyson Miller. Though their relationship was so distant that he could hardly say he knew him, Dane instinctively felt it. It was best to avoid getting entangled with that bastard as much as possible. Greyson was clearly the annoying type who would pursue and take revenge until death if even the slightest grudge formed. He didn't know why Chase Miller would want to do this to his brother, but anyway, Greyson Miller wouldn't take it lying down. His head was already aching because of that bastard, and now to get entangled like this again?

"No, I won't do it."

– What?

Despite Joshua's surprised voice, Dane didn't waver.

"I'm not interested. Don't worry, I'll pretend I never heard about this."

The debt for Joshua saving his life had been repaid long ago. Dane recalled how fortunate that was. If he had been asked to repay that debt now, he certainly wouldn't have been able to refuse.

Josh must be deeply regretting having used that one chance so carelessly.

– Dane, think about it once more.

"No, I'm good. I'm out."

As expected, Joshua didn't give up and tried to persuade him again, but Dane immediately backed off.

"Let the Miller family resolve Miller family issues. I don't want to get involved."

At the firm rejection, Joshua was silent for a moment as if contemplating. Well, it couldn't have been easy to make such a proposal. Dane thought. He must have carefully chosen his helper, only to be immediately rejected, which must be awkward.

But that doesn't mean I have any reason to get involved in this.

Fortunately, the contemplation time wasn't very long. After seeming to consider various words to persuade Dane, he eventually appeared to give up, let out a short sigh, and opened his mouth.

– Alright. Take care, Dane.

"You too."

After a brief farewell, Dane hung up the phone. Losing Darling's health checkup was quite bitter, but it couldn't be helped. Well done, getting involved in such things would surely only bring trouble.

<Abuse? Me? Being abused?>

Suddenly, the past memory came to mind. Along with Greyson Miller's face, which seemed genuinely unable to understand.

Dane remained motionless for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, he tilted his head back and let out a short sigh, then moved with his usual large strides as if nothing had happened.

It was already past 1 AM. Bedtime had long passed. He put the beer he was about to drink back in the refrigerator and headed to the bedroom, with Darling following, circling around his legs.

A year will pass quickly, so it's fine.

Thinking that, he lay down on the bed with the cat in his arms. The cat in his embrace purred and burrowed in. Feeling the warm body temperature, Dane fell asleep before long.

***

Yeah, it wasn't an absolutely necessary act.

Greyson thought as he drove his car home. It hasn't been long enough for pheromones to build up. I can just skip a few months.

He realized for the first time that having sex when there was such a lack of interest was torture. He recalled Keith from long ago, who had said, "I'm sick of sex." Keith, who had said he only did it because he would go crazy or suffer brain damage if pheromones built up, was already married with two children.

Moreover, despite his promiscuous life before marriage, he was now meticulously maintaining trust and faith in his partner. At first, everyone had said he would stop eventually, but as it continued unchanged for 1, 2, several years, the talk gradually changed, and now they were saying, what kind of partner does that man have that he's still so deeply in love after several years, unable to come to his senses?

But Greyson thought differently. The reason 'that' promiscuous Keith Pitman had demurely transformed as if he had never been that way was clearly because his partner, Yeonwoo, was his one and only destiny in life. Keith had always mocked Greyson for believing in destiny, but in reality, he had practically demonstrated it himself. And now Keith would probably admit that his previously promiscuous private life had been wandering only to meet Yeonwoo. Despite having mocked Greyson like that.

He was already saying he had sex out of a sense of duty before, so now he must be very comfortable not having to forcibly attend pheromone parties.

He sarcastically increased his speed. He suddenly realized that he had completely forgotten the fact that he had become a firefighter to find his destined someone.

<You impotent bastard!>

Suddenly, Frankie's shout came back to life. He frowned and looked down at one of his thighs. As expected, it remained quiet. The idea that he had become impotent was nonsense. After all, he had slept with women without any problems just a few weeks ago.

"Damn it."

He cursed and hit the steering wheel. It's probably just a slump. Greyson tried to think lightly and move on. It was just a minor happening. Once he found his partner, Greyson, like Keith, would stop this meaningless excretion, and everything would return to normal.

He thought.

Yes, just as soon as I find them.

While making the pessimistic prediction that perhaps this thing wouldn't respond until he found that partner.

***

...was that bullshit?

Greyson blankly stared at the back of the man who was climbing a ladder to place a birdhouse.

"Hey, Dane! Wait, I think it needs to go more to the right?"

Ezra, who was standing a few steps away from Greyson, shouted. Dane clicked his tongue briefly and moved the birdhouse to the right.

"Is this good?"

"More, more!"

When Ezra shouted, Dane grumbled softly but moved the birdhouse further to the right as instructed.

"Good, that's it!"

When Ezra said this, another guy approached and muttered while stroking his chin.

"Didn't it go too far?"

"Shh, be quiet. Dane might throw that birdhouse at your head."

Ignoring the whispered voices, Greyson watched Dane. The handsome man with red hair was wearing a firefighter t-shirt and uniform pants, fixing the birdhouse to the tree.

Each time he moved his arms, his shirt, pressed by the suspenders, pulled, revealing the muscles of his back. Each time, Greyson unconsciously held his breath. Below the broad shoulders and narrow waist, he was wearing those damn loose uniform pants, which, due to their nature, required suspenders to prevent them from falling down. Thanks to this, the firmly secured pants were so baggy that no lines could be seen at all, yet Greyson kept letting his gaze wander to his buttocks.

"Unbelievable."

Greyson muttered softly. Here I am standing here, absurdly staring at a man's back.

"Hey, Miller."

Ezra, who had been watching Dane from the side, turned to Greyson unconsciously and was startled. His gaze was fixed on one of Greyson's thighs. Greyson knew it too. Because he could feel it by the weight, without having to check with his eyes.

Damn, am I getting an erection right now?

"Uh, well, I don't think I'm seeing wrong..."

Ezra continued to try to say something. Damn it, shut that mouth! Greyson wanted to shout, but he was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even sigh. Getting excited looking at the back of a man wearing that baggy uniform. Yesterday, he had no reaction at all while holding a half-naked Omega covered in pheromones, and now, could this damn Virginia be going crazy?

Absurdly, he often called his penis Virginia. Despite being so worn out, how dare it, not knowing its place.

If others knew, they would treat Greyson like a madman, but of course, he didn't care about that at all. Because right now, his Virginia was swelling up, crying out in pain.