Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Jake punishment.
Daniel hated the man—both Jake and Adrian were his nightmares. People he would love to kill if he ever gained the power. But for now, all he could do was gloat.
He reached to take the tray from Jake’s hands, but Jake refused. Instead, he walked in himself, stepping into the deserted, poorly lit room that always gave Daniel the creeps.
"Your dinner as requested, boss," Jake announced.
It was through that announcement Daniel realized Adrian had been done with his call a long time ago—just watching them in silence.
That huge phone he carried screamed sophistication and elegance. The latest iPhone brand—iPhone 17—and it gleamed even under the dim light dripping from the bathroom bulb.
Why was he looking like that? Daniel thought, stealing a glance between Jake and Adrian, trying to figure out what was cooking.
The tension in the room was palpable. It made Daniel uneasy.
"Okay, okay, this is getting out of hand. Do you both have something to share?" Daniel blurted out, forgetting once again that he and Adrian weren’t anywhere near the same level—forgetting too the threats issued minutes ago.
Adrian turned toward him, silent. And once again, silence from Adrian was a terrible sign. Jake realized that instantly.
His hands began to tremble. The tray, already placed on the side table in the corner like some rejected object, was left alone.
God, doesn’t this man arrange this room? At least decorate it a little. Daniel thought bitterly.
"Boss, I am so sorry..." Jake dropped to his knees, clasping his hands together in apology.
Daniel’s eyes gleamed. Jake—on his knees? Oh, how sweet. The towering bastard brought low.
But Daniel wasn’t here for their drama. His stomach had suffered enough. Darting to the tray, he squatted, picked up a cookie, and bit into it.
The moment it touched his tongue, his expression brightened instantly.
Oh fuck, that’s the most delicious cookie I’ve ever tasted.
It had been a long day—from being sold to a brothel, to encountering Adrian Valez, to falling into the grip of one of his nightmares. Now he was in the man’s home. At least he wouldn’t starve.
He needed to grow, and with someone like Adrian, this was the perfect chance to use his wealth and expand. Not now—he had to play safe first. Gain his trust. Then? Forget love, forget romance. His mission was revenge. When he was done killing his parents and destroying the monsters around him, he’d come back for Adrian and Jake too.
Killing his parents was extreme, but betrayal was betrayal. He didn’t care.
So while fighting for his stomach, he ignored the brutal drama behind him—until he raised the glass of milk to his lips. That’s when he noticed Adrian punching the life out of Jake.
Poor Jake couldn’t resist. As an Alpha, Adrian had ordered him to kneel there defenseless. If that wasn’t degrading enough, the way Jake whimpered Adrian’s name countless times like a weakling only made it worse.
Damn him, Daniel thought. Why do I feel sad for him? That dickhead was so mean to me. He called me a whore—and Adrian did the same.
He despised that word. To be tagged a whore because of his parents—it burned his pride.
"I didn’t disobey you, boss. Gianna was injured, so I carried her to the hospital," Jake blurted, hoping Adrian’s supposed care for his sister would save him.
But the opposite happened.
Adrian became more aggressive, raining fists on Jake’s face. By now Jake had two swollen black eyes, a bleeding nose, and a lip so puffed his once-handsome face looked nightmarish.
"Wow, that’s so hot," Daniel exclaimed sarcastically, watching the scene like it was a movie.
Jake collapsed helplessly under the assault.
Alphas and their useless pride. In Adrian’s mind, disobedience was unforgivable. Insecurity at its peak.
"Who is your boss—my sister or me?" Adrian demanded, kicking Jake with boots lined with a metal bar at the edge.
"It’s you, boss! My mistake! Please, forgive me!" Jake cried.
Adrian growled like a beast. For once, it pulled Daniel’s attention from his meal.
"I thought I warned you that in Raven Lair, second chances are forbidden. Yet I’ve always given you one. And now you say, ’forgive me’? Me, forgive you?" Adrian let out a sadistic laugh that mirrored his dark expression.
"I am not a kind person. I have never been, and I will never be. So don’t expect mercy from me," Adrian declared.
Daniel, munching his cookie, nodded to himself. So Adrian isn’t a kind person. As if we didn’t know.
And he wasn’t one of those delusional girls who thought they could change a man like him.
"My own is keep fooling yourself and keep being evil. Soon, the grave shall be yours," Daniel muttered under his breath.
Jake had fallen silent. He’d realized pleading only angered Adrian more, so he shut his mouth.
"Now that’s better, Jake. You can stand."
Like a puppet, the disfigured man stood, shaking like a leaf.
"You may leave and get treatment. But no day off. Tomorrow morning, you report for our usual workout. For now, you’re dismissed."
As though he’d been granted a wish, Jake smiled faintly through his swollen face. "Thank you, boss. I’m indebted to you." He staggered out, trying not to collapse before the door closed behind him.
Daniel scoffed.
"Thank you for a punch—how sweet," he whispered to himself, biting another cookie.
Then he felt it—a gaze on him. Looking up, he met Adrian’s bewildered expression.
"You’re eating?" Adrian asked, shocked.
Daniel looked around as if to check if he was speaking to someone else. "Of course. Am I not supposed to eat because you’re busy punching someone?"
And Adrian—who rarely smiled—let out a genuine one this time. It tugged at his lips, reached his dark eyes.
"Wow... That’s the first time someone—even a girl I’ve brought in—wasn’t disgusted by my actions. And to think I was angry with you earlier," Adrian admitted.
Daniel blinked. Woah. Woah. Did Adrian just smile—like really smile?
"Of course, I still think you’re a mad, annoying, leeching prick. But what can you do? That’s what years of crime does to you," Daniel blurted, forgetting again who he was talking to.
Adrian’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a scowl.
Realizing what he’d done, Daniel groaned. "Way to go, Daniel. You ruined everything," he muttered.
His eyes drifted, catching the snake tattoo curling across Adrian’s skin. It blended so well with the darkness it radiated evil vibes. Creepy as hell.
Adrian finally spoke again, his expression back to the icy mask Daniel knew him for. His voice was flat, his face frozen.
"Your clothes will be here. In fact, everything you need will be stocked in this room. From now on, this is where you’ll be staying."
He paused, his gaze piercing. "So my eyes are on you now. Let’s see what you’re hiding."
His mission was clear—to kill the man who had defiled Daniel, and uncover everything about him.
Just then, his phone rang.
"Okay, bring it down here," Adrian commanded.
Turning back, he added, "The clothes are here, Dan. Dress as you wish, then meet me downstairs for supper in twenty minutes." His tone wasn’t a request—it was command, pure necessity.
Still dressed in black, Adrian left the room and locked the door behind him.
Daniel sat there, his mind spinning. Sharing a room... They’re going to make me share a room with him. How the hell am I supposed to keep hiding?
Adrian wasn’t a man—he was an evil creature.
And just then, it hit him. His heat.
A crushing wave shot through his stomach and head, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"No! God, no!" he screamed, pheromones spilling through every corner of the room.
He rolled onto the bed, writhing in agony.
At this rate, his heat could last a full week. How the hell was he supposed to handle that?
And heaven help him if Adrian’s rut attacked during it—especially now that they were trapped in the same space.
"Ouch! Ohh—haaah!" Daniel cried out, pain clawing through every inch of his body.