CHAPTER 123: UNEDITED.

I drew in a deep breath and clenched my jaw, determination flickering in my eyes. At the very least, I need to make him promise never to do it again. This is my chance to speak to him privately since Alfie and the others are away.

Zane’s POV ~

I knew the truth about one of his brothers being a seer would take a toll on Alfie, but the earlier he accepted it, the better for everyone.

I hated to see him this broken. I truly wished I could help him, but I couldn’t. No matter how much I wanted to take his pain away, only he could help himself. It was either he allowed this truth to destroy him, or he used it to make himself stronger. And to be honest, this was exactly the time when he needed to be strong.

"Uhmm... we should go and clean up now," I finally voiced out after what felt like forever, dragging him back from the whirlpool of thoughts he was clearly drowning in. "You can think about everything I’ve said later....investigate, connect the dots, and then you’ll know for sure. But for now... let’s just bathe and eat. I’m famished," I added, placing a hand dramatically on my stomach to emphasize the point.

"Uhmm... okay, Zane," Alfie muttered at last. His voice was heavy, almost weighed down with exhaustion, but at least he responded. He rose slowly to his feet and then helped me up as well. Without wasting much time, he swept me into his arms in a bridal carry, so effortlessly and carried me into the bathroom.

The tub was already filled with cool water, laced with strawberry-scented soap that bubbled faintly at the surface. He lowered me carefully into it, his large hands gentle in opposite to the earlier roughness of our intimacy.

"You should bathe yourself," he said softly, straightening to his full height. "I’ll get Sophia to come upstairs and attend to you." His words were quiet, controlled, but there was an unmistakable sadness beneath them. He turned as though to leave, but I caught his wrist immediately, stopping him in his tracks.

"Where are you going?" I asked, lifting a brow in confusion. My eyes searched his face, trying to read the turmoil he was hiding. "You’re definitely also covered in... well, in cum. You should come in here and have a bath too, shouldn’t you?"

"No, Zane." His reply was firm, yet fragile. He didn’t meet my gaze. "I need time to be and think alone." His features were carved with sorrow, his voice low and distant. "You should enjoy your bath. I’ll ask Sophia to come and assist you."

And with that, he gently pulled his hand free from mine and walked out of the bathroom. The sound of the door closing...almost too quietly felt heavier than any slam could have been.

"Oh, yeah," I muttered bitterly to myself, sinking back into the water. "What do I even expect? Do I expect him to laugh and joke with me after I just told him the truth about his mother’s death?"

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I began washing myself, the cool water doing little to soothe the throbbing aches that lingered in my body. Still, I forced myself to finish quickly and eventually stepped out, drying off before slipping into the bedroom.

My mind, however, was still stuck on Alfie. I just hope he’s fine. I should check on him once I’m dressed even if it’s from a distance. Watching him from afar would still be enough for me.

I pulled on a fresh set of clothes, though my body protested. I wouldn’t lie....my asshole still pulsed from Alfie’s relentless pounding, a dull ache that refused to fade. Even my throat was hoarse, raw from the loud cries and moans that had been dragged out of me earlier. But all of that... all of that pain was insignificant compared to the wound in Alfie’s heart right now.

With that thought heavy on my mind, I moved towards the door, intent on finding him, only for it to open before I could reach the handle. Sophia stepped in, bowing respectfully as she always did.

"Hey, Sophia," I said quickly, my brows rising in question. "Where’s Alfie? Is he in the living room, or did he go to his bedroom?"

She shook her head lightly, her tone soft but tinged with caution. "He left the mansion not quite long ago, young master."

Her words made my eyes widen instantly. "Huh? But... I didn’t hear the sound of his car driving out," I asked, my voice laced with both confusion and worry.

"He walked out of the mansion with his legs," Sophia explained calmly, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "I believe another car was already waiting for him outside....that must be the reason he left so easily. It wasn’t as though we could stop him anyway. But before he left... he asked me to take good care of you. He also said you shouldn’t worry about him. And one more thing, he mentioned he would send the belongings he bought for you at the hotel to the house very soon."

"Fuck!!!" I cursed, frustration bubbling up inside me. My voice cracked with a mix of anger and worry as I pressed both hands against my waist. "You shouldn’t have allowed him to go outside like that, Sophia!"

The maid lowered her head with a slight bow, her tone steady yet humble. "No one dares to stop the Alphas from going in or out, young master. His orders are absolute. Besides, he specifically instructed me to tell you not to look for him. He said he needed time to be alone. Rather than worrying about him... he wishes for you to stay in the mansion and rest. That is the only way his kind can truly find peace of mind."

I heaved a heavy sigh, letting the air escape my lungs in one long exhale. "Yeah... Alfie is already going through a lot," I muttered to myself, my gaze softening as guilt wrapped tightly around my heart. "And the best way I can help him is not to give him another reason to worry about me. That means I have to stay here, in the mansion, and wait for him to return... no matter how long it takes."

I clenched my fists slightly, determination hardening in my expression. But now that I’m home, I can’t just waste time doing nothing. I should use this chance to investigate.

Since the five Alphas weren’t home, this was the perfect opportunity. I could check each of their rooms, dig for clues, and perhaps uncover some sign....something that might point to the one among them who was a seer. The thought of sneaking around stirred a nervous excitement in me. I had also considered searching the library, but the very idea of wandering into the patriarch’s private domain sent a chill down my spine. No, that was unnecessary for now. It was too dangerous.

"It’s fine then, Sophia. I’ll just wait for Alpha Alfie and the others," I said aloud, forcing calmness into my voice even though my heart ached. I released another sigh and then, as if struck by a sudden memory, asked, "Wait....where’s Alpha Silas? Is he also out of the mansion?"

"Oh no," Sophia shook her head gently. "He just cooked dinner for you. In fact, he told me he’ll only leave for work after he sees that you’ve eaten. All the dishes are ready, young master."

Fuck! I cursed inwardly, once again placing my hands against my waist in agitation. A mixture of irritation and resignation flickered through me. So Silas is still here. That means I can’t begin searching the rooms until he leaves.

I trusted Silas, no doubt about that. But it would be ridiculous to walk up to him and say, Hey, I need to search your room because one of you five brothers might be a seer. No....utterly stupid. And yet, facing him right now felt even more awkward, especially after what he’d done earlier.

I groaned softly to myself, running a hand through my hair. Not when he actually sucked my dick while I was with Alfie.

The memory alone made my face heat with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Yeah, Silas was my friend, and I trusted him deeply, but that act had blurred a line I didn’t know how to redraw. Facing him now, after that, felt unbearably strange.

Still, I had no choice. I had to let him know that I didn’t like what he did.....that he crossed a boundary he shouldn’t have. Even though... a small part of me had actually liked it. I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. But I can excuse it, right? I can say it only felt good because I was desperate to cum, and his mouth helped me reach that release. That’s it. Nothing more.