CHAPTER 22: FOUR DAYS LEFT!

The next morning, Elias woke to the faint sound of birds outside his window, the early light casting soft shadows across his room. His body felt heavy as the double dose of pills still lingered in his system.

Focus, Elias! Just get through today. The engagement party was in four days, then my contract would end. Soon, I’ll have the money to take Lila and leave.

But the thought of leaving the twins, Gerald, even Viktor, twisted his chest in a way he couldn’t explain. He couldn’t explain what kind of feeling it was, but he shook the thought off his head.

He dressed quickly, choosing a fresh shirt and headed to the kitchen. Milo was already there, as usual, flipping pancakes with his usual loud energy.

"Morning, Elias!" he called, grinning. "I made extra for you."

"Thanks," Elias said, grabbing a plate. "The kids up yet?"

"Still sleeping," Milo said, sliding a pancake onto his plate. "They were up late playing video games after you sent them to bed. You want me to wake them?"

"No, I’ll do it," Elias said, eating quickly. He headed to the twins’ room, knocking softly. "Dante, Dario, time for school!"

Dante groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Five more minutes, Nanny!"

"No way," Elias said, tugging the blanket down. "Up, or no special shakes to school today."

Dario shot up, rubbing his eyes. "You wouldn’t dare."

Elias grinned. "Try me."

The twins grumbled but got dressed, their backpacks slung over their shoulders as they followed Elias to the kitchen. Milo had their breakfast ready... pancakes with fruit and juice. "You’re the best, Milo!" Dante said, digging in.

"Yeah, better than Nanny’s shakes," Dario teased, dodging Elias’s playful swat.

"Oho! Eat and move," Elias said, checking his watch. "Marco’s waiting."

The drive to school was quick, the twins arguing over who’d win in a fight... Dante’s speed or Dario’s strength. Elias laughed, waving as they ran into the building. He caught the bus to campus, hating the fact that his classes were all in the morning. But, it was better since he could spend more time with his sister.

At the campus, Jace was waiting outside the lecture hall, holding two coffees as usual. "Yo!" he said, handing Elias one. "Everything okay?"

Elias forced a smile, taking the coffee. "Of course, thanks for the coffee, Jace."

"Hehe! Let’s go in together. I’m glad you’re early,"

"Yeah, me too!"

They sat through their morning classes, and Elias tried hard to focus. At lunch, they grabbed sandwiches from the cafeteria and found a shady spot in the courtyard. Students passing by stared, whispering.

"Jace with that guy again?" one said. "What’s so special about him?"

"He’s, like, invisible here," another muttered. "He has no friends. But what’s his relationship with Luka Drago?"

"Yeah. I saw them together yesterday. What if it’s ’that’?"

Jace’s jaw tightened, and he glared at them. "Maybe I should go teach them some lesson!"

Elias shrugged, biting into his sandwich. "You’d be wasting your strength and time. Just forget about it,"

Jace leaned closer, his voice soft. "But, it bothers me. They must be jealous because I rejected some of them. They must think you and I are a... thing,"

Elias’s cheeks warmed, and he looked down. He remembered Luka asking the same thing. Maybe it was because he was too close to Jace.

"Thanks, Jace. You’re a good friend."

Jace’s smile faltered, but he nodded. "Yeah. Friends."

They finished lunch, and Jace walked him to the campus gate. "You meeting that Luka guy again?" Jace asked, his tone cautious.

"No, that was yesterday," Elias said. "Just heading back to the estate."

Jace’s eyes lingered, like he wanted to say more. "Oh! Since we have no classes tomorrow, see you on Monday!"

Elias nodded, waving as Jace left. As Jace disappeared, he lowered his hand.

’Monday, huh? I doubt I’d be in school on Monday,’

He caught the bus back, his mind racing. He needed to stay focused, get through these last four days.

.

Back at the estate, Elias found Gerald in the hall, looking frazzled. "Greetings, Gerald. Is everything okay?" Elias asked.

Gerald sighed. "Oh! There’s a bit of trouble at the gate. Some delivery guy got mouthy. I need to handle it. Can you take the master’s coffee to his office?"

Elias’s stomach dropped. Facing Viktor after yesterday?

"Sure," he said, keeping his voice steady. He grabbed the tray with a cup of black coffee... bitter, just how Viktor liked it... and headed to the office, his heart pounding.

Inside, Viktor sat at his desk, papers spread out, looking bored as Clara stood across from him, waving a guest list.

"So, my family’s taking up most of the seats," she said, her voice sharp. "My cousins, aunts, friends... everyone’s coming. Your side’s just your siblings, right? You... you have no friends?"

Viktor’s eyes flicked to her, uninterested. "Yeah. Just family."

Clara huffed, tossing her hair. "Figures. All you have are enemies and rivals."

A knock interrupted them, and Viktor’s voice was flat. "Come in."

Elias stepped inside, his eyes darting between Viktor and Clara. "Morning, sir," he said, nodding to Clara. "Miss Clara." He set the coffee in front of Viktor, his hands steady despite the knot in his chest.

Viktor’s brows furrowed.

"Why’re you here? I told Gerald to bring it."

"Gerald’s handling something at the gate," Elias said. "He asked me to do it."

Viktor’s eyes lingered on him, then flicked away as he sipped the coffee. Clara’s voice cut through, sharp. "Where’s mine?"

Elias turned, surprised. "Oh, uh, what kind would you like?"

Clara smirked, eyeing Viktor’s cup. "The same as my fiancé’s."

Elias hesitated, glancing at Viktor, who said nothing. "You might want to reconsider," Elias said carefully. "The master’s coffee is... strong. He’s used to it."

Clara’s eyes narrowed. "I can handle whatever he can." She snatched the cup from Viktor’s hand, gulping it down. Her face twisted instantly, and she coughed, spitting hot coffee onto Elias’s shirt. The rest splashed across his chest, burning his skin.

Elias gasped, stumbling back, the tray clattering to the floor. The coffee soaked his shirt, stinging his chest. Viktor stood, rushing to him, his hands brushing Elias’s shirt to wipe it off.

"Fuck! Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low, urgent.

Elias flinched at the touch, his body reacting instantly with heat pooling in his core, his chest tingling.

’Shit! Why’s my body doing this?’ He thought, his face flushing. "I’m fine," he said, stepping back. "I can handle it."

Clara’s voice was shrill.

"Viktor, help me! My mouth’s burning!" She pointed at Elias. "This is his fault! He made me drink that!"

Viktor’s jaw clenched, his eyes cold. "He warned you, Clara. But you took it anyway. Don’t blame him."

Clara’s face reddened, her hands clutching her purse. "You’re taking his side? Over me? Your fiancée?" She glared at Elias. "You’ve disappointed me today, Viktor. If I tell my father about this, he might cancel the wedding."

Viktor’s expression didn’t change.

"Do what you want."

Clara’s eyes widened, and she stormed out, slamming the door. Elias stood frozen, his shirt clinging to his chest, the burn stinging. Viktor grabbed his hand, pulling him to the desk and pushing papers aside.

"Sit," he said, his tone firm but softer.

Elias obeyed, his heart racing like crazy as Viktor’s hands hovered over his shirt. "I need to check the burn," Viktor said, his voice low. "Can I unbutton your shirt?"

Elias’s face heated, his mind screaming to say no, but his body betrayed him, tingling at the thought. "I’m fine, you really don’t have to..." he mumbled, looking away.

"I’ll take that as a yes," Viktor interrupted, his fingers snapping open the buttons with careful precision. Elias’s shirt fell open, revealing his pale chest, the skin red from the coffee. His cheeks burned as he felt his nipples harden, his body reacting to Viktor’s closeness. It’s the heat, he told himself, his breath shallow. It’s too close.

Viktor’s fingers brushed the reddened spot on his left chest, light and deliberate, sending a jolt through Elias’s body. He bit his lip, fighting the heat pooling lower, a bulge forming in his pants. I need to get out of here, he thought, panic rising. Before he notices.

Viktor stepped back, grabbing a first aid kit from a shelf. He opened it, pulling out an ointment, and returned, his touch gentle as he applied it to the burn.

"Hold still," he said, his voice soft, almost tender. His fingers moved carefully, spreading the cool cream, and Elias’s skin prickled, his body screaming with sensitivity.

"Why’re you being so gentle?" Elias blurted, his voice shaky. He needed something to distract Viktor from looking down. "The other day, you... You ripped my shirt. Now this?"

Viktor paused, his eyes meeting Elias’s, a flicker of something unreadable in them. "I’m trying to be gentle," he said quietly. "I messed up that day and I already apologised, didn’t I? If I didn’t, I’m saying it again... I’m... sorry."

Elias’s heart skipped, his mind reeling. Sorry? Again? Viktor’s touch lingered, and Elias felt the bulge in his pants tighten, his face burning with embarrassment. He needed to leave, immediately.

"Here you go..." Viktor handed him the ointment.

"Thanks," he said, grabbing the ointment. "I’ve got it from here."

He slid off the desk, clutching his shirt closed, and grabbed the tray and cup. "I’ll clean this up," he said, hurrying out before Viktor could respond.

Viktor watched him go, his brows furrowed. He rubbed his chin, his mind racing.

’Why’s he so shy? Was it because of that bulge...’ He grinned, glancing down at his own pants, where a faint bulge had formed.

"He didn’t even notice mine," he muttered, chuckling. He lifted his fingers, the ones that touched Elias’s skin, and sniffed them. Beneath the ointment, that faint vanilla scent lingered... too sweet for a beta.

’Is he...?’ Viktor’s eyes narrowed. "I need to know if my kids nanny’s a beta... or an omega."

Elias reached the kitchen, setting the tray down. He leaned against the counter, catching his breath, and glanced at his chest in a nearby mirror. The burn was red but manageable, thanks to Viktor’s care.

His face flushed as he remembered Viktor’s gentle touch, so different from that day’s roughness. ’Why’s he messing with me?’ His body felt off, too sensitive, the bulge in his pants only now fading.

’Maybe it’s not Viktor... I guess it’s because my heat’s too close,’