DESIRE ME IF YOU CAN [EN] - Chapter 29

Well, who knows? Dane recalled the situation. Of course, if he had used his full strength, it wouldn't have been impossible. If he had knocked Grayson out then and climbed the rock wall first...

That would have been truly dangerous. One of them might really have fallen off the cliff. Dane had zero intention of risking his life over such a trivial bet. Who’d want to slip and die for nothing just for a few bucks? As someone said, he needed to keep his body intact, if only to protect Darling.

Moreover, it was painfully obvious that getting entangled with Grayson Miller like that would lead to a grim future.

That guy has an obsessive look in his eyes.. Besides, Extreme Alphas usually weren't right in the head. Grayson was the second son of the Miller family, already infamous as a troublemaker. Dane loathed troublesome and annoying situations.

"If you had been serious..."

To DeAndre, who glared at him resentfully, Dane replied nonchalantly.

"Wasn't like there was money on the line. Why bother just to beat one guy?"

"Would it have been different if there was prize money?"

When Ezra asked as if he had been waiting, Dane nodded readily.

"I would've won. Period."

He happened to need money for Darling's health checkup. A cat well over ten years old required careful management in many ways.

Oblivious to his inner thoughts, his colleagues looked visibly appalled.

"We should have bet at least 100 dollars."

When Ezra grumbled, Wilkins shook his head.

"It's too late. Let's not talk about the past anymore."

"Right, the future is what matters."

When someone chimed in, DeAndre immediately quipped sarcastically.

"The future? Ah, you mean the part where we're stuck dragging Miller along to calls?"

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere at the table turned icy. Only hands tipping glasses moved busily; empty bottles and mugs piled up one by one. Far from conversation, only a heavy silence flowed. Amidst it, voices from the next table drifted over clearly.

"Grayson, you really worked hard today. It must have been tough, right? Making a beginner run that course is just mean, really."

"God, they're so petty. If they had hearts as big as yours, Grayson, they wouldn't torment people so childishly."

The voices were soothing. The ends of their sentences dripped with excessive sympathy and a hint of affection. Rather than being sarcastic, they were openly taking his side. Subtle compliments that elevated Grayson, naturally putting down the others. Someone lowered their voice further.

"Do you still need to release pheromones after a day like this?"

The pitiful question carried a secret seduction. Soft, deliberate hands moved naturally. She consciously leaned in closer while raising a glass. The back of her hand brushed his arm; her low breath spread like a caress against his ear. The men at the next table, trying to ignore it as they drank, averted their eyes. Their ears, however, remained pricked up, eavesdropping on every word.

"It must be quite tough having to change partners every time to release pheromones. Isn't it a hassle?"

As the questions continued, another voice cut in.

"Right, wouldn't it be better to settle on a partner?"

"Finding someone each time seems like a headache. If it were me, I'd look for a serious partner."

"Are Extreme Alphas different from us? Do you all just hook up randomly like that?"

At the curious question, the corners of Grayson's mouth relaxed.

"Most are."

Before another speculation could arise, he added first.

"But I'm looking for my one and only fated mate."

"Fated mate?"

"One and only?"

The women repeated Grayson's words with surprised faces. The men turned around with dumbfounded expressions, as if they had heard something forbidden. They waited blatantly for Grayson's next words. The man himself continued serenely, as if it didn't matter at all.

"Like my Papa and Daddy. Someone who protects and trusts me no matter the difficulties... someone who will stay by my side even if the world ends."

Grayson placed a hand on his left chest, letting out a sweet sigh.

"My other half must be out there somewhere. I am looking for that person."

"Oh my."

"So romantic."

The women gazed at him, breathing out excitedly. While they seemed quite touched by Grayson's words, the men at the other table were not.

"Why is that bastard saying things that don't suit him at all?"

"Ideally, the guy crying about his 'other half' wouldn't be banging a new chick every night. Make it make sense."

Until then, Dane had only listened quietly. Why or how promiscuously that bastard lived was none of his concern. What mattered to him was not getting entangled with Grayson Miller; the current situation was very satisfactory. Just then, he met the eyes of the waitress bringing a fresh beer. As he offered a faint smile in response to her subtle eye smile, Ezra suddenly looked at Dane, frowning.

"I've never seen a guy worse than Dane."

When Dane paused at the sudden accusation directed at him, Wilkins shook his head.

"No, even so, he's different from Dane."

Wilkins, who seemed to be taking his side for a moment, immediately added.

"Dane doesn't change partners morning and night."

Dane grimaced; they didn't stop there.

"That's only because that bastard is working. Who knows how Dane plays around on his days off?"

"That's true."

"Dane probably swaps three times a day. Guy's a machine."

"Woo-hoo! Dane Stryker! The Champ!"

Dane was dumbfounded by how the atmosphere had shifted. While he wasn't thrilled about them blabbering as they pleased, it wasn't exactly wrong; he just emptied his beer. Amidst the guys laughing and exchanging loud jokes, DeAndre spoke up.

"Is there really such a thing in the world? Fated mates."

"There is."

Ezra nodded firmly. As someone who married his first girlfriend from high school and already had three kids, everyone had to accept his word. The expression on Dane's face looking at him, however, was full of skepticism.

"A single love worth risking your life for."

"Exactly!"

Dane's voice was full of sarcasm. Perhaps due to being drunk or his strong self-belief, however, Ezra laughed heartily, raising his beer glass in a toast.

"Let's all pray that Dane finds that partner soon. Cheers!"

Wahahaha. Bursting into laughter, everyone toasted, downing their beer. Dane laughed too, though it was closer to a scoff. Wilkins, seemingly pleased with Dane's reaction, smiled, adding.

"While we're on the subject, isn't it time for you to settle down? Even if not marriage, it wouldn't be bad to date someone seriously. How about it? There are many good unmarried women among my wife's friends. Want to meet them?"

"No, thanks, but I'll pass."

"Dane, but..."

At the merciless refusal, Ezra tried to intervene. Dane didn't give him an opening, pressing on.

"Newsflash: love is bullshit. It's just hormones."

"What?"

Ezra's eyes widened as if shocked. Dane continued without caring.

"You might trick yourself for a second, thinking you'd die for it. As time passes, however, you'll realize. That you were being an idiot, clinging to something worthless. After breaking up, you probably won't even remember each other's faces."

His drinking companions blinked in confusion. Having laid out his cynical view, Dane twisted his mouth into a sarcastic smirk.

"Chasing that nonsense is a waste of life. You're either naive or just bored.."