Chapter 2

Nathan had spent years praying for the red string, yet less than a minute after receiving it...

He wanted it gone.

———

The man loomed before him, his jaw clenched. His eyes traced Nathan, dark-brown slits, tinged with a kind of fury that made his stomach churn.

Nathan's pulse lurched, panic blooming in his chest, as Valentino dragged him inside.

The man hurled him to the floor and pain exploded through his shoulder as he hit with a sickening thud.

With a racing heart, his eyes shot up to meet Valentino's again.

"Wh...what..." He couldn't find the words.

What could he possibly say?

The shock, the string, the possibility that this man was his mate and looked to want nothing to do with him was enough to choke on.

Valentino paced the room, his heavy footsteps scraping against Nathan's nerves. Wincing, the boy pushed himself upright and backed towards the door.

The man's eyes burned intensely as they locked onto him again, causing him to flinch.

Then, his steps filled the air again, heavy, deliberate, thuds that overwhelmed his senses as he walked up to him.

"No one must hear of this," he said, his voice low, carrying an edge that made his knees buckle slightly.

Nathan's stomach dropped for a third time.

What was the percentage that one could have two major life events on their birthday?

His eyes grew glossy with tears and a bitter laugh slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Fate was a freaking bastard.

"Am I... that bad?" The words crawled out of his throat, punctuated by soft broken sobs.

No, this had to be a joke.

This probably was a dream.

Another laugh slipped out.

Though, it died the instant Valentino's hand closed around his throat, thick veins across his skin like lightning outlines across a clear sky.

He had pinned him to the wall.

Choking, he looked at Valentino, terrified. His heart thundered in his chest, as he realized how dangerous the situation was.

Amidst the pressure on his neck, amidst this newfound chaos, he couldn't tear his eyes away from him.

The scar that ran through his left brow.

His forehead which was wrinkled from sheer irritation.

Eyes that could burn holes through him.

"NO ONE MUST HEAR OF THIS."

A strained 'yes' left him and just as quickly as it left, air filled his lungs again. His hand flew to his neck, clutching as coughs slipped past his lips.

"Get out!"

His legs moved before his mind was ready. He pulled open the door and bolted out, panting.

Mikhaik had warned him.

"Stay away from my brother."

Nathan finally understood why.

His steps echoed through the hallway as he ran, farther and farther, without looking back.

He got to a guest room, turned the door handle, threw himself inside, and immediately shut the door behind him.

Then, he collapsed to the ground, his back up against the door. Finally, the sobs came. Ragged. Ugly. Barely muffled by his trembling hands over his lips.

What would he do?

Would he really pretend like he hadn't found his mate?

Was there any other choice?

Even though Valentino could not murder him if he did tell someone, he'd torture him, making sure he was alive through it.

Would Valentino cut it?

"Why?" He sobbed, raw pain filling the room, as he clutched the left side of his chest.

Just what had he done to have his longtime crush and fated mate reject him on his birthday?

———

Nathan had thought the worst part of finding his fated mate was being rejected.

He was wrong.