Chapter 6

Valentino's heart raced inexplicably, each thump like a hammer to his ribcages. He frowned, confused.

He'd only had one drink, he thought, as he sat upright on the bed. His hand moved to his chest, thumb caressing the left side.

He sighed, thinking of the physically demanding tasks at work he'd taken care of earlier.

He'd have to call Celyn to check up on him.

Just as he was about lying down, his wrist started to burn, the feeling like a hot iron rod pressed against his skin.

He shot upright once again, surprise crossing his features, but, as quickly as it did, it faded.

Valentino's expression darkened.

He knew what it meant. All too well.

His eyes snapped his wrist, widening at the sight.

A bright red string was wrapped around it, stretching from him and through the door.

A scream reached his ears, followed by moans and whimpers. He looked up, hand moving over his wrist.

His mate.

They were on the other side of the door.

He rose to his feet and walked up to the door, reaching for the handle. It felt cold in his hand as he stilled.

His mate was on the other side.

Valentino had always thought he'd never find them.

And he was satisfied with that.

Dozens of images flashed through his head as the memories flooded in. Valentino's breath slowed, bitterness creeping in.

He turned the handle and pulled the door inward, only to see... Nathan?

Valentino froze, his breath hitching as his eyes darted to the string wrapped around Nathan's wrist.

Why Nathan?!

He stared down at the boy, taking in his crimson and tear-streaked face. Nathan stared right back, his eyes swollen.

This was much worse.

Why did it have to be his brother's best friend?

Nathan looked like he'd seen a ghost, like the worst thing had just happened to him, and Valentino hated that look.

He always had.

Nathan had always looked at him like he was bad news.

He was, to some degree, but still...

Valentino's hands rolled into fists by his side, his jaw clenching. His expression darkened further as he pulled Nathan up and dragged him into the room.

He shoved the boy to the ground, ran a hand through his hair and sighed. His heavy steps filled the air as he paced around the room.

His thoughts were all jumbled up. He'd always thought he'd never find his mate and even if he did, he'd expected them to be female and a stranger.

Nathan was anything but!

No one could know... no one could know, not until he cut the string.

Not until he got rid of this annoying wide-eyed kid that usually clung to his younger brother like a second skin.

A dumb tousle-haired boy that had no thoughts or judgement of his own, except if fed one.

An idiot who blindly took his brother who was also an idiot as his crush and treated him like his master.

Nathan was a fool.

Even more so that he looked like he would collapse when Mikhail introduced Elena as his mate.

His breaths turned heavy as more annoying thoughts filled his head.

His eyes darted to Nathan who was now standing awkwardly by the door.

He looked ready to flee, with those annoying blue eyes that looked at him like he was the devil's incarnate.

Valentino's palms itched.

If only he could smack him across the face and give him something genuine to be terrified of.

"No one must hear of this," he said, gauging the boy's expression. His eyes shot wide at the bitter laugh that slipped out of Nathan's mouth.

"Am I really that bad?"

Before he could stop himself, his hand moved to the boy's neck and pinned him to the wall.

If his brain hadn't done a quick reboot, a resounding slap would've followed.

Nathan gasped, struggling to breathe. Valentino watched in satisfaction as genuine terror overtook his expression.

This was more like it, he thought.

"NO ONE MUST HEAR OF THIS!" He repeated and a strained 'yes' reached his ears, before he released Nathan's neck.

The boy fell, gasping for air.

"Get out!"

He moved like a rat, scrambling to his feet. In milliseconds, he had bolted out of the door, gripping his neck.

Valentino hissed, consumed by pure rage.

He glanced at the string, wishing he could sever it right then. A mate was the last thing he wanted.

But fate had a mocking way of putting a person in their place.

✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿

"Out."

The female escort blinked, confused. She got on her knees and wrapped her arms around Valentino's neck, from behind.

Her smell was nauseating.

"Val, what's wrong?" She purred against his ear and Valentino felt bile rise in his throat. Anger surged through him and his jaw clenched.

"Get out!" He roared, causing the woman to flinch. She got off the bed, grabbed her clothes and hurried out of the hotel room.

"Fuck!" Valentino screamed, his hands combing through his hair.

They tugged at his locs, but the pain was nothing compared to the one in his wrist.

He never took interest in reading about the effects of the red string because he wasn't looking to be mated.

So, he didn't know.

He breathed heavily as the memories came.

He'd barely penetrated the escort when his head pounded. A high-pitched ringing filled his head and his wrist began to burn.

This was punishment.

He had to cut the string.

He shot up to his feet and slid into his clothes, trying to remember the address of Nathan's apartment.

He'd been there before when he had to pick up inebriated Mikhail after their freshman party a year ago.

Valentino slammed the door shut behind him and stormed through the hallway and into the elevator.

The drive to Nathan's apartment took twenty minutes, but he was barely aware. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel.

Celyn.

She would sever the string, he thought as he pulled the car to a stop in front of a tall apartment complex.

He walked into the building, oblivious to the curious stares of the tenants in the lobby.

He got to Nathan's floor, his steps echoing in the empty hallway as he walked through it.

Valentino couldn't believe his eyes.

He took in Nathan's limp form and walked up to where the boy was sprawled out on the threshold of his door, nudging him with his foot.

"Hey," he called, but there was no response.

A plethora of questions raced through his mind as he stood over Nathan.

Had he felt it, too?