All Chapters of Aligned Fantasy: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Whatever snarky reply Taiga had came to a close at that. There was no threat in Dante’s words, but there didn’t need to be. The weight of them was enough. Maya shifted closer, sitting up against the headboard, his hair falling slightly into his eyes. “You always hide. I don’t know who you’re hiding from, babe, but you don’t need to hide anymore.” His voice trembled, not from weakness, but from the effort of holding everything in. “If it’s protection you need, power, wealth, love—I’d give you everything.” The sincerity in his tone gutted Taiga in ways he hadn’t expected. He looked between them, heat pooling in his chest, discomfort twisting with longing. “I don’t need any of that, I—” Dante’s lips twitched. “I said I was going to offer you the world, right? I plan on fulfilling that promise. Just know we’re not deciding for you, Taiga. We’re telling you what’s already true.” Silence pressed against the walls, thick enough to choke on. Taiga’s hands clenched in the sheets, t

Now dressed, Maya and Taiga joined Dante at the table. Taiga wore loose green sweatpants and a white shirt that slipped off his shoulders, exposing his collarbones. His red hair was tied up in a messy bun. Maya had on shorts that stopped at his knees and a blue t-shirt, his light blue hair falling around his face in soft strands. Dante was already seated at the head of the table, sipping coffee. He looked freshly groomed too, short navy-blue hair combed neatly. A black t-shirt, loose pants, and slides gave him a casual but commanding presence. His eyes followed the two of them as they sat, Taiga on his right, Maya on his left. “Good morning,” Dante said, his voice low, but his eyes never left Taiga. He studied him like he was trying to read every movement. “Morning,” Taiga replied evenly. He wasn’t going to fake shyness anymore. Instead, he met Dante’s stare head-on, eyebrows raised. “What?” “Nothing. You’re just so beautiful.” The words hit harder than Taiga expected, heat

“Sooo… Dante, huh?” Tatsuya teased, eyes glued to the NBA game on the screen. “Don’t even start,” Taiga groaned. Tatsuya shifted closer, grinning like he was about to pry open a secret. “Come on, you disappear for a whole night and don’t want to spill?” “It’s no big deal, really. I have two mates now and I—” “YOU WHAT?” Tatsuya practically screamed. “Jesus, Tatsuya, keep your voice down,” Taiga hissed. “Keep my voice down? You’re fucking mated?” Tatsuya gawked at him, disbelief painted across his face. “What happened to giving him a hard time? Making him work for it?” he says, mimicking his voice. “I did. He worked for it,” Taiga snapped back. “Oh please,” Tatsuya scoffed. “He showers you with gifts and the next thing, you’re letting him hit.” Taiga stood, walking into the kitchen. Tatsuya stalked close behind. “What happened to making Enigmas suffer, huh?” he pushed, taunting. “You know, I told Maya you were just playing hard to get, but I didn’t think you’d ac

The clock on the wall blinked 5:54 p.m., its quiet tick barely noticeable over the muffled sound of laughter coming from the television. Maya had already made himself at home on Taiga’s couch, sprawled out in the laziest way possible. His body was half-sunk into the cushions, his socked feet dangling off the armrest while he munched on popcorn. The 90’s drama flashing across the screen held his full attention, and his boyish grin, the way his cheeks puffed up every time he stuffed more popcorn into his mouth, made him look so disarmingly content that Taiga couldn’t even bring himself to interrupt. Still, Taiga felt that small pang of guilt. He hadn’t exactly included Maya in the last-minute change of plans. The guy had been left out, blindsided even, but looking at him now, he didn’t seem bothered at all. If anything, he looked right at home, like he belonged here, stretched out on Taiga’s couch, laughing at old dramas as if this place was his own. Taiga shook his head and turned b

The living room had gone quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. The empty glasses on the table carried the lingering scent of alcohol, sharp and sour. It was the kind of silence that pressed against the walls, a heavy pause in the night where words felt like weapons and every glance carried weight. “Why’s your sub gender also a confidential information on your Athletes Association profile? What are you hiding?” Dante asked, his voice low but edged with curiosity that felt more like suspicion. Taiga wasn't fazed by the directness. He leaned back against the couch, his expression unreadable. “I don’t feel like sharing that with the government,” he replied smoothly. There was no hesitation in his tone, but there was an undertone, like he had rehearsed this line before, like he had expected the question someday. Dante’s jaw ticked. He didn’t look convinced. “What’s the source of your wealth?, We are literally high schoolers, a teenager, you're nineteen right? and fro