By Zephyria 
Well, what if? Dane replayed the situation in his mind. Of course, it wouldn’t have been impossible if he’d gone all out. If he’d taken Grayson down back then and climbed the rock face first.
But that would have been really dangerous. One of them might have actually fallen off the cliff. Dane had no intention of risking his life for such a trivial bet. Who would want someone to slip and die a dog’s death over a few bucks? Like someone said, he had to keep himself intact, even to protect Darling.
Moreover, it was obvious that getting involved with Grayson Miller like that would not bode well for the future.
That guy, his gaze is persistent. Besides, aren’t Dominant Alphas usually a little crazy? Grayson is already known as the troublemaker, Second son of the Miller family. He hated troublesome and annoying things.
“If you had been serious…”
Dane retorted nonchalantly to DeAndre, who was resentfully glaring at him.
“It’s not like there was a prize on the line, why would I go that far just to beat that kid?”
“If there had been a prize, it would have been different, right?”
Ezra asked as if he had been waiting for it, and Dane readily nodded.
“I would have won, no matter what.”
He happened to need Darling’s health checkup fee. A cat over 10 years old needed a lot of careful care in many ways.
His colleagues, who had no idea what he was thinking, looked genuinely disgusted.
“We should have bet even 100 dollars.”
Ezra said with a sigh, and Wilkins shook his head.
“It’s too late. Let’s not talk about the past anymore.”
“That’s right, the future is what’s important.”
As soon as someone chimed in, DeAndre immediately sneered.
“The future? Oh, you mean having to go to the site with Miller attached to us, that’s it?”
As soon as the words were spoken, the atmosphere at the table turned cold. Only the hands tilting glasses moved busily, and empty bottles and beer glasses increased one by one. There was no conversation, only a heavy silence. In the midst of that, the voice from the next table came across clearly.
“Grayson, you really worked hard today. It must have been tough? Training a beginner on that course is mean, really.”
“How can they be so narrow-minded and petty? If they had as big a heart as Grayson, they wouldn’t torment people so childishly.”
It was a soothing voice. At the end of the sentence, there was excessive sympathy and a little affection. It was a way of speaking that openly took sides rather than mocking. A subtle compliment that naturally elevated Grayson while putting down the other person. Then someone lowered their voice.
“Even on days when you’re worked so hard, you still have to release Pheromones?”
The question, asked with a look of pity, also contained a secret temptation. A soft and deliberate touch moved naturally. While lifting the glass, they consciously leaned in and moved closer. The back of their hand touched his arm, and a low breath brushed past his ear. The men at the next table, who were trying to ignore it and drink their alcohol, avoided looking at the scene, but they pricked up their ears and eavesdropped on their words.
“Having to change partners every time to release Pheromones must be quite difficult. Isn’t it bothersome?”
Another voice chimed in to the continuing question.
“Yeah, wouldn’t it be better to just choose a partner?”
“It seems like a lot of trouble to find someone every time. If I were you, I’d seriously look for a partner.”
“Dominant Alphas are different from us, right? Do you all usually find partners like you, on the spot?”
At the curious question, Grayson’s lips loosened.
“Most of them are like that.”
And he added before another guess could come out.
“But I’m looking for my one and only destiny.”
“Destiny?”
“One and only?”
The women repeated Grayson’s words with surprised faces. The men also looked back with an absurd expression, as if they had heard something they shouldn’t have, but he continued to speak as if he didn’t care at all.
“Like Daddy and Papa. Someone who will protect and believe in each other no matter what difficulties there are… someone who will be with me even if the world ends.”
Grayson placed his hand on his left chest and let out a sweet sigh.
“There must be half of my heart somewhere. I’m looking for that person.”
“Oh my.”
“How romantic.”
The women looked at him, exhaling excited breaths. They seemed very touched by Grayson’s words, but the men at the other table were not.
“Why is that bastard saying things that don’t suit him?”
“What’s with a guy who’s babbling about finding his other half while changing women every other day? He needs to make sense.”
Until then, Dane had been listening quietly. He didn’t care at all why or how messy that guy’s life was. What was important to him was not getting involved with Grayson Miller, and he was very satisfied with the current situation. It was when he made eye contact with the waitress who had brought him a new beer and gave her a faint smile in response to her subtle smile. Suddenly, Ezra frowned at Dane.
“I’ve never seen anyone worse than Dane.”
Dane paused at the arrow that suddenly returned to him, and Wilkins shook his head.
“No, no matter what, 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 evening.”
Dane distorted his face, but they didn’t stop there.
“That’s because that bastard is working. Who knows how Dane plays on his days off?”
“That’s true.”
“Dane will change three times a day. He’s a stud.”
“Woo-hoo! Dane Striker! Champion!”
Dane was dumbfounded as to how the atmosphere had flowed like this. He didn’t like them talking as they pleased, but it wasn’t wrong, so he just emptied his beer. Among the guys who were joking and laughing boisterously, DeAndre said.
“Is there really such a thing in the world? Destiny.”
“There is.”
Ezra nodded firmly. Everyone had no choice but to agree because he had actually married his first girlfriend, whom he had met in high school, and already had three children. However, Dane’s expression as he looked at him was full of skepticism.
“A single love worth risking your life for.”
“That’s right!”
Dane’s voice was full of sarcasm, but Ezra, whether because he was drunk or because of his strong belief in himself, happily smiled and raised his beer glass as if to toast.
“Let’s all wish Dane finds that partner soon, cheers!”
Everyone burst into laughter and toasted and drank their beer. Dane also laughed, but it was closer to a cynical laugh. Wilkins, pleased with Dane’s reaction, added with a smile.
“While we’re on the subject, isn’t it about time you settled down? You don’t necessarily have to get married, but it wouldn’t be bad to seriously meet someone. How about it? There are a lot of good single women among my wife’s friends, would you like to meet them?”
“No, thank you, I’m fine.”
“Dane, but.”
Ezra tried to intervene at the ruthless rejection, but Dane added without giving him a chance.
“Let me tell you, love is just bullshit. It’s just a hormonal reaction.”
“What?”
Ezra widened his eyes as if he had been shocked. But Dane continued without paying attention.
“You might be mistaken for a moment, thinking you can give your life for this love. But sooner or later, you’ll realize that you’ve done something ridiculous and clung to something that wasn’t worth it at all. Maybe after you break up, you won’t even remember each other’s faces.”
His drinking companions blinked in embarrassment. Dane, who had been spouting cynical words, twisted his lips with a sneer and laughed cynically.
“Believing in and searching for such nonsense is a waste of life. You either don’t know the world or you have nothing to do.”
30 – 30
When Dane finished speaking, the surroundings were as silent as a graveyard. Everyone belatedly realized that even the next table had stopped talking and was listening to him. But even so, they only looked at each other, unable to break the awkward silence. In the embarrassing atmosphere, Ezra was the first to speak.
“Still, I believe that someday you will meet someone you love.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Ezra added with conviction.
“Like Sandra and me, just being together makes me happy, I want to kiss her when I see her face, I think of her all the time, and I feel like I would die without her…”
He twirled his cup with his fingertips as he spoke. Even as he spoke, he unconsciously wore a smile. It was as if the corners of his lips were rising on their own just thinking about Sandra. Even though she wasn’t in front of him, it was as if she was smiling beside him.
The ordinary days he spent with Sandra must have come to mind. The feeling of their shoulders touching when they walked down the street, the warm cup of tea she gave him on a tired day, the strangely ticklish feeling in his heart every time she called his name.
As Ezra listed them one by one, he looked at Dane.
“Someone like that.”
Across an unwelcome silence, Dane murmured.
“You’re lucky. Congratulations.”
“What? …Oh, no, I think I’m incredibly lucky to have met Sandra too…”
Ezra smiled sheepishly, flustered. He couldn’t help but be happy just thinking about his wife. He lightly tapped Dane on the shoulder as if to encourage him and said.
“Don’t worry, you’ll meet someone someday. Just like I met Sandra. When that time comes, you’ll know how great love is.”
It was a reaction that seemed to want agreement, but only a cynical sneer appeared on Dane’s profile.
“If love exists, that is.”
Having said that, he emptied the rest of his beer in one go and ordered another. Others followed suit and ordered, and the topic soon changed, and they quickly forgot what they had been talking about earlier.
Desire Me if you can
It was quite late when Dane got up from his seat. Seeing him get up after completely emptying the beer in front of him, Ezra asked in surprise.
“Oh, are you leaving?”
Dane nodded and replied.
“It’s late. Darling will be waiting up. Will, thanks for the drinks.”
He simply raised his hand to greet his colleagues and turned around. It was then that he inadvertently turned his head and unexpectedly met Grayson’s eyes. Dane briefly met the purple eyes staring at him with an expressionless face, then averted his gaze and walked around the table. The waitress he happened to meet cast a meaningful glance, but Dane only gave her a light smile as if to say he would see her next time and left. He wouldn’t have refused the temptation at any other time, but today was an exception. He was so tired he just wanted to lie down in bed.
As he was walking down the hallway, he saw a very tall man walking towards him from the opposite side. It was Grayson Miller.
Even at a glance, he had an extraordinary physique. With slender arms and legs, a solid frame, and a natural height, most people would look shabby next to him. A sophisticated suit perfectly enveloped his broad shoulders and long legs, and deep eyes could be seen beneath his naturally swept-back dark hair.
But despite his glamorous appearance, Dane frowned unconsciously and continued walking without saying a word.
Unfortunately, it overlapped with the timing of him coming back from the bathroom. He didn’t feel good, but he didn’t want to look like he cared, so Dane didn’t adjust his speed and continued walking. Grayson was the same.
Or, so he thought. Dane had no intention of having a conversation with him, but Grayson’s thoughts were different. As he got close enough to reach out and touch him, he suddenly smiled broadly.
“Wow, are you leaving already? The night is still young.”
Grayson spoke in a light tone befitting his reputation as a playboy. Was it because he was so broad-minded that he could greet someone he had fought to the death with a few hours ago so nonchalantly, or was it just because he was a psychopath who couldn’t feel emotions?
“I’m tired.”
As he was about to leave after answering briefly, Grayson continued to speak.
“It seems like Martha is interested in you, are you just going to leave?”
Martha was the store employee who had flirted with Dane earlier. Had he already figured that out? Dane was dumbfounded and chuckled.
“You know it well. Even while flirting with all the female employees in the office.”
In response to the sarcastic remark, Grayson replied with a bright smile.
“Love can’t be hidden. It can’t help but stand out.”
Dane was dumbfounded and stared blankly at his grinning face.
Yeah, a one-night stand is still love.
He cynically thought to himself and was about to pass by without saying a word when Grayson suddenly grabbed his arm. What is this? Showing his displeasure, he looked at Grayson, who smiled innocently and said.
“Where are you going? You have to accept Martha’s feelings.”
“I told you I’m tired.”
“What if you regret it later?”
“Regret? Me? Why?”
Dane asked three short questions at the sudden word. Grayson replied with a serious face.
“Martha might have been your one and only love.”
Grayson’s voice was cheerful as always. Dane frowned and asked.
“So?”
“If you miss her this time, you might never see her again in your life. How terrible and sad is that? Ah, I feel like crying.”
Grayson made a face full of emotion. He even wiped his eyes as if he was sobbing, but of course nothing came out. It was an exaggerated gesture as if he was acting in a play. Dane stared at him in disbelief and asked sarcastically.
“So, what exactly is this love that you’re looking for so desperately?”
It was a rather challenging question. There was no way Grayson had seriously thought about love. But Grayson actually showed an unexpected reaction. His expression slowly changed. The joking air around his mouth was still there, but his eyes were strangely sparkling.
“Happy, joyful, just being together is good, and no matter what I do, they’ll take my side…”
His face as he spoke about love was as if he was having a good dream. After listing only good things for a while, Grayson finished with a satisfied face.
“Staying with me, by my side, forever.”
“Hmph.”
On the other hand, Dane, who had been listening with a listless expression as if his soul had left his body, made an indifferent exclamation and soon chuckled. The dreamlike answer that unfolded before his eyes sounded absurd to his ears.
“It’s true that it doesn’t exist in the world.”
In contrast to Grayson’s long explanation, he turned around, leaving only that one sentence. The sweet Pheromone scent that always lingered around him gradually faded away. He thought it was over, but Grayson suddenly asked a question.
“You didn’t come that day, did you?”
“Oh, I didn’t go.”
Dane answered casually without looking back at the sudden question. At that moment, a silence with a mischievous air flowed behind him. He suddenly felt like Grayson was smiling. He was annoyed. No, it was more strange than that.
And finally, Grayson added.
“I didn’t say what day it was.”
Dane finally stopped walking. When he turned around, he soon met Grayson’s eyes, who had been looking at Dane until then. Dane’s lips moved briefly.
“Not bad.”
He chuckled and walked away with his hands in his jacket pockets. Dane never looked back and left the store.
What are you thinking, of course it’s not that bastard.
Grayson, who had been standing in the same spot until then, turned around. He was dumbfounded at himself for saying such a thing, and he strode back to his seat in the opposite direction from Dane.