chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen: Lines That Blur

The night fell heavy over the city, a slow drizzle tapping against the windows of Viktor's penthouse as Alex sat on the couch, wrapped in a warm blanket with Grey nestled on his lap. Viktor had left earlier for an important meeting, his usual calm exterior betraying a hint of tension that Alex couldn’t quite place.

He hoped Viktor would return soon, the vast emptiness of the penthouse making him feel a little lost. It had only been a short time since Viktor had started caring for him, but already, Alex felt more at home here than anywhere else. Viktor had been so kind, so protective—he couldn’t help but feel grateful. Maybe, in some small way, he was a burden, but Viktor never made him feel like one.

As he waited, Alex’s thoughts drifted back to the previous night. He had gotten a little too drunk at the bar where he was working part-time, and Viktor had been there—watching him, making sure he was safe. His memories were a blur of warmth and hazy feelings, Viktor’s strong arms carrying him to the bed, the way he had looked down at Alex with an intensity that sent shivers through him.

Alex blushed at the thought, burying his face in Grey’s fur. He didn’t quite understand the pull he felt toward Viktor, but it was undeniable. There was something magnetic about him—something dangerous, yet so caring. Alex had never been in a relationship, never really had someone look at him the way Viktor did. And it was confusing.

The door creaked open, breaking the quiet, and Alex’s heart skipped. Viktor stepped inside, his tall frame casting a shadow in the dimly lit room. He closed the door with a soft thud, shaking the rain from his coat before hanging it up. His gaze swept the room, landing on Alex curled up on the couch.

“You’re still awake?” Viktor asked, his voice low and smooth as he walked over to him.

Alex nodded, feeling a little flustered under Viktor’s gaze. “I was waiting for you,” he said softly, offering a small smile.

Viktor’s lips curved into something resembling a smile, though his eyes seemed darker tonight. “It’s late, Alex. You should get some rest.”

“I wasn’t tired,” Alex mumbled, looking down at Grey to avoid Viktor’s piercing stare. “How was your meeting?”

Viktor sat down beside him, much closer than usual, the space between them shrinking to almost nothing. The closeness made Alex’s heart race, his breath catching in his throat. Viktor’s presence was overwhelming, his scent, the heat of his body—it was all too much.

“It went... as expected,” Viktor said, his voice a touch colder than usual. “But there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Alex looked up at him, feeling a sudden sense of unease. Viktor’s expression was unreadable, his jaw tight, his eyes burning with something Alex couldn’t quite place.

“Is something wrong?” Alex asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Viktor reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from Alex’s face, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “Not wrong,” Viktor murmured, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Just... complicated.”

Alex’s cheeks flushed at the touch, his pulse quickening. He didn’t know what was happening, why Viktor was looking at him like that—why it felt like the air between them had changed.

“I don’t want to burden you,” Alex said quietly, his insecurities bubbling to the surface. “If there’s something wrong, just tell me. I want to help.”

Viktor’s eyes darkened, his hand sliding down to rest on Alex’s cheek, his thumb tracing the delicate line of his jaw. “You’re not a burden, Alex,” Viktor said, his voice almost a growl. “You could never be a burden to me.”

The intensity in Viktor’s voice sent a shiver down Alex’s spine, but there was something else there too—something dangerous, possessive. Alex’s heart thudded in his chest, a mix of confusion and something else he couldn’t quite name.

Before Alex could respond, Viktor leaned in closer, his breath warm against Alex’s skin. His hand tightened its grip slightly, pulling Alex’s face toward him. Viktor’s eyes were locked on his, dark and unreadable, like he was searching for something.

“Viktor...?” Alex whispered, his voice barely audible.

Viktor’s lips hovered just inches from Alex’s, his breath hot against his skin. The moment felt suspended in time, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Alex’s head spun, his pulse racing in a way he’d never felt before.

And then, Viktor stopped.

He pulled back, his jaw clenching as if he was fighting some internal battle. For a second, he simply stared at Alex, his gaze intense, before he abruptly stood up, walking away to stand near the window.

Alex sat there, frozen in place, his heart still pounding in his chest. He didn’t understand what had just happened, why Viktor had pulled away so suddenly.

“Viktor?” Alex called, his voice small, uncertain.

Viktor didn’t turn around, his back tense as he stared out into the rainy night. His voice, when he spoke, was cold and controlled. “Go to bed, Alex.”

Alex blinked, his confusion deepening. “But—”

“Go,” Viktor said, more sharply this time.

Alex stood up, feeling hurt but not understanding why. He wanted to ask, wanted to understand what had just happened, but something in Viktor’s tone told him it wasn’t the right time. With a soft nod, Alex turned and headed toward the bedroom, his chest heavy with confusion and a strange sense of longing.

As Alex disappeared down the hallway, Viktor stood still, his fists clenched at his sides. He could feel the pull, the desire that had been consuming him for days now—ever since Alex had entered his life.

But Viktor knew he couldn’t give in. Not yet. Not until everything was in place.

Viktor’s phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. He pulled it out, his eyes narrowing at the message that appeared on the screen:

“We’ve found more. It’s worse than we thought.”

Viktor’s blood ran cold as he read the words. His jaw tightened, a slow fury building inside him. He knew what this meant—knew that whatever they had uncovered about Alex’s father was about to blow everything wide open.

He stared at the message, his mind racing, before his gaze shifted to the hallway where Alex had disappeared.

And in that moment, Viktor realized that the truth he had been so desperate to uncover might be far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

The storm was no longer coming.

It was already here.

Cliffhanger: Viktor clenched his phone tightly, his mind whirling with the implications of the message. If this new information was true, Alex’s life—his entire world—was about to shatter.

And Viktor would be the one to decide what came next.