Captive Mate BL-Chapter 646: - - -

Caspian didn’t push, they were just strangers. He couldn’t help that he saw a little of himself in Rae.

He knew Jael would keep to his word of making sure he was safe and given the opportunity to start a good life.

"Sorry about that," Rae muttered, scratching his hair, "I just, no one has ever asked me that before."

"It’s fine," Caspian reassured him, "It’s probably not worth much, but you can come over anytime to eat."

Rae pursed his lips. He had wanted to try buttering up the Omega so he could ask him some questions about Jael, but he couldn’t bring himself to keep doing it. It felt like taking advantage of a child.

So he kept his mouth shut until they got to the lavish dining room, where Mafia King Asher and Jael were already seated, waiting

"You didn’t have to bring him yourself." Jael pointed out, piercing dark eyes staring right through the gang boss playing coy behind Caspian.

"I thought a familiar face would be nice," Caspian replied absently, reflexively gravitating closer to his mate.

Despite nearly sitting right on Asher for most of dinner, Caspian’s attention was fully on Rae. He constantly encouraged him to try something new and was always adding more food to his plate.

"I have an event tonight," Asher snagged his mate’s wrist, stopping him from shoveling more buttered chicken onto Rae’s plate.

This caught and held Caspian’s attention. Recently, things had been quiet, which was surprising considering that they were in an outright power tussle.

But it almost seemed like his mate worked a harmless 9-5 and was not the intimidating Mafia King he was.

"What kind of event?" He asked curiously.

"Just work-related," Asher’s response was vague, content now that he had his mate’s full attention.

Caspian didn’t ask any more questions, blue gaze distant. "You’re going along, right?" He turned to Jael.

He barely waited for the other’s affirmation, already knowing the answer. So he refocused back on the young Alpha, who was scarfing down food, much to his approval.

"If you’re not too tired after dinner, we could watch a movie or two?" He offered to Rae, picking up a serving spoon to go back to filling his plate.

"Rae’s coming along," Jael cut in, dark eyes indecipherable.

"Oh," Caspian said lightly, his hand hovering mid-air.

Rae had actually gotten distracted by the good food, he’d never had anything so rich and delicious, so he paused with a drumstick in his mouth, wide eyes confused.

"But he’s injured..." Caspian immediately tried to come to his defense.

It was also kind of redundant. Jael said they were shipping him off to a safe house the next day, yet he wanted to take him to a work-related event.

Rae swallowed without chewing, nearly choking on the rich sauce. "No-Nope! I’m perfectly healthy."

Caspian clamped his lips shut, his gaze drifting away from the table. "Right."

The air at the dinner table became tense and awkward at that, conversation dwindling to nothing. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

As dinner rounded up, Caspian left early, making up some excuse about going to check in on the kitchens.

Asher’s worried eyes trailed after him, "Think I should ditch the event?" He asked in a low voice.

Jael shot him a look, wondering how Asher came to that conclusion. "I’m not going in your place," He said flatly.

"Come on," Asher shook his shoulder, "I’ll owe you one."

Jael just ignored him, knowing that all it took was him accepting the task once, and in the next moment, Asher would have him handling all of his events and important meetings.

"Need me to make you a list of everything you owe me?" He tossed back, his tone light.

That shut Asher up real quick, but the worried look didn’t leave his face.

Jael just rose to his feet, glancing over at Rae, who held onto a plastic container of fudge that Caspian had stuffed in his hands.

"Come on," He invited, starting for the door.

Rae hopped out of his seat, trailing after him. The kid was well fed, and it showed, his previously pale face now ruddy with happiness.

Jael just led the way to his guest room, "We’ll be leaving in 15," He tossed over his shoulder, walking off without replying to any of Rae’s questions.

Jael couldn’t help but think that Caspian’s sudden attachment to Rae had a lot more to do than the gang boss reminding Caspian of when he first came to Haines.

It might also be because it gave him something to do. Having someone rely on him probably meant a lot to him.

Jael drifted to his room, he had no particular reason to be in here, he just didn’t want to hang around the dining room with a sulking Asher.

He couldn’t really take sides because he wasn’t acting much better than Asher. Caspian had known what he was getting into by choosing Asher, yet even the most basic information about his own Mafia House was kept from him.

But if he was being truthful, a major part of his treatment of Caspian came from Asher. If the boss wanted Caspian to be a more active part of their Mafia House, then Jael wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop that.

Jael absentmindedly went through the motions of cleaning his guns just to give himself something to do. He doubted he would be using his weapons much, he just had to make sure he kept a tight leash on Asher at the event.

A knock on his bedroom door made him lift his head. He wasn’t expecting anyone - he was supposed to do the picking up instead.

Jael placed his gun on the table and rose to his feet, hesitantly making his way over to the door. He had an idea of who it was, and he really didn’t want to have a conversation just then.

He turned the doorknob and opened the door, bracing himself for the awkward conversation with Caspian, only to see a bright-eyed Alpha on the other side of his door.