CHAPTER 19: PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING THE RULES!

Elias hurried to tidy the kitchen, wiping down the counter. His cheek still stung from Clara’s scratch, and his leg throbbed from the burn from yesterday’s hot soup incident but his mind was on Viktor... his apology, his anger, that intense moment pinning him against the counter.

’Why’s he acting like this?’ Elias thought, his heart racing. He shook his head, focusing on the task. Jace would be here soon, and they had to finish their project.

The doorbell rang, and Elias rushed to the gate, finding Jace with his backpack and a box of materials.

"Hey," Jace said, smiling. "Are you ready to crush this project?"

Elias nodded, leading him to his room.

"Yeah, let’s do it." He noticed the box, filled with wires, small solar panels, and tools. "You bought all this? Why didn’t you tell me? We could’ve split the cost."

Jace shrugged, his smile easy. "It’s no big deal. I had this stuff at home. My dad’s into solar tech, so I just grabbed it."

Elias raised a brow but nodded, relieved. "Okay, thanks. Let’s get started."

They set up at the table, spreading out the materials. The project wasn’t just theory... they had to build a working model of a solar-powered device. Elias didn’t understand what it had to do with him learning medicine, but it’s part of his compulsory courses.

Jace explained the wiring, his voice calm, but his eyes kept drifting to Elias, who was scribbling notes.

’He’s so cute when he’s focused,’ Jace thought, a grin tugging at his lips. Every little reaction he made... Elias’s wide eyes, his shy smile... they all made Jace’s chest warm. He tried to focus, but Elias was distracting in the best way.

"Jace," Elias said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "We need to test the panel under sunlight. It’s not charging right."

Jace blinked. "Right. Should we go outside?"

Elias hesitated, his mind flashing to Viktor’s reaction to Jace’s name. "No, let’s use the balcony." He pointed to the small door in his room he’d never used. "I’m sure it has enough sun."

He walked over, tugging the handle. The door creaked open, revealing a tiny balcony with a view of the city skyline. Elias’s face lit up. "It opened!" he said, turning to Jace. "Come on, bring the panel."

Jace grabbed the model, carrying it carefully to the balcony. He held it under the sun, adjusting the angle, while Elias leaned on the railing, staring at the city. The buildings sparkled, and a breeze ruffled his hair.

’He looked... peaceful. Better than yesterday,’ Jace thought, his heart skipping.

"You like this view?" Jace asked, breaking the silence.

Elias shook his head, still gazing out. "I’ve never done sightseeing, but... I think I’d like it."

Jace smiled. "The school’s hosting a three-day sightseeing trip next month. First weekend. Are you in?"

Elias’s eyes brightened, but then he frowned. "I can’t. I’ve got the twins."

"It’s not till next month," Jace said. "You have plenty of time to plan."

Elias’s face softened, a small smile forming. "Next month... I might be free then."

Jace raised a brow. "Free? Are you quitting or something?"

Elias nodded, his voice quiet. "Yeah. I’ve got... things I’m hiding here. I need to leave before they find out."

Jace’s heart sank. He didn’t know what Elias was hiding, but he’d caught that faint vanilla scent before... too sweet for a beta. He’s an omega, Jace already knew that, piecing it together. Elias was hiding his identity to work here, probably for his sister’s bills. Jace kept his face neutral, but inside, he hoped Elias could escape without trouble... especially from those creepy obsessed twins.

"I get it," he said. "Just... be careful, okay?"

Elias nodded, turning back to the panel. "It’s full," he said, checking the meter. "Let’s head back inside."

Jace turned, but his foot caught on his untied shoelace. He stumbled, grabbing Elias’s arm, and they both fell to the balcony floor, Elias landing on top of him. Jace instinctively raised the project above his head, saving it. Elias exhaled, relieved.

"Oh! Thank God! You saved it," he said, sitting up.

Jace winced, his face flushing as Elias’s weight pressed against him. His body reacted, heat pooling in his core. Elias’s shirt gaped open, revealing pale skin, and Jace’s mind flashed to ripping it off, leaving marks of his own. He bit his lip, fighting the urge.

’Fuck! Fuck! Not now, not like this. I can’t become an animal in heat in front of Elias,’ he thought.

"Are you okay?" Elias asked, noticing Jace’s red face. "You look... sick."

Jace forced a laugh. "You’re heavy, man. I... can’t breathe."

Elias gasped, scrambling off.

"Sorry!" He reached for the project, but the door burst open, and the twins stormed in.

Dante frowned, glaring at Jace. "What’re you doing on the floor?"

"Were you fighting?" Dario asked, his eyes narrowing.

Elias stood, brushing himself off. "No, we were just picking up the project. It fell."

"Together?" Dario said, sceptical.

Jace stood, holding the panel. "Yeah, together. Chill."

Dante glared. "We weren’t asking you."

Elias sighed, setting the project on the table. "Why are you guys here? Is training over?"

"We have a ten-minute break," Dante said. "We need more shakes."

Elias smiled. "Okay, come with me." He turned to Jace, whispering, "Sorry about them."

Jace waved it off, watching Elias leave with the twins. As the door closed, he bolted to the bathroom, locking it. He stared at his reflection, his pants tight.

"Damn it," he muttered, splashing cold water on his face. Think of flowers, idiot. But Elias’s face kept creeping in, making it worse. He sighed, pulling his pants down.

"Now or never," he mumbled, needing to calm down before Elias returned.

.

In the kitchen, Elias whipped up new protein shakes for the twins, who sat at the counter, sipping the leftovers.

"Nanny," Dario said, his tone serious. "We don’t like that Jace guy."

Elias paused, pouring the shake. "Why not? He is a nice person."

Dante huffed. "He’s too close to you. We don’t trust him."

Elias frowned, handing them their bottles. "He’s just my classmate. We’re working on a project. That’s it. It’s not like we’re in a relationship or anything,"

The twins exchanged looks but said nothing, grabbing their bottles and returning to training.

Elias sighed, shaking his head.

’What’s with everyone today? Why do they all hate Jace?’

He cleaned up and returned to his room, finding it empty. "Jace?" he called, checking the balcony... empty. He knocked on the bathroom door. "You in there?"

"Yeah," Jace’s voice came, slightly strained. "Oh... Shit! I’ll be out in a sec."

Elias leaned against the wall, waiting. A faint musky and unfamiliar scent hit him, but it stirred something in his chest. He wasn’t supposed to perceive anything distant from him except... His eyes widened.

’My heat... It’s close.’

He shook his head, trying to focus. The pill should hold it off, but Viktor’s scent, and now, Jace’s presence... it was messing with him.

"Hurry up," he called, his voice tight.

Two minutes later, Jace emerged, his hands damp, his face slightly flushed.

"Sorry," he said, avoiding Elias’s eyes. "Let’s finish this."

They dove back into the project, wiring the final components. By the end of the day, the model worked perfectly, charging under a lamp to simulate sunlight. "Done," Elias said, grinning. "Two days, and we’re finished. The professor gave us a week."

Jace smiled. "Nice job. I’ll handle the theory write-up. Are you cool with presenting?"

"Yeah," Elias said with a determined look. "I can do that."

He can’t allow Jace to do all the work while he sits behind and does nothing.

"Perfect," Jace said, packing his bag. "We’re a good team."

Elias escorted Jace to the gate, the project safely in Jace’s hands.

"It’ll be safer at my place," Jace said, and Elias nodded, trusting him. As Jace left, Elias turned back, spotting a young man hovering near the mansion’s entrance.

Elias walked closer to him and managed to speak to him.

"Uhm... are you lost?"

The man was tall, with a bright smile and a loud voice. He turned back to Elias and lifted his hand.

"Hey!" the man called, waving. "I’m the new chef!"

Elias blinked, walking even closer. "Oh, hi. I’m Elias, the nanny."

The man grabbed Elias’s hand, shaking it hard. "My name’s Milo! I’m so excited to cook for the Dragos! I heard it’s a big deal around here."

Elias winced, pulling his hand back. "Yeah, it is. Come inside. I’ll get the butler."

He led Milo to the living room, then found Gerald in the hall. "There’s a new chef, Milo," Elias said. "Can you handle him?"

Gerald nodded, smiling. "You must be happy. Less work for you. I’ll take care of it."

Elias felt a weight lift. No more cooking meant more time for the twins... and Lila. He headed back to his room, but paused as the twins and Luka emerged from the training room, sweaty and laughing. Viktor approached from his office, his face still flecked with dried blood.

"Is training done?" Elias asked, smiling at the twins.

"Yeah!" Dante said, wiping his brow. "You should’ve come, Nanny!"

Dario folded his arms, his voice loud. "Yeah, instead of fighting with Jace on the floor!"

Elias’s brows furrowed. "What? I told you, we weren’t fighting... "

"On the floor!" Dante cut in, glaring. "We saw you!"

Luka’s eyes widened, but he stayed silent, sensing Viktor’s mood shift. Viktor’s jaw tightened, and he grabbed Elias’s wrist, his grip firm but not painful.

"Luka," he said, his voice low. "Interview the new chef. I need to... discipline someone who broke my rules."

"Haha! Sure brother!" Luka’s grin was strained. "Good luck, kid," he said to Elias, waving as he led the twins away.

Dante and Dario high-fived, whispering.

"Of course, we know they weren’t fighting," Dante said. "We just want Dad and Elias together."

"Yeah," Dario said. "Elias belongs to Dad, not that Jace of a guy."

Luka’s face paled. ’Those kids are ruthless,’ he thought, shaking his head. ’Hope I never cross them.’