Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 47

It was very late at night, so the street was as quiet as a mouse. The oil in the streetlights, which were turned on and off manually, was almost completely depleted. Aeroc stood in front of the house he had visited twice and struck the brass knocker three times. He hit it with moderate force, but in the dead of night, the sound echoed like a cannon. However, there was no response from inside. He stepped back and looked up at the upper floor. A faint light shone through the window. He knocked again, but still no sign of movement. In frustration, he unconsciously grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, and the door clicked open. Although the street was safe, it didn’t seem peaceful enough to live with the front door open. Aeroc went inside and carefully locked the front door.
“Bendyke?”
He cleared his throat and called out to the homeowner. A cool air hung in the living room. There was a strange lack of human presence and signs of life. Had the housekeeper taken a long vacation? Aeroc guessed arbitrarily and went upstairs.
The second floor was as dark as an abyss. Among the doors lining the hallway, a faint light leaked from the bottom crack of one. Standing in front of it, he heard gasping breaths. Along with strange moans, he felt distant tossing and turning. Suddenly, Aeroc wondered what he was thinking, coming all the way here.
“I’m crazy. Excited by the gift of a painting I wanted, I broke into someone else’s house in the middle of the night.”
Even as he regretted it, the moans from inside the door continued. Along with wet breaths, a low, hoarse voice was heard. The owner of the moans was Bendyke. Was he still sick? Had his neurosis flared up? Overwhelmed by sudden worry, he unconsciously opened the door slightly. An unexpected scent wafted through the gap. It was the pheromones of an alpha in rut. It was so thick and intense that even as an alpha, Aeroc felt suffocated.
“Shh… Shh… Don’t cry. It’s okay. I’m here.”
Bendyke’s voice, full of passion, was heard. He mumbled unintelligible syllables. His voice was so low that he didn’t know who he was calling, but it was probably the name of the person with him. Aeroc was flustered and didn’t know what to do.
Bendyke, though perhaps somewhat flawed in personality, was physically an impeccable adult. It was not strange for him to have a partner and for them to be having a passionate affair today of all days. Reason told him that. But emotion did not. An inexplicable sense of betrayal and shock enveloped Aeroc.
It was just a contractual relationship. Bendyke started it first. But even if it was due to a misunderstanding, he was clearly the one who first imbued it with sexual connotations. Bendyke had been reluctant whenever he had the chance. What if it was because he had another partner?
“Ah.”
He finally understood the reason for his strange behavior. He had someone else. That’s why he was angry at Viscount Derbyshire’s actions, which linked him with Raphiel, and why he was embarrassed by Aeroc’s advances. Advances. What he had shown were advances.
“Oh, dear.”
Aeroc covered his mouth with his hand, unable to close it. He held his breath and paced in place. The tingling sensation rising from his tailbone was extreme self-loathing. His ears felt like they were exploding, and his cheeks felt like they were melting. Bendyke must have needed the prestige of the Teiwind family, which is why he wanted a specific time and place. As Viscount Derbyshire said, he was an ambitious man who rushed towards his goals, and a daring man who would boldly challenge Wolflake, whom he had never met. To him, Aeroc was just a stepping stone to success. Or perhaps he had approached him all this time out of a desire for revenge against Aeroc, who had deeply humiliated him. No, rather, that would be natural!
Interpreting it as an obsession with himself was the result of a complete delusion. In reality, it was merely an illusion created by himself, who had fallen for Bendyke first. If he could, he wanted to throw himself out the window immediately. What stopped that impulse was his last shred of pride, to not show any more disgrace to the person enjoying a passionate act just beyond the door. His eyes burned. When any kind of emotion overwhelms a person like an unbearable wave, they often shed tears. But that wasn’t the case for Aeroc. The heat from endless self-loathing made his eyeballs burn, but no tears appeared. His vision blurred and he felt dizzy as his lenses boiled. His legs trembled. He had to get out of here quickly, but the darkness and dizziness made it impossible to move fast.
He skipped Aeroc’s evening party to spend the night with his lover. And he sent a painting to appease him. A painting he absolutely loved. He was a fool to have rushed all the way here in his joy. Aeroc stumbled down the second-floor hallway.
“There’s no such thing as a ghost.”
A soothing voice was heard. His core trembled.
“Why is my cute angel so whiny today?”
His voice was so gentle it melted his heart. He had never loved anyone, but if this wasn’t love, then what was love? Aeroc thrashed in the trap he had created for himself and was hurt arbitrarily. It was a contradiction. To be hurt by a misunderstanding, not humiliated. He couldn’t hide his disappointment in his childish and immature self.
“I’ll be by your side forever. There’s no need to be afraid.”
The voice soothing his frightened lover after their passionate affair was so sweet. It was qualitatively different from the way he spoke to him. If that was stiff, cold, and sometimes accompanied by annoying sneers, this was as soft and affectionate as if made of cotton candy. It was a whisper of love.
Forcing his steps, Aeroc barely found the stairs. The moment he slowly descended, holding onto the railing, a word he never wanted to hear pounded on his eardrums.
“Raphiel.”
A sledgehammer pounded his crown. Aeroc slowly turned his head like a broken wind-up doll.
“Ray. Go to sleep quickly.”
This time, it was a term of endearment, full of affection. It was definitely Raphiel. He hadn’t misheard. Viscount Derbyshire’s guess was wrong. Bendyke was undoubtedly deeply in love with Raphiel. But how could Raphiel abandon him for Wolflake? No matter how much he disliked someone, such manipulation was unacceptable. Aeroc couldn’t contain his anger and rushed out.
“To Wolflake Villa!”
He shouted as soon as he jumped into the waiting carriage. The coachman faithfully followed his angry master’s command. The carriage sped away. It was a short distance to Wolflake Villa, located in the same city. Unlike typical mansions, Wolflake Villa had its building facing the street, with a conservatory and a large garden in the inner courtyard. Therefore, it was a short walk from the street where the carriage stopped to the front door. Without even a moment to walk, Aeroc stood under the small-roofed entrance and furiously pounded the heavy brass knocker on the black-painted door.
A footman opened the door. Before he could even greet him, Aeroc pushed the open door and entered.
“Linus!”
He shouted, crossing the quiet interior. At the echoing sound, footmen and maids came out one by one. The butler appeared belatedly and tried to stop Aeroc, saying, “The master is currently sleeping in his bedroom.” He restrained Aeroc with words because he knew who Aeroc was.
“Bedroom?”
Even if the villa’s layout was unusual, the interior wasn’t strangely configured, so Aeroc, with his aristocratic sense, found the master’s quarters. Just as he was about to kick open the door, a scowling Wolflake emerged, wearing a gown.
“What’s all this commotion in the middle of the night?”
“Is Raphiel here?”
“Of course he is. But why are you looking for him?”
He didn’t even have time to marvel at the swift action of sleeping together before announcing their engagement. Aeroc pushed past him, trying to enter through the open door. But Wolflake was faster. He angrily stopped Aeroc.
“No matter how well we know each other, you don’t have the right to disturb my privacy like this. Show some manners, unless you intend to break off our friendship entirely!”
The usually cold man was greatly angered, but it had no effect on Aeroc, who was already furious.
“You idiot. You don’t even know your lover is cheating on you!”
“What?”
Aeroc, agitated, and Wolflake, equally enraged, were about to raise their voices loudly. Then, through the open door, Raphiel appeared, his curly hair disheveled, rubbing his eyes.
“What’s going on?”
He was wearing loose-fitting pajamas. There was no sign of a passionate affair. He looked bewildered, as if he had just woken up, and alternated his gaze between his prospective fiancé and Aeroc. Then he was startled.
“How did Lord Aeroc get here? Oh, I don’t know. I’ve been caught. Now there’s no choice but to get married. How could this happen! I haven’t even had a proper romance! I should have gone home!”
Raphiel, flustered, covered his face with both hands and frantically spun around. Wolflake grabbed him and pulled him into his arms. Raphiel buried his red face in his embrace. He soon looked at Aeroc with tearful blue eyes.
“You won’t tell anyone else, will you?”
The moment he heard his innocent cousin’s voice, Aeroc realized the mistake he had made. He had unconsciously burst into Wolflake Villa. As he had known, he found Raphiel. He was definitely here. Then who was there?
“Get out immediately!”
Wolf Lake barked fiercely. The reason Aeroc turned around and ran frantically was not because the other person threatened him with terrifying eyes. He had to go back immediately.
He didn’t care what happened to the messed-up Wolflake Villa. He would hear a lot of unpleasant things from the Marquis later, but that was for later.
In the deep hours of the night, the carriage returned the way it had come. The coachman faithfully followed his master’s command. His master’s behavior was different from usual, but he had served the count’s family for a long time because he did not have the presumptuous thought of questioning it. When they reached the monotonous two-story building, he skillfully stopped the carriage. The master jumped out of the carriage without any command and disappeared back into the building. Until he returned, the coachman remained in his place.
The darkness in the house was deeper than before. Aeroc, hurrying, almost tripped on the stairs. He instinctively grabbed the railing to regain his balance. His toes hit the stair tread hard, causing a loud commotion. Yet, the silence around him deepened. Ignoring his throbbing toes, he strode up the stairs. He opened Bendyke’s door without a moment’s hesitation.
The room was empty. The large bed was completely disheveled, and the strong smell of sweat and semen permeated the air. Four or five empty brown bottles lay scattered on the crumpled rug, pushed aside by rough force. He instinctively frowned.
“Where did he go?”
As he frowned, he heard a presence downstairs. Aeroc went downstairs again. The darkness remained. But the essence was completely different. Unlike before, when it was just pitch black, something lurked within it. Gasping breaths and low rumblings pushed away the thick silence. It was a very unfamiliar presence to Aeroc, who had lived in the heart of civilization his entire life. But it was enough to revive the long-inherited reflexive instincts of a prey.
However, the reason ingrained in his mind and the emotions that paralyzed him ignored the inner warning to flee. Aeroc stared into the darkness.
“Bendyke? Are you there?”
A more agitated response was conveyed. A large mass moved slowly, changing the flow of air. Then, the smell that had filled the upstairs room wafted over him. It was an animalistic smell. The first time he inhaled it, it was so disgusting he felt like he would vomit, but the second time he inhaled it, a dizzying sensation enveloped his entire body, and the next time he inhaled it, it caused a clear physical change. It was the first time he had synchronized with another alpha’s arousal.
Was it because of their physical intimacy? His body temperature began to rise rapidly. His pulse quickened, and his breathing became rough. Not to mention the reaction in his groin. Aeroc thought he should meet a doctor to ask how this sudden physical stimulation was occurring. But before that, he had to ask Bendyke what he was curious about.
“I met Raphiel.”
Heavy footsteps approached.
“He was with Wolflake all day today. Then who was the Raphiel who was with you just now?”
A presence was felt all around him. A hand, accompanied by a tingling chill, caressed Aeroc’s nape. A large hand hovered near his jugular vein. It was rough and hot. The person who had been fumbling at the back of his neck suddenly pulled Aeroc towards him.
“Hmph!”
Thud.
His cheek touched bare skin. Sticky sweat flowed from a thick pectoral muscle. His fingers, reflexively flailing, caught on a disheveled shirt hem. He grabbed it and tried to regain his balance. In the meantime, Bendyke breathed roughly and wrapped his arms around Aeroc’s head.
“What are you doing?”
He had been in a very bad mood for a while. The physical arousal was more irritating than pleasant. If his tongue was working properly, he would have screamed at him to answer his question instead of tracing the hairline and forehead. But that was impossible.
“Gasp!”
At some point, two large hands wrapped around his neck. His windpipe instantly constricted due to the two thumbs pressing down on his Adam’s apple and the other fingers digging in as if to gouge out his neck bones. Aeroc’s eyes widened, and he clawed at the hard wrists of the person strangling him with both hands.
“Haa…!”
The black darkness transformed into a brilliant aurora. The opponent, boasting unbelievable strength, lifted his tightly gripped neck upwards as if to tear it out. Aeroc scraped the floor with his toes.
“Be…ndy…ke…”
“I told you I’d kill you if you ever loitered near Raphiel again.”
Unlike the sweaty, damp grip, his voice, like dry sand, exuded intense disgust. Even in the face of imminent death, Aeroc felt an unbearable rage. What was Raphiel that he would try to crush him like a mere insect? His brain, deprived of oxygen and floating, completely lost its reason.
“Cough!”
He gathered the last of his strength and thrashed wildly. He kicked wildly at the opponent’s shinbone and clawed at his skin until his fingernails wobbled.
“Ugh.”
The hand gripping his neck trembled. The opponent’s ruthless strength remained, but his sweaty, slippery palm, unable to withstand the violent resistance, finally let go of his neck.
Thump.
Aeroc fell to the floor.
“Gasp! Cough! Haa!”
His lungs convulsed violently as they sucked in oxygen. His head spun, and saliva dripped from his mouth. His fingertips tingled, and his feet were numb. He felt like he was about to faint. But the fundamental desire for life miraculously made his weakened body stand up.
“Where are you? You devil.”
The opponent’s hand, fumbling on the floor, found Aeroc’s ankle after a couple of tries. Aeroc shuddered and kicked it furiously.
Thump! Thump!
“Ugh!”
Bendyke screamed. Hearing his groans of pain, it seemed as if his finger had broken. Taking advantage of the moment, Aeroc crawled on the floor. He tried to find the front door quickly. His loyal coachman was waiting outside. If he opened the door and shouted, he would come to save him.
He crawled on his knees, feeling the slightly worn carpet.
Thud!
Suddenly, sparks flew. His temple and shoulder hit the wall hard. In his dazed state, he had wandered through the dark room and taken a wrong turn. Feeling around, it seemed to be the wall next to the stairs. In that case, the front door was over there. Aeroc pushed himself up against the wall. Just as he was about to rush to the front door and shout for help, a large body covered him from behind.
Bang!
He collapsed to the floor again. His chest hit the floor directly, and he couldn’t breathe for a moment. He dry-heaved uncontrollably, like a seizure. That made the impact even greater.
Thump. Thump.
He heard sounds of someone checking the floor a few times. A hook-like hand soon caught his ankle.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The opponent easily dragged the adult alpha with one arm. He unconsciously tried to crawl forward, but his weakened fingers couldn’t even grip the carpet on the floor.
“My finger is broken. So, I guess I can take at least an ankle, right? After all, you just live in that old shack, so it won’t be inconvenient without one ankle.”
Incomprehensible words were heard. Although it was pitch black and he couldn’t see anything, Aeroc was certain that he was sneering. His prone body was dragged downwards and flipped over. The terrible pain, which began in his ribcage, still not recovered from the impact of the fall, spread throughout his body. A rock-like body settled on top of him.
“Ah… Ugh.”
His thinly fractured body felt like it would crumble at any moment. Aeroc’s limbs trembled in pain. This time, only one hand gripped his neck. The opponent grabbed Aeroc’s Adam’s apple and began to press him down onto the floor. He tried to resist, but he had almost no strength left. His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, illuminated the blurry silhouette of the madman. His beast-like, gleaming eyes were strangely distorted.
“He’s aroused.”
Since their lower bodies were pressed together, it was easy to feel the other’s arousal.
“Even at a time like this, you’re desperate to be penetrated, you incorrigible devil.”
It was clearly a sneering voice. But it was an extremely biased accusation. Bendyke’s arousal was much greater and harder than Aeroc’s. The hand pressing down on his neck remained, but its grip was slightly weaker than before. And the weight restraining his limbs also lessened a bit.
“I’ll show you mercy.”
He heard the sound of buttons being unfastened. Then, clumsy hands rummaged under Aeroc’s vest and pulled up his shirt. The hands fumbling for the buttons on the side of his pants were horrifying. Aeroc raised his numb fingertips and pushed away the hands touching his waist.
“Gah! Damn it!”
He hadn’t pushed hard, but Bendyke swore. The hand pressing his neck disappeared, and the body pressing him down completely moved away. It seemed Aeroc had touched his broken finger.
The moment the restraint lightened, Aeroc quickly stood up. He fumbled around, trying to find the front door. He had no idea where it was. He had completely lost his sense of direction. Even though it was just a small house’s drawing-room, he felt like he was wandering in a vast square.
Thud.
Clatter.
He fumbled around and bumped into a display cabinet. After carelessly fumbling, he found a heavy ceramic teapot. The moment he firmly gripped its rather thick handle, a hand from behind grabbed Aeroc’s shoulder.
“Let go!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he swung the teapot. The teapot hit something hard and shattered with a loud noise.
Thwack!
Smash!
Crash!
Noises erupted simultaneously. Bendyke’s breathing, clearly having fallen, was no longer heard close by. Instead, Aeroc’s gasps of excitement cut through the darkness.
Stepping on shattered ceramic fragments, he fumbled along the wall again. His hand caught on a heavy fabric. He failed to find the front door, but he found a window. Aeroc pulled back the curtains. Blue moonlight poured in. His eyes hurt as if he had seen the sun. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them repeatedly. And after catching his breath somewhat, he guarded his back.
A large, long body lay rolling on the floor. There were no convulsions, no moans. Only a black liquid slowly spread through his disheveled hair.
Aeroc’s eyes widened. His hand lost strength, and the teapot handle dropped to the floor with a thud. Even then, the blood flowing from Bendyke’s head continued to spread in an ominous pattern.