# CHAPTER SIX: A PLACE TOO BEAUTIFUL TO FEAR
995 Words
Haru had never seen a place this large before.
Even after being led through the mansion for nearly twenty minutes, he still felt as though he had only seen a fraction of it.
Every hallway seemed endless.
Every room looked expensive.
The floors shone like mirrors beneath his feet.
The walls were decorated with paintings that probably cost more than everything his father owned.
It didn't feel real.
It felt like stepping into another world.
A world that had no place for someone like him.
"Your room is this way , boss asked me to show you your own room , you will be staying here now "
The maid walking beside him offered a small smile.
Haru immediately lowered his gaze.
He still wasn't used to people smiling at him.
Back home, smiles usually came before cruelty.
The woman slowed her pace.
"You don't need to be afraid."
Haru almost laughed.
How could he not be afraid?
He had been sent away like unwanted baggage.
Sold through an agreement he had never agreed to.
Now he was living inside the home of one of the most feared men in the country.
Fear wasn't something he could simply turn off.
The maid stopped before a large wooden door.
She pushed it open.
Haru froze.
The room was enormous.
A bed large enough for four people stood in the center.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the gardens outside.
Bookshelves lined one wall.
A sitting area occupied another.
The attached bathroom looked larger than the bedroom he had grown up in.
For several seconds, Haru simply stared.
"This..."
His voice came out weak.
The maid smiled.
"Do you like it?"
Like it?
The room was bigger than his entire living space back home.
His father would never have allowed him anywhere near something this expensive.
"It's beautiful."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
The maid's smile widened.
"I'm glad."
Haru stepped inside carefully.
Almost afraid of touching anything.
The mattress looked too soft.
The furniture looked too expensive.
Everything looked like it belonged to someone important.
Not him.
Never him.
The maid placed a tray of food on a nearby table.
"You should eat."
Only then did Haru notice the smell.
His stomach immediately growled.
Embarrassment flooded his face.
The maid pretended not to notice.
"Someone will bring dinner later."
Haru nodded.
"Thank you."
The woman paused.
Then something softened in her expression.
"You're very polite."
Haru blinked.
Nobody had ever complimented him for that before.
The maid gave one final smile before leaving.
The door clicked shut.
Silence followed.
For a long moment, Haru simply stood there.
Alone.
Finally alone.
The smile disappeared from his face.
His shoulders sagged.
The exhaustion he had been holding back all day crashed into him.
Slowly, he sat on the edge of the bed.
The mattress sank beneath him.
Soft.
Warm.
Comfortable.
A lump formed in his throat.
Why?
Why was everyone here treating him better than his own family ever had?
He didn't understand it.
Part of him kept waiting for the catch.
The punishment.
The cruelty hidden beneath the kindness.
Because kindness always came with a price.
At least it had in his experience.
His fingers tightened around the blanket.
What if Dante Vercelli hated him?
The thought made his chest ache.
The man had barely looked at him.
Hadn't smiled.
Hadn't spoken to him directly.
Hadn't even acknowledged him as a person.
Haru lowered his head.
Of course he hated him.
Why wouldn't he?
The agreement had been for a female omega.
Instead, he had received Haru.
A disappointment.
An inconvenience.
A mistake.
His father had caused this entire situation.
And somehow Haru knew he would be the one paying for it.
A sudden knock startled him.
Haru jumped.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A young servant entered carrying folded clothes.
"These are for you."
Haru stared.
New clothes.
Not hand-me-downs.
Not torn.
Not patched together.
New.
He carefully accepted them.
"Thank you."
The servant smiled before leaving.
Again.
A smile.
Nobody here seemed to look at him with disgust.
The realization felt strange.
Uncomfortable.
Almost suspicious.
Hours passed.
Haru unpacked the few belongings he owned in his new room
The process took less than ten minutes.
A few books.
A photograph of his late mother.
Some clothes.
That was all.
His entire life fit into a single small bag.
As evening approached, the golden light outside began to fade.
The mansion grew quieter.
Haru found himself standing near the window.
The gardens below were beautiful.
Fountains.
Flowers.
Walking paths.
Everything carefully maintained.
His gaze drifted toward the distant training grounds.
Several men were sparring there.
Among them stood a tall figure dressed entirely in black.
Even from this distance, Haru recognized him immediately.
Dante.
The Mafia Alpha stood with his arms crossed.
Watching.
Observing.
Commanding attention without even trying.
Haru quickly stepped away from the window.
His heart was beating too fast.
Why was he nervous?
He had barely spoken to the man.
Yet something about Dante felt overwhelming.
Like standing too close to a storm.
A few minutes later, another knock came.
Haru opened the door.
This time it was Cassian.
The silver-haired beta stood with his usual calm expression.
"Good evening."
Haru nodded nervously.
"Good evening."
Cassian studied him for a moment.
Not cruelly.
Simply observing.
Then he spoke.
"Boss wishes to see you."
The words instantly drained the color from Haru's face.
See him?
Why?
Had he done something wrong?
Had Dante finally decided what to do with him?
Fear twisted inside his stomach.
Cassian seemed to notice.
"Don't keep him waiting."
Haru swallowed.
His hands trembled.
"Okay."
A few minutes later, he found himself standing outside a pair of massive office doors.
His pulse thundered in his ears.
Cassian knocked once.
A deep voice answered from inside.
"Enter."
Haru's breath caught.
The doors slowly opened.
And for the first time since arriving at the estate
Haru would face Dante Vercelli alone.
- Writer
