L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 64

For a moment, Ashley wondered if something was wrong with his ears. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Koi couldn’t have said that. No way. It had to be Ashley Miller who was mistaken. He was certain of it. So much so, he even denied what he was seeing—Koi’s twisted expression, tears welling in his eyes as he looked at him. That couldn’t possibly be real.

“...I misheard, right?”

Ashley asked again. He was ready—ready to laugh it off and pull Koi into a hug if he just said it was all a joke. Still smiling, Ashley waited. Come on, Koi. Say it. Hurry.

Tell me what you said just now was a mistake.

But once again, his expectations were shattered. Koi’s trembling voice delivered words that wiped the smile clean off Ashley’s face.

“You’re not thinking straight because of your manifestation.”

Koi continued.

“When your head clears, you’ll realize you’re mistaken.”

Ashley, who was still holding Koi in his arms, slowly let him down. Still clutching his waist in the water, Ashley spoke.

“I manifested. I didn’t go insane.”

Even as Ashley spoke, Koi shook his head again. That firm rejection finally forced Ashley to accept reality—Koi was denying him. Denying his feelings. Treating his sincerity like it was nonsense. That... he couldn’t tolerate.

“Why...?”

Ashley drew in a sharp breath and let it out again. He barely stopped himself from yelling. He had to calm Koi down, no matter what. But even while thinking that, Ashley felt a surge of frustration. Why wouldn’t he accept his feelings? He almost swore out loud.

“Koi.”

He pressed down his temper and tried to speak calmly.

“Why can’t you believe me? This has nothing to do with the manifestation. I liked you long before that.”

Ashley’s voice was full of desperation, but Koi only shook his head again. He didn’t speak, but that single gesture said everything.

“Koi, it’s true.”

Ashley quickly continued.

“I like you, Koi. I’ve always liked you. Not as a friend—this is love. I love you.”

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If Koi would just believe him, Ashley felt like he could tear open his chest and show him his heart. As Ashley poured out his confessions, Koi finally spoke after a long silence.

“I... I...”

With shaky breaths, he whispered in a trembling voice.

“I don’t love you.”

Ha... Ashley let out a hollow breath. Koi still didn’t look at him—his head bowed, avoiding eye contact—as he hurried to add on,

“It’s true. I don’t love you. I’ve never thought of you like that.”

“Koi.”

“I really only thought of you as a friend. That’s why I came here. That’s all.”

“Koi.”

“You saying you love me... that has to be a mistake. And I...”

“Koi!”

Ashley yelled, cutting him off. He couldn’t take hearing those words one more time. He shouted, silencing Koi’s mouth. It worked, but his emotions were in chaos. Koi, startled into silence, looked uneasy. Ashley didn’t understand any of it anymore.

Why?

Why is this happening?

I told you. I said I like you. So why won’t you accept it? You do like me. I know you do. You showed it—with everything. So why?

But Koi didn’t respond. He didn’t smile at him. His ears didn’t twitch like they usually did. Ashley began to seriously wonder—had he really gone insane from the pheromones?

“...I should go.”

Koi pushed against Ashley’s shoulder. It didn’t budge. Koi squirmed in the water, trying to break free from Ashley’s hands still holding his waist.

“I really need to go. If I don’t go home again, my dad might get mad.”

Ashley looked down at him with a cold, blank expression.

Should I just lock him up?

It wouldn’t be hard. There were more than enough rooms, and even a safe room—one of those hidden spaces people use to avoid intruders or disasters. Even if the police searched, they’d never find him.

He doesn’t have to accept it.

He could just lock Koi away. No matter how much he struggled, he’d never escape. He’d never say he didn’t love him again. Ashley would become his entire world.

“Ash.”

Koi said his name. Even as clueless as he was, he must have sensed something was wrong. He looked up at Ashley’s face—but there was fear written all over his own. Maybe he’d already figured it out—that Ashley was thinking about locking him away.

But what could he do about it? Connor Niles couldn’t stop him. Even if he cried and begged, said he really did love Ashley, it would be too late. Ashley said nothing. He only stared down at Koi.

I should’ve just raped him that night.

If he had, maybe Koi would’ve manifested as an omega. There was no other explanation for how he’d stayed a beta despite being bathed in all those pheromones beside a manifesting extreme alpha.

It’s not too late.

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Ashley thought. He could still do it. Drown him in pheromones, fill him to the brim—he’d manifest for sure. Maybe even get pregnant. And he didn’t care.

He’d be completely mine.

He meant it. That was the only way. Maybe the pheromones had driven him mad. Even his self-control was gone. There was only one thing in his head now—an overwhelming, uncontrollable possessiveness.

I need to have Koi.

“Ah...!”

Koi gasped. Ashley had pulled him tightly into his arms. Their bodies pressed together in the water, hot skin meeting cold water.

“...Ash.”

Koi looked up at him. There was unmistakable fear in his eyes. He’d never seen Ashley like this. He was furious—enraged. Koi thought... maybe he’d hit him. Like his father. He might get hit.

And if it was Ashley... Koi thought he could take it. He wouldn’t mind.

Koi squeezed his eyes shut in fear, his whole body tensed and trembling. Then Ashley spoke.

“...Did you close your eyes just now because you wanted me to kiss you?”

He sounded almost amused. Koi flinched and blinked his eyes open, startled by the unexpected question. Ashley’s face wasn’t what he’d expected either. He was frowning at Koi, completely dumbfounded.

“N-No, I... it’s just...”

Koi stammered, fumbling for words.

“I thought... you might hit me.”

“Hit you? Me? Hit you?”

Ashley exhaled sharply. Koi flinched again. Ashley looked at him, speechless. Moments ago, he’d been thinking of something far worse—but hitting him? That wasn’t even in the picture. The idea was absurd. How could he hit someone with a body this small, not even half his size?

“I would never hit you.”

He said with a sigh and a scolding tone. But even as he spoke, he knew the truth.

What he’d been planning wasn’t any better.

He’d almost forced Koi to manifest.

He’d nearly locked him away and raped him. It was a horrific thought. But even now, Ashley couldn’t deny how strongly he was tempted.

No. I’m not like him.

Ashley scolded himself. If I forced Koi to be mine, I wouldn’t be any different from that man.

He couldn’t do that. He loved Koi. He had to protect him. Cherish him. Just because things didn’t go his way, that didn’t mean he could force Koi to bend to his will. Never.

Ashley took a breath and pulled Koi into a gentle hug again. He buried his nose in Koi’s shoulder and inhaled deeply, catching the faint scent of his skin.

And then he stayed still, for a long, long time.

By the time he finally lifted his head, the dark urges clouding his mind had faded away.

“...Go.”

Ashley said in a low voice, slowly loosening his arms.

“I’ll take you.”

Koi’s body slowly relaxed in his hold. When he looked up, there was no fear in his eyes—only concern.

“Are you... okay?”

Koi asked, sensing something had shifted. Ashley didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed Koi gently on the cheek. ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) When Koi blushed immediately, Ashley smiled. Just like always. That smile seemed to ease Koi’s worry a little, and he relaxed his shoulders.

Ashley stepped back. Koi brushed past him and hurriedly climbed out of the pool. Ashley said nothing as he watched him go.

Unlike Koi, who ran quickly into the mansion, Ashley slowly swam to the edge and climbed out. Then he followed, walking slowly behind him—

Still fighting the dark obsession inside himself.