Silas #3
Isaac looks towards him and grimaces. “You’re just as bad, Harlan, so I wouldn’t be laughing if I were you.”
Evander’s now the one laughing, and Harlan growls low in his throat.
“Do I seriously need to gag you fuckers?” I snarl, my fury building to the point I genuinely want to do it.
This isn’t about their pathetic egos or getting one up on another. It’s about Cassie.
I’m now on the receiving end of their annoyance, and they both growl at me.
Am I meant to be scared?
I can understand Evander’s childish reaction. He’s practically a baby compared to Harlan and me.
But my best friend has no excuse for this infantile behaviour. He’s officially been an alpha for twenty fucking years, presenting at fifteen—a month after I did—and should be more than capable of controlling himself.
I’d love to blame his lack of control on finally scenting his mate properly, but aside from the first day they met, he’s never had to smell her.
Between forcing her to wear scent neutraliser and avoiding her office—and her things—like the terrified coward he is, Harlan’s been safe from the delectable strawberry cream and vanilla of our mate.
Where Harlan thought distance would protect the two of them, all he’s really done is deny himself her.
When she’s sad, her scent softens, thinning into something fragile—like melted strawberry cream, where the sweetness is still there but hollow.
And when she needs comfort, her scent deepens instinctively, strawberry cream turning warm and rich, wrapped in soft vanilla.
Fool.
Harlan’s the one in the best position to get close to her, and he’s afraid to be anything but a mentor. I can’t blame him entirely, after how things went down with Hannah, but, fuck me—Cassie is not her.
He’s a coward where our little mate is concerned.
And it’s making him reckless.
And useless.
Part of me resents him for her suffering.
Every skipped meal. Every exhausted smile and determined promise. Every trembling hand she hides from sight, and every tear she refuses to let fall.
Cassie is desperate for care, and instead of comforting her, he’s starving both of them instead.
I know from experience that not having her feels like having your heart ripped from your chest and still being expected to survive it.
“Cassie doesn’t think the same way we do, and if you keep talking instead of showing her, she’ll keep misunderstanding you,” I say, the words leaving something bitter behind.
Evander’s brows draw together, and, for the first time, I can see our pack working out. Evander’s arrogance means he’s probably never had to work to be chosen before.
But Cassie doesn’t want something temporary. He’s finally got to put the effort in and figure out how to get someone to want to keep him.
I can help him with that. Teach him how to love someone like Cassie without overwhelming her.
I can teach him. For her—only for her.
When I’m done with Evander Whitmore, he’s going to be the perfect alpha mate for our omega.
“Why do you think she’s not working with the other trainees any more?” I ask.
“I’ve got Sterling looking into that,” Evander admits, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Sterling?” Harlan asks.
“Carter,” I answer. “Our CSO. Your sister’s mate, right?”
Harlan lets out a low whistle, and Evander nods.
“He’s Cassie’s cousin,” I add as a reminder to Harlan. “Well, I’ll save you both the job. After some careful… watching—”
“Stalking,” Harlan coughs into his fist.
“I don’t stalk her,” I say, my voice low and controlled. “I pay attention to the things she hides once everyone else stops looking.”
The air in the room grows thick with clashing pheromones and instinct. Evander’s dark chocolate and coffee, Harlan’s warm brioche and honeyed citrus, even Isaac’s butterscotch and caramel.
It smells like a bakery moments before somebody starts a fucking fire.
“Right, whatever. What did you do?” Evander demands.
“Reported it to this dick, and then to HR, obviously,” I say, gesturing towards Harlan. “She was being mistreated, taken advantage of, and somehow doing all of her work and the grunt work for everyone around her.”
Because Cassie hears “helpful” and immediately starts trying to earn her place. And people like Cassie get eaten alive in places like this.
“Trainees are meant to do the grunt work,” Evander says automatically.
Isaac kicks him under the table.
“She was doing hers and theirs, you idiot.”
Evander winces immediately.
Good.
Maybe there’s hope for him yet.
Harlan sneers down at the table. “And yet, somehow, she had the impression she was being punished when we were first introduced, and things seem to have just gotten worse from there.”
Because, of course, she did.
Cassie would sooner assume she was failing than believe somebody stepped in because they thought she deserved better.
“We had a meeting with the trainees a couple weeks ago,” Isaac says carefully, exchanging a look with Evander. “And we heard some… rumours regarding Cassie.”
The words settle badly in my chest.
Not because I haven’t already dealt with some of it, but because if they’re still hearing rumours, then I’ve not done my job properly.
“What are they?” I ask quietly.
Too quietly.
Evander’s jaw tightens. Harlan’s fingers curl against the table. Even Isaac watches me carefully now, like he’s assessing whether I’m about to lose control of myself.
I won’t.
That’s the difference between me and the other two alphas in this room.
My rage doesn’t make me reckless. It makes me dangerous.
And right now, all I can think about is Cassie hearing whispers every time she walks into a room, completely unaware that people are trying to drag something filthy across the sweetest person I’ve ever met.
My perfect little moon apologising for other people’s cruelty to her like it’s somehow her fault.
Who still smiles at people who would happily tear her apart for their own benefit.
She’s too good for a place like this.
Too soft for people like them.
Isaac exhales slowly, and the pause is enough to make my blood run hot.
“Some of the trainees have been speculating about why she was moved to a private office,” he says carefully. “The implication is that she’s sleeping with someone senior to get special treatment.”
Something ugly twists violently beneath my ribs.
Not anger.
Murderous fucking rage.
Do these cunts even know Cassie?
Sweet, overworked, painfully exhausted Cassie.
Cassie, who looks relieved when somebody remembers to acknowledge her.
Cassie, who flinches from kindness like she’s waiting for it to turn cruel.
And people are reducing her to this.
Using her softness against her. Treating her omega nature like a weakness.
Using her kindness like she deserves to be devoured alive by this fucking building.
Isaac shakes his head. “We know they’re bullshit, obviously—”
“Obviously?” Harlan asks sharply.
Isaac’s expression turns flat. “You can barely stomach being in the same room as her. Are we meant to believe you’re knotting her on the side?”
Normally, I’d laugh.
Instead, all I can think about is Cassie hearing those rumours herself.
How she’d immediately blame herself for them.
How she’d apologise.
How she’d make herself even smaller in an effort to make everyone else more comfortable.
My jaw locks hard enough to ache.
“Does she know about these rumours?” I ask, looking at each of the men in turn.
All three shake their heads.
Thank fuck for that.
Because if she’d heard even half of what those trainees have apparently been saying about her—no.
I cut the thought off immediately before instinct fully takes over.
“Then we need to make a decision here and now,” I say, voice calm enough that it makes Isaac visibly tense.
“Whether you’re wanting to claim her”—I look towards Evander here—“or not”—my attention shifts towards Isaac, then Harlan—“we are all she has. It’s down to us to stop this shit happening.”
Not HR. Not other management.
Us.
Because nobody else in this building looks at Cassie and sees someone worth protecting before they see what she can give them.
“And what? Are we meant to just ignore her wants and needs in the meantime?” Isaac asks. “You might be our head alpha, Silas, but you’re the biggest coward here because she has no idea you’re her mate. None.”
The words hit exactly where he intends them to.
Harlan reacts instantly. “And you’re not lying, too?” he demands, immediately coming to my defence.
He’s a good brother.
From the moment we met, we understood each other. He had my back in every fight, and I had his. He’s not going to betray me now.
Not publicly, anyway.
“At least she’s getting to know me,” Isaac counters. “You’re her boss. A cunt, sure, but she cares about you. Staying away, keeping so much distance… she’s not getting to learn anything about you, Silas.”
That lands, too.
Because Isaac’s right.
Cassie knows the version of me I allow the rest of the world to see.
Controlled. Professional.
Untouchable.
Not the man who noticed her on her first day and quietly started rearranging his entire life around keeping her safe.
Not the man who knows exactly how she takes her tea because she drinks it every morning while checking her emails.