Chapter 4
Cole
I lean back in my chair , my fingers steepled as I study the lineup of headshots spread across my desk. The applicants for this year’s Aphrodite campaign. All Omegas. All beautiful. All perfectly qualified on paper.
But none of them feel right. A few catch my eye; one with striking bone structure and an enigmatic smile, another with warm eyes and a graceful posture. I mark their files, more out of obligation than instinct. Because the truth is, we’re not just looking for a brand ambassador. We’re looking for something more. Someone who fits us.
Our pack has been quietly searching for the right Omega—male or female doesn’t matter. What matters is the bond. The match. And for months now, every face, every scent, every polished introduction has fallen flat.
I stand, button my jacket, and head for the elevator. The interviews are happening one floor below, and I want to see the candidates in person. Sometimes a photo doesn’t tell the whole story. Sometimes your instincts need to take the lead.
When the elevator doors slide open onto the hundredth floor, I step out and immediately freeze.
Honeysuckle. Peaches. My Alpha instincts flare, sharp and sudden. The scent is faint but unmistakable, curling through the air with delicate sweetness and just enough heat to make my pulse jump.
I scan the waiting area casually, shaking hands, as I move through the crowd of Omegas. A few from the headshots greet me warmly. I smile, polite, alert. But none of them smell like that. Not even close.
So, I do the only thing that makes sense. I follow the scent. It leads me down the hall, growing stronger with every step—until it stops just outside Massimo’s office. Without thinking, I reach for the handle and throw the door open.
“Massimo,” I say evenly, eyes locking on the curvy blonde seated across from him, “what the hell is going on in here?”
Massimo rises slowly from his chair, brows drawing together in confusion.
“Cole?” he says, his voice calm but edged with surprise. “What’s going on?”
I barely hear him. The moment I stepped into the room, her scent hit me full-force. It’s stronger now. Richer, warmer. Honeysuckle, peaches, and cinnamon. Sun-soaked and heady, curling through the air like a drug I didn’t know I needed. She shifts in her chair, clearly unsettled, and that movement sends another wave of her perfume washing over me.
My Alpha instincts roar to life, and I don’t bother trying to tamp them down. I take a step closer.
She shifts in her seat, thighs pressed together, fingers twitching in her lap. I know that look. I know that scent. She’s responding to us—me and Massimo both. She’s overwhelmed, breath quick, pupils blown wide. And she’s clearly an Omega.
“Who is she?” I ask tightly, not taking my eyes off her.
Massimo blinks, clearly thrown. “Rowan Hart. She’s here to interview for the in-house nest designer position.”
I move slowly, crouching in front of her without really thinking. “Rowan,” I say softly, tasting her name on my tongue. She nods, stunned. I lean in, just enough to breathe her in again. Directly this time. The scent hits me like lightning.
Mine.
The truth slams into me, instant and undeniable. My scent match. Right here, sitting pretty in Massimo’s office with cheeks flushed and lips parted. And he hadn’t said a damn word.
Massimo straightens slowly, watching me with wary confusion. “What are you doing?” he asks, his voice sharper now, more guarded. “Cole, what the hell is this?”
I glance up at him, frowning. “You mean to tell me you don’t smell that?”
Massimo blinks, then exhales in frustration. “No. I’ve been congested for two days. I thought it was allergies, but I woke up this morning barely able to breathe through my nose. I can’t smell a damn thing right now.” He drags one hand down his face. “You're reacting like she's in heat.”
“She’s close,” I say, still crouched in front of Rowan, my eyes on her as she stiffens in the chair.
“I— What?” she whispers, voice small and uncertain. Her gaze darts between us, confusion clouding her expression. “That’s not possible. I’m—I'm a Beta.”
“No,” I murmur, the certainty thrumming deep in my chest, “you’re not.”
Her breath catches, and I watch the flicker of panic flare behind her eyes. She pulls back slightly, her fingers gripping the armrests like she’s grounding herself. “This doesn’t make sense. I’ve always been a Beta. My tests ... my family—”
“Tests can be wrong,” I say gently, though my voice has roughened with need. “And families can lie.”
Massimo rounds the desk, concern written all over his face as he looks down at Rowan. “Are you alright?” he asks, keeping his tone soft. “You’re safe here. No one’s going to hurt you.”
She shakes her head quickly. “No. I’ve always tested as Beta. Always. I—” She swallows, eyes darting to Massimo, then back to me. “This doesn’t make sense.”