Chapter 30
Rowan
M assimo leans against the edge of my desk, arms folded across his chest, one brow arched.
Massimo glances toward the glass entry. “Looks like we’ve got company,” he murmurs. “And judging by the security detail, this isn’t just a meet-and-greet.”
I follow his gaze and my breath catches. It’s Anaya Dev, Princess Anaya of Hyderabad. She looks exactly like she does online, only more radiant in person. She’s all elegance wrapped in joy, draped in a designer ensemble that somehow manages to be both couture and comfortable. A floor-length lehenga in soft ivory and blush moves like silk around her legs, accented with delicate embroidery that shimmers subtly under the lights. Her jewelry is understated; thin gold bangles, teardrop earrings, and a dainty chain that disappears into the neckline of her blouse, but no less regal.
What really draws the eye, though, is her hair. A thick braid of obsidian waves trails down her back, glossy and precise, threaded with tiny gold accents shaped like jasmine flowers. It sways when she walks, elegant and effortless, just like the woman herself. The moment I see her, a hundred DMs flash through my mind on each other’s posts, the occasional comment, and one or two quiet messages about design details or recommendations for calming scent diffusers.
We’ve never met, not face to face. But I know her. Or at least, I know the curated version of her life. The one with the doting family, the pack that adores her, the wealth and affection she’s never had to earn. My chest tightens, just a little. as I remember the cold silences in my childhood home, the disappointed glances, the unspoken pressure to be useful, not needy. To be Beta. Normal.
But I push the bitterness away. This isn’t about that. Not now. Anaya’s eyes sweep the showroom, lighting up with every detail, until she spots me. Her whole face transforms.
“Oh, my gods!” she squeals, her voice echoing off the polished walls. “Rowan!”
She breaks into a full-on sprint across the room, braid bouncing behind her, abandoning every royal protocol in favor of pure excitement. I blink, startled, but find myself smiling just as wide as she barrels toward me.
She lets out a delighted squeal and barrels into my arms like we’ve known each other for years, not just traded DMs. Her perfume is a soft jasmine-rose blend, delicate and refined, but I catch the distinct, warm spice of her Omega scent underneath. The moment she’s close enough, her nose twitches and her expression flickers with surprise.
“You’ve presented,” she whispers in my ear, pulling back just far enough to give me a knowing look. Her voice drops, hushed but full of excitement. “I can smell it. You’re not a Beta anymore, are you?”
I shake my head slowly, emotion catching in my throat. I never thought anyone outside my pack would understand, let alone her, a woman whose charmed life I used to envy from behind a screen.
She beams, her excitement too big to contain. “This is perfect. Perfect. Rowan, I just met my pack last month. We’re nesting already. The bonding ceremony is in eight weeks and I need your help.”
I blink, stunned. “You want me to design—”
“My nest,” she finishes for me. “Only you. I’ve been telling Baba about you for years. He promised that if I ever found my match, we’d reach out. And now you’re here. You’re real. ”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe both. Anaya Dev wants me to design her nest. Anaya Dev. The Princess of Mumbai’s Omega Dynasty. Her bonding nest will be worth millions. Have you ever seen an Indian wedding? Jewels dripping everywhere, silks in every color of the rainbow, ceremonies that last for days. This is the kind of job that doesn’t just change your career, it launches it into the stratosphere.
“I’d love to talk details,” I say, voice a little breathless. “Maybe we can sit down somewhere more comfortable?”
Anaya links her arm with mine like we’ve been best friends forever. “Yes, please. I’m starving, and I want to tell you everything about my pack.”
I glance at Massimo, who’s lingering nearby with a small smile like he’s watching a flower bloom.
“Is the executive dining suite free?” I ask him quietly.
He nods. “Already taken care of. Lunch is being set up now.”
I blink. Of course it is.