Chapter 4
Valentin
Five hours.
Five hours I’ve been back in my home country, and I’m already cursing my twin brother.
“You volunteered to do this, not me,” I grumble, grabbing one of the coffees from Luc’s tray and taking a sip. I wince, swallowing down the bitterly sweet liquid. “What the fuck is this?”
He snatches it back, slotting it in the tray again. “That one isn’t for you. Here.” He holds out another that I take.
“Since when did you drink shit like that?” Then I see the barista place a third coffee on the stand, and Luc takes a sip of it, meaning… I point to the coffee in the tray. “Who the fuck is that for?”
He says nothing.
I scowl. “Brother, no.”
He frowns. “What do you mean, no?”
I shake my head. “You’re buying her coffee? Why?”
“Because I’m a nice person?”
“Because you want to fuck her.”
He makes a weird noise caught between a huff and a gasp before responding with a very unconvincing, “No…”
“This is why you wanted me here?” I snarl, and Luc starts walking a little faster, but I make sure to match every step, glaring at his side profile as he keeps staring ahead. “I’ve hardly fucking slept. You told me it was an emergency.”
“Hey, I told you it didn’t need to be today.”
That’s right, he did. He just said this week. But for some stupid reason that I still can’t wrap my sleep-deprived brain around, I wanted to come today.
I’ll admit, I’m intrigued by the little pink-haired omega who broke an alpha’s nose and strapped him to a chair with the proficiency and resourcefulness of a trained soldier.
“Tell me I’m wrong, brother, tell me this—” I nod at the coffee. “—means nothing.”
His silence is my answer, and a disapproving growl rumbles out of me.
“You’re here now. What does it matter?” He gestures to the large glass building. “Just meet her, that’s all I’m asking.”
When he steps into the entrance, slipping between the glass revolving doors and holding them open for me, I stare at him hard, letting disapproval seep through.
Then I step inside, and he grins.
I take in my new surroundings instantly, noting the grand lobby. All marble, white, and glass. Nice, I guess. Not many exits…
“I really hope you’ve thought this through, Luc,” I mumble as I move to his side. “Her brother is going to lose his shit—”
“Rue can lose his shit all he wants. Doesn’t change the fact she’s mine,” he snaps in a low whisper, teeth bared, eyes like slits. Then he blinks, shaking himself. “Shit, sorry. I can’t even scent her, and my alpha’s riding me hard.”
I study my brother’s scrunched expression with deep concern. We’ve known each other for thirty years, since birth, and this isn’t like him.
Luc’s always on the cusp of a joke, on the edge of inappropriate, but never out of control. None of us are. That’s why we make such good soldiers.
One day with this omega, and his alpha’s already this close to the surface?
Good thing I came. At least now, I can keep an eye on him, keep him on a tight leash—
My alpha senses her before I do, all the hairs on my arms rising as my gaze darts across the room, landing on a pair of glossy black heels.
My eyes drag up over a pair of long, shapely legs in thin, black tights, up over a baggy purple jumper that hides too much, and when I hit her face, my body tenses.
Damn.
She’s gorgeous.
Nothing unusual there. She’s an omega. They’re all pretty. That’s all.
But when her mouth parts a little, bright green eyes darting to me, then to my brother, then back again, I find myself desperate to hear her voice.
“There are two of you…”
I always forget that my brother and I are twins, but it’s the first thing everyone notices.
“Yeah, but I’m the pretty one.” Luc steps closer, adding a wink that I want to punch him for. Then he hands her the coffee. “For you.”
Her wary gaze drops to my brother’s hand, pausing with uncertainty. The little omega is completely unaware of my brother’s intentions.
Good. Let’s keep it that way.
“Thank you, you didn’t need to do that. That’s… really thoughtful.” Then she smiles.
My chest suddenly feels too tight, my alpha rising up and knocking at the mental wall between us.
I realise I might need that leash, because when she takes a sip, humming her approval over the sweet taste, the sound does strange things to me.
She swallows, then asks, “Have you told…” Her gaze darts to me.
“Valentin Vale,” I offer, stepping closer before I even realise it.
Her eyes widen, staring up, trying to take me all in.
Fuck, she’s tiny. Even in those heels.
But I don’t miss how those icy greens drop down, trailing all over me.
I’ve been overseas for almost a month, providing security for one of our top clients. Gym whenever I could, keeping my body in peak condition. Right now, I’m a little bigger than my twin for once.
The tattoos covering my arms make the difference even clearer. Her gaze travels over the old-school ink, then my hair, which is a little longer than Luc’s.
I always preferred a buzz cut, clean and to the point, but I didn’t get a chance to because my fool of a brother had other ideas for my first day back.
“Have you told him the plan?” she murmurs, voice a little softer, gaze still lingering over me.
“What plan?” I gruff out, glaring at Luc.
She swallows, eyes going back to my pretty brother. “You didn’t tell him?”
Luc beams at me. “We need to chat with some omegas.”
My glare and voice sharpen. “Are you serious?”
“Why didn’t you tell him?” the omega asks my brother, sounding genuinely upset.
And I don’t like it.
“He might be my twin, but he’s the moodiest fucker I know. If I told him, he wouldn’t have come.” He shrugs, as if that absolves him.
The omega frowns, shaking her head and causing a soft curl to tumble out of her up-do.
Then she turns and walks straight up to me. I find myself desperately wanting to scent her. I try to do it subtly, but there’s nothing. Just her pretty oval face and intense green eyes staring up at me.
“I’m really sorry, Valentin.”
My alpha surges forward. He should be out cold. We’ve been on high alert for weeks, over-analysing, over-thinking every little thing, but instead, he’s right here with me, staring hard at this omega with the prettiest green eyes.
We’ve always liked the colour green.
“Your job isn’t to chat with people. I get that. But my staff, the omegas, have a lot of trauma with alphas. I was worried about Luc, but they’ve responded strangely well.”
My brother flashes me a smug smile.
“So we thought we could try and make them a little desensitised by introducing them to some good alphas in an environment where they feel safe.”
When her eyes dart to the floor, my fingers twitch. I want her gaze back on me.
“I totally understand this isn’t what you signed up for. I’m sure your bosses wouldn’t want you here for this either—”
Bosses? I glance at Luc, but he shakes his head.
Before I can say anything, she’s staring straight at me again, into me. “I’m sorry for putting you in this situation. I’m sure you’ve got other—”
“I’ll stay,” I say. I don’t want to cut off the gorgeous omega, but the distress in her tone, the slight whine at the edge of her words, scrapes at my alpha. He wants to do something about it. “I’m not a big talker, though.”
She smiles a little… and damn. I catch my brother’s sideways glance, his smug smirk pissing me right off.
“That’s okay. I think just having more alphas here might help. I’m also teaching a workshop today, so I appreciate the extra help. I won’t be on the salon floor this afternoon...”
“Where will you be?” My brother frowns, his concern clear, and I can’t help feeling a little edgy too.
“The room next door, the one you helped me pack the bags for.” She smiles again.
How is this the same omega who had an alpha incapacitated and bleeding?
“I’ll see you both later.” Then she turns away, calling over her shoulder. “Oh, there’s food in the fridge at the back. Help yourselves—it’s for everyone!”
She saunters off, and I find my eyes glued to her legs, roaming over her ass even though it’s covered by that damn jumper.
When my brother coughs, I glare at him.
“Told you so,” he whispers.
We’ve just met.
He’s told me nothing.
He doesn’t have a clue.
***
Later that day, I hate my brother.
We split up when Revea left for her workshop. Of course Luciano wanted to follow her like the simpering idiot his alpha is letting him become. But I stepped in, told him to stay on the salon floor.
The omegas seem to like him more anyway. They’ve given me wary glances, and I’m sure my constant pissed-off expression isn’t making anyone feel comfortable.
Three hours later, and I’m wondering if I made the right choice.
I’m at the very back, leaning against the wall as I watch her show a third technique for something called a bol-e-large. She’s smiling as she speaks into her headset, and the audience frantically takes notes. I don’t know how they look away, because she is bewitching.
I’ve been entranced for the entire thing. All three hours.
I find myself disappointed when it ends with a deafening round of applause as she grins and claps the models on the stage.
When people start to leave, I stand by the door, listening in on conversations. Their praise and awe. This tiny omega has lit a flame beneath these people with her passion and energy, but suddenly, all I want is them gone.
She’s been on that stage for three hours straight. Talking, moving, smiling. A draining performance for anyone, never mind an omega whose only sustenance has been a sugar-loaded coffee.
As soon as the last few people leave, I make my way towards the platform where she’s sweeping up hair.
“Did you pick up any tips? Learn a thing or two?” She blows a curl out of her face as she stands to look at me, lips tilting into a teasing smile.
“You haven’t eaten.”
She frowns, holding the broom upright. “That’s what you learnt?”
When I reach out, her eyes widen a fraction, then she completely stills as I take the broom from her hands, placing it against a chair.
“What have you eaten today?”