Chapter 18
Kaiden
Syl: Where are you?
The fourth message in ten minutes. He never texts repeatedly. We’re lucky if we get any response in the group chat. Yet here he is, blowing up my phone over an omega that’s somehow captured the attention of my entire pack.
It’s strange seeing Sylvan like this, interested in something or someone other than the company or us.
He’s been with omegas before, a night here and there, never the same woman twice. Not often. Sylvan isn’t really interested in sex. He says it keeps his ‘needs sated’, like eating or sleeping. Simple. Transactional.
But Sylvan doesn’t lie.
So if the omega starts talking about meeting the pack, or anything more serious, he tells them the same thing he tells us. We had sex. I don’t want her for the pack. That honesty doesn’t always go over well.
When the four of us formed as a pack, having an omega wasn’t something we discussed much, if at all. We left the military, created the business, and whenever an omega happened to cross one of our paths, we tried. But there was always something… off.
Often, it was Sylvan who disapproved. The last omega Luc introduced him to at a charity benefit was cut down with a blunt, “I don’t like her scent.”
Right there, in front of her.
Val is the second worst, grunting through any conversation that mentions omegas or pack dating apps.
And I’m indifferent. Not because I lack interest, but because I trust my pack. If they don’t think someone is a good fit, she isn’t. End of discussion.
But now I’m here, about to meet an omega that not one, but three of my pack approve of.
Last night, Sylvan announced I would be meeting her tomorrow. Not a suggestion or request, but a blunt command dressed up as a pre-organised meeting.
The man who was once least interested in having an omega is now commanding me to come meet one.
My phone buzzes again, but I’m already rounding the corner of the street where the tall glass building sits. I spot the company installing the retina scanner, three vans already lined up outside with their logo painted on the side.
I shake my head, still in disbelief that Sylvan ordered it. He didn’t even run it past us. When I asked him why, he simply said, “She needed it.” And I honestly didn’t know how to respond. Val’s lips twitched. Luc just laughed.
I walk past the men installing the scanner, a mixture of betas and alphas. We briefly acknowledge each other, subtly scenting the air, and their eyes immediately drop. Most people’s do.
You’re taught alpha dynamics from your family, in school, and again in the military. That’s when you’re taught about what happens when you’re mixed up with large groups of alphas, how it can trigger dormant genes, forging more dominant alphas.
I didn’t believe it until I grew three inches overnight and my muscle mass increased.
It wasn’t only the physical changes. My bark became more potent, giving me the ability to command other alphas, and my scent gained an undertone that ignites a sense of danger.
Strangers struggle to keep eye contact and always give me extra space.
I prefer it that way. The people who know me trust me. That’s all I care about.
I follow one of the men as he enters through the revolving doors. He looks over his shoulder a few times while de-scenting mist covers us, and when the doors move again, he races out to his team already inside.
It’s much bigger inside than the CCTV made it look.
Wide open spaces, tall ceilings, white marble floors, everything sparkling and pristine.
Some beige blankets are scattered over the ground for the install, dust already covering clear sheets wrapping the furniture.
Apart from that and the installation team, I don’t see anyone.
No Sylvan or this renowned omega.
I stroll around, trying to settle my alpha with the sudden lack of scents in a new area while getting a feel for the building my men can’t seem to stay away from. I move to the reception area, noting pictures decorating the back wall.
Stepping behind the large counter, I study the vivid collage of photos, and one stands out. A large group of people, all smiling, holding up a sign with Shear Instinct in cursive text, and in the middle, a woman with pink hair.
She’s attractive—has the classic omega look. Soft body, big eyes, nice smile. Nothing unusual there.
I keep looking. There’s some with her in smaller groups, one beside a woman with bright, scarlet hair, another outside what looks like a small hotel, but I pause over the one with her two brothers. Rue and Rowan.
Rowan and I haven’t spoken in years. That happens after the military. You’re so consumed by it that once you’re out, you try to build a life away from it.
At one point, I thought we’d form a pack together. But Rowan was always meant to be a pack alpha. Last I heard, he’d made chief of police.
“Erm, excuse me? Sir? You’re not allowed back here.”
The hairs on my neck rise at the sharp tone, a prickling rushing over my spine.
When I turn, I’m hit by the brightest green eyes I’ve ever seen.
And they’re in narrowed, accusing slits, aimed right at me.
When I face her fully, those fierce eyes sweep over me, from my boots to my shoulders, snapping back to my face. Her scowl falters a little then, but her arms stay crossed tightly over her chest.
The pictures did not do her justice.
She’s standing on a set of stairs, staring down at me, dressed in all black. Knee-high heeled boots, skinny jeans showcasing long, lean legs, and a skin-tight jumper not hiding a single curve. Her illustrious, long pink hair is tied back in a high, slick ponytail.
My alpha stirs. My fingers twitch.
And she’s still looking at me. Not only that, but the toe of her sleek boot taps against the glass step as she waits for my response.
“My apologies, I’m looking for my packmate.” I hold out my hand.
Her scrutinising gaze darts to it, then back to me, before she languidly descends the stairs.
The sway of her hips and the sharp click of her heels have me transfixed. My alpha huffs, watching intently while she walks straight up to me.
She tilts her head back, and back, her eyes widening a little, but her gaze never wavers. I come from a long line of tall alphas, and that was before my dormant genes were triggered, and she’s… small. So small in comparison to me.
I could pick her up with one arm, sling her over my shoulder like she weighs nothing.
But that look tells me she’d fight, wouldn’t make it easy, and that just makes me want to do it more. My other hand flexes in my pocket.
She’s already recomposed, expression stern, standing strong and unfolding her arms to slip her small, manicured hand into my large, calloused one.
Every hair on my body stands to attention.
My fingers curl over hers, gentle but firm. “I’m Kaiden Vale. I’ve heard a lot about you, Revea.”
Her gaze seems to soften, the vibrant colour turning glassy, pink lips parting. She blinks it away as we shake, her wicked assertion coming back tenfold.
But I’m trained to notice microexpressions, meaning when she swallows, I find myself tracking the movement along her smooth, bare throat.
My alpha rumbles louder beneath my skin. Such a pretty neck. It would look so good with my teeth—
“Pack alpha?” she asks, voice raspier than before.
I nod, realising we’re still shaking. I gently pull back, slipping that hand in my pocket, trying to ignore my prickling palm.
She flexes her fingers, and I wonder if she felt the same thing, then she slips it back into the fold of her arms.
Finally, I catch sight of my right-hand man as he descends the stairs behind her.
“You’re late.” He doesn’t even look up from his tablet.
“I was busy, Syl, running our business.”
“You never even told me he was coming,” Revea adds with a quick glance over her shoulder, voice a little sharp.
He quickly descends the remaining steps, staring at Revea with a concerned frown. “I told you yesterday. I said you needed to meet him.”
“Yes, but I didn’t agree, Sylvan,” she says, her eyes busily flitting between us both.
His frown deepens, voice lowering. “Did I do something wrong?” His eyes go a little wider as he tries so hard to study her expression. “Did I upset you again?”
Her lips part, her breath catching like the question hurts. “No, Sylvan. I’m not upset, I’m just...” She glances back at me. “Surprised.”
“Oh.” He nods, then moves on like the conversation never happened. “I’ve installed the last camera now, see.” He holds his tablet to Revea, moving close enough that his chest brushes her shoulder.
“You’ve bought her new CCTV, too?” I ask over the bond.
He glances up at me, and I get a half-nod. That’s it.
“How many cameras is that?” Her tone pitches higher as she scrolls through.
“Thirty.”
“Thirty?” she repeats, eyes wide as she stares at him.
He frowns again. “Is that not enough?”
She stops swiping. “There’s one in my office?”
“It was a blind spot.”
“Maybe I wanted the privacy?”
“Why?”
I bite my tongue. I hoped Sylvan would dig his way out of this on his own, but he seems to be digging deeper.
Sylvan and I trained together as teenagers, served together as men. I know what he’s like when he’s hyper-fixated on something. I’ve just never seen him fixated on someone.
“Sylvan,” I say over the bond. He looks at me while Revea studies the screen again. “Take a breath. Think.”
He listens, taking a second to pause.
“Sorry,” he blurts, causing Revea to slowly look up at him. “I should have asked you first. About the amount. The office. I can remove them. All of them. Now, if you want… Sorry. I thought I was helping.”
He’s floundering.
My stern, level-headed commander, who’s torn strips off younger cadets for looking at him too long, is losing his composure over this small omega with baby pink hair and a smile so sweet it’s almost like she’s enjoying it.
Wait.
She’s smiling?
“Sylvan.” She’s saying his name, but it’s my alpha tilting his head at the soft, endearing tone. “It’s okay, it was a shock, that’s all. It does make sense, considering I have the safe in there. Thank you.”
Sylvan stands frozen, staring at this omega like she’s holding him in place. “You’re welcome.” His gaze snaps to me. “I like her, Kaiden.”
And with that, he walks towards the workmen, who flinch when they find him suddenly beside them.
“Erm, well...” Revea tries. It’s the first time she struggles to hold my gaze, her cheeks rosier. “Since you’re here, I just want you to know I did not ask for this.” She motions towards the scanner.
“I know. Once Sylvan sets his mind on something, it’s hard to get him to change it.” I look back at her, studying her soft smile as she watches Sylvan.
Most people are unsettled by him. She looks… fond.
“He’s sweet.”
And just like that, I understand why my pack are interested. I laugh. I can’t help it.
“What?” She’s laughing a little too, and damn, that’s an attractive sound.
“I don’t think anyone has ever called Sylvan that.”
She arches a thin brow at me. “What do people normally say?”
I shake my head, still smiling. “Not that.”
“I know he can be... blunt,” she says, trying to be careful with her words. “And he seems to get a little... fixated on things.” She has no idea. “Which is why I’m glad you’re here.”
For the first time since we’ve met, she appears uncertain. My alpha immediately notices.
“Can we talk?”
“Sure,” I say, suddenly eager to ease her concern. “But I need to ask you something first.”