Chapter 11
ANITA
I’m up in my apartment, and I can’t stop grinning like an absolute idiot.
My heart is racing, and my mouth keeps stretching into this ridiculous smile I can’t control.
And I’m actually purring, not to mention my panties are absolutely drenched.
My lips feel swollen from his kisses, and I can’t get enough.
Can’t stop touching them, remembering the way he kissed me like I was oxygen and he’d been drowning.
I collapse onto the couch, letting out a sound that’s half laugh, half moan.
He kisses like a god. Like he was put on this earth specifically to destroy me with his mouth.
And his scent. God, his scent.
Sandalwood and pine and molasses, but deeper than that. Richer. More complex. It wrapped around me completely when he pressed me against that door, and I swear I’ve never encountered anything like it.
Is this what a scent match feels like?
The thought sends a thrill through me, immediately followed by alarm bells clanging so loudly I can barely think.
What the hell am I doing?
I’m sitting here, an excited shiver racing down my spine and settling between my thighs, and all I can think about is him. How he looked at me, touched me, how I flirted and did absolutely nothing to stop it. In fact, I encouraged it.
I officially made my situation a billion times more complicated.
But then… if he’s my scent match, don’t I want to know?
“Fuck,” I whisper to the empty apartment.
This is such a risky path.
I had no intention of coming clean to these Alphas. The plan was simple: find evidence of Omegas being quietly pushed out, expose it if it exists, get out of town. Move on with my life.
How the hell do I do that if he’s my scent match? Especially when the thought of not seeing him again squeezes my chest so tightly I can’t breathe.
I exhale loudly and force myself to stand up.
“Okay. Don’t think about that now.” I pace across the living room. “You had drinks. You got carried away. That’s all. I probably imagined the scent being that powerful because of how horny he made me. Yep. That’s what happened.”
It sounds weak even to my own ears.
“Why did I kiss him, anyway?” I groan, running my hands through my hair. And yet I’m still shivering with excitement. Butterflies are bursting through my stomach. I’m giddy and swoony and completely ridiculous.
My body and mind are officially at war with each other.
I glance at the clock on the wall, and my stomach drops. “Shit!”
I’m running behind on the radio show I promised to do tonight. My listeners are waiting, and Marcy is probably losing her mind.
I rush to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face, trying to get myself together. Change out of the dress, change my underwear because the current pair is unsalvageable. Then I climb into comfortable leggings and an oversized sweater. On my way out of the room, I draw my hair into a ponytail.
I grab a bottle of cold water from the fridge and head to the spare bedroom, where I’ve set up my portable broadcasting equipment. The second I sit down and fire up my laptop, my comm buzzes with an incoming call.
Marcy.
I swipe to answer, already bracing myself. “Hey, I know—I’m late.”
“You’re late,” she says anyway, deadpan. “Do you even own a clock anymore?”
I grin. “Sorry. It was a big night.”
A pause. “Big… how?”
“Dinner with the team,” I say, reaching for my mic to check the levels. “Nothing wild.”
Marcy snorts. “You’re already getting close to them, aren’t you?”
I nearly choke on my water. “What? No! Well. Maybe. Technically. But it was just—it was a night.”
“Oh my God.” She sounds both horrified and delighted.
“Not helping your case,” she sings. “Girl, you need to be careful. You’re supposed to be observing, not melting into a puddle over dominant Alphas.”
“I know. God, I know.” I lean back, closing my eyes briefly. “It’s just… harder than I thought. They’re not what I expected.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But I’ve got this. I’m focused. Professional. Sharp as hell.”
“And full of lies.”
“Only the good kind,” I shoot back, grinning.
She laughs. “Okay, fine. Go do your thing, but no kissing Alphas unless it’s absolutely crucial to the mission.”
“No promises.” If only she knew that I already crossed that line.
We hang up, and I settle in, my equipment humming to life. Mixer’s ready. Mic’s hot. VPN is active. The chat is already crawling with early-night regulars, their screen names lighting up my dashboard.
Time to get to work.
I flick the switch and lean in, voice smooth and confident.
“You’re listening to The Heat Line, where secrets burn hotter after dark. I’m your host, Sunny, and yes, I got some intel.”
The chat instantly lights up, heart emojis and question marks flooding in.
I grin. Time to give them what they came for.
“So. The setup. I’m working with several Alphas.
Only Alphas, actually, which is interesting.
It’s the perfect environment to observe how they treat employees, how they interact with people, what their values really are.
And more importantly? What they say about Omegas when they think they’re only talking to other male Alphas or Betas. ”
I pause, letting that sink in.
“Because that’s where the truth comes out, right? Not in official policies or PR statements. But in casual conversations. In offhand comments. In who gets hired and who gets passed over and why.”
I adjust my headphones.
“But here’s the thing. On my first day, what I discovered is that these Alphas are not what I anticipated.
” I choose my words carefully. “I’ve seen them in action.
I’ve watched how they treat people. And when someone, Beta or Omega, hits on them and they’re not interested?
They’re honest. Direct. They don’t lead anyone on.
They don’t play games or string people along. ”
I scan the messages flooding in on my phone app.
This gives me hope
So they might not be the problem?
Or they’re just good at hiding it
Keep digging! The truth is in the details
“Which surprised me,” I admit. “Because I came in with assumptions. We all did. We heard rumors and we built a narrative, but maybe things aren’t as simple as we thought. Maybe there’s more to the story than ‘Alphas bad, Omegas victims.’ ”
I straighten in my chair.
“Either way, I’m here for the truth. Whether that’s exposing unfair treatment, or discovering that the real problem is somewhere else entirely, maybe in hiring practices, in industry culture, or in how Omegas are discouraged from applying in the first place.
The truth matters more than what we want the truth to be. ”
The phone lines light up, and Marcy is transferring calls.
“All right, looks like the phones are exploding. Let’s take some callers.” I click through. “You’re on The Heat Line. What’s burning tonight?”
“Hi! Oh my God, I can’t believe I got through.” The voice is young, excited. “I just want to know, how did the Alphas treat you today? Were they suspicious? Did they give you a hard time?”
“Pretty good, actually,” I answer honestly. “But remember, I’m presenting as a Beta male to them. So far, they haven’t shown me anything alarming in terms of how they treat their employees.”
Other than the fact that I kissed one of them, I think, but I definitely don’t say that out loud.
“So they’re nice to Betas but maybe not to Omegas?” the caller asks.
“That’s what I’m here to find out. We need more data before we draw conclusions.”
I disconnect and take the next call.
“You’re live.”
“Yeah, hi. I have a question.” This female voice is different. Older. “Is it hard for you to be around several Alphas without, you know, Omega attraction getting in the way? Like, can you stay objective?”
I laugh, because it’s either that or scream.
“Let’s be honest here. I clearly overlooked the part where my scent might be hidden but theirs absolutely aren’t. And yes, that’s been a bit of a distraction.”
The chat is going wild now.
DYING TO KNOW MORE
Tell us about these Alphas!!!
Are they single? Asking for a friend
Stay focused on the mission!
“I mean, these men aren’t just any Alphas,” I continue, trying to keep my tone light. “They’re ridiculously attractive. So the universe is definitely testing me on this one. Thanks, universe. Really appreciate the challenge.”
The phones are buzzing constantly now. Messages from Marcy are popping up on my screen.
Marcy: Careful. Don’t give too much away.
Marcy: They’re eating this up. Ratings are insane.
Marcy: Also, RIDICULOUSLY ATTRACTIVE?? Girl, you’re in deep.
I grin and take another call.
“You’re on.”
“So let me get this straight.” The voice is male, aggressive, with a sneer.
“You’re pretending to be a Beta male, and these Alphas are treating you well.
Doesn’t that just prove the whole point?
That they only respect other men? That Omegas get treated like garbage because you’re all too emotional and weak to handle real work? ”
“Interesting take,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “But you’re making assumptions without evidence. Just because they treat me well as a Beta doesn’t automatically mean they treat Omegas poorly. Correlation isn’t causation.”
“But you said they only hire—”
“I said I’m working with Alphas currently. That doesn’t mean Omegas were never hired or that they were pushed out. It could mean Omegas aren’t applying. It could mean the hiring pool is small. It could mean a lot of things.”
“Sounds like you’re making excuses for them already,” he says.
“No, I’m refusing to jump to conclusions before I have facts. That’s called critical thinking. You should try it sometime.”
More chat messages flood in:
DRAG HIM
She’s not wrong though
This is why we need investigations, not assumptions
“Look,” I continue, “if you want me to confirm your biases, you’re listening to the wrong show. I’m here to find truth, not validate feelings. If these Alphas are pushing out Omegas, I’ll expose it. If they’re not, I’ll report that too. That’s how journalism works.”
He sputters for a moment, then hangs up.
“All right then. Thanks for calling. Next?”
“Oh my God, tell us more about these hot Alphas!” The voice is breathless, excited. “Some of us need to live vicariously through you. Please. I’m begging. Are they single? What do they look like? Give us something!”
I’m laughing when a message from Marcy pops up: Be careful. Until you find evidence either way, you can’t show you’re falling for them.
My laughter dies slightly.
“They’re professional,” I say carefully. “Attractive, yes. Successful. But that’s not relevant to the investigation.”
Even as I say it, I know it’s a lie.
I’ve already crossed that line. The moment Jasper’s lips touched mine, the moment I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him back like my life depended on it, I crossed so far over that line I can’t even see it anymore.
“But I will say this,” I add, because my listeners deserve something. “They seem genuine. Not perfect, but genuine. And that’s refreshing in a world where everyone’s performing all the time.”
More messages scroll past:
She likes them. I can hear it in her voice
Plot twist: they’re all perfect and she falls in love
Stay strong! Remember why you’re there!
Can’t wait for the next update
Team Omega forever
“All right, we have time for a few more calls before we wrap up tonight,” I say, trying to refocus.
“Remember, this is just day one. I’ll be updating regularly as I gather more information.
The goal is truth, not confirmation bias.
We go where the evidence leads, even if it’s not where we expected. ”
I take several more calls. One asking if I’ve encountered any other Omegas who have worked there.
That one gives me pause. I haven’t. Not one.
Is that significant? Or is it just coincidence? Or is it because Omegas know not to apply here? Though, they did say it’s the quiet time of the year for them.
I make a mental note to dig into that more.
“All right, everyone burning up The Heat Line tonight, that’s all we have time for.
Thank you for being patient with my late start.
Thank you for supporting this investigation.
And remember, stay curious, stay skeptical, and never accept easy answers to complicated questions.
Stay hot, stay honest, and I’ll talk to you soon. ”
I sign off, shut down the equipment, and sit in silence for a moment.
My phone rings immediately. Marcy.
I pick up. “Hey.”
“You’re in trouble, aren’t you?” Her voice is gentle, knowing.
“I’m fine.”
“Anita.”
“I am. It’s just been a long day. I’m tired.”
“You sound like you’re falling for them.”
I close my eyes. “I’m not. I’m being professional.”
“Liar.”
“Marcy—”
“Just be careful, okay? I know you. You have a good heart. You want to see the best in people, but you’re there for a reason. Don’t lose sight of that.”
“I won’t.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise. Look, it’s late. I have to get up early tomorrow for work. Can we talk more tomorrow?”
“Fine. But I’m holding you to that.”
“Thanks, Marcy. For everything. For keeping the show running, for having my back. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“I know. That’s why I’m worried. Get some sleep.”
“I will. Good night.”
I hang up and sit here in the quiet apartment.
The weight of what I’m doing is starting to settle in. The lies. The deception. The investigation that’s getting more complicated by the hour.
And underneath all of it, the undeniable truth I don’t want to face—I’m in trouble. Big, complicated, potentially catastrophic trouble.
I came here to investigate. To find evidence. To expose the truth.
Instead, I kissed one of my suspects. Flirted with all four of them. Let myself get swept up in their scents and their attention and the way they made me feel seen.
I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling.
“What the hell am I doing?” I whisper.
But I don’t have an answer, because part of me knows exactly what I’m doing.
I’m falling. Fast and hard and completely out of control, and I have no idea how to stop it.
Or if I even want to.
The thought terrifies me because if Jasper is my scent match—if any of them are—then everything changes. My investigation. My plans. My entire future.
I stand up, turn off the lights, and head to bed.
But I know I won’t sleep with Jasper’s scent still clinging to my skin. Or with the memory of his kiss burning through my mind, and not with the terrifying possibility that I’ve found something I didn’t even know I was looking for.
And definitely not with the knowledge that, tomorrow, I have to go back.
Face them again as Ash.
Pretend that kiss never happened.
Pretend I’m not completely and utterly screwed.