Emily
“Hey, . How are things going? Derek told me you were starting today.”
I’ve been sitting at the desk Langston gave me for less than an hour, but I instantly perk up at the sight of Clark Robinson’s face smiling down at me. He wears his silver-blond hair in a fashionable fauxhawk, and like always, Derek’s former housemate is in a smart suit that accentuates his lean build and striking looks. He’s an omega, but his scent is light and pleasant, like peppermint tea with a hint of vanilla. More importantly, he’s one of Derek’s favourite people, and I really appreciate that connection right now.
“Want to come into the breakroom and grab a coffee?”
I give a vigorous nod, grabbing my phone and security badge off my desk and following him towards the small kitchen. There are about twenty desks spread across the floor, all with state-of-the-art workstations, although most of them are empty today. Langston introduced me to Tony Gann, the project lead and my boss, and I chatted to a few of the other team members who crossed our path. They all seem like bright, capable people and while they were polite about my thesis, I have to wonder what exactly I can bring to the table. Not that I had any hangups about my own abilities – I’m a strong researcher and give my all to any project. But the team is obviously doing complex, important research, and I want to make sure I don’t let anyone down.
“Are things good with your pack?” I ask as Clark expertly coaxes the coffee machine into producing a couple of frothy cappuccinos.
“Great, actually.” Clark hands me a coffee and snags a couple of raspberry muffins from the staff fridge. “Kat’s court case has wrapped up, so she’s training to defend her title next year. A fighting Kat is a happy Kat.”
I nibble on a muffin, watching him with wide eyes. A few months ago, Clark’s packmate Katrina ‘Knockout’ Nicks won the welterweight championship match, but when she came out as a beta who switched to an omega, the boxing federation tried to strip her of the title. The fans went nuts, and the case ended up in the courts. I was glad to hear the decision was reversed and her win upheld, although I’m also curious about his connection to the project. “So, that’s why you’re here? Because she’s a switch?”
“We both are. I triggered her first, actually.” He tilts his head, smirking at some memory. “You could say we brought out the unexpected in each other.”
I sip my coffee, fighting down a pang of jealousy. Not because he’s a switch and has the rare ability to change designations, but because he’s so clearly found the person who puts that sparkle into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Thanks, although the switch part kind of snuck up on me. One moment I was certain I was ace and would never be attracted to anyone, and then I met Kat and Jordan, and I was suddenly very, very interested in being the sweet filling in a beta sandwich.”
Derek instantly springs to mind, and I can feel my cheeks burn when I think about what we did on Clark’s couch last night. But sitting here talking to him is a bit like tuning into a TV documentary on famous packs. The things he’s describing are out of reach of ordinary betas, in the same way marmalade toast doesn’t have a lot in common with exotic sandwiches.
“And your alphas?” I ask, because at heart I’m a sucker for a love story. “How was it going from single life to a packhouse with so many big personalities?”
It’s common knowledge, given the rabid sports media, that Clark is also mated to two international rugby players and an Argentinian ex-polo player who owns a rum empire. All three of the men are the height of masculine attractiveness, and while the idea of a beta sandwich is tempting, the thought of an alpha smorgasbord has me plucking at the collar of my shirt.
“Big is definitely a word for them,” Clark muses, but he’s smirking as if he can read my mind. “Luckily, Roman bought us a size-appropriate house so there’s enough room to accommodate all their egos.” I laugh and take a bite of my muffin, but Clark’s eyes have narrowed on my face. “What about you, though? No alphas on your horizon?”
I can’t stop my gaze flicking to the door of the break room, but I shake my head. “Not for me.”
“You don’t like alphas?” Clark clears his throat and sits back, looking slightly bashful. “I’m sorry if that’s a bit nosy, but you’ve always struck me as such a kind, capable person. Like Derek, you’d definitely be an asset to any pack.”
I smile, pleased that he’s championing our mutual friend. If anyone deserves the support of a strong pack it’s Derek, especially after his idiot friends ghosted him in high school.
“I don’t have anything against alphas,” I reply, “but I grew up with a very dominant, manipulative father. He destroyed my mother when he left, and I’ve always vowed that I’ll be an equal in any relationship.” I think of Rick, but if Derek hasn’t told Clark about my ex, I definitely don’t want to bring him up. “Power isn’t just dangerous in the wrong hands, it’s devastating.”
Clark’s face softens with sympathy. “I’m sorry that happened to your family.” But then he leans forward, his lips curving up like they do when he has a great idea. “You and Derek should come by the gym. With Creed’s help, we’ve just launched classes for the victims of designation abuse. Along with the usual self-defence skills, Kat and Tate are teaching them how to resist alpha commands.”
“You’re kidding.” I almost drop my muffin in surprise. “Creed is helping with that?”
“It’s his program. Or more accurately, he was the one who taught my mates.” He leans further forward, his eyes sparkling now. “I’m not the biggest fan of overly dominant alphas, but Creed is a good guy under all those eye-watering pheromones.”
I just give him a noncommittal smile, since Tyler Creed has already been on my mind more than he should. Not just because of the help he gave me with Rick - especially since my ex is the kind of man who only really listens to other, more powerful men - but because of his relationship with Soren Hill. It will be a long time before I forget the stark devastation in Creed’s eyes when he spoke of his mate’s suffering.
He’s in pain… Nearly every hour of every day.
“So, what part of the project do they have you working on?”
I startle at the question, but I’m grateful for the change of topic. “Um, I’m not sure yet.” I think of the multi-page NDA I signed and decide to keep it vague. “I think I’ll just be looking through old data, and maybe checking over a few interviews. They talked about wanting fresh eyes on their findings.”
Clark hums and taps the side of his coffee cup. “That’s odd. Tony said you were a special consultant. I assumed that meant they’d have you on some of the top-secret stuff.”
I raise a brow, more curious than ever. “Really? They haven’t gone into much detail with me yet.” I think of Soren Hill’s file and suddenly wonder if I was given it as more than just background material. I can’t think how I’d help Soren specifically, given that his alphas have no doubt moved heaven and earth to ease his suffering, but it just makes me more determined to dive in and see what I can contribute. “I’m not sure what kind of consultant I’d make. Well, not unless you’re talking about the eating habits of bees.”
Clark’s gaze shifts to where my bee pendant rests against my blouse. “That’s right. Derek said you’re the queen of the hive.”
“Their devoted slave, more like,” I laugh. “My research is looking into making the Western honeybee more resistant to disease, through adding supplements to their diet.”
“I’m struggling to see the connection with switches,” he admits.
“Well, bees are famous for switching sexual roles. Disrupting a single gene causes genetically female embryos to develop as males.”
“Hmmm,” Clark smirks at me. “You really are one of those cool science kids, aren’t you?”
I snort at him, since Clark has to be the coolest human being to ever walk the planet. “I’m just a big nerd, which is why Derek and I get along so well. We’re both the opposite of cool, but also kind of okay with that.”
Clark chuckles and gets to his feet, leaning in to give me a quick hug. He smells delicious, and I have to admit it might be the highlight of my day having his arms wrapped around me, even if it’s just in affection. I’m not stupid enough to get a crush on a guy like Clark, whose contentment with his pack radiates from every pretty pore.
“Well, good luck with the rest of your first day,” he tells me. “And let me know if I need to send a care package to Derek. He must be running pretty low on Cheezels and Red Bull by now.”
I give an exaggerated shudder. I might have my own snacking habits, but energy drinks have never appealed to me, while Derek treats them like liquid air. “Don’t encourage him. I’ll take him some chicken soup if he’s up to visitors.”
“Thanks for looking after him.” Clark pauses at the door and gives me a wistful glance. “I felt bad moving out, you know? But I’m glad he has you, .”
“I’m glad I have him, too.”
I spend the rest of the morning reading through the high-level project documentation then start delving into the case studies. I have access to the team database, but I can’t find anything on Soren Hill, Vast Horizons, or the Command Method, and I’m feeling a little frustrated as I get up and head to Langston’s office. He’s working out of a meeting room not far from my own workstation, and as fascinating as I find the project documentation, I haven’t been able to resist glancing his way more often than I care to count.
“Hey, do you have a moment?”
He looks up from his laptop, and the heat in his eyes reminds me of how it felt when he scooped me against him in the car, breathing me in so hard I felt like all the oxygen was pulled out of the air. “Um… I was just wondering why I can’t find Soren’s case file in the database.”
Langston is out of his chair before I’m finished, moving around me to close the door. Instead of returning to his seat, he perches on the edge of the meeting table and folds his arms across his chest. “I should have been clear in the car. Soren isn’t part of the core project, and information about him is confidential.”
In the small confines of the room, his scent surrounds me, and I have to hold my breath so I don’t lean into him. “Then why did you share his file with me?”
He gives me a long, slow blink, but his face is frustratingly blank. “You asked about our omega. I didn’t want to lie to you, , and especially not about Soren.”
I mull that over for a moment. If Soren is such a big secret, why did they risk bringing me into their circle? What ‘new eyes’, as Clark put it, can I bring to a long-running project that will make any real difference? “Okay, but I got the impression you wanted me to focus on his case.”
“We do.” Again, his face is impassive, but his eyes seem to be telling me a different story. “In fact, Finn wants you to meet him, if you’re up to it.”
“Of course.” I glance through the glass window and see our boss headed this way. Everyone on the floor is staring at him, but he looks like a man on a mission, not slowing down or stopping to chat with anyone. A strange mix of panic and anticipation swirls through me as his pale gaze connects with mine. “You mean now? ”
Langston is frowning when I glance back at him. “Only if you feel up to it.” He opens his mouth to say more, but Finn is stepping into the room, and Langston pushes away from the table, standing at my side. “I thought we’d be meeting up after lunch. is still getting settled in.”
“Now works for me,” Finn replies, and when his gaze returns to mine, I’m reminded of my initial reaction to him. Not just of a wolf prowling through the woods, but of the way he made my knees weak and my underwear damp, all with the simple brush of his fingers against mine. “We can talk more downstairs, if you like. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.”
I nod, and while Langston grabs his phone and pass off the table, Finn doesn’t move from the door. “I can take care of this, Lang, if you want to stay here and work on other things.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The two alphas aren’t doing anything aggressive, but a crackle of tension fills the air as they stare at each other. “I should come along, just in case.”
“It’s not necessary-.”
“I’m going to insist, Finn.”
I doubt Finn Visser hears that very often, but he just shrugs and leaves the room, clearly expecting us to follow. All eyes track our movements towards the elevator, and some of that sizzling tension soaks into me as we step inside. Finn hits the button for the basement, and I bite my lip, curious about where they’re taking me. We didn’t visit the bottom floor on the tour, Langston telling me it’s mainly for storage and servers, but when the doors open, we’re met by two security guards dressed all in black.
Beyond them is the type of reinforced door you find on a bank vault, but it doesn’t stop the richest, most potent scent from sneaking through the cracks and swirling around us. As my breath catches in disbelief, Finn turns to me with storm clouds in his eyes and asks, “If you were to switch, Ms. Nash, what would it be? Alpha or omega?”