Chapter 3
Luciano
Later that afternoon, I’m on my phone searching through condolence cards.
But I can’t quite find what I’m looking for. Nothing says: Sorry, man. I’m taking your sister.
Because that’s what I’ve decided.
Revea is mine.
After spending most of the day with her, I’m done. Taken.
My alpha settled that hours ago, clearly, because he’s been forcing me to follow her around all afternoon.
Yeah, she looks good, and the hints of scent I catch are nice. But that’s just omegas. It’s more than that with her.
It’s how fiercely she defends what’s hers, how passionate she is, how much she cares about everyone and everything. I’ve noticed her refilling people’s water bottles all day, stacking foils without anyone realising. She makes sure people feel looked after, but quietly.
And man… she’s a vicious thing.
The way my girl spoke to that client, that snarl in her tone, it had my spine snapping into place.
Wait… my girl?
Fuck.
I’m saying all sorts of crazy shit today. It’s literally been one day.
But here I am, following Revea into a large room filled with rows of chairs and a raised section at the front like a stage.
She stands just before the platform, in front of a large white plastic table covered with what look like party bags.
It’s just the two of us in here—pretty sure she clocked me when I came in, but that’s only because I wanted myself known. I’ve done enough covert operations to know when to stay hidden and when it’s necessary to be seen.
Right now, I want her to see me.
I lean against the wall closest to her, watching her pretty side profile as she places a small hairbrush into one of the paper bags. Her bright green eyes dart to me every now and then, and I make a point of not looking away.
Not sure I can.
“Is this part of your job description?” she murmurs, placing a plastic comb into the same bag.
“Part of this gig is watching over and protecting the people here. And you’re here.”
“I’m not one that needs protecting,” she says quietly while tying a neat little bow with a string around the handles, sealing it together. “You should be on the salon floor.”
But that isn’t a direct order. She isn’t telling me to leave.
“I’m staying out of your staff’s way, like you said, boss.” I smirk.
She huffs a laugh, and I’ll take it. I entertain her, maybe annoy her, but having some reaction is better than none.
“If you’re just gonna stand there and look pretty, you can at least help.”
Pretty?
Did she just—
“Did you just call me pretty?” I don’t think I’ve ever been called pretty in my entire life. Even as a kid.
She scoffs. “You know you are, and it seems so do my staff,” she mumbles that last part, then clears her throat and finally looks up at me. “Just come over here and make yourself useful.”
Yes, fucking, ma’am.
Clearly, I have a new kink. Being bossed around by a beautiful omega. My alpha snarls his approval, forcing me to move before I realise I’m so close I can see the mix of pink strands in her curls.
“Each of these bags needs one of each item. Can you do that?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I smile nice and wide.
Her lips twitch, but then she focuses back on her work.
We fill the small paper bags in silence for a while. I keep trying to take subtle breaths of her scent, but the neutralisers are even worse in this room. I hate it. I’m so desperate to scent her properly. I’m already way too interested. What if our scents don’t match?
Fuck. That thought guts me, my alpha grumbling.
Worst-case scenario, we just wear neutralisers all the time. Yeah, that’ll work. That’s if she’ll ever let me close enough outside of this damn building to smell her.
“I owe you an apology.”
My hand freezes on the string I’ve been trying to form into a bow for way too long.
Her nimble fingers don’t stop, still working away at her bow as she continues, “I was… really unkind this morning. I spoke to you awfully. I swear, I’m not normally like that.
” She shakes her head but doesn’t look at me, her long hair covering this side of her face.
“I assumed the worst, because I always do. My family are from military backgrounds, and that’s just the way I’ve always been taught to view life.
Always think of the threats, always be prepared for something to go wrong… for someone to not come home.”
She stops, pausing over the bag. Then tightens her bow and turns to me.
“I think my staff were a little apprehensive at first, but maybe this is what they needed. An opportunity to see and be around an alpha in a safe environment.”
Her expression is still a little tight, like I can see the regret in that soft furrow between her brows. I want to move closer and smooth it away with my thumb.
“Is this your way of saying you like me, ma’am?” I say instead, my smile slowly stretching into place.
Then she laughs.
Fuck. Me.
It’s a real laugh. Soft and sweet… and damn. I edge a little closer.
“You’re good for them,” she says, and goddamn, my alpha stands a little taller. Maybe I do too. “I like the positive influence you’ve had. I think I’ve been doing them a disservice by keeping alphas away. Especially kind, good alphas.”
She gives me a sweet smile, and my fingers clench into fists at my side.
I want to show her how good an alpha I can be. For her, I’ll be so fucking good.
“Are you single?”
The air rips from my lungs.
Is she… hitting on me?
Stay cool, Luc. Fucking calm down.
“Sorry,” she blurts, and her cheeks tinge pink.
She’s blushing, and fuck, she’s so pretty. The colour matches her lips and hair, complements all that creamy skin…
“Sorry, that was really rude of me to ask.”
“Yes. Single,” bursts out of me as my fingers crawl over the table, closer to her.
She nods, brows furrowing gently with thought. “Do you think…”
“Yes,” I snap, more alpha than me.
Fuck. I need to rein him in. Relax.
But she’s smiling, and it’s so genuine and beautiful, there’s a glint in those piercing eyes.
She’s gotta smell so incredible. Like honey and peaches, something sweet—
“Serena is a really sweet girl. I think, maybe, if you could spend a little more time with her, just talking and being near, it might help…”
Wait.
Hold on.
Is she trying to set me up with someone else?
“Mami, wait.” The word slips out, but it stops her. Thank fuck. “You’re trying to set me up on a date?”
Her cheeks turn crimson. “What? No! No, I didn’t mean it like that! I’d just never suggest this if you were taken. I don’t think Serena’s ever had an alpha be nice to her—”
“I don’t need to be single to be nice to people, Revea.”
She nods, looking a little embarrassed. “You’re right. Sorry.”
I watch her pull out the perfect bow she just made, only to redo it.
I move a little closer. She’s so much smaller than me, even in those sexy heels, that when I clear my throat, she has to crane her neck up to see me.
“With your permission, ma’am…”
Her lips twitch at that, the apprehension slipping from her body a tad.
“…I’m more than happy to talk to staff here, especially the ones you direct me to, but I don’t think that’ll be enough.”
She nibbles on her lip, and my eyes latch onto it while I continue.
“Omegas need a pack, and I’m only one alpha. They’ll need to meet others. I might be friendly and pretty…”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.
“…But most packs have three or four alphas. Different personalities, different strengths…”
“What are you suggesting, Luciano?”
Fuck’s sake. Why does she have to say my name like that? With a soft little rasp that has my alpha rumbling with a growl I swallow down.
“Let me bring another alpha tomorrow. Maybe one not as… forthcoming? Let’s slowly introduce them to a range of alphas.”
She pauses, clearly thinking. My fingers twitch against the table, desperate to feel her, to persuade her.
She nods. “Good idea. Have you got someone in mind?”
Oh, I’ve got someone in mind.