Chapter 14
Sylvan
Valentin and Luciano convinced me it would be inappropriate to remain in the salon overnight. I don’t understand why. It would be the most efficient way to fix the issues.
But I was able to set up a remote access point before we left.
Back at our packhouse, I’m in my room. I have the most monitors in here, which makes it much easier to work.
I open another window on a different screen to cross-reference a structure I remember with the most common vulnerabilities in similar builds.
It’s not difficult to identify the weaknesses.
Poor segmentation. Over-reliance on outdated authentication.
It’s already been compromised. Multiple times. I told Revea this already.
Something tight pulls in my chest again. I press my fingers briefly against it, then dismiss the sensation and keep working.
If there’s a problem, it can be fixed. I just need to make sure it isn’t compromised again…
“He’s been like this since we got back,” Luciano murmurs, and I realise he’s behind me.
“Hmm,” Valentin replies.
“Why are you both in my room?” I ask, not looking away from the screen.
Luc huffs a quiet laugh. “You’ve been in here for hours. You need a break.”
“I’m fine. I need to fix this.”
There’s a pause. “Sylvan, it can wait,” Val says.
Everything can wait. Doesn’t mean it should.
I keep working. My silence should indicate the end of the conversation; they’ll leave shortly.
A window on one of my screens pops up, a camera of the last entrance gate opening, and Kaiden’s car pulling in.
“If you won’t listen to us…” Luciano says, but there’s a little sing-song to his voice.
He didn’t complete his sentence, so I’m not sure what he means.
I continue working, but my thoughts drift to the omega with pink hair.
The way her face drained of that peachy blush when I said inadequate.
How even though I know that was the truth, part of me seems to dislike that I said it… wishing I could take it back.
The bond hums, strengthened by all four of us being in the same place, just before Kaiden’s voice rumbles from the hallway. “What’s going on? Why are you all in Syl’s room?”
I hear Kaiden step inside, but he didn’t ask me a direct question, so I continue.
“Sylvan met Revea today,” Val says.
I frown. That doesn’t answer Kaiden’s question; it’s not a correct response.
“And he made her cry,” Luc adds.
Something inside my chest tightens, then snaps.
I turn, my gaze snapping to his. “I didn’t make her cry.”
“You didn’t mean to, but still…” Luciano shrugs.
I snarl. The bond floods with tension, and Luciano’s lips twitch.
Did he say that to make me react?
“Sylvan.” Kaiden steps in front of Luciano, and my chest loosens. “Tell me what happened.”
“I went to the salon as directed by Luciano and Valentin to provide—”
“Summarise for me, Syl,” Kaiden cuts in. Not impatient or annoyed like most reactions I cause. It’s familiar. The same tone he used in briefings when he trusted me to get to the point.
“I met Revea. Her systems are inadequate. I told her. She left. Luc and Val think I upset her. And now I’m fixing the problems.”
His brows pull together. “But why are you fixing the problems?”
“Because…” I pause, thinking. “They need fixing. I can fix them.”
That should be enough. I’ve answered his question.
But I know Kaiden’s expressions, and this one tells me he’s waiting for more.
I blink, wondering what else to add, what would be relevant, until what I told the twins surfaces. “I find her interesting.”
Kaiden’s gaze lingers on me for a moment longer than usual before shifting to Luciano and Valentin.
Luc smiles. “That’s three of us now, Kai.”
Valentin nods. “We want to pursue this. I’ve already told Rue.”
Kaiden remains silent.
I assume he’s digesting this new information, which seems like a natural conclusion to the conversation.
I turn back around to continue adjusting a section of code—
My chair stops. Kaiden is there again, looking down at me with a cocked brow. “You like her.”
It isn’t a question, yet I hesitate, feeling this requires a response. “Yes.”
Luc lets out a quiet breath, like that confirms something. Valentin’s expression doesn’t change, but I notice the slight ease in his shoulders.
“And I don’t like that she left,” I add. “If there’s a problem, if I caused a problem, I should fix it.”
There’s a brief silence while Kaiden’s gaze seems to search for something on my face, then he nods. “You know I trust your judgement, Sylvan.”
He always has. Especially in active warfare. I find it easier to think logically, to see the flaws others overlook, and Kaiden has always noticed that. He always listens to me. Trusts me.
And I trust him to lead when it matters.
“I’ll need to go back to the salon to make the final updates,” I explain as I turn back to my screens. “But I can fix this. I’ll finish this last section and restart the new software tomorrow morning.”
Kaiden lets go of my chair, and I go back to work.
“Okay, but I can’t have all three of you there tomorrow,” he says, but he hasn’t said my name or looked at me, so I don’t need to respond.
“Kaiden, were you listening? Sylvan just said he likes Revea,” Luciano repeats for some reason. “The three of us, three of your pack, like the same woman. How are you just ignoring that?”
“I’m not ignoring it,” Kaiden replies, but there’s a slight grit to his voice that makes me pause. “I’m prioritising, because when you lock onto something, Syl, you don’t half do it. And right now, we can’t afford all of you disappearing into one problem.”
I turn to him because he used my name, and because something he said has my spine straightening. “She’s not a problem, Kaiden.”
The room falls into silence as I stand, closing the distance between us so he has no choice but to hear me. “Her systems are a problem. Not her.”
My alpha peers out, locking onto his.
Kaiden and I have never had a physical altercation, unlike the twins, who fight over nearly everything. I’ve never understood why that happens.
Not until now.
“Syl, I didn’t mean it like that…” He looks away, and my alpha immediately settles.
When his gaze meets mine again, both our postures relax.
“You know we don’t have staff to cover the salon.
And I need you on systems, not split across two problems. If all three of you decide to spend your time there, like today, I’m left running Nexus alone.
We have clients. Contracts. Our business can’t just stop.
” He pauses as he looks over to the twins, then back to me.
“I’m not saying don’t pursue her, just don’t do it at the expense of everything else. ”
“I wouldn’t put our business at risk,” I say, frowning that he’d ever suggest such a thing.
He’s never doubted me before. Why would he now?
He sighs long and hard, then shakes his head. “I know, Sylvan. I’m just concerned. This is very… sudden. New. You’ve only just met.”
Luciano scoffs, then mutters under his breath, “Just wait till you meet her.”
My brows unpinch. “Yes. As pack alpha, you should meet her. You could come with me tomorrow—”
“Fix her systems first,” Kaiden directs, cutting my words short.
I nod again. “Fine.”
I’ve always been good at multitasking and solving problems others give up on. I’m persistent. More so when it matters.
“Tomorrow, the three of you can go to Nexus,” I say, turning back to study my screens. “I’ll go to the salon, fix this, and find a solution to the staffing issue.”
“Wow, kinda making us feel like spare parts, Syl…” Luc murmurs.
I think he’s trying to make a joke, but it’s not funny. They’re not spare parts; they’re all important to this pack. It wouldn’t work without each of them.
I wouldn’t work.
“You’re not spare parts. But I made the problem; I need to fix it.” Before I sit back down, I feel the need to add, “And I won’t mess this up.”
They don’t respond. It seems the conversation is over, and I take that as my cue to continue.
The tightness in my chest still lingers, but I work through it.
I need to fix this.