Revea
Reluctantly, we head downstairs and walk straight into controlled chaos.
Three alphas in full work mode.
Kaiden’s pacing, phone pressed to his ear, voice low and sharp as he fires off instructions without breaking stride. Val stands near the window, one hand braced against the glass, the other gripping a phone, his tone clipped.
Luc’s stood by the kitchen counter with two laptops open. He’s speaking to someone on one screen while typing at speed on the second, eyes flicking between them. The moment he spots Sylvan, he jerks his chin in a sharp summons, and Sylvan immediately complies.
I hover at the edge of it all, eyes wide, pulse climbing, trying to piece together what the hell is happening.
Sylvan says something to Luc, then pulls my phone from his pocket. Luc nods as Sylvan flips it over, pops off the case, and starts taking it apart with fluid efficiency.
“What are you doing?” My voice comes out too loud as I move towards him.
“You can’t use this phone. Your number’s been leaked,” he answers calmly while placing the pieces neatly on the counter.
Leaked.
“You’re joking.” I laugh, but it’s brittle.
He shakes his head. “I’ll get you a new one.” Then he takes the second laptop from Luc and carries on where he left off.
My chest tightens, and I step back. “You’re all kind of freaking me out.”
“When I call back in five, I want it done.” Luc’s voice is so detached from the man I know.
I stare at him as he shuts his laptop with a sharp snap, tossing it onto the sofa. Then he looks at me. And whatever he sees makes his expression shift, the hardness slipping away.
I’ve never heard him like that. That voice doesn’t belong to the man who smirks at me over breakfast.
And suddenly, I’m very aware of the situation again.
The footage is everywhere.
There’s a crowd outside my salon.
My phone number’s been leaked.
“Hey, Ve. Did Syl tell you about the video?” Luc asks gently, his voice sliding back into that smooth lilt.
I hesitate, then nod. “Is that what this is all about?”
He shuts one eye and clicks his tongue against his teeth. “Yeah... and what comes with it when something or someone gets this big. Good thing this is kinda our job.”
He flashes a blinding smile that might work in another situation, but not right now.
My heart is pounding too hard, static filling my ears.
“What comes with it?” I ask, not understanding.
I flinch when Kaiden’s voice raises a few octaves, then abruptly leaves the room without even glancing my way.
“Hey, look at me. Everything’s fine. We’ve got this under control.” Luc steps closer, but I step back. His brows furrow. “Baby, in a few hours, we’ll be done with this stage—”
“What stage?”
He wets his lips, gaze studying me. “Our firm provides support for some pretty famous people. Including people who have recently been pushed into the limelight. People who don’t have the networks in place to keep them safe… like you.”
I shake my head. “But I’m not famous.”
“Baby, that footage is everywhere. You’re everywhere.”
I’m cold. Ice cold.
Luc takes my hand in both of his. “I know this is a lot, I know. But we’re just making sure you and your family are safe.”
“My family?” The word catches. “Are my brothers okay?”
“Yes,” Val answers, appearing at my side and pressing a mug of something warm into my free hand. “Some people found their address, but your brother is the chief of police. They didn’t stay long.”
“They?” My fingers tighten around the mug. “Who’s they?”
“Reporters, journalists, paparazzi,” Val lists.
My eyes widen.
“We’ve got this under control. We have our own PR teams, lawyers, security.” Luc tries to smile again, but it falters halfway. “I know this is a lot, and I’m sorry this is happening, but we’ve got you, okay? You’re safe here. No one will find this place. You’ve got us—”
I step back abruptly, Luc’s hands slipping from mine as I place the mug down with a loud clink.
“I... I need a minute.” Luc and Val move instantly, ready to follow. “Alone.”
I don’t wait to see their response.
I head down the nearest hallway and keep walking. There’s too much noise, too many thoughts. I need somewhere quiet to sit and think.
Up a set of stairs, down another corridor that curves around a bend, I keep going until I hit a dead end. Until I finally get silence.
No background hum. No voices. Just a door.
I push it open and step into a large room with a similar layout to Sylvan’s, but this one feels untouched. No clothes draped over the chair, no personal items. No scent. Maybe a hint of cleaning products, but that’s it, nothing of them or anyone.
I lie back on the mattress and stare up at the ceiling.
“What the fuck, Revea?” I say out loud, angry. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I’ve run away, like I always do. Locked myself away in silence with only my thoughts.
Ready to overthink. To spiral.
But this time, it’s different. I’ve got a literal team of trained men doing everything in their power to help me. And here I am. Hiding.
Before them, what would’ve happened?
That alpha would’ve still attacked Serena. The blackmail would’ve still come. The footage would’ve still leaked.
How would I have handled this, any of it, without them?
The answer sits heavy in my gut.
And here I am, demanding space when I should be out there thanking them.
“What am I? A wimp?” I scoff into the silence. “No. I’m a businesswoman. A successful hair stylist. That’s who I am.”
I nod to myself.
“So what if I’m suddenly famous?” I sit up, scowling into the darkening room. “People would sell their souls for this, and I’m… scared?” I huff out a breath. “No. I don’t think so.”
I stand, steadier now, heading to the door.
“No. I’m not a coward,” I tell the room, giving it some serious attitude. “I’m going back to those alphas and—”
When I open the door, I realise immediately it’s the wrong one.
I gasp, the sound echoing around the new space.
A large, circular room lit only by a large skylight filling the entire ceiling. Beneath it, a bed, no... not a bed.
A nest.
I shuffle back, terrified I’ve entered and contaminated it. But... it’s so pretty.
The ceiling is lower in here, but so is the floor. It drops in the middle, filled with a circular mattress almost as large as the room, the edges decorated with large, plush cushions and fluffy fur throws scattered over the bottom curve.
A nest that’s been crafted into the house. Possibly designed around it, but…
I sniff the air. It’s clean, scentless, perhaps a little stale.
It’s… untouched.
Kaiden said they’ve never had an omega as a pack, but still...
My eyes lock back onto the bed. There’s a tawny fur blanket screaming my name.
I hadn’t had a proper nest in... years. Even in my house, I never changed the spare bedroom like I planned because there just wasn’t any point. Most heats, I’d just put my mattress on the floor.
Holding the door frame, I lean my head in a little more, noticing the curved walls contain four doors equally spread out.
Does this… connect to their rooms?
Maybe I could just...
“No.” I shake my head, stepping back. “They’re out there making sure your life doesn’t fall apart. We are not contaminating their beautiful nest.”
My omega whimpers as I gently close the door.
I let out a deep sigh, straighten out my crop top, and find the correct door this time.
When I round the corner to the living room, their voices seem a little quieter, much less intense.
“…Omega Daily, ADC, Today’s News… multiple outlets have picked it up.” Sylvan’s voice is soft, a guilt he shouldn’t be feeling threading through it. “Her social media is private, but the salon’s isn’t.”
“I’ve got Lyana from PR on it,” Val says.
“I’ve just got off the phone with Rowan. He’s sent some units to deal with the crowd, and I’ve sent some of ours too. Hopefully…” Kaiden’s sentence trails off as I get closer. “Luc, you okay?”
There’s a pause, and I realise I’ve stopped walking at Kaiden’s question.
“She looked so fucking scared.” The softness in Luc’s tone makes my heart thud. “Maybe… maybe we should take that trip? Get her out of the country for a bit.”
“That could work,” Syl joins in. “A month for everything to calm down. Her parents are in the Antarctic. We could go there.”
My heart couldn’t feel any fuller.
Luc scoffs lightly. “Yeah, but maybe somewhere with sun first?”
“Luc and I haven’t been home in a while.”
“We’ll ask, Revea,” Kaiden states, then adds, “Has our pilot got any availability, Syl—”
Before these alphas decide to say or do anything else ridiculously sweet and make me feel even more ungrateful than I already do, I step into the room.
They all move to stand, but with a soft smile, I lift my hand in a silent command that has them all sinking back onto the sofa.
They watch as I cross the room and perch on the central coffee table, sitting directly in front of them.
I take a deep breath. “I need to get a few things off my chest. Okay?”
They all sit up straighter, remaining silent.
“The four of you are quite possibly one of the best things to ever happen to me,” I say.
They don’t move an inch.
“I’m sorry I haven’t always been very… forthcoming. And I’m really sorry you’re having to deal with all this.” I huff out a quiet laugh. “Remember when I said I was worried you’d affect my business? And now here I am affecting yours.”
Kaiden opens his mouth, but I lift a hand. He stops.
“I just want to say thank you. Truly, thank you.” I look to each of them. “I freaked out, needed a minute to get my head on straight. But now, I’m ready.” I nod.
“And although a trip to Spain sounds incredible…” I nearly groan at the thought. “Maybe not right now? I don’t want people thinking I’m a coward. If I have this power, even for just a small amount of time, I want to use it.”
I managed to keep eye contact throughout, but now it drops to my hands.
“I know I can be difficult. Stubborn. A bit of a bi—”
There’s a hissed Spanish word as Luc leans forward and covers my hand with his.