Osias #2
She turned slightly, including the Bates Films team in her explanation.
“And Daya, Cole, Monica, and Billy are shaping the narrative that we were filming a scene for an upcoming paranormal movie yesterday. That the crew was positioned at a distance, which is why no one immediately realized it was a planned shoot rather than a random animal attack.”
Osias stared at his mate, processing the elegant simplicity of her solution. It was brilliant—the kind of creative problem-solving that could only come from someone who understood both the entertainment industry and the absolute necessity of protecting shifter secrecy.
But more than that, it was proof of something he’d been hoping for without fully realizing it. Celina wasn’t just accepting her place in his life. She was claiming it, making it her own, transforming it into something that reflected both of their strengths.
A laugh escaped him before he could stop it—not amusement, but pure appreciation for the woman who continued to surprise him at every turn.
“That’s...” He shook his head, still marveling at the audacity and intelligence of her plan.
“That’s actually perfect. If you can sell the behind-the-scenes footage convincingly enough, it explains everything.
The crowd, the transformation, the injuries.
All of it becomes part of a controlled narrative instead of a security breach. ”
Celina’s smile widened, and through the bond he felt her relief and pride mixing together in a way that made his chest warm.
“The best part,” Daya added from her perch in the leather armchair, “is that it positions both of you as innovative producers willing to do practical effects work instead of relying on CGI. It’s actually good publicity instead of damage control.”
“Assuming we can execute it properly,” Cole said, though his tone suggested confidence rather than doubt. “But with the resources we have and the timeline we’re working with, I think we can make it convincing.”
Osias watched his mate coordinate the final details with both teams, her natural leadership style emerging more clearly with each passing minute.
She didn’t dominate or intimidate—she collaborated, listened, made decisions quickly, and trusted the people around her to execute their parts of the plan.
It was exactly the kind of leadership his mother Eva had always believed in. Not the solitary burden-carrying that had defined his own approach for the past fifteen years, but the creation of space for others to contribute their strengths toward a common goal.
For the first time since inheriting the Alpha position, Osias felt the weight on his shoulders shift—not disappear but being shared by someone who was genuinely capable of carrying part of the load.
The next hour passed in a blur of organized activity as both teams prepared to execute their respective missions.
Juno, Seth, and Thomas left for East LA with promises to check in every two hours.
Cole and his team departed to begin assembling the behind-the-scenes footage that would hopefully explain yesterday’s events.
Pell gathered his materials and headed for Fellan Entertainment to manage the corporate side of Osias’s temporary absence.
Soon only Daya remained, sprawled across the leather armchair with her laptop balanced on her knees, putting finishing touches on what looked like a press release.
“This should be ready to go out any minute now,” she said without looking up from her screen.
“I’ve got contacts at Entertainment Weekly, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter who are interested in an exclusive about the new paranormal project.
Once they run with it, the smaller outlets will pick up the story, and we’ll have complete narrative control. ”
“You’re incredible,” Celina said, settling onto the arm of Daya’s chair.
“Lucky for you, I live for this kind of crisis management,” Daya replied with a grin.
Osias watched the easy friendship between the two women, recognizing the kind of loyalty and trust that couldn’t be manufactured or managed.
“I should get going,” Daya said, closing her laptop and gathering her things. She paused at the front door, looking back at both of them with an expression that was part affection, part warning. “Take care of each other. And Osias? Let her take care of you for once.”
After Daya left, the mansion settled into quiet stillness, and Osias finally allowed himself to process everything he’d witnessed. His mate hadn’t just managed a crisis—she’d transformed it into an opportunity, mobilized two different teams toward a common goal, and somehow made it look effortless.
But more than her competence, what struck him was her complete ownership of the situation. She hadn’t asked his permission or waited for his approval. She’d simply identified what needed to be done and made it happen.
“How long have you been awake?” he asked as they made their way back toward the kitchen, his arm still around her waist more for the comfort of contact than any real need for support.
“Since about four.” She moved to the coffee maker, her movements efficient and familiar in their shared space. “I couldn’t sleep, so I started making calls.”
“You mobilized my security team and your production company in three hours.”
“I mobilized our security team and our production resources,” she corrected, handing him a mug of coffee that was exactly the right temperature and strength. “This isn’t your crisis to handle alone anymore, Osias. We’re mated. Your pride is my pride, your problems are my problems.”
The statement hit him with force, and he found himself staring at this woman who continued to redefine everything he thought he knew about partnership and leadership.
For fifteen years, he’d carried every burden alone because he’d believed that was what being Alpha meant.
But watching Celina coordinate their response to yesterday’s attack, seeing her natural ability to bring people together toward a common purpose, he finally understood what his mother had tried to teach him all those years ago.
The strongest leaders weren’t the ones who carried everything themselves. They were the ones who created space for others to stand beside them.
And somehow, impossibly, he’d found a mate who didn’t just understand that principle—she embodied it.