I glanced up, just enough to meet his gaze, then went back to my screen. “No, thank you.”
West nearly choked on his drink, laughing loud enough to draw a few stares. He leaned forward, grinning like a wolf. “I like drinks,” he said, tossing a playful wink in the omega’s direction.
The omega shifted his attention to West, his eyes lighting up at the offer. Of course, West would entertain it. He always did. He wasn’t one to pass up an opportunity like this.
I rolled my eyes as West stood, clapping me on the shoulder before taking a step toward the omega. “Good luck, bro. Have fun dealing with all the real work.” He tossed the words over his shoulder, clearly ready to dip out and leave me to finish what we had started.
Typical.
The omega flashed a bright smile at West before following him out of the room, their combined scent hanging in the air long after they left.
I sighed, closing my laptop and leaning back in the chair, staring into the fire for a moment.
Alone. Again.
And whose fault is that?
It wasn’t that I didn’t want what they had—the carefree attitude, the ability to just enjoy life without the weight of responsibility crushing down on them. I envied West sometimes, the way he could jump in with both feet like it was nothing. But I couldn’t. I made a promise to myself a long time ago—one I had no intention of breaking.
No humans. Not ever again.
It’s safer, remember... for them!
The fire crackled softly, the room slowly filling up with idle chatter again as the tension from the omega’s presence faded. But the lingering scent was still there, like a ghost of something I would never have. Or never allow myself to have.
I couldn’t afford to get distracted. I’d learned my lesson years ago. One wrong move, one broken rule, and it had cost me more than I was willing to admit.
I had responsibilities. A business to run. Brothers who depended on me, even if they pretended not to.
Noah’s voice echoed in the back of my mind—his words from years ago still ringing true.“You’re different, Holden. You’re always trying to control things because you’re afraid of what happens if you let go.”
Maybe he was right. Maybe I was afraid. But fear kept me in line. Kept me from fucking up and hurting people I cared about. It kept me from making the same mistake twice. And that was something I couldn’t afford to forget.
I stood up, stretching out the stiffness in my shoulders before grabbing my laptop. West could handle the social media manager situation later. Right now, I needed to get back to work.
You mean bury yourself away from anything remotely that looks like living?
I ignored the stupid and definitely unwanted reminder.
As I made my way toward the door, I caught a glimpse of West at the far end of the lounge, the omega practically drapedover him as they waited for the elevator. I shook my head, biting back the familiar pang of jealousy. Not for the omega—but for the ease with which my brother could live his life. Carefree. Untouched by the weight that I carried every day.
But that was the difference between us. West could afford to live like that. I couldn’t. Not anymore.
I knew the cost, and it was too high.
I left the lounge, the door closing behind me, cutting off the warmth of the fire and the lingering scent of temptation. Business came first. It always would.
It’s the only way!
And if a small voice called me a liar, I ignored it for the thousandth time.
CHAPTER THREE
MYLO
The cold nightair enveloped me as I walked, each step was a struggle to keep it together when all I wanted to do was fall apart. I wanted to scream, I wanted to shout—I wanted to rail at whoever thought I deserved this.
Why did this always happen to me?
