“I said you look beautiful tonight.” Trev’s smirk is criminal. His panty-melting voice is so unfair.
“Thank you.” Alphas tell me I’m beautiful all night long. None of them are Trev. None of them look as good or sound as good. My cheeks are warm, his attention making butterflies erupt inside me.
Oh, Alpha. If you only felt the same…
I hustle past him and up the stairs; it’s time to face the music. Please, universe, show me mercy.
“You wanted to see me?” I ask nervously as I step into Declan’s office, pausing as the door clicks shut behind me. He hates when we knock, but even after two years it still feels wrong to barge in here like this.
Knocking’s bad, but barging in unannounced is good?Right…
The Alpha is sitting behind his desk wearing one of his usual black button-ups. His hair is styled neatly with gel, and his face is clean-shaven. Just like always. He’s conventionally attractive, but I’ve never been drawn to him. Maybe that’s because part of me knew that one day his mate would be my very best friend.
Tatum swears he’s a big softy, but I don’t see it. I mean, he’s kind and a good man. Arguably an even better Alpha, especially if you ask his mates, but he’s anything but soft. More like…capable of handling delicate situations with the tact they require? Definitely not soft.
I’m currently picking at the sleeve of my lace robe, trying to ignore the weight of the guilt that feels like it’s crushing my chest whenever I’m around a member of the Hayes pack. Unfortunately, as a manager, I have to interact with Declan frequently, and lately he’s been giving me new assignments whenever they need extra help with a non-club-related issue.
The scent suppressors he wears make standing here more bearable, so there’s that. His dominance is strong and slightly imposing, but without his scent added to the mix, it’s tolerable.
Declan is occupied by whatever papers always cover the top of his desk, so I take a seat and then try to get my shit together. Distracting myself from the sight of him, I look around the office that hasn't changed. Ever. He’s a quirky fellow, but in a… ‘Is this guy a murderer?’ kind of way.
It’s a simple room with a couch against the wall and a large desk in the center. Behind him is a wall of bookshelves. There’s also a seat in front of the desk, but I remain standing, keeping as much space between the two of us as I can without being super obvious about it.
He’ll be able to scent me and all my guilty anxiety, but as a mated Alpha, my pheromones and distressed scent won’t have much effect on him, if any at all. His urge to settle an Omega outside his pack will be minimal. Which basically just means that unless it’s Tatum or Easton, then it’s not going to bother him all that much.
Tatum tries so hard to reassure me that I’m not to blame, but if not me, then who? The guilt feels like it’s going to eat me whole sometimes. The shame of failing her makes me sick to my stomach.
I was supposed to have her back that night, and instead I let her down.
Fuck. Stop it, Dream.
I am a good person. I deserve good things.
I clear my throat when Declan doesn’t speak for so long that I start to get uncomfortable. Dude blinks like he forgot I was here, filling his office with the scent of my anxiety. He glances up at the watch on his wrist before shooting me his polite-boss smile.
“Right, sorry. Hello, Dream. Thanks for coming in early.” He notices my outfit and frowns, looking surprised to see me inuniform. Okay, odd. “I wanted to talk to you about a potential client before he arrives tonight.”
My favorite boss, known for his fairness, drags out the torture as he fiddles with the papers on top of his desk one last time, organizing them into piles and checking that they’re perfectly aligned, before leaning back in his chair and focusing on me.
I keep my eyes fixed on the desk, even though I can feel the weight of his stare on me. I know he’s waiting for me to meet his eyes, and as much as I hate it, I glance up. I have to quickly look away when I find him staring at me a little more intensely than I expected.
My fidgeting gets worse. This feels like a punishment. Not a potential job. He lets the silence stretch between us until I’m uncomfortable enough to look up again. Our eyes meet, and he lifts a brow. He’s intimidating as hell.Pfft, soft? Tatum is delulu.
“How many times over the last several months has my mate explained that what happened wasn’t your fault?” He asks as the door behind me opens, and cool air blows my hair forward over my shoulders. I don’t move to see who’s just entered, unable to look away from Declan’s stare.
Just call me “deer” because I’m caught in headlights…
The distinct lack of scent from the newcomer tells me it’s probably someone from security. The massive looming shadow hovering over my back tells me it’s Trev. I shiver as his presence washes over me.
There’s a predator at my back, and I’m stuck between two Alphas. My instincts get all frazzled. Trev must sense my discomfort, because he moves to my side instead. I relax minimally.
“Why do you ask?” I murmur, voice high and tight, annoyed that he saw right through me so easily. I was trying to hide my emotions, but I really suck at that when it comes to this.
“You’re very good at using your emotions to your advantage, Dream. Especially when we need you outside of the club. I’ve watched you turn your disgust into curiosity. I’ve even watched you channel your fury so you can manipulate an abusive Beta into confessing his transgressions. You’re a master, really.”
Declan’s compliment perks up my inner Omega.Praise from my boss? Quick—someone tell Trev to call me a good girl.Unfortunately, my boss is also smiling in a way that makes me think he’s trying to look kind but resembles a wince instead. Way to kill the vibe, Alpha.
“Thank you?” I squint, trying to figure out where he’s going with this. Feeling like I might need to sit for the rest of this conversation, I fall into the seat in front of his desk.
