“Where’d you find yourself an omega? There hasn’t been an omega in Sandstorm for a long time, much longer than me. What does Sara think about this?” he asked.
“Sara doesn’t have a say in it,” Cole snapped. “She is aware and only requests that she causes no trouble,” she explained, exhaling frustratedly.
“I don’t think it’s the girl causing trouble she needs to be worried about,” Alan said.
“She’s mine, Alan. Are you telling me your staff don’t respect you or me enough to control themselves?” she asked.
He made a noise in his throat.
“I didn’t think so,” Cole continued. “I’ll need her kept busy and safe during core hours weekdays, with flexibility during full opening hours if necessary.”
“Right. Starting now?” he asked.
“Tomorrow, she’ll be here for 8 AM,” Cole answered.
Alan nodded.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“Have a good day, Alan,” Cole answered and placed her arm around my shoulder as she guided us away from the office and further down the corridor. I heard Alan shut the office door loudly, followed by muffled muttering.
Cole only removed her arm from my shoulder to guide me forward through a door into a large kitchen-dining area.
“This is the communal kitchen. I’m not much of a cook, so I usually come to the Pack House for breakfast. The chef's table over there seats twelve; only leadership and council members can dine here. For us, the kitchen is always open. For all other pack members, two meals are served daily: morning and evening. You’ll eat with me here in the mornings, and Alan will make sure you’re not hungry during the day.”
“Okay,” I answered, looking around the largest kitchen I had ever seen, all shiny metal.
“This is a lot to take in,” Cole said, and I looked up to see her looking at me with concern. I went to reply, but she shook her head. “When did you last sleep?” she asked.
“Last night—No, the night before last,” I answered and felt the heaviness of tiredness behind my eyes.
She stepped forward uncomfortably close and looked me over like she was examining me.
“I’ll have you home and in bed in a few hours,” she promised.
Maybe it was my lack of sleep, but what she said sounded so… suggestive, and I was painfully aware of myself and how close Cole was.
Her nostrils flared, and she smiled in a way that felt far too knowing.
She stepped closer, and I stepped back until my back hit the cold marble of a side counter.
Suddenly, I was surrounded by Cole, her arms caging me on either side, pressed against the counter.
She leaned forward, her head dipping to my chest, and inhaled audibly.
“Fuck,” she growled and lifted her head to trap me in her stare. “What game are you playing?” she asked.
“W-what?” I stuttered.
“You just hit me with a powerful burst of pheromones,” she said and swung her head to the side as if to shake off the impact.
“I—I didn’t… I didn’t mean to,” I whispered.
Cole growled louder and lifted her head to meet my eyes. I didn’t know if the shiver that ran down my spine was fear or desire.
“Sorry,” I managed to squeak.
She pushed herself forcefully away from me.
