There’s a long silence as I stare at my closed laptop. My thoughts are so loud, overlapping with ideas and tactics that simply won’t work.
“You... you think you let me down?”
“I have.” I can’t look at her. “I should have done more when I realised your CCTV had been hacked the first day we met. I put preventative measures in place, but did nothing to rectify—”
Her hand lands over mine. I stop talking, my eyes snapping to hers.
“This isnotyour fault, Sylvan.” Her brows are bunched together, forging a deep line worse than the one before; even her nose has lines, all scrunched up like she’s disgusted. “None of this is your fault.”
“Alphas are meant to protect their omegas.” The sentence forms, and when it’s halfway out, I wish it never had.
“Sorry.” I wince, staring at my laptop again. “That… I know you’re not ours—”
“You have protected me, Sylvan.”
My gaze drifts up to her face. It’s no longer lined, the corner of her mouth resembling something similar to a smile.
“You found me, didn’t you?” She tilts her head. “That’s how Kaiden knew which hotel I was at.” I slowly nod, and her fingers tighten around my hand. “See? If it wasn’t for you… who knows what would have happened.”
I frown. “But I—”
“This footage.” She nods at my laptop. “It could have leaked months ago. Before we ever met.” She shrugs, her eyes darting over my face for a moment like she’s realising something. “If that alpha never attacked Serena… do you… do you think we…” She wets her lips. “Would we ever have met?”
The sharp pang in my chest at that thought has my fingers entwining with hers, locking her touch with mine, because I don’t lie, and I know the answer to that question.
“No.” But I can’t handle her sad smile, so I add, “Maybe.” I pull on her hand, slowly urging her closer until she’s sat right beside me. “I don’t like talking about this.” I lean in, brushing her nose with mine. “I don’t like imagining my life without you in it.”
“Me neither, Sylvan,” she murmurs, those bright eyes sweeping between mine—
Revea flinches as my phone and watch erupt simultaneously. I growl as I reach into my pocket, but the sound dies when I see the screen.
“What is it?” she asks.
“Your salon’s website is being flooded,” I explain. “Where’s your phone?”
Her hand slips into those tight pants, pulling it out. “I’ve had it on silent, should I check—”
“Wait,” I say. She listens, thumb hovering over the screen. “By now, people will have found everything connected to you. Everything. My advice, don’t look at your phone right now.”
Rather than putting her phone away, she holds it out to me.
I take it from her. “Good, omega.”
She flinches, and I worry I’ve said the wrong thing. It felt natural, more alpha than me, but then her cheeks become rosier. Scent deeper.
All things that indicate she’s… aroused.
Revea liked it. She liked the praise.
The sudden urge to pin her to this bed and praise her in every language I know is only outdone by the need to keep her happy and safe.
“There’s a crowd at the salon,” I start, her scent burning. “Don’t worry, I’ve sent more men—”
“Oh my god,” she gasps, “my poor staff. They shouldn’t be dealing with this without me. I need to call Margret.”
Before she attempts to take her phone back, I sweep through her contacts, find Margret’s number, and enter it into my phone. It’s already ringing when I hold it out to her.
“Margret, it’s me, Revea. Is everything okay?”
