“I went to the salon as directed by Luciano and Valentin to provide—”
“Summarise for me, Syl,” Kaiden cuts in. Not impatient or annoyed like most reactions I cause. It’s familiar. The same tone he used in briefings when he trusted me to get to the point.
“I met Revea. Her systems are inadequate. I told her. She left. Luc and Val think I upset her. And now I’m fixing the problems.”
His brows pull together. “But why are you fixing the problems?”
“Because…” I pause, thinking. “They need fixing. I can fix them.”
That should be enough. I’ve answered his question.
But I know Kaiden’s expressions, and this one tells me he’s waiting for more.
I blink, wondering what else to add, what would be relevant, until what I told the twins surfaces. “I find her interesting.”
Kaiden’s gaze lingers on me for a moment longer than usual before shifting to Luciano and Valentin.
Luc smiles. “That’s three of us now, Kai.”
Valentin nods. “We want to pursue this. I’ve already told Rue.”
Kaiden remains silent.
I assume he’s digesting this new information, which seems like a natural conclusion to the conversation.
I turn back around to continue adjusting a section of code—
My chair stops. Kaiden is there again, looking down at me with a cocked brow. “Youlikeher.”
It isn’t a question, yet I hesitate, feeling this requires a response. “Yes.”
Luc lets out a quiet breath, like that confirms something. Valentin’s expression doesn’t change, but I notice the slight ease in his shoulders.
“And I don’t like that she left,” I add. “If there’s a problem, ifIcaused a problem, I should fix it.”
There’s a brief silence while Kaiden’s gaze seems to search for something on my face, then he nods. “You know I trust your judgement, Sylvan.”
He always has. Especially in active warfare. I find it easier to think logically, to see the flaws others overlook, and Kaiden has always noticed that. He always listens to me. Trusts me.
And I trust him to lead when it matters.
“I’ll need to go back to the salon to make the final updates,” I explain as I turn back to my screens. “But I can fix this. I’ll finish this last section and restart the new software tomorrow morning.”
Kaiden lets go of my chair, and I go back to work.
“Okay, but I can’t have all three of you there tomorrow,” he says, but he hasn’t said my name or looked at me, so I don’t need to respond.
“Kaiden, were you listening? Sylvan just said helikesRevea,” Luciano repeats for some reason. “The three of us, three of your pack, like the same woman.Howare you just ignoring that?”
“I’m not ignoring it,” Kaiden replies, but there’s a slight grit to his voice that makes me pause. “I’m prioritising, because when you lock onto something, Syl, you don’t half do it. And right now, we can’t afford all of you disappearing into one problem.”
I turn to him because he used my name, and because something he said has my spine straightening. “She’s not a problem, Kaiden.”
The room falls into silence as I stand, closing the distance between us so he has no choice but to hear me. “Her systems are a problem. Not her.”
My alpha peers out, locking onto his.
Kaiden and I have never had a physical altercation, unlike the twins, who fight over nearly everything. I’ve never understood why that happens.
