I wonder how far his scars go… how much of him they cover. I push the thought away.
“That’s when you decided to leave and start a business together?” I’m still running my fingers through his hair, but I finished cutting a while ago.
“Sylvan planned it all—he’s the mastermind. Private security’s always been a saturated market, lots of men leave the military and do it, but when Sylvan wants something...”
He doesn’t finish, but we both hold soft smiles.
“I know how hard it is to build a business from the ground up, Revea,” he suddenly says, voice a soft murmur. “But I also know I couldn’t have done it without my pack. You can be independent and still ask for help. You don’t have to do everything alone.”
I huff out a breath. “That’s easy for you to say, you’re alphas.” I brush leftover hair off his shoulder. “I’m trying to make a point that I, afemale omega, can do this.”
“You’ve already made your point.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, and then an alpha attacks one of my traumatised omegas.”
A low growl fills the air. “That wasn’t your fault.”
I brush off the back of his neck with my fingers. “My brothers told me I needed security, but I said no, because no other salons have.” I scoff softly. “It sounds so stupid now.”
“But then you accepted help. That’s it, Revea. You’re doing right by your staff now. You’re still making your point.”
I sigh, hearing him, but not fully believing it.
“Luc and Val, they’ve been so good. The omegas here...” I chew the inside of my cheek. “I know they’ve never felt safer. Maybe it’s an omega instinct, because even with their trauma, they’ve been so much more relaxed with them around. And Sylvan?” I smile. “Pretty sure Russian hackers couldn’t get in here now.”
Kaiden laughs softly, and I like the way it rumbles through my fingers.
I run through his hair one final time, then step back. “You’re all done.”
He stands, but he has to bend to see his hair in the mirror. Then he turns to me with a smile.
A man with a fresh haircut? Deadly. But an alpha like Kaiden, towering over me, with a blinding grin in place?Illegal.
I grip the back of the chair to keep my legs steady.
He swipes a hand through his hair. “Pretty good.”
“Pretty good?” I huff, thankfully breaking his hypnotism as I turn and head back to the main entrance. “Please, I’m the best you’ll ever have.”
He murmurs something behind me as he follows, but I don’t quite catch it, and I don’t dare ask him to repeat it.
The installation men are outside now, and Sylvan is still there with them, watching every move like a hawk.
“How much do I owe you?”
I gawk at Kaiden’s ridiculous question. “Are you kidding?” I cross my arms firmly over my chest. “No, no way are you paying.”
“I hear you’re booked up for months, and this is your day off. I’m paying.”
He starts to move behind the counter, looking for something, but I dart in front of him. “What are you doing? You’re not allowed back here!”
He sees the card reader. We look at each other.
I lunge for it. “No, I mean it, Kaiden.” I hold it tightly in my hands, but he stalks closer. “No! Don’t you dare try to—”
I’m lifted onto the counter so easily I lose my breath, but I’m determined to win this fight. I snatch the card reader back from him, covering the screen, only now realising we’re face to face.
My reception counter is tall enough that if you’re sitting down behind it, you can’t be seen. And now, Kaiden’s right there, with his stunning eyes, freshly cut hair, and hard stomach pressed against my knees.
