“You’re really okay with this? I would never ask you to give up your jobs for mine,” she says.
“You’re not asking, we’re offering,” I say firmly.
She’s quiet as she thinks about it, buteventually agrees.
“Good.” I kiss the top of her head. “A successful first pack meeting.”
Hestia smiles, her scent brightening into that perfectly spiced fruitcake. It’s the best smell in the world, and now I’ll never have to wash it off. I can walk around proudly with my omega’s scent clinging to me, and our scents on her so everyone knows she’s ours.
The emergency call earlier made me realize that if Hestia is ever injured, I couldn’t bear the thought of acting like she’s just a coworker. I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together as well as Titus.
And if something terrible happened to her, and she didn’t survi—if I never got the chance to tell everyone Hestia is my omega, I couldn’t—well. If I care that much about her, it’s not right to lie about what she means to me.
“I’m going to video call my supervisor, Alana, now and tell her about us. Do you want to sit in on it?” I ask.
Hestia says yes, and I pass her off to Cato while I get set up.
I sit behind my desk and straighten myself so I look as professional as possible. I don’t want Alana to think we’re taking this lightly even though we brazenly broke the rules.
My pack waits on the other side of the monitor. I’m happy to have them here with me, but I’ll be the one to break the news. Iamstill the leader of our station, at least for the next few minutes.
I press the call button, and Alana picks up on the second ring, as expected.
“How are things?” she asks immediately.
“We’re doing well. I have a personal matter I’d like to discuss, if you have a moment,” I say.
“Of course. Let me get to my office,” she says.
Once she’s ready, I lay out everything that’shappened since Hestia joined us. Alana’s face remains impassive, and when I’m done, I wait in silence for her response.
“I see. After you helped Hestia with her heat, you reported you would have no issues continuing to work together while maintaining a professional relationship, am I remembering that correctly?” Alana says.
“You are, and I’m sorry about that. My packmates and I thought we could keep our feelings to ourselves,” I say.
“We have no issue with employees dating, presuming there isn’t a power imbalance. That presents too much of a risk of coercion. We have to protect our employees,” she continues.
“I’m aware, and I agree with those rules. We tried to deny our feelings because we didn’t want to take advantage of our position. My packbrothers and I are ready to resign, but we want to ensure Hestia’s career won’t be affected by our actions. My pack takes all the blame, it was on us as her superiors to remain professional, and we didn’t. However, I want to assure you our attraction was mutual, and we didn’t attempt to pressure Hestia in any way,” I say.
“So your relationship is consensual and equal, except it’s not Hestia’s fault she broke the rules?” Alana says, raising an eyebrow, the first reaction she’s shown so far.
“Yes,” I say without flinching.
“Hmmm,” she hums.
I don’t falter under her penetrating stare.
“Omegas are predisposed to do what alphas say,” she says. “And an omega just out of the academy, a young adult out in the world for the first time, would be vulnerable to a pack’s interest?—”
“It’s not like that!” Hestia interrupts.
Alana’s eyes flick to the side. “I take it your omega iswith you?”
“Yes, my pack is here, including Hestia. I’m sorry I didn’t mention that,” I say.
“Let me talk with her,” Alana says.
“Of course,” I reply after Hestia nods.
