Naomi's POVThe noise of the crowd got quieter and sounded like a buzz as I got out of the car. I blinked feeling surprised. People were clapping and cheering. For me?This was only my second day at Spectra Style House. I hadn't done anything special in just sixteen hours of work so why were they treating me like a hero?I looked around a confused smile on my face. What was happening?The crowd moved a little as a woman I kind of recalled her name was Sarah from marketing came up. Her face showed a lot of excitement.“Naomi! We all know what you did!” She said loudly her voice heard over the other cheering people.“Did?” I repeated totally confused. “I... I don't get it.”“The trip!” Another employee a young guy with bright curious eyes spoke up. “The trip across No Man's Land! They said you did it yesterday! By yourself!”My mouth dropped open. The... the drive? Was that what this was about? No Man's Land was just an area with bad roads and a higher chance of rogue attacks not some s
Logan's POV“What was that Brandon?” I almost shouted once we were far enough away from her office walking down the hall to mine.Brandon acting like he didn't care brushed me off.“What? I was just looking at the nice buildings. Your design company is really improving Logan. I can see why you're so happy.”“Stop playing games with me.” I said sharply stopping in the hallway. A couple of my workers walked around us looking nervous. I spoke softer but still firmly. “You can't just walk into people's offices especially not here. And definitely not making them feel uneasy.”“Uncomfortable?” Brandon raised an eyebrow a smirk on his lips. “Or is it something else Logan?”What was he getting at? I could feel my face getting hot a clear sign I was getting angry.“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked loudly moving closer to him getting in his face.”He laughed and it annoyed me.“Come on Logan. You had to notice how you looked at her. That little gleam of interest in your eyes.” He stopped
Marcus' POVThe door closed behind Alpha Brandon. I leaned back in my chair. That working together... it was something I had to do. A bad thing made slightly better with a small amount of good.Alpha Brandon's idea was simple Glam Parlour and Spectra Style House working together to create designs for the upcoming Luna Festival. A big show of pack unity. A total and complete fake.The truth was I never planned to work fairly with Logan. Spectra Style House was a problem for me a constant competitor that tried to take Glam Parlour's place as the top design house in the area.This team-up wasn't about working together it was about gaining an advantage. A chance to figure out Spectra Style House's flaws to show its weaknesses and to eventually take it down from the inside.I put my fingers together a sneaky look flashing in my eyes. Logan thought he was getting a teammate but he was heading right into a trap. A trap I had set myself.A loud noise outside my door surprised me and stopped m
Naomi's POV“Lunch?” I said suddenly the word floating between us. Had I really just asked my boss Alpha Logan to lunch? I was surprised I'd asked him of all people. He's my boss after all. My face turned bright red and I prepared for him to say no for things to get awkward.Alpha Logan's eyebrows went up a look of surprise crossing his face. I held my breath ready to take it back to say it was a lunch for work anything to fix the situation.“Lunch sounds... great.” he said a real smile spreading across his face. I felt a big relief wash over me all at once.“Really?” I had to ask showing how surprised I was.“Really.” he said his eyes shining. “I'm very hungry. And to be honest I need a rest from Brandon's idea anyway“.He grabbed his keys the sound a comforting familiar thing in the really weird moment.“Let's get out of here.”As we walked through the office I couldn't help but notice the sneaky looks and the smiles that some of the workers gave each other.I tried to ignore them t
Naomi's POVA loud scream cut through the evening air making me jump. I had just gotten out of the car feeling the usual tiredness of a long day of work in my shoulders.“Wow Naomi this car is amazing!” Layla screamed her voice full of really strong excitement.My eyes went where hers did. The red Porsche Boxster sports car a gift from Alpha Logan shone under the streetlights. It still felt strange to own something so fancy. I gave a tired smile.“Hey Layla. Glad you like it.”“I love it! I'm totally into it! We have to try it out right now!” She jumped up and down her eyes sparkling with fun.“Layla I just got home from work. I'm really tired.” I said rubbing my neck. A hot bath sounded way better than going for a wild drive.“Come on Naomi! Just one quick ride. Please? It'll be fun! We can play some music feel the wind... it's a great way to relax after a long day. It's like therapy but with a car.” She was already pulling my arm and she wouldn't give up.“I really don't know Layla.
Naomi's POV“Naomi are you sure about this?” Layla's voice was shaking loudly. I looked at her her hands were tight as she held the car door. “That car... it's still there right?”“Yes Layla it is.” I said my voice steady even though I was getting nervous inside. “I'm sick of being followed all the time. I'm going to figure out who they are and what they want.”I signaled pulling the Porsche Boxster over to a quiet and empty part of the road. The car behind us - a black sedan plain and creepy - slowed down and then stopped a short distance away.“Naomi no! What are you doing?” Layla almost yelled. “We should leave! Now! Please just leave!”I ignored her growing worry taking off my seatbelt.“What's wrong Layla? You're acting like you've seen something scary. I can take care of myself you know that. Even if things get a little heated.” I cracked my fingers trying to seem confident even though I wasn't feeling it.Layla grabbed my arm holding on really tight.“It's not you I'm worried a
If bad decisions had a face, it would be this.I held the steering wheel tight and looked up at the familiar roads ahead like they were the gates of hell. Five years. Five years of deliberately avoiding this place, and here I was now, driving myself back into the nonsense.“Deep breaths, Naomi,” I told myself. “You are older and wiser and hotter — okay, maybe not wiser, but definitely hotter. You’ve got this."Lies. All of it.Because no amount of pep talk was going to fix the reality that I’d be returning to the place that had witnessed me at my very lowest. The place where my mate — my one and only soulmate I was attractive to — stared me down and pushed me away like clearance sale items nobody wanted.But today wasn’t about him. It was for my little brother, Theo. The one person over the years who had consistently tried to emotionally blackmail me every time I spoke to them."Mom and Dad miss you. I miss you. How long are you going to keep pretending to be a runaway criminal?” I ha
My jaw clenches; I smile through it. Clara. Just hearing her name makes me want to throw up. But this is her, standing in my family’s house, as if she owns the place. And worse—she actually does."Naomi!" she shrieks, the words squeaking out of her in a voice so high-pitched it drips with false enthusiasm.Someone get me an eye-roller so I can roll my eye into another dimension. So instead, I do what anyone with a modicum of self-respect would do in my position — I fake it."Clara! Oh my God, look at you! Glowing!" As all my pitch shifts toward the sun, I say. I add a slight head tilt for added impact.Her hands upon her swollen belly, and her lips curl into a smug smile. “Pregnancy looks good on me, huh?”Like a well-fed leech,” I whisper."What was that?" She asks, brows knitting.“I said, ‘Look at you, peach!’ “ I lie sweetly, giving her an arm pat as if I am the very best of friends with her.She giggles, and I fight the urge to scream. And, of course, my brother Theo is gazing at
Naomi's POV“Naomi are you sure about this?” Layla's voice was shaking loudly. I looked at her her hands were tight as she held the car door. “That car... it's still there right?”“Yes Layla it is.” I said my voice steady even though I was getting nervous inside. “I'm sick of being followed all the time. I'm going to figure out who they are and what they want.”I signaled pulling the Porsche Boxster over to a quiet and empty part of the road. The car behind us - a black sedan plain and creepy - slowed down and then stopped a short distance away.“Naomi no! What are you doing?” Layla almost yelled. “We should leave! Now! Please just leave!”I ignored her growing worry taking off my seatbelt.“What's wrong Layla? You're acting like you've seen something scary. I can take care of myself you know that. Even if things get a little heated.” I cracked my fingers trying to seem confident even though I wasn't feeling it.Layla grabbed my arm holding on really tight.“It's not you I'm worried a
Naomi's POVA loud scream cut through the evening air making me jump. I had just gotten out of the car feeling the usual tiredness of a long day of work in my shoulders.“Wow Naomi this car is amazing!” Layla screamed her voice full of really strong excitement.My eyes went where hers did. The red Porsche Boxster sports car a gift from Alpha Logan shone under the streetlights. It still felt strange to own something so fancy. I gave a tired smile.“Hey Layla. Glad you like it.”“I love it! I'm totally into it! We have to try it out right now!” She jumped up and down her eyes sparkling with fun.“Layla I just got home from work. I'm really tired.” I said rubbing my neck. A hot bath sounded way better than going for a wild drive.“Come on Naomi! Just one quick ride. Please? It'll be fun! We can play some music feel the wind... it's a great way to relax after a long day. It's like therapy but with a car.” She was already pulling my arm and she wouldn't give up.“I really don't know Layla.
Naomi's POV“Lunch?” I said suddenly the word floating between us. Had I really just asked my boss Alpha Logan to lunch? I was surprised I'd asked him of all people. He's my boss after all. My face turned bright red and I prepared for him to say no for things to get awkward.Alpha Logan's eyebrows went up a look of surprise crossing his face. I held my breath ready to take it back to say it was a lunch for work anything to fix the situation.“Lunch sounds... great.” he said a real smile spreading across his face. I felt a big relief wash over me all at once.“Really?” I had to ask showing how surprised I was.“Really.” he said his eyes shining. “I'm very hungry. And to be honest I need a rest from Brandon's idea anyway“.He grabbed his keys the sound a comforting familiar thing in the really weird moment.“Let's get out of here.”As we walked through the office I couldn't help but notice the sneaky looks and the smiles that some of the workers gave each other.I tried to ignore them t
Marcus' POVThe door closed behind Alpha Brandon. I leaned back in my chair. That working together... it was something I had to do. A bad thing made slightly better with a small amount of good.Alpha Brandon's idea was simple Glam Parlour and Spectra Style House working together to create designs for the upcoming Luna Festival. A big show of pack unity. A total and complete fake.The truth was I never planned to work fairly with Logan. Spectra Style House was a problem for me a constant competitor that tried to take Glam Parlour's place as the top design house in the area.This team-up wasn't about working together it was about gaining an advantage. A chance to figure out Spectra Style House's flaws to show its weaknesses and to eventually take it down from the inside.I put my fingers together a sneaky look flashing in my eyes. Logan thought he was getting a teammate but he was heading right into a trap. A trap I had set myself.A loud noise outside my door surprised me and stopped m
Logan's POV“What was that Brandon?” I almost shouted once we were far enough away from her office walking down the hall to mine.Brandon acting like he didn't care brushed me off.“What? I was just looking at the nice buildings. Your design company is really improving Logan. I can see why you're so happy.”“Stop playing games with me.” I said sharply stopping in the hallway. A couple of my workers walked around us looking nervous. I spoke softer but still firmly. “You can't just walk into people's offices especially not here. And definitely not making them feel uneasy.”“Uncomfortable?” Brandon raised an eyebrow a smirk on his lips. “Or is it something else Logan?”What was he getting at? I could feel my face getting hot a clear sign I was getting angry.“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked loudly moving closer to him getting in his face.”He laughed and it annoyed me.“Come on Logan. You had to notice how you looked at her. That little gleam of interest in your eyes.” He stopped
Naomi's POVThe noise of the crowd got quieter and sounded like a buzz as I got out of the car. I blinked feeling surprised. People were clapping and cheering. For me?This was only my second day at Spectra Style House. I hadn't done anything special in just sixteen hours of work so why were they treating me like a hero?I looked around a confused smile on my face. What was happening?The crowd moved a little as a woman I kind of recalled her name was Sarah from marketing came up. Her face showed a lot of excitement.“Naomi! We all know what you did!” She said loudly her voice heard over the other cheering people.“Did?” I repeated totally confused. “I... I don't get it.”“The trip!” Another employee a young guy with bright curious eyes spoke up. “The trip across No Man's Land! They said you did it yesterday! By yourself!”My mouth dropped open. The... the drive? Was that what this was about? No Man's Land was just an area with bad roads and a higher chance of rogue attacks not some s
Logan's POVI let out a deep sigh. Alpha Brandon. Redwood Pack. Just saying his name made me feel sick. He was a pain but a important customer of Spectra Style House bringing in a lot of money. But working with him was like moving through thick mud.“What does he want Eli?” I asked trying to sound calm.Eli moved uncomfortably his normal calm attitude changed to a bit of nervousness. “He said it's very important Logan. He wants to talk to you at the office tomorrow first thing.”I rubbed my temples. “Urgent huh? What makes something urgent to Brandon? A new fancy dog collar design? Or maybe he wants his team to wear uniforms with diamonds on them.” I laughed sarcastically.Eli just shrugged “He wasn't specific. Just said he needed to see you as early as possible.”“Okay.” I said leaning back in my chair. “Alright no problem. Tell him I'll be at the office as soon as I can.” I stopped something coming to mind. “Did he say anything else? Anything about who might come with him?” I was th
Naomi's POV“Logan where are we going?” I asked my voice tense. The engine noise was getting on my nerves. We'd been driving for what felt like forever farther and farther into the dark. Trees zoomed by the windows their shadows looking like scary figures on the side.Logan laughed a deep rough sound that didn't make me feel better. “Wait Naomi. It's a surprise.”“A surprise?” I said again my voice getting higher. “Logan I don't like surprises. Especially when they involve being taken and driven to the middle of nowhere.”“Kidnapped? Naomi I would never—”“Then tell me where we're going!” I said angrily my hands tightening into fists in my lap. I still felt hurt from what Marcus did and the thought of being trapped again of having no control made me feel sick.Logan sighed his hands gripped the wheel tighter. “Look I know you don't trust people easily but you can trust me. Okay? I won't hurt you.”“They all say that.” I said quietly feeling very upset.“Who are they Naomi?” Logan aske
Naomi's POVMy stomach tightened as Marcus's usual smell hit me. I hadn't seen him up close in... a long time. He walked up to our table with that annoyingly charming smile on his face.“Logan Naomi what a nice surprise.” he said slowly his eyes moving back and forth between us with clear curiosity. “It's great to see a strong couple together enjoying the results of their hard work.”My blood ran cold right away. Power couple? I laughed to myself. How dare he! He knew exactly what he was doing hurting me on purpose reminding me of what I'm not - what he decided I'm not good enough for. I felt a strong urge to fight back. I wouldn't let him see that he upset me. Not again.“Marcus.” I said my voice a bit too nice “it's great to see you. Yeah Logan and I thought we needed a real date. Work has been really busy lately.”I saw Marcus's jaw muscle move. Yes! Behind his fake smile he was really mad. I could almost feel it. I looked at Logan his face showed no emotion but I saw a quick flash