Chapter Five: My Alpha

Niklaus Heinrich

‘Disgusting.’

That was the first thought to fill Niklaus's head as he passed Lucien's sister, whose desperate green eyes watched his frame as he returned to the car.

"Nik...Nikky!"

She called to him using his nickname, a nickname that he had only permitted Lucien to use, but he never used that name past when he was drunk.

Rather than respond to the cries that were growing louder, Nikalus turned his gaze forward to prevent the annoying screech from grazing his ears; as if sensing his dismissal, his security team surrounded him to block her view of him as they opened the doors to his car for him.

"Nik! It’s me! Maya! We were engaged!"

This scream seemed to attract the paparazzi's attention, but as if it meant nothing to him, he settled in the car, and the door slammed shut.

After the outside noise turned hushed, Niklaus closed his eyes to relax his tired body and let the delicious taste of blood and tangerines play at the tip of his tongue, flooding his senses.

**

Lucien Sinclair

"So, what do you think?"

Chief Owen asks as he watches me pack the belongings Maya brought for me from home.

"What do I think about what, the mission? I don't exactly have a choice, do I?"

I respond nonchalantly—I want to retire.

"You do, actually."

Chief Owen says as he settles on my bed.

"What do you mean?"

"I asked the hacking team what the software virus was supposed to do, and apparently, it scrambles data."

A frown creases my brows.

"What do you mean?"

The question slips from my lips as I stop packing and instead turn to face Chief Owen.

I was sure the virus would upload the data from the computer to our servers, but ‘scrambling’ means that that bastard of a deputy commissioner used me to wipe a trail.

"Exactly what you think I mean. There has to be a reason that the chauvinistic pig asked you  ‘an omega’ when he hates omegas so much; you have the highest success rates in missions. You were his best bet."

"Is that a compliment? It doesn't feel like one; get better, chief."

"I told you, when we are alone, you can call me Owen.”

“Again with that? You write my checks; I want every opportunity to ask for a raise.”

I respond, and he chuckles.

"What if...we nail him, Luci?”

The chief asks in a low whisper just as I resume my packing, and when I say nothing, he continues.

“We both know there is no way he will let you retire in peace; let's nail him and his backer, clean up the force and-"

" I care even less for the force. My sympathy language is dollars and retirement promises.”

“I will let you retire after the mission, Luci, I promise.”

“And money?”

“I will add a seventy-five per cent bonus to the set pay now.”

"How kind."

I respond with a slow smile.

“You won't betray me, will you?”

“No. I’ll always help you, Luci, you know that.”

"Fine. I’ll see what I can dig up at Heinrich’s headquarters; one stone, two birds, should be easy enough if we can expose Heinrich, too. I’ll need a safe house, off the grid and preferably at a tropical place, I miss the beach.”

The chief nods at my words before standing and walking towards the door, but he doesn’t open it.

"So…you and director Heinrich-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

I cut him off as I zip up my duffle bag.

"I heard you were partners."

I let out a sigh at his insistence.

"He seems to like you."

"Hah! Like me? No way."

"He does, Luci.”

 The way the chief calls my name causes me to soften the expression of disgust that laced my face.

"His pheromones-"

"I guarantee he hates me just as much as I hate him. No, I hate him more, so I guess that's not possible. Anyway, don't worry; my feelings won't interfere with the mission."

I say and lift my bag, only for the chief to take it off my shoulders.

"I can carry that-"

“Tell me that when you are out of bandages, I'll drop you at your sister's place."

He insists.

I want to say ‘it's my house too’, but instead, I simply nod; I am not in Ferndale long enough to claim it as my home.

**

"Take care, Luci; I'll contact you tomorrow before you get started. And..."

"And?"

I ask, leaning over the window to gaze at Chief Owen, who is drumming his fingers over the steering wheel, seemingly contemplating something.

"Fucking...shower. "

"What?"

"You reek."

Pressing my pits to my nose, I inhale loudly and frown at him.

"Hey, that's not fair-"

"Not body odour, that asshole's pheromones are all over you."

"Still? I showered before you arrived in my room, I swear."

“You can’t feel it? Get your chip checked; maybe something is wrong.”

"Right.”

I agree passively and slam the door to his car before taking a step back and watching chief Owen's large Prado speed away.

“Seriously, I can't smell anything. Am I turning back into a beta?"

I ask myself, barely able to contain the hope in my voice as I walk towards the house; maybe I should have gotten myself a hotel room or apartment; what if I'm intruding-

Before the thought can be fully formed in my mind, I notice a small body with light brown hair pressed to the door.

"Oh my God, Maya!"

My bag drops to the ground as I rush to cradle the small body.

"Maya…are you sleeping? God’s sake, Maya, why would you sleep outside? Are you crazy?"

"Lu- Luci?'

She calls as she squints her eyes, but as soon as she recognises me, her eyes turn desperate, and her fingernails dig into my shirt.

"Luci, I saw him, I-...why? Why do you smell like my alpha?"

Her words are hostile as if she doesn't recognise me as her brother.

"Maya.”

I call, holding her hands so she stops gripping my clothes, but that only causes her fingers to tighten against my garments.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don't act like you don't know. You met him, didn't you? I knew he was going to see you, but he didn't even turn to me when I called to him. Why did Nikky go to you?”

Nikky? Are you kidding me?

“I can't disclose the details. It's a work thing, come on, let's go inside; I'll make you some hot cocoa and-"

"Why do you smell like my alpha, Lucien?"