11. Colton

Exiting the suffocating boardroom,Colton unraveled his tie with a deft motion, the fabric slipping against his skin as he made his way down the hallway toward the sanctuary of his office. The relentless back-and-forth exchanges and trivial squabbles that had unfolded among the high-power board members had slowly chipped away at his formidable patience, and a hammering tension headache began to stake its claim, throbbing at his temples.

Approaching the threshold of his office, Colton"s keen senses picked up on an anomalous vibe permeating the workspace. The employees, typically the epitome of industrious focus, were now stationed at their desks like vigilant sentinels, their postures rigid with anticipation. A network of subdued murmurs undulated discreetly among them, stirring the air with the electricity of covert excitement.

Compelled to uncover the disruption to the day"s usual disciplined productivity, Colton advanced with a stealth that belied his commanding presence. Peering surreptitiously, he discerned the object of their collective intrigue—a lithe silhouette, adorned in the modest garb of a coffee shop employee, had made an unlikely appearance in Jaxon"s office.

Delcy.

A wisp of a smile tugged at the corners of Colton"s mouth, softening the harsh lines that had settled there earlier. The mere sight of her was like a balm, soothing the seething frustration that had been simmering within him since the morning"s vexing board meeting. He allowed himself a brief respite, admiring how she juxtaposed against the sterile environment of their office space—a vibrant rose daring to flourish in a landscape of unyielding gray.

Was she here to deliver coffee again? It must be Jaxon who had ordered.

He couldn"t help but notice the way some of the other employees" gazes lingered on her with undisguised curiosity and interest, setting his jaw in a hard line. It was an intrusion of her space, an affront he felt compelled to shield her from.

Colton hurried forward, heedless of the eyes turning toward him as the staff noticed his swift approach. Flustered and abashed at being caught gawking by their formidable boss, they spun back to their computers, feigning industry, but Colton was too focused on Delcy to care about their scrutiny.

With each determined stride, Colton"s sharp gaze pierced through the narrow glass partition separating him from the unfolding scene. Through the translucent barrier, he caught the distinct silhouettes of two figures, their proximity suggesting an intimacy that sent a jolt through him.

He watched, his heart hammering against his rib cage, as Jaxon"s arms encircled Delcy in a protective embrace. The sight of them together, coupled with the earlier intrusion of his employees" lingering stares, fueled a sense of urgency within him. Colton hastened his pace, an unspoken resolve propelling him forward, eager to bridge the gap that seemed to grow more intolerable with each passing second.

Swinging the door open with a decisive motion, Colton"s gaze locked on the tender scene before him—Jaxon"s lips pressed firmly against Delcy"s in a kiss that seemed to blur the world around them. A sharp pang, unbidden and intense, clutched at Colton"s heart, halting him in his tracks.

He stood there, a moment of hesitation washing over him, torn between the urge to intrude and the unexpected desire to respect their closeness. Yet beneath that fleeting reluctance, a deep, primal possessiveness began to simmer, threatening to boil over with the force of his untamed emotions.

Colton allowed a brief moment to lapse, an eternity in the space of heartbeats, before he mustered the fortitude to break the charged silence. He cleared his throat deliberately, a sound that seemed to echo through the room. His gaze remained locked on the pair as Jaxon, with a hint of reluctance shadowing his features, ceased the intimate embrace and created a sliver of distance between himself and Delcy. She appeared ruffled, her cheeks flushed with a telltale rose hue, and to Colton, she was the epitome of beauty in her disarray.

"Brother, you"re just in time," Jaxon said breezily. "Delcy was kind enough to bring us coffee."

Colton shifted his gaze to the coffee carrier in Delcy"s hand.

"Wonderful. I"m in need of a caffeine boost," he said, his voice steady despite the undercurrent of possessiveness still simmering within him.

Delcy, her cheeks still flushed from Jaxon"s lingering kiss, gave a slight nod and moved to distribute the coffees. Her hands trembled almost imperceptibly as she passed Colton his cup, a detail that didn"t escape his watchful eye. He studied her intently as he accepted it, taking in the alluring scent of her omega pheromones mingling delicately with the rich aroma of the coffee beans.

He took an appreciative sip, the bold flavor mingling with the headier taste of her that still lingered on his tongue from their brief kiss a few days ago. It only served to heighten his reaction to her, stirring a primal urge that he kept carefully leashed.

"I should get going now. Enjoy the coffee," she said, clearly eager to make her escape from the charged room. She moved hastily toward the door.

"What about my kiss?" Colton said smoothly, halting her retreat. "You"ve offered Jaxon one, surely there"s one for me too?"

Delcy flushed an even deeper rose, clearly flustered by the request. Jaxon let out an amused laugh at his brother"s audacity.

"I don"t think..." Delcy said hesitantly.

"It"s only fair," Colton said, unwilling to let her slip away so easily.

Delcy hesitated a moment longer before stepping closer on unsteady feet. Rising on her tiptoes, she placed a featherlight, fleeting kiss to Colton"s lips. It was over before he could fully savor the feel of her mouth on his.

"That"s rather subpar, isn"t it?" he said, a hint of a smile playing about his mouth.

Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Delcy trembled against him as he deepened the caress, sweeping his tongue past her parted lips. He relished the taste of her, softer and sweeter than any coffee. As she tentatively responded, he felt a heady rush of satisfaction, pleased by her acquiescence.

When he finally broke the kiss, Delcy looked thoroughly dazed. She blinked up at him, lips pink and swollen from the force of his passion.

"I... I should go," she stammered. With a hurried farewell, she turned and rushed from the office.

Jaxon let out an amused chuckle as he watched her hasty departure.

"You don"t waste any time, brother."

Colton simply smiled, the last vestiges of his earlier dark mood vanishing beneath the glow of triumph that suffused him. He took another sip of coffee, his thoughts lingering on the tempting taste of Delcy that still clung to his tongue.

Outside the office, he noticed his employees frozen in place, their attention rapt and eyes wide as they took in the intimate scene that had unfolded. More than one jaw had dropped open in shock at the sight of their usually stern boss smiling and kissing the omega barista.

Colton paid them no mind, secure in the knowledge that Delcy belonged to him and Jaxon alone. He turned and stepped back into his brother"s office, anticipation already building for their next encounter.

* * *

In the sprawlingexpanse of Colton"s penthouse, two brothers sat ensconced in leather armchairs that reflected their disparate personalities. Colton, with his aura of enigmatic darkness, settled into the chair like a king upon a throne, the weight of his presence commanding every inch of the room. The soft glow of city lights spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a subdued light that seemed to dance with the shadows around him.

Jaxon lounged across from him, all radiant energy and effortless charm. Where Colton"s colors were midnight and storm clouds, Jaxon was sunshine and clear skies. He had an innate ability to brighten even the most austere environments with a grin that seemed to promise adventure and laughter.

Their differences had been the bedrock of their relationship since childhood—Colton, the brooding strategist who played chess with life"s challenges, and Jaxon, the impulsive dreamer who saw life as a playground. Growing up in the lap of luxury had not dulled their competitive spirits. They had vied for everything from grades to sports accolades, each victory a notch on an invisible tally that only they kept score of.

Now, as adults at the helm of Sterling Enterprises, their competitive edge hadn"t dulled. If anything, it had sharpened into something more potent, more driven. Yet despite their rivalry, there was an unspoken pact between them—a brotherly bond that nothing could sever.

And then came Delcy—quiet, resilient Delcy with her skittish demeanor and eyes that held galaxies of untold stories. She was an enigma wrapped in modesty, her allure not found in opulence but in her genuine essence. Both brothers were drawn to her with an intensity they hadn"t experienced before. She wasn"t a fleeting desire or a passing fancy; she stirred something deep within them, a yearning for something real and raw.

Jaxon broke the silence that had settled over them.

"We need to figure out how we"re going to proceed with Delcy," he said, leaning forward as he rested his elbows on his knees.

Colton shifted in his chair, a silent acknowledgment.

"Yes," he said, his gaze locked on the report sprawled across the coffee table, a dossier on Lydia Hamill and her connections to Delcy. "The report doesn"t make sense," he mused aloud. "Delcy"s world is light-years away from Lydia"s."

Jaxon picked up the papers, scanning through them once more.

"Lydia"s not even an alpha," he pointed out, his brow furrowing slightly as he read over the investigator"s findings again.

"Born from an alpha father and beta mother... youngest of three..." Jaxon continued to mutter details under his breath. "The only beta alongside her estranged mother."

Colton nodded thoughtfully.

"Delcy"s parents worked for Lydia"s family. It seems they grew up together." He could not help but wonder how two people from such divergent worlds could maintain a friendship when everything about their lives was so starkly different.

"Maybe it"s not friendship as we know it," Jaxon suggested with a shrug.

Colton considered this for a moment before responding.

"Possibly. But Delcy doesn"t strike me as someone who would endure superficiality for long."

They both knew Delcy had been unwittingly caught in Lydia"s web, dragged into this game without knowledge of the Alpha Gold Club or its implications. The realization settled heavily between them, a silent agreement that they would shield her from Lydia"s machinations.

The conversation turned back to Delcy, how they should approach her now that she"d entered their orbit so unexpectedly yet completely.

"We need to be careful," Colton said firmly. "She"s already wary around alphas." His protective instincts surged at the thought of anyone causing Delcy discomfort or harm.

Jaxon stood up and paced the room, a restless energy about him that echoed Colton"s own inner turmoil.

"We should buy out her contract," he said suddenly, stopping in his tracks.

Colton"s eyes narrowed slightly at the suggestion. Buying Delcy"s contract outright would essentially make her exclusive to them at the Alpha Gold Club. It was a bold move, but not an unusual one among the club"s elite patrons. It was also an extreme measure, but one that would ensure Delcy"s safety within the dangerous waters of the club, a place where predators masked their true natures with charm and wealth.

"You"re suggesting we become her exclusive patrons?" he asked, his tone even but laced with caution.

"Yes," Jaxon affirmed with conviction. "It will keep others from pursuing her. We could make it clear she"s off-limits. This also gives us time to show her that we"re different, that we genuinely care for her well-being."

Colton nodded slowly, turning the idea over in his mind. As much as it rankled him to think of Delcy as someone"s property, even temporarily, he knew this was the most expedient way to shield her from the club"s machinations. The thought of another alpha"s hands on her, another alpha"s teeth at her neck, made his jaw clench and his fists tighten involuntarily.

No, he wouldn"t stand for that. He and Jaxon were in agreement that this was the best way to protect Delcy.

"All right," he said. "Set up a meeting with Trenton for tomorrow evening. We"ll buy out her contract in full." His tone brooked no argument.

With a nod, Jaxon pulled out his phone, fingers dancing across the screen as he arranged the meeting.

Satisfied, Colton rose from his seat and walked to the window overlooking the dazzling skyline, hands clasped behind his back. He would ensure that Delcy was unharmed, that she would remain free from the Alpha Gold Club and blissfully unaware of the transaction made on her behalf.

Colton knew Delcy would never accept money or gifts from them. Her wariness of alphas ran bone-deep, and her pride was evident in the way she carried herself. She would not understand their motives, would not want to be indebted to them.

No, it was better she didn"t know. They would keep her sheltered, keep her safe in the little world she had built brick by brick through sheer resilience. She need never learn of werewolves in sheep"s clothing like Trenton and the Alpha Gold Club patrons just waiting to prey upon her.

Jaxon joined him at the window, a silent show of solidarity. Together, they would guard something precious and rare. Delcy had no status, no riches or pedigree, but she was a queen in her own right. And they would treat her as such, whether she knew it or not.

"It"s for the best," Jaxon said quietly, echoing Colton"s thoughts. His easy smile was gone, replaced by a solemnity Colton seldom saw in his younger brother. But Jaxon understood that with great power came great responsibility. And they now had the power to alter Delcy"s fate. They would not squander it.

Tomorrow night, the deal would be done. And Delcy would remain untouched, untainted by the machinations of those who saw humans as playthings. She would stay in her world of coffee shops and sketchpads, never privy to the shadows that lurked at the periphery.

Colton let out a weary sigh as the door to his penthouse clicked shut behind Jaxon, leaving him alone with his thoughts. In the ensuing silence, his mind inevitably drifted to Delcy—her shy smile, her soft voice, the tantalizing taste of her kiss.

He absently brushed his fingers over his lips, remembering their kiss earlier that day when he had pulled her in close, coveting more of her. It had taken every ounce of restraint not to haul her over his shoulder and take her to his office where he would do more than just kiss her. But he knew Delcy was skittish, wary of alphas and their intentions. Getting this far, getting her to accept his and Jaxon"s demanding kisses was good enough. He had to tread carefully so as not to startle her away.

Still, the wanting, the sheer need he felt to have her overwhelmed every rational thought. It was a dangerous, possessive desire that left his blood simmering. He both cherished her innocence and yearned to lay claim to every inch of her body and soul. She had awoken something primal within him that he had long kept buried.

With a weary sigh, Colton pushed himself up from the leather couch and headed to the master bedroom, loosening his tie along the way.

Sleep. He just needed sleep to clear his mind of these tempestuous thoughts.

Yet even as he slipped under the cool Egyptian cotton sheets, Delcy still consumed his mind. He could almost feel the phantom brush of her lips again, eliciting a frustrated groan. Tossing fitfully, he finally succumbed to exhaustion, Delcy"s brown eyes the last image imprinted on his mind before sleep overtook him.

At first, it was only darkness and the steady cadence of his own heartbeat. And then the dream began.

It started innocuously enough—he and Delcy were together in a meadow, the long grass swaying gently around them. Her smile was radiant, lighting up her features. She laughed, a sound like tinkling bells, and the joyful noise made his chest swell.

Reaching out, he drew her into his arms, reveling in the feel of her body pressed to his. Her omega scent all around him, sweet and intoxicating. Then suddenly, she was beneath him, soft and pliant as he covered her body with his.

The scene shifted abruptly—no longer a meadow but a lavish bedroom. Delcy was sprawled across silken sheets, bare skin glowing in the low light. Her lips parted, eyes glazed with desire as he leaned down to claim her mouth. It was everything he had fantasized about and yet, as the haze of lust cleared, something felt off.

The face looking up at him was no longer Delcy"s. It was the girl from seven years ago during his rut. Her face was a blur just as it had been that night when he had lost himself to primal madness.

"No, this can"t be happening again," he muttered, even as his dream-self roughly pulled the girl to him. He didn"t want to relive the darkest moment of his past. But he was powerless, unable to stop the horrific visions unfolding.

Over and over, he ravaged the girl"s prone form, lost to carnal hunger. Her cries faded into white noise as he indulged every savage desire. And through it all, her face morphed between the faceless girl and Delcy, mingling past and present sins.

Colton jerked awake, body coiled tight as a spring. His chest heaved with harsh breaths, skin damp with cold sweat. Disoriented, it took him a moment to get his bearings and recognize his bedroom.

Swallowing thickly, he sat up, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes. It had only been a dream, he told himself. But the shame burning through him felt starkly real. He thought he had made peace with the demons of his past, but they had returned with a vengeance, violating the purity of his feelings for Delcy.

Rage simmered in his veins. He was disgusted with himself for allowing old ghosts to taint something so precious. He should have better control by now. Yet he knew that no amount of restraint could leash the savage nature lurking within every alpha. It was their curse to bear.

Throwing off the covers, Colton stalked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, seeking to wash away the nightmare"s taint. But he could still feel it lingering like a shadow, a sense of foreboding settling heavily on his shoulders.

He braced his hands against the marble sink, head bowed. The truth stared back at him from the mirror. He was dangerous, corrupted by the same darkness that had claimed him before. Delcy deserved better than the monster masquerading as a man.

But even knowing this, Colton could not make himself stay away. She had slipped past his defenses, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. He needed her light to banish the darkness threatening to swallow him whole.

With a weary sigh, Colton flicked off the bathroom light and returned to bed. But sleep eluded him, thoughts churning endlessly. He had to find a way to protect Delcy, even if it was from himself. She could never know the depravity that simmered beneath the surface, barely contained. He would shield her from it, no matter the cost. He just prayed he was strong enough to defy the monster within. For Delcy"s sake, he had to be.