2. Holden

CHAPTER TWO

HOLDEN

The fire crackled softly, sending flickers of light dancing across the log walls. The lounge wasn't packed, but it had a good number of people for this time of day, and I knew it would only get louder as it got later. West and I had managed to grab a spot near the window, where I could watch the last bit of daylight disappear behind the Blue Ridge Mountains. My laptop was open to the quarterly numbers, but all I wanted was to close it and get out of here.

So why don't you?

This was supposed to be my day off—one of the few times I could enjoy some downtime—but, of course, business never took a break.

Don't you mean you never take a break?

Maybe that was true, but the saying about idle minds wasn't wrong... The last thing I needed was to let my mind wander.

"You need to hire another social media manager," I said, not even looking up from my laptop at my brother.

West was leaning back in his chair, arms hanging over the sides like he didn't give a shit about anything—as usual. "We can't just hire anyone, Holden. You know that. It's not like we're some basic-ass 9-to-5 office job. We're an outdoor company. We need someone who at least knows how to pitch a tent. Oh, and knows what it means when you say pitch a tent. "

I glanced up, exhaling slowly. "This is the fourth one you've fired this year."

"Yeah, because the last one didn't know jack about the outdoors. Never been camping in his life," West said, shaking his head like he still couldn't believe it. "Who the hell applies to work for an outdoor brand and has never set foot in the woods? Who does that? We need someone who, at the very least, actually likes going outdoors."

He had a point, but I wasn't in the mood to admit it. I didn't like things not getting done. And the fact that West was sitting there like it didn't matter only made me want to punch him even more.

Maybe I did need that day off.

Okay, so maybe I was a little annoyed at my brother's nonchalance, but that didn't mean we didn't need to fill the position ASAP.

"That's what you said last time. And the time before that. We're not looking for the next Crocodile Dundee, West. This is the fourth person you've fired in twelve months."

West rolled his eyes and snorted. "We'll find someone when we find them. Because the last guy? He'd never even been camping. He couldn't tell a hiking boot from a flip-flop if his life depended on it, but somehow, he still thought he was an expert on running an outdoor company's social media.

"Like, who applies to work for an outdoor store and has never stepped foot in the woods? Who does that? And seriously, Crocodile Dundee, really, bro? Do better. That was like a million years ago."

I raised a brow. I was definitely not touching that one.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Just deal with it. Hire someone who knows what they're doing, or I'll do it myself."

West raised a brow at that, his lazy smirk making me want to walk away right then and there. "Oh yeah? Like hell you will. I'm the one who has to deal with them, not you. If you hire someone as clueless as the last one, I'm the one who has to train them. If you think I'm dealing with another clueless city kid who thinks hiking means walking to the corner store, and their only experience camping is waiting in line for the new iPhone, you've got another thing coming."

I was about to respond when the shift in the room had my bear sitting up. It was subtle at first—a soft tension that hung in the air, hinting that trouble was approaching. But then it became sharper, like the calm before the storm.

That was when the smell hit me. Sweet, sharp, and fuckin' unmistakable.

Shit! It was the scent of an omega on the verge of going into heat. I didn't need to look around to know where it was coming from. The entire room fell silent, and I could feel the focus of every unmated alpha lock in on the new arrival.

Fuck and damnation! I knew it wouldn't take much for things to get out of hand in a situation like this. One wrong move, and someone would start a fight. Omegas in heat had a way of causing trouble, whether they wanted to or not.

And that was the last fucking thing we needed today.

West sat up a little straighter, clearly amused. "Well, well. Looks like someone's about to make things interesting."

I ignored him, keeping my eyes on the laptop, even though the numbers blurred together. Focus. That's what I needed. Not this. Not the scent pulling at my senses.

The omega moved closer, his scent practically weaving through the air like a fucking siren's song—or at least what I imagined that would sound like.

Focus, Holden!

I kept my eyes down, pretending I didn't notice. But I felt him before I saw him. Too close. The warmth of his body radiated next to mine, his presence heavy in the space between us.

"Hey." His voice was low, sultry, already thick with the edge of his heat. "You wanna come up to my room for drinks?"

It wasn't an invitation for a drink, and we both knew it. He was offering something more—something that most alphas would jump at without a second thought. An omega on the verge of heat? For most, that was a recipe for hours of mindless, rut-driven sex.

But I wasn't most alphas.

I glanced up, just enough to meet his gaze, then went back to my screen. "No, thank you."

West nearly choked on his drink, laughing loud enough to draw a few stares. He leaned forward, grinning like a wolf. "I like drinks," he said, tossing a playful wink in the omega's direction.

The omega shifted his attention to West, his eyes lighting up at the offer. Of course, West would entertain it. He always did. He wasn't one to pass up an opportunity like this.

I rolled my eyes as West stood, clapping me on the shoulder before taking a step toward the omega. "Good luck, bro. Have fun dealing with all the real work." He tossed the words over his shoulder, clearly ready to dip out and leave me to finish what we had started.

Typical.

The omega flashed a bright smile at West before following him out of the room, their combined scent hanging in the air long after they left.

I sighed, closing my laptop and leaning back in the chair, staring into the fire for a moment.

Alone. Again.

And whose fault is that?

It wasn't that I didn't want what they had—the carefree attitude, the ability to just enjoy life without the weight of responsibility crushing down on them. I envied West sometimes, the way he could jump in with both feet like it was nothing. But I couldn't. I made a promise to myself a long time ago—one I had no intention of breaking.

No humans. Not ever again.

It's safer, remember... for them!

The fire crackled softly, the room slowly filling up with idle chatter again as the tension from the omega's presence faded. But the lingering scent was still there, like a ghost of something I would never have. Or never allow myself to have.

I couldn't afford to get distracted. I'd learned my lesson years ago. One wrong move, one broken rule, and it had cost me more than I was willing to admit.

I had responsibilities. A business to run. Brothers who depended on me, even if they pretended not to.

Noah's voice echoed in the back of my mind—his words from years ago still ringing true. "You're different, Holden. You're always trying to control things because you're afraid of what happens if you let go."

Maybe he was right. Maybe I was afraid. But fear kept me in line. Kept me from fucking up and hurting people I cared about. It kept me from making the same mistake twice. And that was something I couldn't afford to forget.

I stood up, stretching out the stiffness in my shoulders before grabbing my laptop. West could handle the social media manager situation later. Right now, I needed to get back to work.

You mean bury yourself away from anything remotely that looks like living?

I ignored the stupid and definitely unwanted reminder.

As I made my way toward the door, I caught a glimpse of West at the far end of the lounge, the omega practically draped over him as they waited for the elevator. I shook my head, biting back the familiar pang of jealousy. Not for the omega—but for the ease with which my brother could live his life. Carefree. Untouched by the weight that I carried every day.

But that was the difference between us. West could afford to live like that. I couldn't. Not anymore.

I knew the cost, and it was too high.

I left the lounge, the door closing behind me, cutting off the warmth of the fire and the lingering scent of temptation. Business came first. It always would.

It's the only way!

And if a small voice called me a liar, I ignored it for the thousandth time.