5. Mylo

CHAPTER FIVE

MYLO

Day eight at the resort kitchen, and I still couldn't believe how lucky I'd gotten. Every time I thought about it, I broke into a cold sweat and couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in my gut that if Noah hadn't run into me that day, I'd probably be homeless right now—or worse. It was hard not to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was someone out there looking out for me. Me? Someone looking out for me? Yeah, right.

Still, Noah and his family... they'd been nothing short of amazing. Every single one of them. I didn't want to think about where I'd be without them. My chest tightened at the thought. Everyone here had welcomed me like I was already part of the family.

Well, almost everyone.

I shook my head and tried to focus on the task at hand, chopping vegetables while Sarah—Holden's sister-in-law (it was funny how I always thought of her in relation to Holden, not Noah)—moved gracefully around the kitchen. She was mated to Indigo, Holden's sister, and for whatever reason, she'd taken a shine to me. Honestly, I had no idea why, but I wasn't complaining.

Sarah had this easygoing way about her that made working in the kitchen feel less like work and more like... I don't know, hanging out with a friend who just happened to be an absolute genius when it came to food. She had a knack for breaking things down in a way that made sense, and I was learning more from her in a few days than I'd learned at school.

And really, apart from Tyler, I didn't have any friends until now.

"How's that soup coming along?" Sarah asked, glancing over her shoulder with a playful grin. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy bun, a few loose strands falling across her forehead.

I wiped my hands on my apron and took a quick look at the simmering pot. "Pretty sure I nailed it. Might even be better than yours," I teased.

She snorted, tossing a towel at me. "Oh, please, rookie. You've got a long way to go before you even come close."

I caught the towel with a grin. "Maybe, but I'm getting there."

"That's the spirit," she said, turning back to the stove. "You're picking this up faster than I expected."

"Thanks, but honestly, I feel like I'm getting way more out of this than I should. I still feel like I'm earning way more than I deserve. "

Who the fuck keeps bringing that up? But it was the truth. I should earn way less, especially since I didn't even have to pay for my accommodation.

She waved me off without looking at me, like I'd just said something absurd. "Don't start with that again. We've been over this. You're doing great work, and that's what matters. Besides, you're part of the team now."

I tried not to let her words hit too hard, but it wasn't easy. Part of the team. It had been a long time since... I snorted. Maybe never since I'd felt like I was part of anything. And hearing it now... well, it felt good. Too good.

But that didn't stop the nagging feeling that I didn't really belong here. That maybe they were being too nice. I couldn't help it. Every time I tried to bring up the fact that they were paying me more than I was worth, Sarah or Noah—or someone else—would brush it off like it didn't matter.

"Okay, fine," I said, holding my hands up in mock surrender. "I won't bring it up again. Promise."

"Good," Sarah said with a wink. "Now, about that sauce?—"

"I think I got it right," I said, "but I can try again if you think it's missing something."

She grinned, wiping her hands on her apron. "You're doing great, Mylo. Honestly, I'm impressed. Not many people pick up this stuff as quickly as you do."

I felt my cheeks heat up a bit at the compliment, but before I could respond, Sarah glanced toward the door, and my stomach dropped. I didn't even have to look to know who had just walked in.

Holden.

My hands instinctively tightened around the cutting board. Of course, he had to show up now.

He stopped short when he saw me. It was written all over his face that he was clearly not expecting me to be there. His sharp brown eyes flickered between me and Sarah, his expression unreadable. For a second, I thought maybe he'd just turn around and leave.

But no such luck. He turned to Sarah, his expression unreadable as usual.

"Didn't mean to interrupt," he muttered.

Sarah waved him off, completely unfazed by the tension in the room. "You're not interrupting anything. We're just finishing up. What's up?"

Holden shifted slightly, his eyes flicking to me again before he spoke. "Wanted to talk to you about the inventory, but I can wait."

Sorry, he muttered under his breath, his voice low. Didn't realize you'd be here.

"No worries," Sarah chimed in, seemingly oblivious to the sudden tension that had settled in the room. "We're just finishing up some prep. What's up?"

Holden's eyes flicked toward me again, and I could feel my pulse quicken. God, why did he have to affect me like this? Every time he was around, it was like all the air got sucked out of the room, leaving me standing there, struggling to breathe. And it wasn't just his size or the way he carried himself—though that definitely didn't help. It was something else, something... more.

Remember you're here to cook, and learn, and nothing else. No alphas!

"I just came to talk to you about the inventory stuff you mentioned," Holden said, his voice clipped. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

Sarah waved a hand, still stirring the sauce. "You're not interrupting anything. Mylo's got the soup under control, and we're good for now."

Holden's eyes flicked toward me again, and I had to stop myself from flinching. We barely exchanged words when we crossed paths, yet every time he looked at me, it felt like he saw straight through me—like he knew something I didn't.

Even when he wasn't looking directly at me, I could feel the weight of his gaze. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, leaving a tension between us that I couldn't explain. Something unspoken and heavy lingered in the air. I wanted to ask him what his problem was, why he always seemed ready to bolt whenever I was near, but I bit my tongue and stayed quiet.

You're the employee; he's the boss, I reminded myself.

"You can talk in front of Mylo," Sarah said casually, stirring the pot on the stove. "Unless it's a big secret?"

Holden grunted, clearly not interested in continuing the conversation with me there. "I'll catch you later."

I watched as he turned and walked out without another word, the door swinging shut behind him. The second he was gone, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

What. The. Hell.

I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath the whole time. What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I get so tense around him? He barely noticed me... apparently hated me, and yet here I was, acting like an idiot every time he was in the same room.

"Don't mind him," Sarah said, breaking the silence. "He's... complicated."

"Yeah, I've noticed," I muttered, wiping my hands on a towel. "Does he always act like this?"

Sarah gave me a sideways glance, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Only when he doesn't know how to handle something."

I frowned, and glanced toward the door where Holden had disappeared. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged, not offering any more details. "Let's just say Holden's got a lot going on. It's not personal."

I let out a short laugh, more for show than anything else. "Yeah, well, complicated doesn't even begin to cover this."

I probably shouldn't speak so freely about her brother-in-law, but seriously, what was with him?

Sarah chuckled, but there was a softness in her eyes when she looked at me. "Give him time. He's got a lot on his shoulders. Just don't take it personally, okay?"

Sure feels personal, I thought but didn't say. I wasn't going to get into it. Whatever his deal was— not my circus, not my monkeys. It was probably... definitely best to keep my head down and stay out of his way. The last thing I needed was to piss off the guy in charge.

I nodded, even though I wasn't sure I believed her. I wanted to. But there was something about Holden that made it hard to believe he'd ever let anyone in—least of all me.

It seemed like every time I was near him, the guy acted like he'd rather be anywhere else. The tension was so thick I could feel it in the air, like an invisible wall between us. I could swear it was just me. Maybe he didn't like something about me—maybe my scent was off or something. I mean, alphas were picky like that, right? But still, it made me feel wrong, and no matter what I did, the guy barely looked at me, let alone spoke to me.

It was driving me crazy.

I tried to play it cool, keep my head down, and focus on the job, but it wasn't easy. Especially when every time he walked into a room, it felt like all the oxygen got sucked out. I caught him a few days ago, staring at me from across the lodge, and the second our eyes met, he spun on his heel and disappeared before I could blink. Then there was another time—he was coming down the path, spotted me, and immediately turned around, detouring in another direction.

What was his deal? Did I do something to piss him off? I'd barely said two words to the guy.

I wiped down the counter, trying to get my mind back on track. Sarah was talking me through one of her recipes, her voice light and cheerful as usual. She had this way of making everything feel... easy. Like no matter what, things would turn out fine.

"So, once the sauce thickens, you're going to lower the heat," Sarah said, demonstrating as she spoke. "Let it simmer for a bit, and then it's good to go."

I nodded, trying to keep my focus on her, but my thoughts kept circling around Holden. I couldn't shake it. There was something about the way he looked at me—something tense and... guarded. Almost like he was trying to figure me out, but not in a good way. More like he was waiting for me to mess up.

I pushed the thought aside, forcing a smile as Sarah glanced back at me. "Got it. I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of this."

"You are. Trust me, you're a great addition to the staff." Sarah's smile softened as she changed the subject. "Anyway, I was thinking... You've been doing really well here, and we'd love for you to stay long term. But I know this place isn't for everyone. So, I thought maybe you could use a little break to enjoy the area, fall in love with the place."

"Uh, what do you mean?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She grinned. "Horseback riding. Have you ever been?"

I blinked. "Horseback riding? No. Not unless you count watching it on TV."

"Well, then it's about time you gave it a try," she said with a wink. "And I know just the person to take you."

Before I could even ask, she gave me a look that made my stomach sink. "Holden."

I almost choked. "Wait, what?"

What I really wanted to say was, Are you smoking something, lady?

"Holden," she repeated, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He knows the area better than anyone. Plus, he's great with the horses. You'll have fun."

"I'm not so sure he feels the same way," I said, trying to keep my tone light, even though the idea of spending any extended time alone with Holden made me more nervous…and excited than I cared to admit. "He doesn't seem like... the chatty type."

Sarah waved me off. "Don't worry about that. He'll warm up to you."

I highly doubted that, but there was no arguing with Sarah once she had her mind set on something. She patted my shoulder, already moving toward the door. "I'll go talk to him, see if he can take you tomorrow."

"Wait—what if he says no?" I asked, half hoping he would.

From across the kitchen, someone let out a chuckle—probably Greg, a middle-aged guy who always had an opinion and wasn't shy about sharing it. "Holden say no? Not likely, kid."

Sarah shot Greg a pointed glare, and he quickly coughed into his hand, pretending to look busy.

She paused at the door, glancing over her shoulder with a smirk. "He won't."

She sounded so sure... Well, that made one of us.

And just like that, she was gone, leaving me standing in the kitchen, my mind racing with all the reasons why this was a bad idea. Spending time alone with Holden was the last thing I wanted to do. He barely tolerated me as it was. Hell, I was pretty sure he hated me.

I suddenly felt a prickling sensation, like someone was watching me. I glanced around the kitchen, but everyone was busy. Greg was stirring a pot, Sarah had left, and the rest of the staff were focused on their own tasks. I shook my head, feeling stupid. Paranoid much, Mylo? I needed to get a grip.

Still, a tiny part of me—the part that couldn't stop thinking about Holden, even when I knew I shouldn't—wondered what it would be like. Maybe this was my chance to figure him out, to get past whatever wall he had between us. Or maybe I was just setting myself up for more confusion and frustration.

Either way, it looked like I didn't have much of a choice.

Suck it up, Mylo! This is possibly the best job you'll ever get.

By the time I finished up and headed out of the kitchen, the sun was already starting to set. The air was cool and crisp, and I took a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs as I made my way back to my little cabin. It was quiet here, peaceful in a way I hadn't ever experienced. And despite everything—the tension with Holden, the uncertainty of my future—I couldn't deny that this place had a way of settling my nerves.

I liked it here. More than I expected to.

Maybe Sarah was right. Maybe I just needed to let myself fall in love with the place.

And maybe, just maybe, I'd figure out what the hell was going on with him in the process.

One day at a time, I reminded myself as I unlocked the door to my cabin. One step at a time.

You're damn lucky to be here, and don't you forget it. You can get one alpha to like you... or at the very least tolerate you before he ruins everything.