Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Holden

I lean against the kitchen counter, cursing myself for thinking Chloe could be interested in someone like me.

She's clearly smitten with Blake, and why wouldn't she be? He's tall, buff, and every inch the perfect Alpha. I can't help but feel inadequate when around him, especially where Chloe is concerned. No one ever gives me a second glance when the others are nearby.

Which isn't their fault, and I love them like they're my brothers. But when it comes to Omegas…

It's not that I'm in competition with Blake, but I know I'm the reason we haven't completed a courtship with an Omega yet. Not that we're courting Chloe, but there's a connection I haven't felt with any other Omega who's approached our pack.

It makes me want to spend as much time with her as possible, since her stay here is limited, but even that won't happen if Blake sweeps her off her feet.

As I run my fingers through my golden-brown locks, I take a deep breath. I need to stop hiding and go back out to rejoin the others. Just because Chloe's doe-eyed over Blake doesn't mean we can't still talk, and I've been working up the courage to ask her about her passion for writing.

The second I step through the doorway into the dining room, disappointment shoots through me when I find Chloe in Blake's embrace. I start to retreat to give them space before a sad little sob from Chloe brings me up short.

Worried now, I hurry over. "Chloe, what's going on?"

"Shh." Over the top of her head, Blake's gaze meets mine, and he nods to the cordless phone she still clutches as he rubs her back.

"Hang on, Grady." She takes it from her ear and mashes at the buttons with one hand while she pulls out her cell with the other.

As soon as she turns on the device, the room floods with the sound of a dozen text messages pouring in. Chloe's face pales, and she clears the notifications to open her apps, only to panic even more.

Biting her lip, she stabs at her screen, and a high-pitched whine of protest escapes at whatever she finds. "I can't log in to any of my accounts."

A male voice rises from the speaker of the house phone, frustrated but soothing. "I know, sweetheart. I couldn't log in, either."

The pet name makes my blood boil, and my fists clench, fighting the urge to hang up on whoever's on the other end of the line. Beside her, Blake stiffens, his hands rubbing Chloe's shoulders as he tries to soothe her.

"Someone's been impersonating you, promising new things coming in The Fairy and the Dragonlord universe," the caller says, and I realize Grady must be someone who works for her. "We need to take care of this now."

A choked laugh escapes her. "Well, that's exactly what you and our publisher have been pushing for."

"But it's not what you want, and your happiness comes first." He lets out a long sigh. "Besides, the publishers don't want what the hacker is pitching."

Hacker? I mouth.

Blake gives me a helpless shrug. He doesn't know any more than I do.

Chloe, though, hunches forward like she's been punched in the gut. "Can't you fix it?"

"I already tried, but they changed the passwords." Grady's tension travels through the line. "You need to contact customer service. They're going to require photo ID as proof."

"Okay." Eyes shimmering, her eyebrows pucker as she fights not to cry. "So, where do I send it?"

He sighs with frustration. "I can't walk you through everything over the phone."

A stricken expression crosses her face. "No, I can do this. Just tell me?—"

"First thing in the morning, I'll come out to the island, and we'll fix this, all right?"

Her shoulders slump, making her appear smaller, and the tears slip down her cheeks. "All right." Her voice cracks. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I clench my fists so hard that my nails cut into my palms. He's treating Chloe like she's incapable of fixing this problem herself. If he already thought she couldn't do it, why bother to call and worry her like this before he can be here?

They say goodbye, and Chloe wipes at her eyes. "I should head back to my cabin."

The purr coming from Blake increases. "No, you shouldn't be alone."

"I'm not sure I'm up for food." The tears spill faster, her face turning pink. "This hacker is going to ruin my career, and I don't have the skills to stop them."

"Says who?" The sharpness in my voice surprises her enough to halt her crying. "Between the three of us, we can figure this out, right, Blake?"

"Right." He helps her over to the table to sit and takes the place on the bench beside her, his strong hand on her back. "Holden is the most tech-savvy person I know. He'll fix this."

"Really?" The hope in her eyes makes me feel like I could move mountains if she asked. "Because you were a computer science major?"

I don't think it will come to needing those skills, but I nod. "Can I see your phone first?"

Sniffling, she fumbles to unlock the screen and hands it over.

As I scroll through her social media feed, the posts don't immediately register as out of place, aside from the volume of them being made. Aurora Storm's socials have always been well balanced between personal and promotional, with a few teasers about her current works in progress, but nothing with spoilers.

The posts over the last several hours, though? They give away major plot points for future books in the series, which she would never release.

At the sight of her distress, my heart aches, followed by an overpowering desire to protect her. When I scroll through her social feed, it doesn't take long to realize the extent of the disaster unfolding if this is allowed to continue.

"Blake." I meet my bondmate's eyes. "Run down to Chloe's cabin and grab her laptop. We'll need it to sort this out."

He hesitates, torn between obeying and staying with Chloe before he stands and climbs over the bench. "Where can I find it?"

She brushes the dampness from her cheeks. "On the desk."

With another nod, he turns to leave, his footsteps heavy on his way to the front door.

"Chloe." I take Blake's abandoned seat and catch her hands, squeezing them until she raises her head. "Take deep breaths. We're going to take care of this, and I promise it won't ruin your career."

Her breathing hitches as she tries to follow my instructions, her chest rising and falling with each shaky inhale. The scent of lilies and lilacs washes over me, making my head swim. Unable to bear seeing her cry, I pull her into my arms.

She melts against me, her face nestling into the curve of my shoulder, and I purr on instinct, hoping to ease her distress. Her body trembles, and the feel of her in my arms fills me with a sense of rightness.

"Shh, it's okay." I brush her hair back with one hand, and the artificial fibers feel wrong.

"Can I take this off?" I wait for her nod to gently unpin the wig and set it on the table, then unravel her braid. "There we go. That should help with the tension."

She sniffles. "I really hate that thing."

I rake my fingers through her vibrant pink strands and revel at the silky slide over my hands. So much better. So right. The urge to press my face into her hair threatens to overwhelm me, but I resist, focusing instead on massaging her scalp.

"A little better?" I ask, ignoring the way my cock thickens at her nearness.

Chloe sighs with relief as she nuzzles against me, her delicate nose pressing behind my ear.

My breath catches at the warmth of her skin, the intimacy of the gesture stirring a possessive need to make her my own. But now is not the time for desire. I shift my hips backward, not wanting her to feel the effect she has on me. She needs comfort, not the pressure of my physical reaction.

"Thank you, Holden." Her arms come around my waist, pulling me back. "You're so good at easing my anxieties."

Tingles cascade through me, and I enfold her soft body in my embrace, instinct telling me to protect and keep her safe. "We'll get you through this. Trust me."

"I do." Her lips move over my skin with the words, and she shifts higher, seeking my scent gland and rubbing her cheek against it.

My heart stutters. I should push her away, put distance between us. She's scared and vulnerable. She doesn't know what she's doing.

But when her dainty teeth scrape my throat, I lack the strength to stop her.