First Encounter

The conference room was too cold.

That was the first thing Evan noticed as he stepped inside Hale Group’s private meeting floor. The air-conditioning hummed softly, sterile and sharp, crawling under his skin.

Or maybe… it wasn’t the temperature.

Evan adjusted his suit jacket, posture straight, chin lifted. Perfect. Untouchable. Alpha.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Hale.”

The voice came from across the table.

Low. Calm. Steady.

Evan froze—just for half a breath.

Then he looked up.

And the world tilted.

The man standing there wasn’t imposing in the loud, aggressive way Evan had learned to hate. He didn’t crowd the space or bare dominance like a weapon.

He was tall, yes—but relaxed. Dark hair neatly styled, eyes deep and unreadable. A presence that didn’t need to announce itself.

Lucas Reed.

Evan felt it then.

A pressure in his chest.

A subtle tightening low in his abdomen.

No.

His omega instincts stirred violently, like something long buried had suddenly been called awake.

Evan’s fingers curled slowly at his side.

Suppress it.

“Lucas Reed,” the man said again, offering a hand. “Pleasure to finally meet you.”

Finally?

Evan forced a smirk onto his lips and took the handshake.

The moment their skin touched—

His breath hitched.

It was faint. Almost imperceptible. But it slid beneath his suppressants like silk wrapped around fire.

Alpha pheromones.

Strong.

Clean.

Controlled.

Evan’s smile stiffened as heat bloomed beneath his collarbone.

Pull back. Now.

But Lucas didn’t tighten his grip. Didn’t push. Didn’t dominate.

He simply held Evan’s gaze.

And somehow, that was worse.

“…Likewise,” Evan replied coolly, withdrawing his hand.

Lucas’s eyes narrowed—not suspicious.

Curious.

They sat.

Business began. Numbers, projections, calm voices filling the room. Evan spoke sharply, confidently, reclaiming his ground.

But every time Lucas spoke, that calm voice threaded through Evan’s senses like a quiet threat.

Not overwhelming.

Inviting.

Stop reacting, Evan scolded himself.

He crossed his legs, subtly pressing his heel into the floor to ground himself.

This alpha was different.

And Evan hated that his omega recognized it before his mind did.

Lucas, meanwhile, watched him with careful restraint.

Something was… off.

Evan Hale didn’t feel like an alpha.

Not in the way Lucas understood dominance.

There was tension in him. Too controlled. Too precise.

Like a blade kept permanently sheathed.

“Mr. Hale,” Lucas said gently, breaking Evan’s thoughts, “are you feeling unwell?”

The room went silent.

Evan’s pulse spiked.

“I’m perfectly fine,” he snapped—too fast.

Lucas didn’t flinch.

Instead, his voice softened. “If you need a break—”

“I don’t.”

Their eyes locked.

For a moment, the air thickened.

Evan’s suppressants burned faintly under his skin.

He smells it, his omega whispered.

He feels you.

Panic flickered—dangerous, sharp.

Evan stood abruptly. “Meeting adjourned. We’ll continue discussions another day.”

Without waiting for approval, he turned and walked out.

Lucas watched him go, chest tight.

That pull again.

Strong. Wrong. Unavoidable.

“…Interesting,” Lucas murmured under his breath.

As the doors closed behind Evan, he leaned against the hallway wall, breathing shallowly.

His heart pounded.

That alpha’s presence still lingered on his skin.

“Damn it,” Evan whispered, eyes burning. “Why you…?”

Enemies.

Rivals.

And yet—

His omega was already trembling.

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