Chapter 5 Lingering Lemongrass

The heavy, mahogany-scented silence of the executive suite was oppressive as Kavin's senses unraveled, drowning in the familiar, intoxicating wave of dark timber and damp moss of the forest.

It wasn't the metallic tang of his cheap suppressants and the antiseptic smell of a hospital ward. This was the rich, masculine aura of a Sovereign Alpha, heady and pervasive as the man himself had that same air of possessiveness around him.

Kavin's eyelids twitched as his gaze flickered over the hulking, dangerous figure on the sofa.

His breathing was coming in shallow waves, all panic and adrenaline, as his mind conjured the memory of a crowded elevator shaft and a heart-stopping plunge into utter darkness that nearly sent his childhood facility into cardiac arrest.

And now, here was an Alpha, Phana Akarachin, to be precise, CEO of Akarachin Holdings, and the man's charcoal-suit jacket was unbuttoned to reveal a muscled torso. One elegantly long hand curled possessively around his wrist, the heavy gold ring on his thumb grazing Kavin's inner forearm, and the man's thumb rubbed idly over the beating vein on his pulse point.

His skin prickled at the intimate touch. His Omega instincts, so long suppressed, moaned in pleasure at the scent of this Alpha.

It was maddening to feel so exposed and vulnerable, so utterly out of his depth, so Kavin jerked his wrist free of the man's grip. He stumbled backward until his spine met the leather of the sofa, his pulse hammering wildly at the sensation of Phan's possessive touch.

"Don't touch me," he snapped. His cheeks were flushed a deep crimson as he tried to school his expression into something resembling his usually aloof demeanor. It wasn't easy when his lips shook with an uncharacteristic vulnerability. Instead, he managed to give the man a pointed look over his shoulder. 

"Where am I? What have you done to me, Chairman?"

Phan's dark eyes were unreadable as he leaned back on his knees, folding his arms over his chest. His gaze was intent on Kavin's, the man's golden alpha scent rolling over him in thick, intoxicating waves. A feral heat flickered low in Kavin's belly as an involuntary shudder coursed through him at the sheer intensity of it. So much for his stoic ENTP mask.

"You had a severe hysterical episode when my private lift malfunctioned,"

 Phan said smoothly, his deep voice a purr as it rolled over Kavin's sensitized nerves.

 "You hyperventilated and pleaded with me not to leave you, Kavin. You clawed at my shoulders until you collapsed on the floor, your body wracked with violent tremors. 

I brought you here to my nest to ensure you received the best care possible."

Kavin practically choked on his own tongue at that. "I did not plead with you!"

"I believe you did,"

 Phan drawled, a slow smile curving his lips. He plucked up his gold fountain pen from the desk, idly twirling it between his fingers as he studied Kavin's flushed features. 

"Your beautiful little Omega scent was practically begging me to claim you, Sirilert. 

An unbonded Omega, no less, throwing himself at his CEO's feet. If I were a lesser Alpha, I'd have had your throat slit right there on the elevator floor."

Kavin's jaw dropped. His scent glands at the base of his neck puffed out a possessive burst of lemongrass and metallic ozone. In a blur of motion, he grabbed for the cashmere throw over his shoulder and clung to it as if it were a lifeline.

"I'd rather let a rogue pack carve out my entrails than let some self-important Alpha knot me,"

 he snapped, his voice shaking. 

"Now return my Leica and release me from this gilded cage."

The flicker of a smile left Phan's lips as he leaned in close until his breath was ghosting over Kavin's parted lips.

 "Such bravery from an Omega who willingly surrendered to my scent the moment the elevator doors closed between us," he purred, his fingers curling possessively around Kavin's waist. 

A wave of his powerful pheromones rolled over him, and Kavin's knees went weak at the sheer force of it. 

"You smell delicious, Kavin. You always have, from the moment your car nearly clipped my bumper."

A spike of indignation flared through him at the possessive words and the heated gaze tracing the length of him. Kavin shoved roughly at Phan's chest.

 "Let. Me. Go."

Phan's dark eyes narrowed.

 "You talk a lot for an unbonded Omega who willingly kneels at my feet,"

 he murmured, his voice dropping to a sensuous rumble as he bent his head to Kavin's ear. 

"Your scent marks my nest, little one. You've always smelled like my Omega, and you always will."

Kavin stiffened at his words, heat blooming across his neck and temples. Before he could retort, a loud chime announced the arrival of a visitor. A moment later, his biometric door slid open with a soft hiss to reveal Teerut standing in the doorway. The broad-shouldered man halted mid-step when his predator instincts flared at the thick Alpha scent rolling over the room.

His gaze swept the room, taking in the sight of Kavin on the sofa, the expensive cashmere throw covering his bare torso, and the way Phan's possessive hands curled around his waist. The air was charged with the unmistakable scent of a Prime Alpha marking his territory with an omega who hadn't yet marked him in return.

"Phan," Rut said at last, his gaze snapping to Kavin. "The pack council meeting regarding the elevator sabotage has been moved to six. Elder Krai demands immediate audience with you."

Phan rose to his feet, smoothing the front of his designer jeans as he exhaled a slow breath. 

"Tell Krai that the council can stuff their demands up their collective rears. My nest is my domain." 

As he moved to Rut, he paused beside the younger man and glanced at Kavin with an unreadable expression. 

"How are his vitals? Dr. Arwin said his suppressants had worn off."

Rut sucked in a slow breath, his fingers tapping idly against his encrypted tablet. Sky's words echoed in his head, and a wry smile curved his lips at the fond memory of the night before. [If you don't return Kavin in one piece I'm baking rat poison into your every iced coffee Big Guy] His text message to Phan had been a riot to receive, especially given the circumstances.

"The photographer's vitals are stable," Rut said at last, his voice low. "Dr. Arwin said his suppressants had worn off entirely an hour ago."

Kavin stood up, shoving the throw to the side. A wave of dizziness crashed over him, and suddenly the room was spinning. He would've fallen if not for the broad, muscular hand that shot out to grip his waist.

Phan's fingers curled possessively over his hip, steadying him until his heart stopped pounding so furiously in his ears. Heat bloomed over his cheeks as he finally met the man's smoldering gaze. 

"Get off me," Kavin growled, his fingers digging into Phan's chest. "I'm going home."

Phan's eyes gleamed with amusement. 

"You will rest tomorrow, little one," he said smoothly, his thumb grazing possessively over Kavin's hip. 

"On Monday, you will come directly to my office so I can discuss your campaign with you. If you try to weasel out of it again, I'll have Rut drag your unresponsive body from your bakery nest."

 He released him with a sigh.

 "In the meantime, you're to take it easy."

"You are so incredibly annoying," Kavin muttered, grabbing his camera bag from the floor. He slung it over his shoulder and took a step back.

"And you, Sirilert, are an insufferable Omega," Phan said, his smile widening. He stepped forward and gently took Kavin's face between his palms. "We are quite the pair, are we not?"

"I'll never take you seriously again," Kavin muttered, shoving past Rut.

"Keep dreaming, Sirilert,"

 Phan chuckled, watching his Omega retreat. He flicked his cuff and strode over to his office window. 

He peered out at the street below where Kavin's small figure disappeared inside a waiting corporate sedan.

"He has no fear of you," Rut said quietly as he sipped from his glass of iced water.

An amused smile played at Phan's lips as he strode back to his desk and picked up his reading glasses. He perused his digital records as Kavin's scent clung to the fabric of his shirt, winding its way deep into his bones. "The scent of an unmarked Omega is quite... intoxicating, wouldn't you say?"

"He has no fear of you," Rut repeated as he crossed the room to lean over the desk, studying his childhood friend's features. "An unbonded rogue has no reason to fear a Sovereign Alpha."

Phan set his glasses aside with a soft sigh. He tapped a few keys on his terminal before pulling up a new document. His smile was slow to appear as he regarded the empty page that would soon bind Kavin Sirilert to Akarachin Holdings for the rest of his days.

"He doesn't fear me because he doesn't know what he is to me yet," Phan murmured. "He believes this to be a corporate game."

Rut's brow furrowed as he reached for his cell phone. His fingers hovered over Sky's contact before he exhaled sharply. "The rogues will dismantle your pack, won't they, Phan?

Phan chuckled as he opened a fresh document on his terminal. "They'll find their place within my pack, just as Kavin will."

The mahogany doors of the penthouse suite slammed behind Kavin with a deep boomy sound that rolled along the carpeted hallway.

"Insufferable arrogant power-drunk Alpha tyrant," he muttered, fists clenching inside his leather jacket as he marched toward the executive elevator. His voice was hoarse, his veins still humming with the volatile rush of heat and anger.

He was on mandatory leave. It was a direct order.

Kavin scoffed, stepping into the empty elevator shaft. Who did Phana Akarachin think he was, forcing him to take days off like he was some kind of expendable asset!

The moment the metal doors slid open on the main floor of the creative department, hushed conversations instantly ceased as dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward him.

An expectant hush fell over the open-plan office, and Kavin practically dragged a storm of Phana's possessive pheromones into the middle of the room with him. The rich scent of dark wood and rain clung to his hair and clothes, overpowering the familiar lemongrass of his usual cologne. A heavy tension settled in his chest as he noted the curious murmurs rippling through the cubicle maze.

"Is that... the Chairman's scent?"

"Did the Sovereign claim him?"

"He looks so flushed, did Phana Akarachin bite his neck in the elevator?" someone whispered.

Kavin's jaw hardened. He ground his teeth together, irritation flaring hot and bright in his throat. He barely registered the glares being shot his way as he strode purposefully toward the heavy glass doors of the executive restroom, shutting the world outside with a firm click of the deadbolt.

Inside the marble-clad executive washroom, Kavin leaned heavily against the vanity, peering at the flushed state of his cheeks in the long wall of mirrors. His heart was still pounding in his chest, his pupils dilated from the overwhelming scent of the alpha's lingering musk. He fished his phone from the back pocket of his jeans, the corner of his lip twitching as he noted the twenty-two missed calls and one priority voicemail from Sky.

He tapped the screen, holding the phone to his ear. "Kavin. Pick up the damn phone. Dr. Arwin said the lift system malfunctioned and the Sovereign dragged you into his private suite. Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Call me the second you get this and promise me you'll go home."

He exhaled sharply, already pressing the call button. It rang once, twice, and a familiar soft voice answered on the third ring.

"Sky," he murmured, keeping his tone low.

"Kavin, god, are you alright? Where are you?"

"I'm fine. I'm still at the office, but I'm leaving now." He hesitated, fingers tightening over the phone. "Just let me grab my things."

"Come home. I'm making tea. Don't let that terrifying alpha see you again."

"I'm on my way," he said, ending the call. As he tucked the phone back into his pocket, the door to the washroom eased open. Two betas from the technical department sauntered inside, chatting lightly as they sauntered toward the middle of the room. They didn't seem to notice the figure leaning inside one of the corner stalls.

"Did you see him?" one of them asked snidely. Kavin tensed, recognizing the voice of Sun, a senior systems analyst who'd had a vendetta against him since day one. 

"Honestly, it's ridiculous. The man faints like a lovesick omega the moment the power goes out, and the Chairman carries his skinny ass all the way through the building."

"Yup, totally ridiculous," the other beta replied. 

"Classic alpha manipulation tactics. Poor little Kavin, trying to crawl his way into the Sovereign's bed by feigning helplessness.

" Sun laughed cruelly. "Pathetic, really."

Kavin's blood ran cold. His lips parted in a silent curse as he pushed himself off the wall and stepped out from the shadows of the corner stall. The two men froze, their expressions going pale as they took in his reflection in the large mirror.

Kavin didn't hurry, stepping toward the sink just beside Sun. He turned the golden tap on, watching the steady stream of water before he reached out and wet his hands with deliberate motions. The silence in the room was deafening.

"K-Kavin..." Sun began, taking a cautious step back. "We didn't realize you were in there..."

"Shut. Up." 

Kavin's voice was quiet, but it sent a shiver of unease down the spines of the two betas.

 He held up a hand, droplets of water cascading over the edge of the sink. His alpha presence washed over them, a commanding and unyielding force that made both men swallow hard. He met their gazes in the mirror, his expression dark with irritation.

"If you're going to be spreading such ridiculous gossip about my work capabilities, at least have the decency to do it to my face." 

He reached out, taking a hold of the linen towel beside the sink. "I don't need anyone to carry me, especially not some alpha's muscle."

Sun's mouth twitched, eyes darting around the room. His friend let out a nervous laugh and took a step back. Kavin followed, his movements slow and steady.

 "I didn't mean anything by it," he muttered.

"You and everyone else." Kavin's gaze flickered to his friend's eyes. "If you want to challenge my skills, by all means, come at me. But don't pretend to understand my reasons for taking this job at Akarachin Holdings." He gave the towel a tight squeeze before releasing it into the sink. 

"Now get out of my sight."

The two men quickly shuffled out of the washroom, eager to escape the alpha's imposing presence. Once they were gone, Kavin tossed the towel into the trash can before smoothing out his jacket. He exited the executive restroom, already feeling the hushed conversations beginning to stir in the cubicle maze.

He took a steady breath, centering himself in the middle of the open-plan office floor. Silence stretched between him and the stunned cluster of workers. A few pairs of curious eyes blinked up at him in confusion, but he met their gazes with calm ease.

"Get your facts straight," he said simply.

 "I'm not beholden to explain my medical condition in regards to the lift malfunction, but I would appreciate it if my professional capabilities weren't questioned." 

He crossed his arms over his chest, letting his alpha presence filter out into the room. 

"Pretending to be helpless doesn't make me weak, and if any of you think my personal or professional skills are in question, by all means, come to me directly."

A few people winced at his words, but no one dared to question him. Kavin rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Cowards," he muttered under his breath.

He turned on his heel, striding back toward his desk, pausing briefly to grab his camera bag before leaving.

 Once he was outside, Kavin let out a steadying breath, his hands brushing against the steering wheel of his blue car. He released a soft sigh, pressing his palms against the wheel as he watched the street lights blink by. His heart pounded erratically against his ribs, an anxious flutter in his chest as he pushed the thoughts of the day out of his mind.

The scent of sweet brown sugar wafted through the air as he stepped inside their shared bungalow for the evening. 

"Kavin!" greeted Sky, rushing out of the kitchen with an apron tied around his waist. He nearly tackled his best friend into a huge bear hug, enfolding him in a warm embrace. 

"I'm fine, I'm fine, Sky," he chuckled. Sky let out a long sigh. "You look exhausted."

"You should sit down and have some tea," Sky muttered, ushering him into the dining room. On the little kitchen table sat a slice of his favorite strawberry cream cake, waiting patiently for him to indulge. "Eat."

Without another word, Kavin eagerly dug in, recounting the events of the day to his best friend. Sky listened patiently, eyes sparkling with mischief as he pieced together the details of the frightening episode.

"Wait..." he grinned, his mischievous nature practically bursting out of his bones. 

"So the evil big bad scary alpha carried you in his arms through the building and locked you in his personal nest, telling you to take a mandatory day off while he 'assisted' you?"

"He didn't care for me, Sky,"

Kavin groaned, rolling his eyes. "He was managing an asset. He was treating me like a broken piece of company equipment!"

"Oh, come on! That's so romantic! The cold and terrifying Sovereign dropping all pretenses to assist his secret omega lover," Sky teased, kicking him lightly under the table. "It's like a fantasy novel!"

"Stop shipping me with that tyrant," Kavin muttered, giving his friend a mock glare. 

"He's a controlling alpha with the scent of rain-soaked timber and I'm not interested." He paused, eyes softening as he took another bite of cake. "...I wish he hadn't smelled so good, though."

Sky smirked, humming absentmindedly as Kavin took the last bite of his dessert. He stood up, stretching. "I'm going to go take a shower and sleep. This day has been exhausting."

"Alright, go get some rest," Sky said, watching Kavin walk down the hallway toward the bedrooms. Sky's phone vibrated on the table, and he picked it up with a small smile, reading Rut's text message.

[Is your friend back safely?]

His cheeks warmed slightly as he replied to the text, saving the message with a soft smile.

[He's home and eating cake. Thanks for asking, Big Guy. don't work too late.]

At the other end of the city, the rain gently tapped against the glass of a penthouse suite belonging to Akarachin Holdings. 

Phana stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, shirtless, a dark silk robe falling loosely around his bare shoulders. His chest was lean and toned, a single pale star-shaped mark peeking out from under the fabric on his left collarbone.

He took a sip of whiskey from a crystal tumbler, gazing absently out at the city skyline below. 

His Sovereign instincts were waging war with his rational mind, a battle he felt he was steadily losing. Every cell in his body screamed at him to go after the fiery little omega who had walked out of his private suite like a ghost.

Phan's fingers curled around the tumbler, his jaw tightening. He was supposed to be a calculating and detached alpha, ruling with an iron fist from his secluded nest deep within the mountains.

Instead, he found himself burning with possessiveness every time he saw Kavin, a sharp frustration twisting in his gut whenever the stubborn little omega tried to hide his feelings. He wanted to pin Kavin down and make him his, to mark him for all the world to see.

No, not yet. Not until the omega stopped flinching at every touch and stopped looking at him with such guarded wariness.

Phan set the glass down on the marble edge of the windowsill, watching the rain wash the city in sheets of liquid darkness. He remembered the way Kavin's heart had pounded in his chest, the way his fingers had trembled as he clung to the alpha's shoulder in the elevator.

It had been intoxicating, the way Kavin's pulse had quickened when he'd kissed him, his lips soft and pliant against his own. He wanted to taste him again, to feel the little omega squirm in his arms like that - but only if Kavin wanted him to.

Swallowing hard, Phan reached over for his encrypted phone, typing a short message to the one person who had managed to worm his way into his guarded heart. He leaned his forehead against the cool glass of the window, his breath visible in the cold night air.

[Your mandatory rest day is revoked. Report to my private residence at 08:00 AM tomorrow. We will review the campaign proposal over breakfast. Do not be late, Mr. Sirilert.]

Across town, Kavin was fast asleep in bed, unaware he was dreaming. In the dream he was back in the hospital ward from years ago, the sterile white walls pressing in around him. His little eight-year-old self sat cross-legged on the cold tile floor, clutching a small stuffed bear to his chest. His eyes were wide with fear as he stared unseeingly at the ceiling.

"Where are they, Kavin?" a woman's voice asked, a gentle hand brushing against his hair. "Where are your parents, sweetheart?"

"Right here," he whispered, his voice trembling. "They're right here with me..."

His heart pounded in his ears. His hands shook. Kavin turned around frantically, expecting to see familiar faces smiling down at him. Instead, he found a pair of blurry figures standing in the doorway, their features hidden by shadows.

His breath hitched, panic rising in his chest. 

"I-I want to go home," he cried in a little boy's high-pitched voice.

"Tsk tsk, little one," the male figure said, kneeling beside him. "You're safe here. We're not going anywhere." He reached out and took a hold of Kavin's small hand, placing it over his own chest. "See how fast daddy's heart beats? It's for you."

Kavin's eyes were wide with confusion as the man's chest rose and fell in an oddly steady rhythm above him. His grip tightened on the stuffed bear as he stared at their joined hands. His mother had always been the one to comfort him when he was scared.

But where was she?

The woman's hand came up to brush against his cheek, her touch hesitant. "Let's go home, Kavin," she said quietly.

Something inside him snapped. His legs buckled beneath him, and he fell sideways onto the floor. When the last whisper of consciousness faded, he was no longer in the hospital ward, but on the floor of his darkened bedroom.

His heart was racing, his palms slippery with cold sweat. Kavin rolled over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling with wide, glassy eyes. He felt so weak, so utterly and completely helpless.

"God damn it," he muttered, rolling his eyes at what little remained of the upsetting nightmare. He sat up slowly, running a hand through his damp hair. 

Shaking his head, he got up and wandered toward the bathroom. He was exhausted, and this day had been long enough.

The hot water rained down over his shoulders as Kavin stood in the glass shower stall, letting the warmth soothe the tense muscles in his back. He ran his hands over his damp skin, sighing as the water washed away the last traces of dirt and grime from the day. 

Still, it wasn't enough. His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out the sound of the water pouring down the drain. He turned off the shower, drying off with a thick towel before stepping out of the glass enclosure.

His thoughts drifted to the strange nightmare he'd had, the one he couldn't quite remember. What little he could grasp at was buried deep in his memories, locked away so he could never access it.

He walked back to the bedroom, pausing to glance at the bed. The last traces of his childhood were kept neatly tucked inside a worn wooden box under his bed. Without another thought, he took it down, opening the small container on the rug. Inside he found the only remnants of his life before the fire - a worn-out teddy bear, a little boy's watch, and a faded old photograph of a couple with a young child.

His fingers brushed against the worn edges of the picture. 

He felt his throat constrict, his pulse pounding in his ears as another wave of lightheadedness rolled over him. His breathing hitched, his heart suddenly racing. Not again.

Panicking, Kavin shut the box and shoved it back into the closet with more force than he intended. He reached for the worn dress shirt he'd worn to the office that day, intending to fold it, but the overwhelming scent of Phana Akarachin hit his nose the moment he touched it.

Dark timber mixed with earth and rain, the distinct musk of a Sovereign Alpha.

"God damn it," he muttered, irritation flaring in his chest. He grabbed the offensive piece of clothing, shoving it hastily into the washer as he stomp back toward his bedroom.

Meanwhile, in an executive suite high above the city, Phana Akarachin stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, watching the rain fall in gentle sheets over the city. His dark gaze flicked toward the small window in the corner of the room. He could see the huddled figure of the little omega Kavin Sirilert sitting inside his bedroom, staring blankly at the ceiling. His heart clenched at the sight, and Phan's lips twitched in frustration.

He wanted to go to him.

Right now.

Phan took a slow sip of his drink, watching as the little omega rolled over onto his back, his fingers curling tightly around the edge of the comforter. The sight made his stomach twist with unease.

No, not yet. Not without Kavin fully and willingly submitting to him. He wanted the stubborn little omega to accept him, to give him his heart willingly. Phan had his own ways of breaking the wills of defiant little omegas like Kavin, but he knew better than to force his affection on an unwilling subject. It wouldn't be the first time, and Kavin wasn't the only one. The rogue packs had been hunting through his private estate's security records for weeks now, trying to find any evidence of the omegas he kept locked away.

Swallowing hard, he reached over for his encrypted phone and sent Kavin a single, curt message, telling him to come to his private residence in the morning.

His heart thundered in his ears as he leaned back against the marble railing, watching the storm clouds race overhead. He wanted to go to Kavin, to take him back into his arms and soothe his hurt. But for now, he would have to wait.

Until next time, maybe he could be there for the little omega and protect him from those who sought to hurt him.