Test

Then Elliot turned around, and Kieran's breath caught for just a second before he got himself under control. The photo in the file hadn't done him justice. In person, Elliot Sinclair was devastating. Sharp, handsome features. Golden eyes that seemed to glow with an inner light, the mark of his S-Tier genetics. A smirk on his full lips that was equal parts amused and arrogant. He looked like sin wrapped in a designer suit.

Those golden eyes swept over Kieran, assessing him from head to toe. The smirk widened. "So they sent me an omega bodyguard. That's a first."

Kieran's jaw clenched. Less than five seconds and the alpha was already making it about his designation. Perfect. He met Elliot's gaze directly, refusing to show submission even though his omega instincts were screaming at him that this was a powerful alpha, that he should lower his eyes, that he should present himself properly.

Fuck that.

"I'm the best they've got, regardless of what designation is printed on my ID," Kieran said, his voice flat and cold. "If you have a problem with that, I can leave right now and you can take your chances with whoever wants you dead."

The bluntness seemed to surprise Elliot. Then he laughed, this genuine amused sound that did something weird to Kieran's chest. "Well, at least you've got balls. Or I guess ovaries in your case." He walked closer, invading Kieran's personal space in that dominant alpha way, looking down at him with those intense golden eyes. "Tell me, omega, what makes you think you can protect me when you're what, five-nine? A hundred and sixty pounds soaking wet?"

Kieran held his ground even though Elliot's scent was stronger up close, making his head spin slightly. "I'm five-nine of pure muscle and training. I've got black belts in three different martial arts, expert marksman ratings, and I've kept fifteen high-risk clients alive without a single injury. Can you say the same about the alphas who applied for this job?"

Elliot studied him for a long moment, something flickering in those golden eyes that Kieran couldn't read. Then he smiled, and it wasn't mocking anymore. It was genuinely interesting. "Maybe this will be interesting after all. Sit down. Let's talk about security protocols."

They spent the next hour going over everything. Kieran was thorough and professional, outlining exactly what Elliot needed to do to stay safe, what the vulnerabilities were in his current security setup, and what changes needed to happen immediately. Elliot barely paid attention, checking his phone and making jokes, clearly not taking any of it seriously.

When Kieran mentioned the six assassination attempts in the past year, Elliot waved it off like it was nothing. "My uncle Marcus is probably just trying to scare me. Corporate politics are always dramatic. Nobody actually wants me dead."

Kieran stared at him in disbelief. "Six attempts. Six. You really think those were all warnings?"

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Elliot leaned back in his expensive chair, looking completely unconcerned. "I think you're being paranoid, omega. But hey, that's what I'm paying you for."

The casual dismissiveness made Kieran want to punch him. This spoiled rich alpha had no fucking idea how lucky he was to be alive. No concept of how easy it would be for a professional to take him out. Kieran had seen men with better security than Elliot get killed because they thought they were invincible.

"Fine," Kieran said coldly, standing up. "Don't take it seriously. But when the next attempt happens, and it will, don't blame me when I have to throw my expendable omega body in front of bullets meant for you."

He turned to leave, done with this arrogant asshole, already mentally composing his resignation. The money wasn't worth protecting someone who didn't want to be protected. But before he reached the door, Elliot spoke.

"Wait."

Kieran stopped but didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry," Elliot said, and he actually sounded sincere. "That was shitty of me. You're right. I haven't been taking this seriously enough. My last bodyguard kept telling me the same thing and I ignored him too. Then he quit and I realized maybe he had a point."

Kieran turned slowly. Elliot was standing now, his expression more serious. "I'll follow your protocols. All of them. And I won't make any more comments about your designation. You're here to do a job, and I should respect that."

The apology caught Kieran off guard. He'd expected more alpha arrogance, not actual accountability. Maybe there was more to Elliot Sinclair than just a spoiled rich boy.

"Okay," Kieran said carefully. "Then we need to implement changes immediately. Starting with installing better locks on your penthouse and running background checks on everyone who has access to you."

Elliot nodded. "Done. Whatever you think is necessary." He walked closer again, and Kieran forced himself not to step back. "I'm looking forward to having you around, Kieran Hunt. Things might get very interesting."

The way he said it, the way his golden eyes heated slightly, made Kieran's pulse jump. There was something loaded in those words, something that felt like a promise or a threat or maybe both.

"It's just a job," Kieran said firmly, more to himself than to Elliot. "Let's keep it professional."

"Of course," Elliot agreed, his smirk returning. "Strictly professional."

But the way he looked at Kieran made it clear that professional was the last thing on his mind.

Kieran left the office feeling unsettled in ways he couldn't explain. His body was still reacting to Elliot's scent even though he was out of the room. His omega instincts were doing weird things, making him want to go back, to be near that alpha, to submit in ways Kieran had never wanted to submit to anyone.

This was going to be a problem. A big fucking problem.

That evening, Kieran went home to his shitty apartment and took the longest cold shower of his life. He tried to wash away the lingering effect of Elliot's pheromones, tried to get his body back under control. When he finally got out, he checked his suppressant schedule and took an extra pill just to be safe.

He couldn't afford any complications. Especially not getting distracted by some rich S-Tier alpha's pheromones. This was just another job. He'd do his work, get paid, and never think about Elliot Sinclair again once the contract was over.

Just another job.

He was making himself dinner, cheap ramen because it was all he could afford until payday, when his phone buzzed with an alert from the security company. His heart dropped as he read the message.

**SECURITY BREACH AT SINCLAIR PENTHOUSE. POSSIBLE INTRUDER. CLIENT STATUS UNKNOWN.**

Kieran's training kicked in immediately. He grabbed his gun, his tactical vest, and his keys, not bothering to change out of his old sweatpants and t-shirt. His first fucking day on the job and the client was already under attack.

He ran to his beat-up car, his mind racing through worst-case scenarios. If anything had happened to Elliot before Kieran could even start protecting him properly, he'd never forgive himself. The agency would never forgive him. This was supposed to be his big break, his chance to prove himself with a high-profile client, and it was already going to shit.

Kieran drove like a demon through the city, running red lights and breaking every traffic law he knew. His heart pounded and his hands were steady on the wheel. Please let him be okay, Kieran thought, surprised by how much he meant it. Please let me get there in time.

When he screeched to a stop outside Elliot's building fifteen minutes later, security was already swarming the lobby. Kieran bypassed them with his new credentials, heading straight for the private elevator that went to the penthouse level.

The ride up felt like it took forever. Kieran's mind was full of images of what he might find. Elliot hurt. Elliot bleeding. Elliot died because Kieran hadn't been there to protect him.

The elevator doors opened and Kieran moved into the hallway with his gun drawn, every sense on high alert. The hallway was empty and quiet. Too quiet. The penthouse door was slightly open, scratch marks around the lock where someone had forced entry.

Kieran's gut clenched with fear and fury. He pushed the door open silently and entered, sweeping the space room by room. The place was massive, all modern furniture and expensive art, but he didn't have time to appreciate it. He needed to find Elliot.

He finally found him in what looked like a home office, and relief flooded through Kieran so hard it almost made him dizzy. Elliot was alive, sitting behind his desk looking through papers like nothing had happened. When he saw Kieran burst in with a gun, he actually smiled.

"Well, that was fast," Elliot said, his golden eyes lighting up with genuine pleasure. "Did you fly here?"

Kieran's relief immediately turned to fury. The alpha didn't seem bothered at all by the fact that someone had just broken into his fucking home. "What the hell happened? Are you hurt? Did you see who it was?"

Elliot explained casually that his security system had alerted him to a breach, he'd locked himself in the panic room for about ten minutes, and by the time he came out whoever it was had already left. Building security was reviewing camera footage now.

Kieran holstered his gun with shaking hands, trying to process what he was feeling. "You goddamn idiot," he said harshly, his voice rough with leftover adrenaline and fear. "You're an idiot for coming out of the panic room before professionals cleared the scene. You could have been killed."

Elliot just leaned back in his chair with that infuriating confident smile. "I can take care of myself. I'm an S-Tier alpha, not some helpless omega."

The comment made Kieran's blood boil. He crossed the room in three strides and slammed his hands on the desk, leaning in so they were face to face. "Being a strong alpha doesn't make you bulletproof, you arrogant asshole. Arrogance is what gets people killed."

For a moment, tension crackled between them like electricity. Elliot's smile faded and something intense flashed in his golden eyes as he studied Kieran. The air felt thick, heavy with pheromones that Kieran could feel even through his suppressants. Elliot's scent was stronger here in his personal space, wrapping around Kieran and making his omega instincts react in ways he absolutely hated.

His body wanted to move closer. Wanted to submit to the power radiating off this S-Tier alpha. But Kieran's will was stronger than his biology. He held his ground, refusing to look away or back down, even though his heart was racing for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

Finally, Elliot spoke, his voice lower and rougher than before. "You're different from what I expected. Most omegas would be intimidated by me. Or trying to please me. You look at me like you'd rather punch me in the face."

Kieran allowed himself a small, cold smile. "You're pretty punchable."

That made Elliot laugh, this genuine surprised sound that transformed his whole face, and for just a second Kieran saw something real beneath the arrogant rich alpha exterior. Something that made his chest feel tight.