Page 42 of Cursed Love

I was wondering if she was ever going to ask. Looks like she already had that conversation with our Alpha. “Yeah, it’ll have something to do with the gym,” I snort, shaking my head as I return to my desk. Gods, Koa couldn’t be any more perfect for us.

Koa

The coffee machine gurgles as I fill my cup, the bitter scent filling the lounge. It’s too early and the slight buzz of conversation around me is like a low hum that I’m trying to tune out. I keep my head down, willing myself not to draw attention, but the whispers grow louder.

I turn to face them, my jaw tightening as I spot a few employees quickly averting their gazes. My patience is already thin. “What’s going on?” I ask as I approach an Omega who looks too damn nervous for her own good.

She flinches when I get close, her wide eyes darting around the room like she’s waiting for someone to save her. “N-Nothing,” she stammers, taking a step back.

“Try again,” I snap, my frustration bubbling over. “What’s wrong? Why is everyone staring?”

She glances around again before grabbing my arm and tugging me toward the hallway. Her grip is trembling and I follow her without protest, my mind racing. Once we’re out of earshot, she takes a deep breath, her face pale. “You shouldn’t just… walk up to people like that,” she whispers, her tone almost scolding. “You’rethey’reOmega.”

I blink, confused. “What the hell does that mean?”

She winces at my tone, but her gaze doesn’t falter. “It means people here, they know who you belong to. You can’t just—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head. “Look, that’s not even the problem right now.”

I fold my arms over my chest, glaring. “Then what is the problem?”

Her lips press into a thin line before she pulls out her phone, her fingers trembling as she swipes through it. She stops on something, hesitating before tilting the screen toward me. “Someone made a post this morning,” she mutters. “It’s bad.”

The blood drains from my face as I read the headline on the screen.St. Clair Security Exposed: Illegal Activities, Client Exploitation, and More.

My heart sinks as I scroll through the post, my fingers trembling. It’s not just a vague accusation—it’s detailed. Too detailed. Names, dates, shady contracts… all things that no outsider should have access to.

The words on the screen blur as I stare at the post, my pulse pounding in my ears. There’s no signature, no clear author, but the formatting, the way the heading looks—I know it. I’ve seen it before, sprawled across papers Damien used to leave out on thekitchen table when I came home. My stomach twists into a tight knot as realization sinks in.

“Thank you,” I mutter to the Omega, handing her phone back with shaky hands. She gives me a worried look but doesn’t say anything as I turn and rush toward the stairs, my thoughts a chaotic mess.

Damien. Of course, it’s Damien. Who else would have access to this kind of information? Who else would be bold enough to try and ruin the men I’ve come to care for—men who’ve done nothing but protect me? My jaw clenches as I climb the stairs two at a time, determined to tell my mates exactly what I just saw.

But I barely make it halfway down the hall on the fifth floor when I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist, pulling me into a side room. A startled squeak escapes me as I spin around, ready to fight whoever grabbed me, only to meet Amel’s piercing gaze.

“Amel!” I hiss, my heart racing. “What the hell are you doing?”

His expression is calm, but his eyes betray a simmering intensity. “Quiet,” he murmurs, shutting the door behind us and steering me further into the room. It’s the conference room, the one with the floor-to-ceiling windows and the sleek black table. He doesn’t let go of my waist until we’re safely out of sight from the hall.

“What’s going on?” I demand, trying to keep my voice steady even as my heart pounds against my ribs.

“Damien’s here,” he says bluntly, his jaw tightening. “He’s meeting with Moses and Hunter right now.”

My stomach drops. “What? Why?”

Amel leans against the edge of the table, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “He showed up unannounced. He brought some kind of ultimatum—something about you coming homeand severing ties with us. Said if we didn’t hand you over, he’d make life difficult for us.”

I take a step back, my legs suddenly feeling like jelly. “Does he know I’m here?”

Amel shakes his head. “No. And it’s better if it stays that way.” He studies me, his sharp gaze sweeping over my face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What happened?”

I hesitate, my mind racing as I weigh whether or not to tell him about the post. But there’s no point in hiding it. They need to know. “There’s a post going around,” I say quietly. “It’s accusing the company of illegal activities, naming names, dates… it’s bad, Amel.”

His brow furrows, his posture going rigid. “What kind of post?”

I swallow hard, feeling the weight of his stare. “It doesn’t have a signature, but I recognize the emblem and the layout,” I admit. “It looks like it was posted from our family company’s website. I’ve seen it before.”

Amel’s expression darkens, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “Of course it’s him,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “That bastard’s been planning this for longer than we thought. It’s clear he’s desperate at this point, especially with the post, and since I didn’t know where you were—”

His voice trails off, but I catch the flicker of pain in his eyes. My chest tightens as I step closer, pressing my hand against his arm. “I’m here,” I say softly. “I’m safe.”

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