Page 23 of Sweet Omega
Tarymn’s focus shifted to Langley, who lounged a few seats away like a predator waiting to strike. The bastard had been bothering him ever since Deltta’s coronation. Tarymn couldn’t fathom what the alpha’s problem was, only that he was tired of it.
He forced himself to shake it off and turned his attention back to the meeting. It droned on for nearly an hour, adding more to his fatigue. By the time it wrapped up, Tarymn was worn thin. He longed to slip away quietly, but Deltta’s sharp glance reminded him of the private summons. Holding back a groan, Tarymn followed him to his office.
“Damn,” Deltta said as soon as the door closed, his mouth twisting in a half-smile. “Now you’re making me feel guilty for sending you to that remote town.”
“You should,” Tarymn chuckled, lowering himself into the chair across from the desk. “Took me hours to get there and back.”
“I’m just glad you found nothing.”
“Yeah. That alpha only wants to be left alone with his pack.”
Deltta nodded, though his expression was heavy. Tarymn caught it immediately. “What?” he pressed. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”
Instead of answering, Deltta’s gaze flicked to the door. “Let’s get lunch.”
“It’s still early.”
“Brunch then,” Deltta countered, gathering a few papers before striding out. Tarymn sighed but rose to follow. His jaw tightened when Langley and his ever-present entourage appeared at the far end, blocking part of the passage.
“Alpha King,” Langley said smoothly, dipping his head in a bow. Relief loosened Tarymn’s shoulders when the alpha just walked past without another word. He wasn’t sure he could stomach another round of Langley’s taunts today. On any other day, he would have brushed the bastard off with practiced indifference. But right now, he was wound too tight to stay in control.
He trailed after Deltta into the parking dome and to the alpha’s pod. Tarymn slipped in beside him, and moments later they were drifting smoothly down the airway.
Tarymn leaned back in his seat, watching the capital fall away through the window. Buildings gave way to open sky and distant fields. He turned to Deltta, suspicion flickering. “Is there an eatery out here I don’t know about?”
“No,” Deltta said, finally meeting his gaze. “I think this is good enough.”
“Good enough for what?” Tarymn asked, scanning the barren stretch of land around them. There was nothing but shrubs and a scattering of buildings in the distance, their silhouettes hazy against the horizon. The hover pod hummed to a stop in a narrow parking bay, and Deltta got out, papers in hand. Thealpha strode a few paces away before halting, his shoulders tense.
Tarymn frowned, unease prickling at the back of his neck.What the fuck is going on?He got out of the pod and followed, boots crunching against the gravel. “Deltta, what is it?”
Deltta turned, his expression shadowed and handed over the papers. “I need you to look into this. I couldn’t speak in the office because I don’t know who to trust yet.”
Tarymn flipped the pages open. Rows of figures and transactions stared back at him. They were financial records. His stomach knotted. “Langley’s the financial officer. Shouldn’t you ask him to handle this?”
“No,” Deltta said decisively. “I don’t trust him. And besides, I don’t think it’s him. He’s not clever enough to pull something like this off.”
“You’re sure?”
Deltta’s gaze hardened. “They fooled me, Tarymn. Me. Langley doesn’t have the balls to do that.”
“Then who?”
“I don’t know. Just… look into it. And do it quietly.”
“I might need help. This isn’t exactly my field.”
“You can’t bring in anyone. Or lean on your sources. The smallest whisper that I’m digging into them, and I’m fucking finished.”
Tarymn nodded, something heavy settling like stone in his chest.
Deltta glanced toward the distant buildings with a strange calmness, and when he looked back, a hint of a smile tugged at his lips, as if he hadn’t just dropped a live bomb into his hands.
“You should take a few days off,” Deltta said lightly. “You look like shit.”
Tarymn huffed a laugh. “When exactly am I supposed to do that? You’ve been working me to the bone.”
“Do it now. Investigate while you’re on leave. I want your full focus on this. Something about this feels wrong.”
