The following morning, Avery sat behind his desk, the freshly revised contract spread neatly in front of him. He had gone over every clause twice before calling his secretary.
"Send Jay in," he said without looking up from his papers.
Jay entered with his usual self-assured stride, but Avery's cool, measured tone left no room for banter. Without a word, Avery slid the contract across the desk.
"These are the new rules," Avery said. "You are not to go anywhere without informing either me or Miss Reed. You're also barred from certain venues. Any place where people from my industry gather, unless you're with me. Understood?"
Jay raised an eyebrow but kept silent.
"This isn't negotiable," Avery continued. "I want you to remain… enigmatic. Let the media think we're dating, but a few carefully staged pictures are enough. If they know too much, it'll be harder to pull off the 'amicable breakup' when the time comes."
Jay skimmed through the pages, his smirk fading slightly. He clearly wasn't thrilled, but he also wasn't stupid. There were still more advantages than drawbacks to this arrangement. Without comment, he picked up the pen and signed his name.
"Good," Avery said. "Miss Reed will take you to a stylist today. The event's in two days, and I want you looking like my type."
Jay didn't bother to ask what that meant.
By the time Avery returned home that evening, his mood had darkened. Lately, it seemed the smallest inconveniences set his temper on edge. He was quick to snap, his patience worn thin. He chalked it up to stress—too many deadlines, too much planning—but deep down, a quiet instinct whispered the truth.
His rut was near.
For most Alphas, the aggression came during their rut. For Avery, it was different. He could feel the storm building days before. The colder his demeanor became, the closer the edge was. The air around him seemed heavier, sharper, his presence more commanding, almost suffocating.
And yet, the moment he was near Noël, some of that tension bled away. Avery didn't think too deeply about it, but he knew one thing: for now, the only place he felt at ease… was beside him.
_______
The night of the annual Grand Business Expo had arrived. The air outside the venue was alive with flashbulbs and murmurs. Celebrities, politicians, CEOs, and media moguls stepping out of glossy black cars one after another. This was the first major gathering of the year, a carefully curated playground for power, where connections forged over champagne could turn into multi-million-dollar deals by summer.
In the backseat of a sleek black sedan, Jay sat beside Avery, looking every inch the picture-perfect Omega for the night. His suit had been tailored to perfection, the cut and color intentionally matching Avery's own ensemble. Miss Reed had made sure of that.
Before they stepped out, Miss Reed leaned forward from the passenger seat, her tone brisk but firm. "Jay, remember the rules for tonight. No unnecessary wandering. No offhand comments to the press. And for the love of everything holy, don't try to be clever at Avery's expense."
Jay gave her a charming smile that said he'd do exactly as he pleased, but Miss Reed wasn't fooled. Avery, however, remained silent, his mood heavy and sharp. She had noticed his bad temper all week and didn't intend to let Jay's antics push him any further.
The driver pulled up to the red carpet entrance. Avery's jaw tightened. The door opened, and in one fluid motion, Jay linked his arm with Avery's, his Omega scent subtly sweetening in the cool night air. Together, they stepped out into the flood of camera flashes.
For a split second, the crowd froze, then the chaos began.
The man who never brought a date to public events was suddenly walking arm-in-arm with a striking Omega. Avery Cheng, known for his cold, untouchable image, was smiling—well, almost smiling—at someone by his side.
Miss Reed, already in the car on her way back, didn't need to check her phone to know what was happening. She could already imagine the headlines exploding across the internet.
And she wasn't wrong. Within fifteen minutes, articles were flooding every major news feed:
"Avery Cheng Debuts Mystery Omega at Annual Grand Business Expo"
"Cold-Blooded CEO Melts? Avery Cheng Caught With Stunning Companion"
"Is This the Man Who Finally Tamed Avery Cheng?"
"From Lone Wolf to Lover? Avery Cheng Arrives Arm-in-Arm at Exclusive Gala"
The photos were going viral, each shot showing Avery and Jay in perfect sync as they moved toward the building's entrance. The public ate it up instantly.
Inside the venue, whispers began to ripple through the crowd. A few celebrities, long-time admirers of Avery's elusive allure, looked on with open surprise.
"I thought he didn't like anyone near him."
"Wasn't he supposed to be… I don't know, asexual or something?"
"Guess money and power aren't the only things that get his attention."
Avery heard the murmurs but didn't react. This was exactly the effect he had planned for. Every curious glance, every spark of gossip was a thread in the web he intended to weave.
And tonight, the first strand had just been set.