Kiss Me if You Can

"Threatening letter?"

In the meeting, Mark showed the note with a stiff expression. Since the original had been handed over to the authorities, all they had left were copies. The poorly crafted threat, made by cutting and pasting magazine pieces, was short in length.

"To the Extreme Alpha, God's judgment!"

Josh turned the paper over, then passed it to Seth. Seth passed it to Henry, and Henry to Isaac, with everyone reviewing the note before Mark spoke up.

"We filter out fan letters and pranks from anti-fans, but this is different."

"It doesn’t have an address on the envelope."

Josh's comment made Mark nod.

"Someone must have slipped it into the mailbox. But there’s no footage from the CCTV. What’s going on?"

Seth muttered seriously.

"Could someone visiting here...?"

Everyone fell silent, having the same thought. Mark continued speaking.

"Everyone coming in and out of the mansion has been here for at least a year. The agency says they’ve confirmed their identities thoroughly... Still, we should list them all as suspicious."

"Could it be a religious group's doing?"

Isaac’s question was met with a shake of Mark's head.

"We can't jump to conclusions with just this. It might be a disguise, or one of the people targeting us could be from that group. Regardless, the most urgent thing is figuring out how to get through the upcoming party safely."

"The party?"

As soon as Seth heard the mention of a party, he questioned. Then, realizing, he groaned, clutching his head in distress. The others gave him sympathetic looks.

The upcoming party was for the promotion of a film that was about to crank in, with Chase attending as the lead supporting actor.

Of all times for a threatening letter.

Josh sighed inwardly. Moreover, there had been frequent terrorist attacks on Extreme Alphas lately. Keith Pittman, the owner of the studio and an Extreme Alpha, had also been targeted. Though he was a big name, it made sense for him to be a target. But Chase Miller was a much bigger target—many times more dangerous.

While Chase had stayed in the mansion, everyone had enjoyed relative peace. But that peace was now coming to an end. Mark spoke seriously.

"Let's talk about what we'll do at the party. First off, the venue is Pittman’s mansion..."

Everyone listened closely without interrupting. Near the end of the discussion, Mark added:

"Everyone brought your tuxedos, right? Pack them properly, and if anyone doesn't have one, we’ll rent them all together tomorrow. Got it? Anyone missing one?"

He raised his hand and looked around. No one raised a hand. Mark sighed in disappointment.

"Dammit, am I the only one?"

Muttering under his breath, he cursed quietly when Henry spoke up, annoyed.

"What’s with the tuxedos? Why do we all have to look like peacocks? Can’t we just wear the suits we work in?"

"We’re required to look the part," Mark replied dismissively.

Suddenly, Isaac and Josh’s eyes met. Isaac smiled.

"Josh looks great in a tux."

"Josh looks good even without one."

Seth's indifferent comment made everyone turn to look at him. Before Josh could say anything, Isaac asked stiffly, his face frozen.

"How would you know that?"

Henry scowled, pulling his upper body back in disgust. Seth, looking flustered, hurriedly explained.

"What? The looks? We all went on vacation together—remember? To Miami!"

"Oh."

"Ah."

Everyone recalled it, some nodding and others turning away in awkwardness. Isaac smiled at Josh with a soft, nostalgic expression.

"Right, we surfed back then."

Josh nodded, a similar look crossing his face.

"Yeah, it was fun."

That had been before they got the mansion. Josh had spent a lot of time with the crew, making good memories. But Henry didn’t share that sentiment.

"That was ages ago! I’m never going with you again, you bastard. You drag women and men everywhere you go."

"Josh is handsome, and he's in great shape, so what can you do?"

Isaac chimed in casually.

"He's a little short though."

"Thanks."

Josh sneered. Seth grinned and added his agreement.

"Yeah, Josh's only flaw is that."

Josh didn’t hesitate and tapped Seth lightly on the back of the head. Seth glared at him playfully but then said, laughing,

"Thanks to that, we've had plenty of dates. I like going with Josh—women approach us, so we don’t have to struggle with hunting."

"That’s a good advantage. If I hadn’t been married..."

Isaac quickly glanced at Mark, then cleared his throat.

"I should call home."

Mark hurriedly stepped away, but as Josh got up, he noticed Henry's expression—he was clearly unhappy. Henry was staring at Isaac, his face a mix of anger and something else. Had Isaac said something? Josh couldn’t recall anything that stood out.

Watching carefully, Josh realized Henry looked ready to confront Isaac. Should he intervene? After a brief internal debate, Josh dismissed the idea. Surprisingly, Henry stood up abruptly and stormed off without saying anything more, though not before throwing one last remark toward Josh.

"Your turn in the monitor room."

"Got it."

Josh responded briefly and, with a smile, added, "Good night, Henry."

Henry gave Josh a silent look, his face complicated, as it often was with Alphas—beautiful but burdened with complex emotions.

Moments later, Henry cursed quietly, turned, and left. Josh rose and exchanged a brief glance with Isaac.

"…? Something you want to say?"

Isaac seemed to hesitate, remembering something he almost said. Then he simply smiled at Josh.

"No, next time."

"...Alright."

Was it something personal?

Josh didn’t press further, and just turned to head to the monitor room.

"Mm."

As he checked the screens one by one, he froze, noticing the camera feed of Chase's bedroom was malfunctioning. Reporting it to Mark, he was met with a nonchalant reply.

"It’s been weird for a few days. I saw that the recording stopped. I was thinking of checking it out. Laura even suggested removing the CCTV in the bedroom, saying it might be too invasive, especially with the privacy concerns."

Josh nodded along, pretending not to notice his own involvement in deleting that particular footage.

"Laura's right, we have other cameras, no need for one in the bedroom..."

Mark continued his explanation, but Josh was already lost in thought, staring at the malfunctioning feed. Moments later, the image flickered back to life, showing Chase exiting the bathroom.

Completely naked.

Josh froze, unable to tear his eyes away from the perfect physique and face, even through the blurry feed.

After a brief pause, Chase seemed to settle on the bed, lost in thought, before suddenly looking up. Josh had the bizarre feeling their eyes had met.

Chase whispered something, and just as Josh’s confusion grew, the feed cut out completely.

"What the hell?"

Josh sprang up, repeatedly blinking, but the screen remained black. He hesitated, unsure whether to rush over. Was something happening like last time? No, it couldn’t be. This wasn’t the same situation.

He knew Chase had simply gotten out of the shower, nothing to worry about.

Yet when he turned around to leave, the screen flickered back to life, showing Chase lying in bed under a thin sheet.

"...Ha."

Josh sighed deeply, sitting back in his chair.

What was he supposed to do now?

A threatening letter had arrived, yet he couldn’t just turn off the cameras. At the same time, enduring this invasion of privacy felt like a form of torture.

Conflicted with guilt and self-loathing, Josh rubbed his face furiously. Eventually, he decided to inform Mark and take over outdoor security duties for a while. It would be less risky with the pheromone influence, even if it meant more exhaustion.

Days passed, and at last, the day of Keith Pittman’s party arrived.

Funhep

From early morning, the mansion was filled with tension. They had been preparing for the party for a full week.

People from all over, including hairstylists, makeup artists, and massage therapists, swarmed to prepare Chase from head to toe, making him look like a peacock.

"Even celebrities can't escape this kind of stuff."

Isaac shook his head, clearly disgusted by the sight, and Josh had a similar thought—albeit for a different reason.

Why go this far? Chase could roll out of bed and people would still sing his praises.

Mark, fully aware of the dire situation, addressed the team.

"Focus, people. You all know what you need to do, right?"

"Yes, Mark."

The group nodded in unison.

Josh glanced around, noting the butler greeting guests, before signaling to Mark to begin his round.

As they prepared to leave, Josh noticed Henry and Isaac standing apart, ready to act if needed.

While everyone else had been briefed on the notable guests, Josh's responsibility was to observe for any suspicious movements in the crowd.

With everyone seemingly preoccupied with their roles, Josh remained vigilant, his mind still heavy from the earlier incident.

Even with the array of Extreme Alphas and famous guests, the most important task was ensuring the safety of Chase and their team.

And there, amidst the crowd, Josh caught sight of the unmistakable face of Keith Pittman.

And just like that, his mind reeled back to their first meeting.

Keith Pittman—an Alpha, a billionaire, and the dangerous boss of Emma.

But it wasn’t just his wealth or fame that troubled Josh. It was the power and control that came with being an Alpha in a world dominated by pheromones. And for his sister Emma, that connection was all the more dangerous.

Josh couldn’t help but feel uneasy about her proximity to such a man.

The party continued, surrounded by flashing lights, the air thick with anticipation and tension.

But when Josh turned his attention back to Keith and noticed the faint, unmistakable mark on his ear, his unease only deepened.

"He’s married?"

Josh whispered to Mark, who nodded with a casual expression.

"No, didn’t you hear? Someone left a mark on him without his knowing. They’re trying to figure out who did it now."

Josh felt a wave of discomfort wash over him. The situation was far more complicated than anyone had expected.

"Who would have imagined he’d be trapped by someone he didn’t even know? That's karma, I guess."

The conversation was dark, yet Josh couldn’t help but reflect on how vulnerable even the most powerful Alphas could be.

Josh felt a wave of discomfort wash over him. The situation was far more complicated than anyone had expected.

"Who would have imagined he’d be trapped by someone he didn’t even know? That's karma, I guess."

As Josh processed Mark’s words, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sympathy for Keith Pittman. After all, once a mark was made, there was no turning back. The pheromone-scented tie would bind him forever, just as Josh himself had experienced with his own mark.

At least, Josh thought bitterly, he knew who his pheromone scent belonged to. Keith, on the other hand, would be left clueless, unable to smell anyone’s pheromone except the one who had branded him.

It was a strange, almost tragic situation for an Alpha. Josh couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy.

Before he could dwell on it further, Mark nudged him to snap out of it.

"Focus, Josh. Keep your head in the game. Let’s make sure everything’s in order."

Josh sighed but nodded, as his thoughts shifted back to the task at hand. The party, the security, the surveillance — everything was interwoven, each detail crucial.

As they walked toward the mansion, a fleeting moment of tension hung in the air. The paparazzi and fans outside were relentless, their eager eyes snapping every second of the spectacle unfolding before them. Yet, inside the mansion, it was a different world — a world of prestige, danger, and heavy expectations.

Once inside, the air was thick with conversations, flashing lights, and the buzz of excitement as Chase made his way through the crowd. The team remained alert, carefully monitoring everyone’s movements.

Josh’s gaze wandered around the room, but then his attention was captured by a new figure — a woman he hadn’t seen before, her presence almost unnerving in its intensity.

She walked toward him with a smile that felt almost rehearsed, and Josh couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She introduced herself as Veronica, but it wasn’t her name that caught Josh’s attention — it was the way she lingered, the way she seemed to study him.

"Chase," she said, her voice almost too sweet, "can I call you that?"

Josh stiffened, barely responding, but she wasn’t deterred. She kept talking, oblivious to his discomfort.

"I’ve always admired your work... it’s an honor to meet you in person."

Josh forced a smile, not because he wanted to, but because he had learned long ago how to wear it. But there was no escaping the obvious undertone — she was here with an agenda.

As she continued to talk about the film and her admiration for him, Josh’s thoughts shifted to something else entirely — the strange, inexplicable aura surrounding her. The scent of pheromones was faint, but unmistakable.

"You're an Omega," Josh muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing.

Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained composure.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice now tinged with a mix of nervousness and determination. "I am."

For the first time in the conversation, Josh felt a spark of real interest. The pheromone-scented mark on her was unmistakable, but what was she doing here? Why was she so bold, so direct?

Before he could press further, another scent caught his attention — another Omega.

A shiver ran down his spine. There were more?

Josh’s mind raced. Keith Pittman hadn’t noticed, hadn’t smelled a thing — and yet, there were two Omegas right in front of him, both with obvious pheromone trails.

What was happening?

Suddenly, his body tensed, and before he could stop himself, Josh pushed away from Veronica with a harsh force.

"Get away from me!"

The words were sharp, cutting through the tension in the room.

Veronica's face flushed bright red, her eyes wide in shock. The surrounding guests turned, their gazes now fixed on the unfolding scene.

Josh’s heart pounded in his chest. His fists clenched as he glared at the woman.

"Don't touch me. I don’t care if you’re a fan or not. Get away. I can't stand Omegas like you!"

Veronica stepped back, the words hitting her hard. Her face was a mixture of humiliation and anger as she quickly retreated.

Josh didn’t look back. He stormed off, his breath coming in heavy bursts as the noise of the crowd faded behind him.

He needed to escape. The suffocating atmosphere, the unwanted attention—it was all too much.@@novelbin@@

"God, I can’t take this anymore," he muttered to himself, his hands shaking. The weight of everything — the pheromones, the security, the people, everything — was too much to handle.

He needed fresh air. Something to clear his mind, something to erase the suffocating tension.

Stepping out of the party, he found himself in the quiet, cool air of the courtyard. The noise of the party seemed so far away now, and for a moment, he let himself relax, breathing deeply.

But before he could fully settle, a voice behind him froze him in place.

"Josh Bailey."

It was an unexpected, familiar voice. One he hadn’t heard in a while.

He turned, his pulse suddenly racing.

And there, standing before him, was the last person he had ever expected to see.