Page 5 of Rescued By Four Alphas
Neither man answers. They know it's not a question that requires a response.
A knock at the door interrupts us.
"Come in," I call.
Oliver enters, his usual impeccable self in a tailored gray suit. "Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Blackthorn, but the PR team needs your input on the latest media inquiries."
I wave Matthews and Parker toward the door. "Increase surveillance as much as legally possible. And find me those loopholes we discussed."
They nod and exit, passing Oliver, who approaches with a stack of papers.
"How bad is it?" I ask.
"The usual mix of legitimate questions and wild conspiracy theories," Oliver hands me the first page. "The WSL Magazine wants an interview about the Crimson Plague cure and Blackthorn Biotech's role in distribution."
"Give a polite decline and refer them to our press release, and…"
"The NYT is doing a feature on Dr. Baldwin's research. They've requested access to her lab and a sit-down interview."
"That's a hard no." I don't even need to think about that one. "What else?"
Oliver flips to the next page. "Several scientific journals want Dr. Baldwin to publish her research on the Crimson Plague cure. The medical community is particularly interested in the implications for human autoimmune disorders."
That one gives me a pause. "Let Dahlia decide on the scientific publications. Those are legitimate."
"And finally," Oliver hesitates, "there's increased speculation about your... unconventional living arrangement."
"Meaning?"
"Several tabloids are running stories about Dr. Baldwin's relationship with multiple men, all living in the same house." Oliver looks uncomfortable. "They're using phrases like 'sex cult' and 'alpha harem.'"
White-hot rage flashes through me. "I want the names of every publication running those stories."
"Sir, you know I can't recommend legal action here," Oliver says carefully. "It would only validate their claims and increase public interest."
I take a deep breath, forcing my anger down. He's right, and I know it. "What does PR recommend?"
"We give them a controlled narrative," Oliver suggests. "Not the full truth, obviously, but enough to satisfy public curiosity without feeding the frenzy."
"Such as?"
"A carefully staged interview with you and Dr. Baldwin. Present yourselves as a conventional couple, explain that the other men are security personnel and research associates who live on the property due to ongoing safety concerns following the Hammond incident."
"You want us to lie."
"I want you to provide a plausible explanation that protects your privacy while defusing speculation," Oliver corrects. "The truth, that Dr. Baldwin is an Omega bonded to four Alphas and pregnant with quadruplets that somehow share DNA from all four fathers, would create a media circus that would never end."
He's not wrong. The world knows about shifters now, but the complexities of Alpha-Omega dynamics remain poorly understood by the public. Our situation would become a global sensation, and Dahlia would never know peace again.
"Let me think about it," I say finally. "I need to discuss this with Dahlia and the others."
"Of course." Oliver nods. "But we should move quickly. The longer we remain silent, the more outlandish the theories become."
My phone buzzes with a text. I glance down to see Dahlia's name.
I saw someone taking photos outside the house. Should I be worried?
My heart rate spikes. "Oliver, get PR working on a statement. A solution that respects Dahlia's privacy while confirming her good health and ongoing research. And no details about our relationship or her pregnancy."
