Page 50 of Holly Jolly Heat
"She stayed for a hell of a lot longer than I would have expected," Ro pointed out. "Answered questions. Sat beside you like it was natural. That's not running. That's trying."
He was right. Michelle was trying. Despite her fear, despite the professional complications, despite everything, she was trying.
"I want to go after her," I admitted. "Want to tell her how much tonight meant. How amazing she was. How grateful I am."
"Then do it," Dex said simply.
"But boundaries?—"
"Boundaries are important. But so is communication." Ro started packing up equipment. "Go talk to her. Just talking. No pressure."
I looked between my pack. "You sure?"
"We're sure," they said in unison.
I headed upstairs, my heart pounding. Michelle's door was closed, but I could see light underneath. She was still awake.
I knocked softly. "Michelle? It's Lucas. Can we talk?"
Silence. Then she spoke softly, "Door's open."
I pushed the door open to find her sitting cross-legged on her bed, laptop beside her, looking exhausted and beautiful and conflicted.
"Hi," I said, hovering in the doorway.
"Hi." She gestured to the desk chair. "You can come in. Door stays open though. House rules."
I came in, pulling the chair closer to the bed but maintaining respectful distance. "I wanted to thank you. For tonight. For defending me."
"It's my job to manage community interactions."
"Michelle. You stormed into frame, on camera, in front of thousands of people, the exact thing you've been trying to avoid, because some trolls were being mean to me." I leaned forward. "That wasn't just business. That was personal."
Her cheeks flushed. "You looked hurt. I couldn't just sit there and watch."
"Why not?"
"Because—" She stopped, struggling with the words. "Because you're mine. You're my client and I protect my clients and you're?—"
"I'm your alpha," I finished gently. "And you're my omega. And tonight, you couldn't fight that instinct."
She looked at me with something that might have been fear or might have been relief. "I broke my own rules."
"You protected your pack. There's a difference."
"Lucas, I can't, this is exactly what I was afraid of. The professional boundaries blurring. Showing personal connection on stream. Viewers speculating about pack dynamics. This is how reputations get ruined."
"Or," I said carefully, "this is how new standards get set. Michelle, you were amazing tonight. Professional and fierce and protective. Chat loved you. You didn't look unprofessional. You looked like exactly the kind of manager everyone wants. Someone who actually cares."
"But they're speculating about us. About pack. I saw the comments."
"Let them speculate. We haven't confirmed anything. You handled it perfectly, professional deflection while still being real." I risked moving closer. "And honestly? Even if word gets out eventually, I don't think it's the disaster you're imagining."
"You don't know that."
"I know you. I know you're brilliant at your job. I know the pack bond doesn't change your competence. I know that every client you have is lucky to have you, regardless of our relationship."
Michelle was quiet, her fingers twisting together in her lap.
