Scentless

Prologue

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Prologue

The elevator hummed softly as it climbed the floors of the towering skyscraper. Ava stared at her reflection in the mirrored walls, adjusting the collar of her blouse and giving her hair one final pat. It was her first day at Verdant Corporation, and she couldn't afford any missteps. This job meant everything to her—not just because it was a lucrative position as a personal assistant to the CEO, but because she had something to prove.

To herself. To her family. And most importantly, to the world.

After all, Ava was no ordinary omega.

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and exhaled softly. At twenty-six, she was at the prime age where most omegas would be fussing about their pheromones, worrying about their next heat cycle, or catching the eye of a prospective alpha. But Ava was different. She wasn’t just an omega—she was scentless. Well, not completely scentless, but close enough that most alphas and betas couldn’t even detect her natural omega fragrance. It was subtle, faint, barely a whisper compared to the overwhelming waves of scent that most omegas exuded.

And that was her strength.

In a world where omegas were often seen as weaker, more fragile, and prone to needing protection, Ava had always wanted to break free of those stereotypes. She wasn’t weak. In fact, she was far from it. Her scentlessness had been her secret weapon for as long as she could remember. It made her nearly invisible, slipping under the radar of most alphas and giving her a freedom that most omegas only dreamed of.

But there was more to it than that. Ava’s family had a long and storied history—one that was kept secret from most of the world. They weren’t just omegas; they were hunters. For generations, the women in her family had been tasked with keeping the balance in society, protecting the weaker from rogue alphas, and upholding the peace in a world where power dynamics between alphas and omegas could be volatile.

Ava had been trained from a young age, learning combat, strategy, and how to track and hunt those who posed a danger. Her scentlessness was both a gift and a curse. While it allowed her to move unnoticed, it also isolated her from many social circles. But that was fine with her. She had a mission, and she wasn’t one to let emotions—or romance—get in the way.

The elevator dinged, snapping her from her thoughts. The doors slid open, revealing the sleek, modern offices of Verdant Corporation. Sunlight streamed through the glass walls, casting the lobby in a golden glow. Ava straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and stepped out.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself.

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The company’s CEO, Damon Hale, was known for many things. He was a ruthless businessman, a powerful alpha with an imposing presence, and perhaps most famously, he had an intense dislike for omegas. Specifically, their scent. He found it distracting, overwhelming, and frankly, irritating. It was rumored that he had fired several assistants in the past simply because their omega scent had been too strong for him to tolerate.

That’s where Ava came in.

She had studied Damon Hale extensively before applying for the job. She knew his routines, his preferences, and most importantly, his aversion to omega scents. While most omegas wouldn’t dream of stepping foot into his office for fear of rejection, Ava saw it as an opportunity. Her lack of a strong scent made her perfect for the role. She was confident that Damon would see her as more of a beta, someone who could get the job done without distracting him with any hormonal complications.

"Miss Crawford, I presume?"

A voice broke her thoughts, and Ava turned to see a man standing by the reception desk. He was tall, well-dressed, and exuded the air of someone who didn’t have time to waste. His piercing green eyes locked onto hers, and she knew instantly who he was. Damon Hale.

"Yes, that’s me," she replied, extending her hand. "Ava Crawford."

Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. She could feel the weight of his gaze, assessing her, perhaps even testing her. After a long pause, he finally shook her hand, his grip firm and controlled.

"Follow me," he said curtly, turning on his heel and striding down the corridor. Ava hurried to keep pace with him, her heart racing in her chest. The tension in the air was palpable, but she wasn’t about to let nerves get the best of her. She had faced far worse than a grumpy CEO in her lifetime.

Damon led her into his office, a vast room with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The furniture was minimalist and sleek, just like everything else about him. He gestured for her to sit in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk, and she obliged.

"I’ll cut to the chase," Damon said, settling into his own chair behind the desk. "I’ve gone through several assistants in the past few months. Most of them didn’t last a week. The last one? Two days."

Ava’s stomach tightened, but she maintained her composed exterior. "I’m confident I can handle the job, Mr. Hale."

"Are you?" His gaze flickered over her, as if searching for something. "Most omegas would run at the mere mention of working with me."

"I’m not most omegas," she said evenly. "I can assure you, my scent won’t be a problem."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Ava nodded. "I don’t have a strong scent. It’s practically nonexistent."

For the first time, Damon seemed intrigued. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "You’re confident."

"I am," Ava replied, holding his gaze steadily.

He regarded her in silence for a moment, then finally spoke. "Alright. You’ve got the job."

Relief washed over her, but she kept her expression neutral. "Thank you, Mr. Hale. I won’t let you down."

"We’ll see about that," he said, his tone making it clear that he wasn’t one to hand out compliments easily. "You start tomorrow."

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Ava left the office with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She had gotten the job, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy. Damon Hale was a tough man to please, and the rumors about his temper were legendary. But Ava wasn’t afraid. She had dealt with far worse in her life.

As she stepped into the elevator, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had gotten through the first hurdle, and now it was time to prove herself.

But what she didn’t know was that Damon Hale was more than just a difficult alpha. He had secrets of his own, and as their paths intertwined, Ava would find herself caught between her duty as a hunter and the unexpected emotions that began to stir within her.

Because, despite everything, love had a way of blooming in the most unlikely of places.

And in this world, nothing was ever quite as it seemed.

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