A CLANDESTINE WOLF

CHAPTER 5

Karen shook his head in bewilderment, "Matthew, what's going on? I thought we had settled this!" He stood up as Matthew was gathering his belongings.

"Please." He placed his hand on the younger man's, and something shifted in his mind. A voice, clear and familiar, resonated. "Damn, why can't I say no? He's so attractive and kind. I'd love to kiss him and finalize the contract, but he's not an omega."

Upon hearing the last part, Karen withdrew his hand and stared at Matthew in confusion. It was Matthew's voice, but his lips hadn't moved. His eyes remained fixed on Karen's face the entire time, convincing the young manager he hadn't imagined it.

"What's wrong, Mr. Hayes?" Chris broke the silence, pulling them out of their staring contest.

"Omega?" karen whispered, but wolves had sharp hearing even in human form.

"W-What?" Matthew was stunned. He knew exactly what he had been thinking, and it seemed too coincidental for Karen to mention it out of the blue.

Matthew looked from Chris to karen. "Chris, I'm heading to his company. You go home and inform my dad that I'll return later with good news."

"But..." Chris began, only to be interrupted by Matthew. "No buts. Do as I say. That's an order." A low growl prompted Chris to bid Karen farewell with a deep bow and leave the café..

Karen felt his body responding to the low tone from the younger man. He felt compelled to apologize for something he hadn't done. It was strange, but he resolved to discover what was wrong with the man in front of him, no matter what.

When Chris returned to the pack, Matthew's father was already waiting for him. The previous week, two new members were supposed to arrive, but they hadn't, as one of their mates had gone missing, leading them on a fruitless search.

"Chris, where is Matthew? The new members are here, and he should be the one greeting them." Mr. Ford looked worried, possibly having searched the woods for his son earlier.

"Matthew asked me to inform you that he has a meeting about selling the forest and will come home afterward." At least Chris hoped for that.

Mr. Ford smiled, proud of his son for saving the pack. "Oh, really? If that's the case, come with me to greet them. You can update Matthew later." He put his arm around Chris, whom he regarded as a second son, having cared for him since he was four.

They walked to the main area where all important events took place, and many wolves were already gathered, eager for the occasion. Everyone knew about the newcomers, and even Chris was excited.

Minutes later, the leader entered the center with Mr. Ford following. They waited for silence before Mr. Ford spoke. "Good evening. As you all know, we welcome two new members into our midst today." He smiled as the crowd applauded.

He continued, "KEVIN SMITH and TAYLOR HADES are both kind and capable young men, and we are delighted to have them here. Kevin and Taylor, please join me."

Chris felt a strange sensation in his stomach-something he had never felt before. It wasn't unpleasant; on the contrary, it felt wonderful.

The named men slowly made their way through the crowd, who were too curious to make space. Chris felt a hand on his shoulder, sending an electrifying sensation through him. He whimpered involuntarily.

A voice whispered in his ear, "Calm down, dear. We'll talk later. Act normal." Chris nodded, obeying without turning to see the speaker.

The owner of the mesmerizing voice let his hand slide down Chris's back, stopping just before reaching his lower back. Chris waited to catch a glimpse of his mate's face, but to his disappointment, the man took a different path.

He looked around but couldn't find them until Mr. Ford called their names again. "Taylor, Kevin, there you are!" The two young wolves rushed to Ford and embraced him tightly.

They then formally introduced themselves. Kevin was about Chris's height, maybe slightly shorter. Taylor was taller with a bright smile. One of them was his mate, but they stood too close together for Chris to determine which one caused the butterflies in his stomach.

Mr. Ford shared details about their lives relevant to the pack, and the ceremony concluded quickly.

Kevin and Taylor would soon have their own house, but until then, Chris would move into Matthew's room while the newcomers shared Chris's.

Now that he had a mate, Chris felt uncomfortable sharing a bed with his heat partner. He felt guilty and hoped nothing would happen between them, knowing his mate would detect it. It could be disastrous.

Karen and Matthew reached the office after a silent drive in Karen's car since Chris had taken Matthew's. As they exited the elevator, Karen's brothers were waiting for him. Karen had forgotten about their meeting and squinted, now needing to introduce Matthew. "Brothers, this is Matthew Ford. I've already mentioned the project; he's the one offering the forest."

Samuel grinned while Wesley scrutinized him. "You look young. Do your parents know about this?" Namjoon crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.

Matthew disliked being called too young or incapable. However, he chose not to argue and laughed. "I get that a lot, but yes, my father knows, and it is my land that I may sell."

Karen looked down, knowing Matthew had changed his mind earlier, hoping he might reconsider.

"I understand. I apologize if I seemed rude, but in our business, one must always be cautious." Wesley bowed, and Matthew mirrored the gesture.

"I understand, but Karen has already seen all the documents and knows I'm telling the truth." Karen nodded quickly, and Samuel's grin widened. "Karen, huh?"

Matthew explained, "Well, if I said 'Mr. Hayes,' all three of you would respond. To avoid confusion, I used his first name."

Wesley was impressed, though he wouldn't admit it. Matthew was articulate and quick-thinking. Samuel, however, saw more than necessary in the action, noting how nervous Karen seemed next to Matthew.

"Since we're all here, let's discuss your project. I'm very interested and want to hear everything. Is that okay with you, Matthew, or would you prefer to be alone with Karen?" Samuel observed their reactions closely.

Karen opened his mouth but closed it again immediately. Matthew swallowed nervously before clearing his throat.

"It's fine if we do it together. Maybe you'll notice something we missed."

"Wouldn't that be unfair? Three of us against you alone. What if we deceive you and act unprofessionally?" Wesley tested him, wanting to understand Matthew's character.

"Well, would someone unprofessional put it that way and give me the chance to decline? I also researched your company and checked the stock market. Everything seems fine. I'm not inexperienced in business. I know my forest's worth, and I won't sell below value."

Matthew smirked, and Samuel laughed. "I already like him. Karen has good taste in men." He put his arm around Matthew's shoulder and winked at his youngest brother, who only then understood the implication.

"Oh my god, Sam! I'm not interested in Matthew!" Karen whined, and Matthew looked at him. "You're not?"

Matthew felt inexplicably disappointed. It was good that Karen wasn't interested, which should simplify things for Matthew.

Samuel whispered something to Matthew, who widened his eyes. Karen, dying of curiosity, pretended not to care.