Page 23 of A Very Knotty Halloween (Knotty Holiday #1)

Morning comes way too soon in the form of an announcement over speakers I wasn’t even aware were in the room: “Good morning, alphas, omegas, and everything in between. I hope you all had an… event-filled evening.” The voice is damn close to monotone, a man’s voice, yet there is something strangely calming about it.

Damien groans and reaches for a pillow, pulling it over his head. “No. I’m not ready. Fuck that.” Next to him, Jack is busy rubbing his face, while in my arms, Marnie is yawning and blinking groggily.

The voice goes on, “This is Mr. Holiday speaking. Unfortunately, it is time for the festivities to end. Shower, do whatever you must, but in an hour, you will vacate the rooms you are in. Alphas, you will be escorted to your changing rooms. Omegas, you’ll be escorted to yours.

Whether or not you decide to continue what you started last night is, ultimately, up to you.

I did my best to find matches, and dare I say, it was most certainly an… interesting night.”

Marnie sits up, and I sit up with her. I run a hand through my hair and try to stifle a yawn, but it doesn’t really work. The yawn surfaces regardless.

Mr. Holiday. The elusive, enigmatic man who supposedly runs this whole thing. He must have a lot of money, because his holiday hunts are never in the same location twice. Besides the whole money thing, it does make me wonder just why he does this.

What does he have to gain from hunts like this? If he doesn’t participate, what does he get out of them? Does he get off knowing he’s having a hand in matching packs? Are there tiny cameras hidden everywhere, so he gets free porn or something?

I don’t get it. I don’t think I ever will.

And I don’t give a shit. I have what I came here for, and that’s that. We’ll have to say goodbye to each other for now, but we won’t be apart for long.

It’s as we’re getting dressed that Marnie speaks, “I know we talked about me going with you guys, but… I need to talk to Sabrina, see how her night was. If her night was bad, then I should ride back with her.” She bites her bottom lip, then glances at me.

“She’s my best friend. I want to be there for her, in case.

” She goes for the pill that’ll prevent any crazy, non-heat-related pregnancies that might have a small chance of happening after last night, taking it dry, with no water, the absolute madwoman.

As much as I want to say no, that she’s going to come with us—that we’re going to go straight to her dad and my mom and tell them—I can appreciate the fact that she’s only trying to be a good friend.

“All right,” I say, stepping toward her and cupping her cheeks in my hands.

I’ve only put on pants, still shirtless and shoeless.

Marnie’s vampire dress looks worse for wear, and she already took out the teeth last night, before we fell asleep.

“But we’re going to follow you if that’s the case. What car did you come in?”

She rattles off the car and the color, along with the first few letters of the license plate that she remembers off the top of her head.

It’ll be enough for us to find the car amongst all the others, I hope.

If not… well, it isn’t like she’ll be lost somewhere in the country. I know where she lives.

I bend my top half down to kiss her, and I only end the kiss when I hear Damien ask, “What time do you guys think it is? Six? Seven? Either way, too fucking early to be waking up.” I let go of Marnie and toss him a glare, which he promptly ignores.

“How much sleep do you think we got last night? An hour? Fuck, I’m so fucking tired, I could sleep with my eyes open. ”

“Please don’t,” Jack says, moving near Marnie.

“That would be really creepy.” He turns his charms to our omega and wraps his hands around her waist. “I had a really nice time last night. I can’t wait to do it all over again, once you’re moved in.

” He sounds so earnest, I’d roll my eyes at him if I didn’t know him any better.

But I do. I know Jack very well, so I know he means it, and he’s not being skeezy about it. He kisses her after that, but that kiss doesn’t last long.

Damien scoffs and playfully pulls him away from her, taking his place as he says, “I can’t wait to see you dressed up in other costumes.

” He licks his lips. “And to sink my teeth into that pretty little neck.” He bends his top half down and nuzzles against said neck, making the omega giggle and squirm.

“Stop,” she breathes out, and he relents—though before he lets her go, he does give her a hard kiss. “You three are just… ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but we’re your ridiculous.” Damien’s response comes swiftly, perhaps too swiftly, because it doesn’t really make any sense.

She laughs, and the sound is music to my ears. I want to listen to her laugh all the time, every day, every night, even in my goddamned dreams. My stepsister just happens to be my scent match. Fuck. It’s a miracle I managed to stay away from her this long, if I’m honest.

There’s a knock at the door, and just like that, our time here is over.

I go to answer it, and when I open the door, I see two people wearing masks.

One of them says, “Alphas, with me.” And then that person turns and starts marching away, presumably leading us back to where we’ll find our things, including our phones.

I assume that’s where we’ll finally get these collars off, too.

We say our goodbyes to Marnie, though I linger a little longer than the others.

We stand in the hall, with her masked escort waiting a few feet away.

Down the hall, I can see other escorts bringing alphas out of adjacent rooms—the walls must be soundproof, because I sure as hell didn’t hear anything from the other rooms last night.

Selfishly I hope her friend is fine, but I know even if she is fine, the two girls might want to ride together just to discuss everything that happened to them the night before.

It’s not going to be easy riding in the car behind her, but I’ll make do.

Alphas can’t be with their omegas twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, as much as they wish they could.

There are jobs to think about. Hobbies. Friends.

Family. Part of life is being apart from those you love.

Holy shit.

Love.

Did I love this girl? Did I love this omega, my scent match, already?

Would it be absolutely crazy if I did? I mean, that’s what scent matches are for.

That’s what happens between alphas and omegas.

Connections click into place at the snap of a finger, sometimes with just one shared look.

It’s instinctual, it’s primal. What use is there denying it?

You can say no all you want, but it doesn’t make something not true.

As someone great once said: just because you put syrup on something, don’t make it pancakes. So, yeah, I can try to dress it up all I like, but it won’t change facts.

I fell for this girl immediately. Possibly years ago, at the wedding, when we were just kids coming into our own. There’s no point in saying no, but as much as I want to tell her, I don’t want to scare her in case she hasn’t come to terms with everything yet.

Soon, I’ll tell her. Maybe in a more romantic place than this.

“We’ll find your car,” I tell her, and then I give her one last kiss before I trail after the guys. Leaving her is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, although staying away from her these past few years might just beat it.

No more. We’re a pack now. Marnie is our omega. It might not be easy, coming out to our parents, but we’ll get through it. We’ll get through it and come out of it with a beautiful omega at our side and a pack that’s stronger than ever. The future is so bright it’s blinding, and I can’t wait.