Page 6 of Knot Enough

SIX

The birds chirped from outside the window, and sunlight filtered through the room.

I groaned as I turned on my side. Inhaling deeply, I scented my alphas.

Snores filled the room, and I threw an arm around Rath’s waist. The thought of waking him with my mouth wrapped around his cock had my eyes fluttering.

I lifted my head and checked on everyone.

Kane was at the far end, and the space behind Rath was empty.

Axel was missing, but the smell of pancakes drifted up.

Axel’s food won, but I couldn’t bring myself to get up just yet.

Lying back, I stared at the ceiling. We were almost back to normal. I didn’t have any more nightmares of my pack mate’s death, but then Rath brought her home. She was a reminder of my failure. Despite the guilt, last night was the first time we’d shared someone since our Omega.

And, fuck, she reacted to everything we did to her.

I refused to let her get to me–I rolled away from Rath and hopped off the bed.

We decided as a pack to get our revenge.

I’d focus on the good: we were alive, Axel was cooking, and my Alpha’s balls were empty.

After a quick shower, I decided on a white button-up and black slacks.

When I was put together, I headed down the hall, down the stairs, and into the kitchen.

The mouthwatering scent hit me. Axel never disappoints.

He leaned over a counter, working his magic.

It wasn’t until recently that he started joining in the fun, but he’d always been beautiful.

His wide shoulders and thick biceps were highlighted under the natural light streaming in through the windows.

For someone who was fucked in the ass for the first time, he was up bright and early. The sound of chopping paused as he peeked over his shoulder. Green eyes locked on mine, then squinted as he flashed me with one of his bright smiles.

“Morning, Beta,” he boomed.

“Morning, Axe,” I greeted as I headed toward the counter.

“What have you got planned today?” he asked. The chopping resumed.

“I need to head into the office. Rath left a lot of work for me,” I teased. The downfall of being Rath’s assistant was catching up on his paperwork when he fixated on something. Little did I know it would be the Omega that killed Nox and Kim.

“Don’t look at me .” He lifted the cutting board and walked to the stove.

“Yes, you too. I should be back by dinner,” I sighed as I watched him sauté the veggies before cracking in eggs.

“The others?”

“Kane has business at the vineyard, and Rath should be going to work,” I answered. He’d show up later than usual, but he’d show up. If I went earlier, I could have some lunch ready for us.

“I meant, where are they?” Axel laughed.

“They’re still sleeping, but I’m sure they’ll wake up soon,” I chuckled. After we lost Nox, I’d made it a habit to know where everyone is, and that included knowing what was on their schedule for the week. He had a lot on his shoulders with the new program the council wanted to start for Omegas.

“Mm … Hungry?”

“Starved,” I whined. He smirked at me knowingly.

“Eggs are done. Pick your poison,” he said. He grabbed an onion and sliced it up.

I grabbed a plate from the stack and a fork. In front of me lies a feast. Waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, and hash browns.

“Thanks for breakfast,” I hummed as I started stabbing.

“What do you think she’d want?” he asked as he turned away.

“Axe…” I trailed off.

He tossed the onions into a boiling pot. We’re both silent as he pours a bowl of vegetables in.

“I don’t think feeding her is a good idea,” I murmured gently. His eyes are cold as they cut to mine. Food is a sensitive subject for him.

“She’ll be hungry,” he rumbled. His green eyes softened with guilt.

“You can’t let your past control you . . . in this situation.”

Axel’s mother died, and he was too young to take care of himself.

He starved for two weeks until someone found him by her rotting body.

He turned his trauma into a form of art.

His love for food is what made him decide he was our official pack cook.

We never went hungry, and it filled that hole inside him.

“I feed the people who live under this roof,” he grunted.

“I don’t think we’re the ones who can care or worry about her. We’re the ones hurting her, Axe.” I lifted the jug and poured orange juice into my glass.

“It’s simple. She’s hungry, and I’ll feed her,” he said nonchalantly.

“It’s been a day. She isn’t starving,” I sighed.

“Yet.” He grunted.

“She’s our prisoner,” I tried again.

“Even they get food. . . I fed her last night,” he admitted.

“Axe,” I sighed in frustration. I lowered my fork and massaged my temple with my thumb and middle finger.

“She needs to eat,” he said with a shrug.

“ She is the reason we lost Lennox. She’s the reason we don’t have our Omega anymore,” I gritted out the images I’d worked so hard to get over.

“I put it behind me,” Axel gritted out.

“It hasn’t been long. How can you just?—”

“Their deaths… were rotting us from the inside out. We need to move on,” Axel said. His voice was raw with emotion.

“If you’d moved on, you wouldn’t have participated yesterday.” His cheeks flushed at my words.

“She’s a pretty Omega. Our Alpha made a decision. I’m focused on keeping her alive long enough. . . to do that.” Axel’s hushed whisper told me all I needed to. I wouldn’t be able to change his mind.

The door opened as Kane’s scent entered the space. He pulled out the stool beside me and took a seat. His hair was brushed back, and he wore a fitted t-shirt with cargo shorts.

“How long are we keeping the Omega alive?” I speared a sausage and bit off half.

“Well, good morning to you, too,” Kane grunted. “Does it matter?”

“It does.” Axel glared. Kane's gaze darted to him.

“Why?” he asked as he started shoveling food onto his plate.

“So I know how long I need to feed her,” Axel responded.

“When did we become a bed-and-breakfast?” Kane scoffed.

“She’s an Omega and she’s down in that dark cell.”

Axel responded casually, but I saw right through the facade. He was pissed.

“We don’t think about the comfort of our prisoners,” Kane said.

“Omegas are fragile,” Axel growled.

“What do you think about this?” Kane asked me.

In any other pack, Betas don’t get a say, but that’s not how it works here.

“Axel is right. She needs to be fed, but don’t tell Rath I said that,” I sighed.

“Don’t tell me what?” he grunted from behind me. I groaned internally.

Fuck.

“Morning, Alpha,” I greeted as he gripped the back of my neck.

“Axe wants to feed the prisoner, and Oak agreed,” Kane said. He smiled as he ratted me out.

Maybe I should have woken Rath up with a blow job.

“Fuck no,” Rath scoffed.

“There are two for and two against,” Kane muttered with a mouthful of food.

“I didn’t know we had to vote on if we were going to be men or savages,” Axel grunted.

“The bitch killed our pack,” Rath snarled.

“Are we just as bad as them?” Axel raised an eyebrow.

“Enough!” Kane ordered. The kitchen was silent as I watched Axel and Rath glare at each other. “Axel is right.”

“You can’t be serious,” Rath said in disbelief.

“I am. Feed the prisoner, Axe. No more arguing,” Kane grunted.

Rath shook his head, but our Alpha had spoken. His end of the bond slammed shut, and he turned on his heel. I had a tracker on their phones and knew where everyone was at all times.

“I’m going to The Registry,” he threw over his shoulder.

“He’ll be fine,” Kane said as he grabbed my shoulder.

“Thanks, Alpha,” Axel said. The relief evident in his tone.

“If the humanity left in our pack says we need to feed the Omega, then that’s what we’ll do,” Kane murmured. Axel walked around the corner and slowly lowered into his seat.

“How’s . . .” Kane cleared his throat. He reached out and put his hand on Axel’s lower back. “Did I hurt you?” His voice was low and gentle.

“You shoved your third leg up my ass . . .” Axel chuckled. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I’d do it again, but with a shit ton of lube.”

Kane’s eyebrows winged up, and a smile played along his lips, and I stabbed another sausage as I enjoyed the show. My alphas were flirting.