Page 8 of Knot Going Down

I laugh. “It was not. But I am glad you came as well.” I take Emily’s hand and kiss her knuckles, then repeat the gesture for Ava. “Both of you. A pleasure.”

“If I don’t see you again. Um, well. I’m glad I met you.” Emily smiles with a note of awkwardness that makes me want to pull her into a comforting hug.

“Have a great life,” Ava says.

Emily coughs and elbows her. “You can’t say that.”

I chuckle. “It is fine,docinho. I hope you both have a wonderful life.”

My words are sincere. They deserve everything they’ve ever dreamed of.

We all do.

There’s a dream waiting for me, too. It starts with going back to my team… the people I want to call my true pack someday.

5

EMILY

“Did your brother explain what they wanted?” Declan asks as we get off the elevator. All Team USA athletes are in the same building, but I’m on a different floor from Ellis and his teammates.

“Not exactly.” I chew on my cuticle. Ellis told me Meggie’s heat suppressants are missing. But that’s not something I’m going to mention to Declan. I don’t know how he would feel about this egregious breach of the rules. Omegas aren’t allowed to participate in the Olympics. Only a limited number of people know Meggie’s an omega, and the DEA agent probably shouldn’t be one of them.

Ellis also briefly mentioned that their packmate McQuinn is in some trouble, but he wouldn’t go into details, just said they needed to speak with Declan, because he might be able to help.

As we walk up to the apartment my best friend shares with my brother’s pack, Declan presses me against the wall next to the door. His lips graze my neck up to my ear. “Is there something you’re not telling me, baby?”

“Yes,” I say without thinking, mind too muddled to deny it. I’ve never been good at lying.

His hand grazes my outer thigh along the hem of my jean shorts. “Are you going to tell me?”

“I… um…”

He brushes his lips across my neck, and my breath catches on a moan. His woodsy scent thickens in the hall. Even as a beta, I catch each note of spruce, pine, cedar and earth.

“Well?” His hand slides up my side, settling on my hip and pulling me closer against him.

“Unfair.” I close my eyes and hit the back of my head against the wall.

His huffed laugh sends a hot breath across my neck. This man is dangerous. But I can’t tell him my best friend is an omega illegally competing in the Olympics. Nope. I’m not doing that.

I’m also not letting him tease me anymore when we’re about to walk intomy brother’sapartment!

I sidestep to get away, and he lets me with a rare lazy smile, watching as I knock.

By the time Ellis opens the door, Declan’s smile is gone as Officer McLaren meets my brother’s gaze. Ellis gives Declan a pointed once over before drawing me in for a hug.

“You okay?” he whispers.

“Yeah.” I pull away and cross the room to hug Meggie, but I’m not sure I believe myself anymore than my brother seems to. He turns to Declan and says something too low for me to hear. Declan nods while keeping his gaze on me.

The rest of my brother’s pack are scattered around the small living room. All six of the guys keep eyeing Declan wearily and glancing at Meggie all twitchy and tense.

“Um, hot,” Meggie whispers in my ear, subtly pointing at Declan.

“Shh!” I backhand her arm lightly.

“Are you being safe at least?” Meggie asks.