Page 2 of Knot Letting Go (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #4)

I nodded and quietly thanked him. Of all of Kienna’s mates, he was the sweetest. His traditional tuxedo and French-Canadian accent made him seem like a foreign prince.

He was also the only one of her mates that I’d actually let touch me since he was a Beta.

While I didn’t doubt her Alphas’ loyalty to her, I still couldn’t bring myself to let any Alpha touch me just in case we were compatible.

While compatibility could be determined from scents as well, I was always extra careful because I wanted to make certain I liked an Alpha first before I was ready to know if we were compatible.

I didn’t want the fact we were biologically suited to each to dictate to an Alpha he had to make me his mate.

Yet I never had a chance to meet a single Alpha, or even a Beta for that matter. While I was at home alone a lot and could go out, the times I had done so could be counted on one hand, and those were just to the supermarket or greenhouse.

Kienna always teased me for being stickler for the rules, but the thought of breaking any Omega law sent a wave of panic through me.

When my friends would sneak out to go to parties while we were at St. Anne’s School for Girls, I would stay by myself and watch matchmaking and wedding shows until they got back.

I could only sleep once I knew they were safe.

“Are you having a good time tonight?” Alderic asked.

“The ceremony was beautiful. Everything was perfect.”

“It was. But are you having fun?” He gave my hand a small squeeze, but I couldn’t be thankful for the gesture. My emotions had been all over this weekend, and tonight I had gone numb when I’d expected happy tears.

Alderic had an aura of comfort, and I wanted to spill out everything to him. Yet I was keenly aware he was Kienna’s mate, and I didn’t want to step over a line, even though I just wanted a shoulder to lean on.

“It’s been really nice seeing my friends. I miss them.” That was the truth. He didn’t need to know any of my other rambling thoughts.

“Kienna misses you all too. She loves telling stories about your days at school. All her crazy stories.” Alderic chuckled. I smirked wondering how many of the tales she had told them. “She hasn’t mentioned any of your mischief, which makes me wonder if you have the wildest stories of them all.”

My eyes widened. I had no stories. None. The few times Kienna managed to get me to come to a party with her, I huddled in a corner and could barely say a word. Wild for me was if I went outside on a cloudless day without any sunblock.

We entered through the French doors of a sunroom, and everyone stopped walking when a man shouted from a room to the left.

“You had one job and you failed to do it.” His voice trembled with fury and my body tightened. I sucked in a breath, flinching from the anger. “All you had to do was watch Lillianna.”

“But sir—”

The woman was cut off by a snarl from the man. “No. You’re fired. Pack your stuff and leave right now.”

Lillianna was Callista’s niece, the only daughter of her eldest brother Konstantin.

The child was the flower girl for the wedding.

She was absolutely precious with her big brown curls, long-lashed dark eyes, and dimpled smile.

Lillianna got ready with us before the wedding, and I did her hair up like Callista’s.

As for Callista’s brothers, I’d only seen them twice before the wedding.

Once at the rehearsal and then at the engagement celebration dinner.

Konstantin and Quillon had both lived overseas for several years before their father died.

Once he was gone, they returned to take over the business and moved into the manor.

“Is everything alright?” Callista turned with Levi by her side to address her brother.

I came to a stop behind my friend and peered over her shoulder into the small tearoom.

Konstantin’s chest heaved with his outburst and his dark eyes blazed.

I’d seen pictures of him before we’d met and always thought he was handsome, but in person, he was like a model who had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

My gaze drifted along his wide shoulders, his trim athletic build, and his long legs that had him standing at nearly six foot two.

His black hair was slicked back from his face highlighting his exquisite jaw and cheekbones.

Anger radiated off him and made my stomach twist, but I found it impossible to look away.

“No,” he snapped. His hands clenched into fists. “Paula wasn’t watching Lillianna and she got into your dressing room. Your makeup… the mess…”

Lillianna peeked out from behind one of the ornate chairs. She had tried to put makeup on, but she layered on too thick and smudged it everywhere. There were streaks on her pretty white dress, and her hair had come out on one side. Tears glimmered in her eyes as she looked up at her father.

Poor girl. What she needed was a hug and not her father yelling at the nanny.

Callista attempted a smile and waved her hand. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t care—”

“It is. She was supposed to be with Lillianna. Always.” Konstantin straightened his suit jacket as his jaw worked back and forth. He peered back at Callista, Levi, and the rest of us. His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than the others. “What are you all doing here?”

“We were getting some air.” Callista didn’t wilt before her brother’s temper. She held up her chin and stepped forward, holding out her hand to her niece. “Come on, Lillianna. Let’s go get you cleaned up.”

“I will take care of her. Your guests will be looking for you.” Konstantin took his daughter’s hand and gestured for us to head back to the ballroom.

Callista seemed to want to argue with him, but with a nudge from Levi, she sighed and nodded. “Alright.”

I bit the side of my tongue. Everything in me wanted to rush in there and scoop up Lillianna, ferrying her away from the scary scene. But it wasn’t my place.

Everyone turned and headed back through the sunroom to the interior of the manor.

I glanced back over my shoulder to see Konstantin pick up the child who covered her face with her hands as she started to cry.

He gently pressed her head against his shoulder and said nothing as makeup smudged on his jacket.

He kissed her forehead as he walked away.

He’d gone from being a terrifying monster to a gentle beast in a matter of seconds. It was the only thing all day that had made me want to cry.