Page 29 of Knot Letting Go (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #4)

“Oh no. Lillianna has been a dream. She’s so bright and creative and mermaid obsessed.

I don’t mind that though.” I smiled, feeling warmed at that thought, but feeling hotter at thoughts of what Konstantin had demanded of me.

“Mr. Birk has been very supportive of whatever I’ve wanted to do with Lillianna. ”

“Mr. Birk?” Callista gave a little snort.

Should I tell her? The fact Kienna hadn’t already called up both Callista and Nicolette to spill it all was surprising. Her pack must be keeping her super busy in Ireland. Yet she was certain Callista would understand. Quill and Konstantin felt the same way.

If things worked out… It would be harder to tell her later. I had to take the chance.

I swallowed and breathed out slowly. “So, there is something I need to tell you, and it’s the real reason I’ve been distracted.”

Callista bounced her baby on her leg, looking like the very picture of patience.

“So, uh…” Just spit it out. The faster the better.

“I’m compatible with your brothers. Both of them, and they triggered my heat, and now they want to claim me and share me, but I don’t want to make any big decisions while I’m in heat, and I don’t want to lose you as my best friend.

Please don’t hate me!” I covered my face with my hands, so embarrassed.

My heart pounded as I waited for her reaction.

Laughing, Callista slid an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug. “I could never hate you, Aubrie. You’re too sweet. I’m absolutely on board with my brothers claiming you.” She released me and put on a serious expression. “They better be treating you right.”

She could never hate me! A laugh that burbled like a sob escaped me as my stress bubble burst. “Yes, very well. They’re way overprotective, and they barely allowed me to come today. You really don’t mind? You can be honest with me.”

“Good. Overprotectiveness is the standard mode for Alphas.” Callista chuckled. “If they claim you, that means we’ll really be sisters. Sisters! You’ll be Auntie Aubrielle to Isa.”

Oh God, I loved the thought of having her as family.

I was an only child with no cousins. The Birks were a huge family in my eyes, and to be surrounded by so much love and happiness swelled in my heart and threatened to make me cry.

“Thank you for being so good about this. I worried you might hate me. I never set about for this to happen. In fact, I fought against it, but…”

“Yes, I know. It’s always when we least expect it.” Callista continued to bounce Isabella who gurgled contently. “Now I can confess that I already knew.”

My eyes went wide and my breath hitched in my throat. “Kienna told you?”

“No. Does she know?”

“I needed to talk to someone about it.” I hung my head and glanced at her. “She actually gave me good advice.”

Callista grinned. “Kienna, the surprise wise woman.” We both giggled at that. “No, Evander told me. So I’ve had a few days to sit on it. At first he thought it was just Quill, who was ready to fight him to keep him away from you. Then Konstantin did the same thing.”

I gasped. “They didn’t!”

“No one fought anyone.” She shook her head.

“Well, Konstantin and Quill did have a fight, but they worked it out now.” Worked it out surprisingly well. The past day and two nights had been bliss. They took turns with me, sharing without any threats or growls, and both of them made me feel like I was the center of their worlds.

“They had a fight?” Callista exhaled with her surprise as I nodded. “It’s good that it’s out in the open now. Evander said it was important that they knew you were in heat, so they could better provide you with protection. That’s why both Talis and Levi are here.”

“Quill and Konstantin will be joining us soon too.” I couldn’t stop my smile at that.

“The whole family together on a day out. I love it!” Callista gave me another hug.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to them, and I’m so excited you’re part of the family now.

I was worried you’d become a teacher, move away, and never have time to see your friends.

But now that you’re family, you’re obligated to spend time with us! ”

I laughed, feeling on top of the world. “You could never get rid of me. We’re friends forever.”

“Yay! Friends forever!” Lillianna was suddenly there and joining in on the hug.

Oh God. Hopefully she didn’t hear the rest of the conversation.

We each gave Lillianna a hug, and she kissed Isabella on the head. I adored her. She would make the best big sister in the world.

“What’s up? Ready to do something else?” I asked.

“I’ve got to use the bathroom. I got some water on me.” Lillianna pointed to the wet spot on her shirt.

“That was bound to happen. Mermaids simply cannot stay dry.” I stood and took her hand as she laughed. I gave Isabella a little wave and smiled at my friend. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“We’ll be waiting.” Callista gave her daughter a tickling kiss and lifted her to let her feet swish in the water again.

Lillianna and I exited the water room. Catching Levi’s eye, I motioned towards the bathrooms down the hall and mouthed that’s where we were going. The corridor was packed and noisy with tons of little kids running around. Levi winked and gave me a thumb’s up.

We got into the restroom and stood to one side as a mom and three kids squeezed by leaving. The stalls were occupied, so I grabbed a paper towel and squatted to coax as much water out of Lillianna’s shirt as possible.

She let out a puff of air. “Whew. It’s really crowded here. I’ve never been to a place so crowded except an airport, and then Daddy carried me.”

“Yeah, popular places can get like this, especially on rainy days like today. Parents want to do fun things with their children, and there are only so many places to go.” Satisfied I squeezed as much as I could out of her shirt, I tapped the air dryer.

“Here, sweetie. Stand under this to dry it the rest of the way.”

Lillianna nodded and put the damp spot as close to the dryer as possible. A woman and a girl came out of two of the stalls as another woman with a stroller came in. I smiled and gestured that she could go ahead of us. She went into the larger handicap stall.

An older woman came out of the final stall, washed her hands, and left with the others.

My mind drifted, still soaring on the happiness and relief from Callista’s reaction to my news.

She was ecstatic for me. It made my heart ache for it to work out even more.

If everyone was supporting us, and Quill and Konstantin could share, I was going to do my damnedest to make it work.

My very own pack. A life with those two gorgeous men and this amazing child here.

The dryer stopped and Lillianna inspected her t-shirt. “I think it’s dry now.”

Before I could respond, the brunette in the big stall peeked her head out. “Excuse me, miss. Do you think you can give me a hand? I think one of the buckles on the stroller is stuck or something.”

I gave her a sympathetic smile and went into the stall with her. Going around to the front of the stroller, I moved the sunshade up and bent down. It was some foreign brand I didn’t recognize with a thick black canopy and a plush seat with a few blankets and no child.

No child.

Furrowing my brows, I stood to find the woman pointing a gun at my face.