Page 1 of Knot Our Mistake (Knot Ours #1)

CHAPTER

ONE

Sophia

My stomach was in knots. My palms were sweating. And if I dared to let my mind think, I knew for a fact that I'd throw up. This was it. This was happening. I was someone's omega... again.

Every ounce of doubt I had tried to talk myself out of surfaced again, threatening to make me crumble to my knees. I was someone's omega. Someone wanted me. I could still have the life I dreamed of, even if I was considered flawed.

The hired car drove through the country land, and I watched the rolling hills and fields of greens and yellows pass me by.

I found it odd that my unit didn't come for me, didn't try to collect me from Omega Industries as was custom.

But maybe because I was a return, an unwanted omega from a previous unit, I was not gifted with such customs. But I did deserve such things, didn't I?

After all, I was an omega, and omega numbers were dwindling.

The anticipation was killing me. I leaned forward, letting my palm touch the headrest of the chair in front of me. "Do- do you know how much longer?"

"Not far, omega," the beta woman driving answered. "Another few minutes."

Another few minutes? But I didn't see any houses, buildings, or any sign of life at all. Well, except for that cow. But I trusted the Omega Institute, and if they were sending me here, then I was sure it was safe. A town would surface soon, I was positive.

Only, a town didn't surface. Instead, the beta pulled up in front of a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere and stopped her car. Without a word, she got out, opening the trunk and removing my bags before I could even step foot on the well-packed dirt.

My legs trembled as I approached the trunk of the car, feeling the nerves I had managed to suppress during the drive surface tenfold.

This was it, my new home. Completely opposite from the unit who rejected me.

Where my former home was skyrise buildings and office attire, something told me that this little farmhouse in the middle of nowhere would not require the use of the plethora of heels I had brought along.

"This is it?" I asked, even knowing that it was in fact the place I was assigned. If it wasn't, she wouldn't have brought me here and started to unpack my belongings from the trunk.

"It's the address given," the beta confirmed.

"Oh, okay." I looked around one more time before reaching for a suitcase.

"Leave it!" the beta snapped, and I pulled my hand away from the bag like it was on fire. "An omega does not carry her own bags."

I looked around, searching for who she thought would be carrying my bags, but came up empty. "But..."

"Follow me, Omega." She turned abruptly and stomped toward the house, leaving me to follow.

The boards squeaked as I stepped up onto the wrap-around porch, but the beta didn't seem to mind.

She moved with purpose, going straight to the front door and knocking hard.

At first, no one answered, and she raised her fist, ready to knock again, when heavy footsteps echoed from inside.

She brought her hand down right as the door pulled open, and we were forced to look up, and up, into the steely-eyed glare of a giant of a man.

He inhaled deeply, his eyes fluttering for a moment before he asked, "May I help you, beta?"

Her swallow was audible as she craned her neck to look at him. Her fingers gripped the folder in her hand tightly as she spoke. "Alpha Kendricks?"

His voice was like gravel as he spoke. "What do you need, beta?"

The beta stumbled over her words, clearly not used to an alpha so... harsh. "I, well- as requested of the Omega Industries, I am here to deliver this omega. Now, I also was instructed to hand you this file before departing."

"Omega Industries?" His eyes fell to me for a moment before he brought the fire back to the beta. Anger surged in every muscle as he continued. "I've not once dealt with the Omega Industries, and I do not plan on doing so ever."

"Well..." the beta cleared her throat, clearly afraid of the power the alpha radiated.

"Unfortunately, that isn't something I handle.

I am just a delivery service. Here..." She pushed the folder toward him, forcing him to take it.

"All contact information you need should be provided in this packet. "

"No." The alpha shook his head at the beta. "Take the omega and the packet back."

"Unfortunately–"

"If you say anything but 'yes, alpha'–" I stepped back from his anger and straight into a hard chest. I jumped forward again, trying to avoid the contact of this stranger who appeared.

The stranger reached forward, and though I shouldn't have, I inhaled. Mm, delta, my omega sang. The delta reached forward, taking the stack of papers out of the alpha's hand. The alpha scowled further, but the delta didn't seem to care.

"This has your name on it," he pointed out as he flipped through it.

"I didn't order from the Industries."

"Well, that's for fucking sure," the delta laughed. "I would have known."

"It's a mistake."

"Odd mistake to have your name on, wouldn't you say?" the delta challenged, and if I had to guess, I wondered if the delta actually wanted me to stay as much as the alpha denied I was theirs. Well, contractually theirs at least.

The alpha ground his back molars, annoyed as he glared at the man behind me. "I didn't sign anything."

"Hmm." The delta flipped a page. "It appears to be your digital signature."

The beta woman cleared her throat. "As I had already mentioned, there is nothing I can do past this point. I would suggest getting in contact with Omega Industries directly and working out a return or exchange."

"She isn't a fucking sweater," he growled. "You can't just return or exchange a living being."

"Then what exactly are you trying to do with her?" the delta drawled.

"Send her back to her home."

"Return her," the delta corrected, and the woman gasped. A delta talking to his alpha like that was, well, unheard of. Yet still, he was bold enough to do so.

"I'd rather not be involved in your... family matters." The beta took a step back, then another, until she was standing on the steps. "Thank you for doing business with the Omega Industries."

The way the beta booked it out of there was impressive.

How she managed to ignore the giant alpha's objections as he shouted, "I didn't do business with the Omega Industries," was honestly mystifying.

But before I could blink, the beta had thrown herself into the driver's seat and put the car in reverse.

We watched her drive away until she hit the main road, before the delta said, "I didn't hear the car start."

"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" the alpha grumbled, shaking the very porch we stood on.

"I reckon you should get to calling these numbers." The delta pushed the folder of papers forward into the alpha's chest. "I'll go get her things."

"We've got no room for an omega," the alpha objected, "or her things."

"We've got plenty of room." The delta brushed him off as he hopped down the few steps to the ground and picked up three of my bags together, as if they weighed nothing. "Come on, Darling, I'll take you inside."

I stepped down and walked toward my things, about to grab one of my bags, but a voice called from the side of the house, stopping me. "Don't you dare touch that."

I froze, my hands stilled before I dropped them to my side, right as a burly man, nearly as large as the alpha, stepped into view. Beta smells so good, my omega cooed. Damn it, she was right. He did smell divine, like a smoky fire and whiskey after a long day.

The beta bent slightly at his knees to catch my gaze, locking his soulful brown eyes on me. He spoke again, "I don't know what's going on, honey. But an omega never carries her bags."

With that, he stood straight, grabbing my remaining bags and followed the delta into the house.

When I didn't follow, the delta peeked his head out the door, ignoring the furious looming alpha who was reading through the papers, and shouted, "Come on, omega, if you stay out there too long, you'll burn that pretty skin of yours. "

I wasn't sure about that. I'd spent plenty of time in the sun and never had a problem with burns, but if the delta was inviting me into their home, it would be rude not to enter. I followed after them, sidestepping the alpha, keeping my eyes low as I entered their home.

The minute my body entered the dwelling, a full-body chill racked up my spine, and I shivered, inhaling deeply as their scent consumed me, causing my toes to curl.

It was luscious in here, an addictive aroma of their scents mingling, combining, becoming perfect.

Nothing like my former pack, whose scent made my nose itchy.

The delta and beta put my bags down before the beta spoke. "I don't know what I did right to have an unclaimed omega standing in my home, but I'm sure glad you're here, honey. Are you thirsty? Hungry? Need anything at all?"

I didn't know where to look. At them, at the surroundings, at the alpha? I opted for my hands. "The restroom, p-please."

The beta looked toward the alpha, who was still outside, for a moment, then nodded his head. "Sure. Follow me."

He walked toward a hall, and I followed him to the end where he flipped on the light and held the door open for me. "It's small, but it gets the job done. If you need us, just follow the same hall back, and we'll be waiting."

I stepped past him. "Thank you."

"No problem, omega." He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and for a moment, I wondered if he was going to say more, but he didn't. Instead, he closed the door to the small space, leaving me alone.

I allowed myself a quick glance around the black and white bathroom, then I stepped toward the pedestal sink and turned on the water, letting it run until it was lukewarm before splashing the liquid against my skin.

I took a few deep breaths while gripping the edge of the sink, talking myself into all the hard things I could do.

Again. Because despite my past and how afraid I was for my future, I could do hard things. All omegas could.

I reached forward, turning off the water before grabbing a hand towel and blotting my face. Beta, my omega sighed happily as the material was held to my nose. I had to agree; there was nothing like the smell of a smoky campfire on a fall night.

Using the little strength I had left in me, I pried the towel from my hand and hung it back up. Then, after a slow inhale and exhale, I pulled open the door and stepped into my new unit's home.