Page 3 of Knot Our Mistake (Knot Ours #1)

CHAPTER

THREE

SOPHIA

My steps down the hall were light. I wasn't trying to be a sneak, wasn't trying to overhear the argument between them, but I did, and the sorrow it caused made my stomach knot. I was a mistake. They hadn't wanted me. I knew this, and all I felt was rejection all over again.

I pushed my hair to one side, letting it cascade over my shoulder, before taking one final deep breath and stepping into the room. I swallowed hard as the alpha's eyes instantly locked on my own, and I let my eyes fall to the floor. "Alpha."

He sighed, his frustration clear. "Omega, it appears you will be a guest in our home for a while. I hope that you can," he closed his eyes like he had to gather himself, and I looked back to the ground before he could open them again, "I hope that you can find comfort here among us."

"I think she'll manage just fine," the beta cut in. "Would you like a tour?"

"She doesn't need a tour; there is nothing to our home," the alpha snapped, before he took a breath and calmed himself. "Unfortunately, you arrived in the middle of a work day."

"Every day is a workday," the delta grumbled, and the alpha shot him a glare before he continued to speak.

"I've got work to do. I trust that Bran and Leo will help settle you in and make you comfortable."

Both delta and beta nodded their approval at the suggestion, but it was the beta who spoke first. "Are you hungry, honey?"

I was starved. Famished. Could eat a whole cow right off the farm, lightly charred.

.. except, I knew what I looked like. Knew that I carried extra pounds that settled heavy in my hips and thighs, and if I wanted to gain my new alpha's approval, wanted to be more like the desired omegas that were all eerily similar, I needed to force myself to conform.

I swallowed down the saliva that pooled in my mouth at the thought of food. "I'm not hungry, Beta..." I shifted through my mind, trying to find his name. "Bran."

His eyes roamed over me, and I wished my stomach didn't pick that exact moment to rumble.

He licked his lower lip before scraping it against his teeth.

"Well, I'm hungry. I'll make extra in case you change your mind.

And I do hope you change your mind, omega.

I love when my females are taken care of. "

Females? Oh god. Had I somehow encroached on another omega's unit? Or a beta? Did they have a woman and now they were stuck with me too?

Before I could let my mind get carried away, creating scenarios that would break my heart, the delta grabbed onto my elbow, directing me toward the hall. "I guess you know where the restroom is already. We have one more in our bedroom, but?—"

He stopped there, not continuing, and I could only imagine all the reasons why.

But I'd never see in there? I did not belong in an alpha's bedroom?

I wouldn't stick around long enough to be part of this unit?

All the horrid things my previous pack said flooded back to me, and I blinked my eyes, fighting tears at the hurt I still carried.

I was not good enough. I may never be.

"Don't cry, darling," he cooed, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "We hadn't expected you to come, and well, we are a house of men. It's not exactly... neat... in there."

"I can clean," I offered instantly, hoping to make myself useful.

"Omega, you will never clean a mess you did not help make," he said. He touched a doorknob. "This is the only space we have, but it's yours. We hadn't prepared for you to come, and I'm sorry for that. But we'll work on it, turn it into any nest you deserve."

He pushed open the door, gesturing for me to go first. Timidly, I stepped forward, walking past him and into the space, and it was.

.. perfect. It wasn't the impersonal space that was so large it felt sterile, like what my previous unit had to offer.

It wasn't filled with luxury pelts and quilts either.

In fact, it wasn't filled with anything.

Yet the small room, with a single floor pallet, a chest of drawers, and a closet, was somehow more luxurious than one from a high rise in the city.

"I love it," I announced as I spun around once in the center.

"You do?"

"I do." I nodded vigorously, trying to get my feelings across.

"Well, we'll get your stuff brought in here, and then I'll search around for some blankets for you. It will be temporary. We'll get you whatever ones you need; it just takes a while to order them out here."

"I'm sure they are perfect, Delta," I swallowed hard at the thought of the last time my unit brought me things for my nest. The feel of silk against my skin still makes me cringe.

Their refusal to accept my dislike for the material should have been the first sign that they weren't the unit for me.

But an omega doesn't complain, only accepts that their alpha knows best.

"I'll go grab your things," the delta nodded and stepped out the door but then paused. Turning back to me, he added, "Omega?"

My throat was dry, my fear already taking hold that I hadn't met his standards. "Yeah?"

"We weren't expecting you, but I'm sure glad you're here."

It took four trips for the boys to bring my things into the small space.

Without my items being organized, it took up all the floor room and made it nearly impossible to move about, which meant Bran and Leo watched me from the doorway, their eyes bright like I was a brand new toy and they couldn't wait to see what accessories I came with.

"Let me help you," Bran offered.

"Aren't you supposed to be cooking?" Leo cut in. "I'll help her."

"It will be no problem. We both can help. I've got another twenty minutes before the casserole is finished anyway," Bran stepped forward, already heading for a suitcase.

I stepped forward, my eyes staying low even when I held my hand out. "I've got it."

What I didn't say is they couldn't see what was in my suitcase, or they would assume I didn't belong here. My old unit insisted I take all my stuff. I didn't want it. I never wanted it, but they insisted I needed it to fit into their lives.

Bran froze, respecting my wishes not to touch. "If you're sure..."

"Positive, Beta," I swallowed hard as I nodded.

"Leo," Bran cleared his throat before continuing, "why don't we leave our omega to settle? I think I could use some help with the salad."

"Salad," Leo snorted. "You know how to make a salad."

Another throat clearing from Bran. "No. I think I need a little help."

Bran blinked a few times at Leo, who looked like he finally got the hint. "Right. Yeah. Absolutely. I can help you with a salad. Omega, if you need us, we are right down the hall, past the living room."

"Thank you," I fought not to fidget in place as they shut the door behind them, leaving me to sort out the mess of my past and current lives.