Page 47 of Knot Our Reality (Heated #5)

Emilia

I sigh as I watch everyone running around, adults chasing kids—sometimes kids chasing adults.

Adding the suitors to our family day was a good idea. Not only are they getting to know my boys, but they’re playing with all the kids.

It’s probably one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.

About an hour ago, I had to put Jasper down for a nap. I wanted to climb in beside him, but decided that would be rude.

I really love feeling like I live in a small village where everyone takes care of each other. I wonder if this is something that I can replicate in the real world.

Not that I’ll really have any time for that once I go back to work—especially not with the addition of a new pack.

“You doing alright, sweetheart?” Camden asks, brushing his lips across his mate mark and sending a shiver down my spine.

I shrug. As much as I’m enjoying today, I can’t seem to let my guard down. There’s something in the air that has me on edge, but I can’t figure out what it is.

Before I can answer, there’s a jolt and we both almost lose our footing.

“What the hell?” Camden starts, but is cut off by a loud boom as the ground begins to violently shake beneath us.

“Earthquake!” I hear someone yell as I’m almost thrown to the ground. The only thing keeping me standing is Camden’s arms around me .

It takes a moment for me to catch up on what’s going on as we end up on our knees, Camden’s hands cupping my belly to make sure I don’t fall on it.

“Jasper! Hawk!” Tears spill down my cheeks as I scream out their names. I don’t know where my boys are.

My eyes find Remington’s cabin as it shakes, and even from here, I can hear things being knocked around inside. “Jasper!”

I try to fight to get to my feet, but it’s no longer just Camden keeping me steady.

“No, Emilia. You and the baby need to be kept safe. Stop fighting us,” Wilder barks, and I have no choice as my body goes completely still.

It doesn’t stop my tears from continuing to course down my cheeks as fear for my boys rushes through me. Camden curls around me as we lie on the ground with Wilder covering us from above.

I still have a clear line of sight of the cabin, which means I see when Alexei and Nikolai stumble up to it before heading inside. They’re being tossed from side to side, and I’m not sure how they manage to stay on their feet.

My mouth falls open, and a wail slips free and joins the sounds of others screaming and yelling.

“Hawk!”

“Mommy!” he screams, his voice full of tears, moments before Ian stumbles over with him in his arms.

Ian drops to his knees, helping Hawk wrap his arms around my neck, but using his body to block Hawk’s smaller one.

The ground continues to roll and shake around us, and all I can do is cry. I don’t know where my baby boy is. I don’t know if he’s okay. I don’t know if my family or the suitors are okay.

Anything could happen right now, but there’s not a damn thing I can do about it until the earth stops moving.

It seems to go on forever, but it can’t be more than a minute before everything stops and an unnatural silence follows.

I struggle to sit up, but Camden holds me in place .

“Wait,” he murmurs. “We need to make sure it’s actually over. That was a big one.”

“I don’t care. I need to find Jasper!”

“Omega,” Wilder growls. “If another quake hits while you’re standing, you could be knocked to the ground. It could hurt you and the baby. We have to keep you safe. The twins went in for Jasper. They will make sure he’s okay.”

I understand what he’s telling me, but it doesn’t stop me. I need to find my son.

My head jerks up when I hear Jasper’s cries. “Jasper!”

“Mommy! I want Mommy!”

Ian and Wilder move away enough that Nikolai can hand me Jasper. Both my boys cling to me as all three of us cry.

Then the ground begins to shake again.

This one doesn’t last as long, nor is it quite as strong, but it doesn’t keep Alexei, Nikolai, Ian, and Wilder from covering mine, Camden’s, and the boy’s bodies with theirs.

A third quake shakes the ground eight minutes after the second, still too strong to consider standing, but less powerful than the first and second.

“I think we’re good,” Tessa calls about fifteen minutes after the third quake. “There will be more aftershocks to come, but I think the worst of it is over for now.”

It’s near chaos as everyone gets to their feet, but eventually, Bree and Tessa make it over to us.

“Thank the fates you’re all okay.” Bree rushes forward to hug me, rubbing her hand against my belly. “You are okay, aren’t you?”

I nod. “I am. They made sure we were safe.”

Tessa gives the guys a sharp nod. “As they should. There’s no cell service, and it looks like the power is out.

We need to go through the cabins and make sure everyone is okay.

I’m going to grab the satellite from my cabin, but we need to get all the suitors together so we can make sure we’re not missing anyone.

We have Lucas getting the crew gathered to make sure everyone is accounted for. ”

“I’m glad my entire pack is here,” Bree says, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Onyx went to our cabin to grab the bullhorn I have for just this reason. I’m going to have the suitors come to you. I don’t want you moving just in case another aftershock hits.”

It takes nearly half an hour for them to get everyone organized, but finally, most of my suitors have gathered around me.

“Where are Sasha and Dylan?”

No one answers, and I can feel panic rising in me.

“Sasha was heading back to the mansion.” Maverick’s eyes go wide. “Dalton and I will go look for him.”

“Sit your asses back down.” Tessa points to the ground as she joins us.

“Lucas and his crew are searching the area. Everyone else needs to remain where they are, so no one else ends up missing. We have some serious injuries. Emergency services are sending out an ambulance as soon as they can, but that’s all they can spare.

We’ll be bringing anyone else that needs to go in the SUVs.

“Bree and I already have aid on its way from LA. They were hit, but nowhere near as badly as we were. The epicenter was between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. It was a 7.2 quake, and it was felt all across the southwest of the US, plus parts of Mexico. First reports are showing severe damage to parts of Rancho Mirage. Palm Springs fared slightly better,” she continues with a shake of her head. “It’s really bad.”

Bree walks up, holding Elliot to her chest, Emmett right behind her with Emmy and Everest in his arms. “A transformer was destroyed, taking out all the power on the compound. We’re low priority, and they’ll be working on power in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs first. It’ll probably be a week before our power is restored.

We have generators for the mansion, but nothing for the cabins. ”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“It means we’re going to have to move people into the mansion while sending most of the crew to hotels.

” Tessa shakes her head. “As soon as Lucas and his team are done sweeping the grounds, we’ll head inside to figure it all out.

I already booked as many rooms as I could in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs.

The places I called have generators, so everyone will be taken care of. ”

“Sasha!” Dalton yells, jumping to his feet with Maverick right behind them.

I spin around, watching as Sasha staggers toward us, blood spilling down his face.

“Where’s Brooks?” Tessa calls out.

By the time Maverick and Dalton make it over to us with Sasha, a man with close-cut dark hair joins us.

“I’m Brooks. I’m a nurse,” he assures us as he uses a towel to put pressure on the wound on Sasha’s forehead. “Sasha, do you remember what happened to you?”

He nods slowly. “I was leaving mansion to come back. The ground shook—earthquake. I was knocked down. A branch broke off tree and hit my head. I was out for few minutes. I think. Woke up and came here immediately.”

“That’s good, Sasha.” Brooks pulls the towel away. “This isn’t too bad. Head wounds always bleed like crazy. I’m going to clean this up and glue it shut. We’ll need to monitor you for a concussion, but I think you’re fine.”

Tears run down my cheeks as I hug my boys close. This could have gone so much more than it did.

Although we still don’t have any clue where Dylan is.

Five hours later, most of the crew have been sent off the compound to hotels.

Dylan was found among the cabins, keeping a man from bleeding out while he was dealing with a dislocated shoulder himself. He refused to go to the hospital, having Brooks put his shoulder back in place and pulling a sling on .

My suitors joined Bree, Sophia, Evangeline, and Remington’s pack to go through the cabins to see what kind of damage we were dealing with, while we omegas gathered in the dining room to figure out how to make this work.

Obviously, we can’t stop filming because my due date is moving closer and closer.

We’ll be working with a skeleton crew, but I’ve already canceled the dates for this week.

I’m planning to help in Rancho Mirage. I was able to speak with my new COO, Bridget, to get the ball rolling on sending aid to our area as early as tomorrow.

“Alright, everyone quiet, please.” Bree claps her hands from her spot at the head of the table.

The dining room is full to the brim with the suitors, Lucas’s team, the staff planning to remain, plus the packs for each season’s omegas.

Anyone who wasn’t here this morning is here tonight.

No one wanted their packs to be separated following the earthquake.

“It’s going to be a tight fit until power is restored and the cabins can be repaired, but we’ve made sure everyone has a room and a bed.

Emilia, Camden, and Wilder will be in the omega suite with Hawk and Jasper.

On the second floor, mine and Evangeline’s packs are taking the pack suites.

For the other rooms on that floor, we have Lee and Dylan, Maverick and Dalton, Sasha and Evander, and Alexei and Nikolai.

“On the third floor, we have Sophia and Remington’s packs in the pack suites.

Reginald and Lucas sent the rest of their pack to a hotel, so the two of them will share one of the rooms on the third floor.

Mike and Thomas will also be staying on site to help Lucas with security, staying across the hall from him and Reginald.

We also have Adam and Jesse, who will remain as our cameramen.

Millie and Tasha will remain on site to keep the kitchen running. They’re all on the third floor as well.

“Paxton, you’ll be sharing a room on the third floor with Finn, who wants to remain on site just in case he’s needed.

Ian and Gavin, that leaves you in the last room on the third floor.

” Bree shakes her head. “We’re all going to be tripping over one another for the next week, but this is the best we can do in order to keep the show going.

Most of the crew is planning to join us when we go into Rancho Mirage tomorrow. Does anyone have any questions?”

When no one speaks up, she nods. “Suitors, I need all of you to collect your belongings from your rooms and bring them to your new room assignment. We have fresh sheets, descenting sprays, and anything else you might need to clean up the rooms. The housekeeping staff has already left, so we’re on our own for that. ”

Tessa sighs. “I know we’re all exhausted, but we need to make sure this gets taken care of before we can head to bed.

Evangeline, Emmett, Brody, and Victoria have all the kids in Emilia’s suite.

Emilia has agreed to let them stay there while we’re getting everyone settled.

If no one has any questions, let’s get this done.

We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. ”

I watch as everyone hurries from the room, more than ready to collapse in bed. I’m still sitting in my seat when Camden and Wilder find me a few minutes later.

“Hey,” I tell them, struggling to keep my eyes open. “Are you ready to head to the suite?”

Wilder frowns as Camden pulls me to my feet. When I stumble, he sweeps me into his arms. “You should have told us how exhausted you were.”

“We’re all exhausted,” I say, but it doesn’t stop me from laying my head on his chest. I’m very grateful to not have to walk right now.

“We need to put you straight to bed,” Camden starts, but I cut him off.

“Not until everyone is out of my suite. I won’t be able to sleep with all of them there.

” My eyes fall shut, and I don’t bother trying to open them.

“If you’re okay with it, the three of us can sleep in my nest so the boys can have the bed.

We’ll keep the door open so they can get me if they need me. ”

A purr starts deep in Wilder’s chest, and I completely relax against him. “That’s fine. Whatever you and the boys need.”

We step into the suite, Hawk and Jasper rushing over to us as soon as Wilder sits on the couch. I hear them coming, but can’t seem to force my eyes open. Despite what I said about not being able to sleep with others in my suite, as soon as the boys wrap around us, I’m out like a light.