Page 48 of Knot Our Reality (Heated #5)

Emilia

I can’t believe the level of destruction in Rancho Mirage.

“I hate I can’t do more to help,” Dylan complains as he sits beside me and Victoria.

I laugh, nodding along with him. “I think that makes all three of us. They’re not willing to take any chances with injuries and pregnancies, apparently. But you also already saved someone from dying during the earthquake. I feel like you deserve a break to heal.”

Dylan makes a face. “I guess, but I’ve never been good at sitting on the sidelines. I was a first responder for too many years.”

“Emilia?”

We glance up to find Roman Knight, one of Bree’s alphas, heading toward us.

“Hi, Roman. What can I do for you?”

“Bree wants to see if you’re willing to talk to a local omega. His pack is out here trying to help rebuild, but they can’t get him to leave his nest.”

I shrug. “I’m happy to talk to him, but it’s not abnormal for omegas to want to be in their nests after something like this.”

Roman nods. “Except that’s not why he’s hiding. One of his alphas died in the earthquake, protecting him.”

“Well, fuck.” I struggle to stand, Dylan jumping up to help me to my feet. My stomach seems to have grown overnight again—probably because I’ve entered my ninth month.

We’re in the final countdown now .

“Do you want me to come with you?” Dylan asks.

“No. I need to do this alone.” I smile to soften my words, knowing just how much it’s driving him crazy to just sit here, before turning my attention to Roman. “Lead the way.”

Roman offers me his arm, and I take it gratefully. This road isn’t one of the ones that buckled from the earthquake, but there is rubble everywhere.

It takes us about five minutes to make it to a business I’m familiar with—Sip ‘n Slide. The windows are all shattered, although the glass has been swept into a pile against the outside wall. The sign is gone, and it looks like there might have been some structural damage.

“Not Michael?” I ask, tears already swimming in my eyes.

Roman nods. “Yeah, unfortunately. Their house didn’t take any damage, but they can’t get him to leave the nest he has here. There’s been no damage to the nest, but that can’t be said for the rest of the building.”

We make our way through the rubble, my tears spilling over as I take in the damage to their business.

“Oh, thank the fates.” Bree rushes away from three men—two of whom I remember from our date here just a few weeks ago. Philip and Victor, if I remember correctly. But the third alpha is nowhere to be found.

“Lawrence?” I ask quietly, and she nods. I curse, swiping at my tears. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be. My emotions are all over the place right now.”

Bree hums, her cheeks wet with her own tears.

“You’ll be more helpful than I was. I already told him I was bringing back someone for him to talk to.

He’s not doing well with the broken bond, Emilia, and I’m afraid of what he might do.

As are the rest of his mates. They lost a pack mate too, but they’re trying to be strong for their omega. ”

I pat her arm as we approach the two alphas and beta. “I’ll do what I can.”

The beta, whom I haven’t met yet, meets my eyes, and I hate the pain and worry there. There’s so much pain radiating from the three of them.

“I’m Oliver,” he says softly. “I wasn’t here when you came for your date. We appreciate you trying to talk to him. Bree told us what happened to your first pack, and I can’t imagine that’s something you like talking about.”

“It’s not, but if it means helping Michael, I don’t mind.”

Bree knocks on the door, pushing it open even though she receives no response.

The nest is mostly dark, despite the fact that power has been restored to this part of the city. I don’t see Michael, but I hear his sobs.

We make our way to him, and I lay my hand on his back. He flinches, trying to pull away, but I don’t let him.

“Hey, Michael. It’s Emilia Reinhardt. I heard what happened, and I wanted to come talk to you.”

“Why?” he asks, his voice hoarse, likely from all the crying he’s been doing. “Nothing anyone says will bring him back.”

I sniff, rubbing circles on his back. “You’re right. Nothing will bring him back, no matter how much you pray for it. He’s gone and nothing will change that.”

The sound he makes breaks my heart—a wail full of heartbreak and despair. I can only imagine what this is doing to his mates. Not just to hear it, but to feel it through their bonds.

“Emilia, are you sure this is—”

“Yes,” I bark, cutting her off. “Pussyfooting around it isn’t going to change the fact that he’s gone.”

Michael makes the sound again, and I make a cooing sound.

“I’m sorry, Michael. I won’t lie to you.

This is the worst thing you’re ever going to deal with.

I know what it’s like to feel that emptiness inside you that was once filled with love.

I know what it feels like to not know if you can keep going.

To wonder if you should follow them into the grave.

Everyone will tell you it’ll get better, and they’re right—it will eventually get better—but you’ll always feel that hole in your chest. You’ll always feel the pain of that lost bond. ”

“I don’t think I can do it,” he admits as he rolls over to face me. “I don’t know how you did it. ”

Stroking my hand down his face, letting him see the tears I’m spilling—for him and for myself.

“It wasn’t easy, but my boys got me through it.

You don’t have kids to help you, but you still have three mates out there who are so fucking worried about you.

Who love you and want to share in your grief, but you’re pushing them away.

That won’t make this easier for you. The four of you need to lean on one another if you want to make it through this, Michael. ”

“He’s dead because of me. How can they even want to look at me?” he whispers, his voice barely audible.

“Do you really think they blame you? Lawrence died protecting you. You’re safe because he made sure you were. They don’t blame you. They’re grateful you’re alive.”

His body shakes as he continues to sob. “It just hurts so much.”

“It does, and it will, for a very long time. One day, you’ll wake up and find it doesn’t hurt quite as badly. Healing takes time, Michael. You need your pack.”

“I’ll just drag them down,” he argues.

I shake my head. “No, Michael. You’re going to keep them afloat while they do the same for you. If you make them stay away, you’re all going to drown and it’s possible that not all of you will make it through this. You need to let them in. Let them help you.”

For a minute, it’s silent except for our breaths and Michael’s sobs.

“I’m scared,” he admits. “What if one of them dies too?”

“It’ll happen, eventually. We all get old and die, but it’s easier to accept it once you’ve had a chance to live a long life with them.

Are you really just going to give up because something might happen to one of them?

Are you going to put them through losing their omega after losing their pack mate?

Because that’s where this is heading if you don’t let them in. ”

“No,” he replies. “No, I won’t do that to them.”

“Then let them in.”

He sniffles. “Will you let them in?”

Bree is already on her feet. “Of course we will. ”

I squeeze Michael’s hand. “I’ve been through this, so if you need someone to talk to who will understand what you’re going through, let Bree know. I’ll be here for you through this.”

“Thank you.” He hugs me, pulling back when his pack steps into his nest.

He lets out a whine, and I know my part here is done. His pack rushes toward him, leaving me and Bree to duck out.

“Thank you,” she murmurs, and I nod, already lost in thought.

How many other omegas are out there dealing with the same exact thing Michael is? With no one to talk to and unsure how to deal with a broken bond. That’s not okay, and we need to find a way for omegas to have access to people and resources that can help them.

That’s how I’ll spend my time while the others help rebuild. I’m going to figure out how to help omegas like me.

“Omega,” Nikolai says, his voice holding a warning behind it.

I look up from the tablet with wide eyes, wondering what I could be doing wrong. Except, it turns out, Nikolai isn’t talking to me.

His eyes are locked on Camden, who’s carrying a huge bag of something toward the building they’re working on.

While I have a travel desk set up so I can work near the suitors, Camden has insisted on helping them with repairs.

“What now, Nikolai?” I can practically hear the eye roll.

“What now?” Nikolai bares his teeth as he stomps toward Camden. “What did I say about lifting heavy things?”

“Oh, fuck off.” Camden tries to move around the alpha, but Nikolai is having none of it.

He takes the bag from Camden and tosses it to the side before pinning my omega against the wall with his hand wrapped around Camden’s throat .

My eyes go wide. I know Nikolai won’t hurt Camden, but I can’t understand what’s going on right now. They both look angry as they speak too quietly for me to hear.

Then they’re kissing.

“Well, that is new,” Alexei says with a chuckle as he sits in the chair beside me. “Not surprised, though.”

“Really?” I can’t tear my eyes off the two of them as their lips clash, hands all over each other. “I had no idea.”

He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close as he sucks in my scent. “But you like.”

“Oh, yes. Very much,” I agree, and he laughs again.

“Nikolai refuses to let Camden work with anyone but him or Wilder. I think Wilder already suspect because he has let Camden go with Nikolai all week.”

I’m perfuming like crazy right now, but luckily, no one but my suitors are around right now.

Alexei sniffs more of my scent. “They will like that you like watch.”

I bat his hand away. “Go away, Alexei. You’re supposed to be working.”

“Yes. Yes.” He tilts my head to the side and kisses me, causing my head to spin, before he abruptly pulls back. “Be good girl.”

Then he’s gone, leaving me to clench my thighs together as desire rushes through me.

Fuck.

They’re going to be the death of me.

On Friday night, Sasha and Ian find me and Camden sitting beside the pool.

“Hello, omegas.” Sasha grins as he sits on the lounge chair on one side of us, Ian sitting on the other side. “We were worried. ”

“Worried?” I ask, lifting my head from Camden’s chest to look at him. “Why?”

Ian sighs. “No one knew where either of you were.”

I frown. “Did we not tell Wilder where we were going?”

Sasha shakes his head. “No. We thought you were still in Rancho Mirage. Bree called Lucas when he also was not there. That is only reason we knew you were at compound.”

“Well, fuck. We didn’t mean to worry any of you.” I try to sit up, but Camden just pulls me closer to him.

“Stop moving. They know where we are now.”

Ian laughs. “I’m pretty sure that Nikolai and Wilder are going to turn your asses pink when they find you. I thought they were going to tear apart the city looking for you.”

Groans fill the air as I perfume at the same time as Camden.

“I do not believe this will be punishment,” Sasha says with a chuckle. “I will let others know we found them.”

Ian stands with him. “We should probably both go. I have no intention of being here when they find you.”

“Gee, thanks.” I shake my head, grinning when Ian leans down to kiss me and then Camden.

I wait for them to leave before lifting my head to meet Camden’s eyes. “When did that happen?”

He flushes. “Around the same time everything with Nikolai happened. The three of us have been working together a lot this week.”

“Hmmm… Good for you. We should probably talk about that.”

“Oh, fuck. You’re mad, aren’t you?”

I jerk my head back. “Uh, no. I was wondering when you’d start looking at the suitors as potential mates for yourself as well. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page, is all.”

Camden never gets a chance to respond because a bellowed, “Omegas!!!” sounds out, and we sit up. There’s no mistaking Nikolai’s voice.

“Uh oh. I think we’re in trouble,” I say with a giggle .

“I think so too.” He grins. “So do we want to take our punishment like good omegas or do we want them to have to work for it?”

I bite my lip, thinking it over before jumping to my feet. “Let’s make them work for it.”

The sliding door flies open then, revealing Nikolai and Wilder. Camden and I squeal, holding hands as we head for the hedges. I just have to find the opening, then I can lead us to the rest of the compound.

“If you run, omegas, you will regret.” Nikolai’s voice is vibrating, but we ignore him as we keep going.

“Stop.” This time, Nikolai uses a bark that has me narrowing my eyes as we turn back toward him. “It is unsafe back there. I will not allow you to hurt yourselves because you be brats.”

Wilder is at his back as Nikolai reaches up to collar both of our throats, and I can’t help the way I perfume.

Then again, so does Camden.

Both alphas let out dark chuckles, but it’s Wilder who speaks. “It seems our omegas want to be punished.”

“Of course they do. I will bring Camden. You bring Emilia.”

Before either of us can argue, I’m being lifted into Wilder’s arms while Camden goes over Nikolai’s shoulder. I don’t struggle because I don’t want to cause him to drop me or anything.

Camden doesn’t have that same problem as he struggles against Nikolai’s hold, but all it takes is the alpha bringing his hand down on Camden’s ass in rapid succession for my omega to go lax.

Yeah, I really do think we’re going to enjoy our punishment.