Page 41 of Knot So Damaged

I’m sure that Nonna would understand, especially after explaining why.

Every chance that I get, I watch Valley. Since the little mishap earlier with a surprised bark from Amity, I have started to draw some wild conclusions.

Female Alphas, along with male Omegas, are incredibly rare designations. I have only ever met four female Alphas and one male Omega in my almost forty-five years. Each of them came from an Alpha father and an Omega mother. As far as I can tell, a Beta can’t birth an Alpha or an Omega. They only ever have Betas. So how is it that I am sitting in front of a Beta with an Alpha daughter? One that is showing signs of her impending designation far earlier than she should.

Normally we designate at sixteen. I have heard of a few cases of Alphas and Omegas designating earlier but it is rare.

Yet, here my little Firefly sits showing very obvious signs of her designation.

Which could only mean one thing.

Valley isn’t a Beta.

I should be surprised. I should be reeling-freaking the fuck out because my girl is an Omega.

But I’m not.

I knew she was hiding something from me. It being her designation actually makes so much sense. Even more so as I mull over everything I know about her.

I understand now as to why she wouldn't give any of us the time of day. Why she has been butting heads with Vic every time they come face to face. Why she ‘suddenly’ had to leave when she met Olis in the park. Why I got a dressing down in the hallway of the Throbbing Knot.

Valley is an Omega. An Omega that is my mate.

I have to hold back a growl that threatens to escape. The woman before me was made to be mine. I know it without even smelling her scent.

Her being my mate explains why there is this strange connection between her and our pack. Why the thought of having her between us just feels so right.

It also explains why every single one of my more primal instincts is screaming at me.

Rut. Breed. Mine.

I should be applauded for my self control. I am a fucking saint right now.

Little does my sweet Cherry know but after today, I am going to be embedded in her life.

From this day on, everywhere my girl turns, I will be right there beside her. Or behind her.

Chapter Thirteen

I’m on edge every second of the drive to work. After Conall had dinner with us, Amity again demanded that he stay with us until she went to bed. It was a request I didn’t bother denying her.

Not after she Alpha-barked at me.

I am thankful that Conall was here to help diffuse the situation. Even on suppressants, denying an Alpha-bark is a near impossible feat.

I haven’t even had time to process the fact that at the age of three, my daughter is already showing signs and of her designation.

It should be impossible. Especially this young.

I don’t allow myself to think anymore of everything that it means and the fact Conall was there to witness it. There is a bottle of wine at home with my name on it that I have every intention of popping the minute I get home.

So as I sit here in by far one of the most expensive cars that I have ever seen, it's fair to say that this night is going to be an interesting one.

Conall—or should I say Cal—has a look on his face that is setting my nerves even further on edge. It is a look that tells me that my ruse is up.

He knows.

This fuckingAlphaknows that I am not who I say I am. That the persona that I have had in place for years is just a smoke-screen now for him.