Page 18 of Knot Your Karma (Not Yours #1)

“Oh, she found out about the others and completely lost her mind. Full emotional meltdown—screaming, crying, throwing things, like I’d personally betrayed her or something.

” Blake sighs like he’s recounting mildly annoying traffic.

“Tried to explain that we never had exclusive agreements, that I was clear about exploring options, but she wouldn’t listen to reason.

Very dramatic exit—lots of accusations about cheating and lying.

You know how emotional omegas get when they don’t get their way. Typical overreaction.”

Typical overreaction. The phone nearly slips from suddenly numb fingers.

“When was this?” I manage.

“Exactly three months ago? Right around when the compass went missing, actually. Weird timing, right? Bad luck—losing my favorite omega and my family heirloom in the same week. Though honestly, she was getting demanding anyway. Kept wanting more time, more attention, more commitment. Very high maintenance.”

High maintenance. Yeah, because wanting honesty from the guy you’re sleeping with is so unreasonable. His favorite omega. Like she was his favorite power tool instead of a person who deserved better.

Declan moves so fast his chair skitters backward into the wall. “Blake. This omega. The one who got too attached. What was her name?”

“Karma something. Karma Rose, I think? Why?” Blake’s voice sharpens with sudden interest. “You don’t think she had something to do with the compass disappearing, do you?

I mean, she was pretty angry when she left, said I’d destroyed her ability to trust anyone, accused me of using her.

But theft? That seems extreme even for an emotional omega having a breakdown.

Though she was always a little unstable. ..”

I hang up before he can finish destroying her character further.

The silence stretches like a held breath.

“Performance metrics,” Reed’s voice comes out hollow as an empty shell. “He literally rated women like products he was comparison shopping. ”

My hands clench. I’ve seen guys rate lumber quality with less clinical detachment than Blake just used for women. Actual women. Who trusted him.

“Six to eight omegas simultaneously.” Declan’s words scrape against his throat. “Telling each one he was searching for his mate, making them believe they were special.”

“And when Karma fell for him, when she started planning a future, he called her clingy and dramatic for wanting basic honesty.” I stand, needing to channel this rage into movement. “High maintenance for expecting commitment.”

Reed starts pacing by the window. “She probably thinks we’re just like him. Three men who showed up looking for something Blake lost. From her perspective, we could be his friends, his pack, people who think his behavior is normal.”

“We’re not like him.” Declan’s voice cuts sharp. “What Blake did—what he’s probably done to dozens of omegas—isn’t dating. It’s systematic emotional destruction.”

“Karma doesn’t know that.” I cross my arms, leaning back against the wall. “Blake shattered her ability to trust alphas. Made her believe wanting love and commitment makes her defective. Trauma like that disrupts omega biology for months—irregular cycles, suppressed instincts, the works.”

“He called her unstable.” Reed’s voice gets harder with each word. “Made her think she was the problem for wanting relationship honesty.”

“She’s not the problem.” Declan resumes pacing with renewed intensity. “She’s smart, passionate about her work, everything we’ve been looking for, and if Blake was too narcissistic to see that, his loss.”

“Question is how we handle this.” Reed gestures between all of us with both hands. “Do we confront her about the compass? Tell her we know about Blake? Pretend ignorance and let her tell us when she’s ready?”

“We don’t confront Karma about anything.” The words come out sharp as broken stone. “She’s been hurt enough. The last thing she needs is three men she’s starting to trust demanding explanations about her trauma.”

“But we need to address it eventually.” Declan pauses mid-pace. “The compass situation isn’t disappearing.”

“No, but it’s not the priority. The priority is showing Karma that not all alphas are like Blake.” I meet both their eyes. “That we’re worth trusting.”

“How?” Reed settles back against the desk.

“We be patient. We let her set every boundary, respect every hesitation. We prove through our actions—not words—that alphas can be safe. That wanting her doesn’t mean owning her.” I pause. “And we remember she’s not our enemy here. She’s Blake’s victim.”

“What about the compass?” Declan asks.

“What about it? If Karma took it, she had every right to take something from the man who kept performance metrics on her.” I pause. “Blake rated her sexual performance on spreadsheets. She deserved to take something precious from him.”

Declan stares at the scattered insurance photos for a long time, jaw working like he’s chewing bitter medicine. When he finally speaks, his voice is steady but sad. “Blake’s my blood brother. But he’s not my pack. You two are my pack.”

“And pack protects pack,” Reed’s voice gentles. “Even when it means standing up to family.”

“Especially when it means standing up to family.” I straighten from the wall. “Karma may not know it yet, but she matters to us now. She’s ours to protect.”

“So what’s the plan?” Reed shifts into diplomatic planning mode.

“The plan is to court her properly. Show her what healthy relationships look like.” I pause, thinking of every restoration project that required patience. “You don’t rush good work. And you sure as hell don’t keep spreadsheets on it. ”

“And if Blake has a problem with that, he can discuss it with me.” Declan moves to stand beside me.

“With us,” I correct. “Blake manipulated you into helping without explaining what he’d done. That ends now.”

“Agreed.” Reed joins us by the window. “Though this does explain why she ran after you kissed her, Dec.”

“Blake probably made her believe intimacy was something she owed him rather than something to share.” The thought makes protective instincts roar in my chest. “No wonder she’s confused by us treating her like she matters instead of like she’s available.”

“Well, she does matter.” Declan crosses his arms. “And if it takes time to convince her, we have time.”

“She’s already responding to us.” Reed’s confidence grows with each word. “The attraction’s undeniable, the chemistry’s there. We just need patience while she learns to trust it.”

“And learns to trust us.” I add.

“She will.” Declan’s voice carries quiet certainty. “She’s smart, she’s strong, and underneath all that protective armor Blake forced her to build, she wants connection as much as we want to give it.”

Connection. The word settles between us, heavy with possibility.

“Blake’s going to lose his mind when he finds out.” Reed observes.

“Blake can go to hell.” The words come out flat as a carpenter’s level. “He had something real and traded it for a fucking Excel file. His loss.”

“So we show her what she should have had.” Declan’s voice hardens with determination. “Patience. Honesty. Actually being worth her time.”

“And if she gives us a chance?” Reed asks.

“Then we don’t mess it up like he did.” I settle back against the wall. “Tomorrow, we start the careful work of showing her exactly what that looks like.”

Reed’s smile finally returns, warm as summer morning. “She’s going to be so surprised when she realizes she’s already found her pack.”

“The good kind of surprised,” I add, and for the first time all evening, the cramped room feels full of possibility instead of fury.