Page 8 of Knottily Ever After (Crescent Lake Cozy Omegaverse #1)

Chapter Eight

Ben

I have an addiction to cold leftovers straight out of the fridge. And that’s what I’m chowing on as I stand at the kitchen island, my cell phone beside the glass container and lid I’m eating out of.

As I fork a piece of mouthwatering meatball covered in cold red sauce, my phone buzzes with a text, and I pick it up, still chewing.

Adam

Bro this place has way too many people

I roll my eyes at my brother’s observation. His boarding school had been pretty small, but he’d gone to public school in Crescent Lake until he was twelve. The school here may not have as many students as, say, a Los Angeles school district, but he knew what he was getting into starting university.

Me

Dramatic much?

Adam

This is giving overwhelming

I roll my eyes again and eat some cold spaghetti before replying.

Me

This is giving “opportunity”

Adam

*eye-roll emoji* At least I get to see boobs

I nearly choke on my food, coughing uncontrollably and reaching for my water.

This kid is going to be the death of me.

Me

Any boobs you look at better be consensual

Adam

I’m not a creeper bro. Just glad to be around chicks after so long

I frown at that. Was boarding school not the right choice? He had agreed to it. And that was what our parents wanted for Adam in the worst-case scenario, and when that scenario became a reality…

Me

Keep it that way. And don’t let boobs interfere with your education

Adam

*eye-roll emoji* I’ll try not to

As I shake my head, he texts again.

Adam

Most of these girls don’t smell right

My brow furrows.

Me

What do you mean?

Adam

I dunno, bro. They just don’t do it for me, I guess

I let out a sigh, knowing exactly what he means. I’m thirty, and the first time an Omega smelled good—no, perfect —to me was Violet. And we’d only met yesterday.

Me

When it’s right, you’ll know. I promise.

He takes a couple of minutes to respond.

Adam

Whatever you say. I’m gonna get back to work. Night

Me

Night

As I finish the leftovers and load the dishwasher, I think about what Adam said.

Our parents had been one of the few monogamous pairings in a town filled with packs.

Plus, I guess I haven’t been the best role model for him, being still single at thirty.

Not that I never had girlfriends or flings, but I always knew none of them were going to go anywhere.

And I never cared much if they understood that fact.

But that was a long time ago. It’s been… shit. I haven’t been with a woman in over four years now. Maybe closer to five.

My head shoots in the direction of the hall as the front door swings open then shut, the scent of wildflowers carrying on the moving air.

I close my eyes and hold my breath for the briefest of moments, keeping that delicious scent in my lungs until the muscles at the base of my cock spasm, forcing me to expel the air before things elevate.

Like my dick.

When Violet’s bright green eyes land on me, she stops short, those eyes growing larger.

“Oh, um,” she looks around as if searching for something. Or, someone. “Hey,” she says when she looks back at me.

My heart picks up speed as our eyes remain locked. “Hello.” My voice is low, quiet, and not as friendly as I’d like, proven by how she takes a step back.

“I-I didn’t expect anyone to be home.”

My brows grow taut. I look at this nervous little thing, all bright sunshine, and how she dims in my presence. It makes my heart ache.

“Do I frighten you?”

A small intake of breath, her eyes going impossibly wide. “What?”

“Is it my tattoos?” I ask, gesturing to my right side where ink nearly covers me in black tribal waves from my hand to my jaw.

Violet looks prim and proper, like she comes from money. Her clothes, her shoes, her hair, all designer, I assume. I wouldn’t know.

Her posture changes, like she’s deflating, and she walks up to the other side of the kitchen island and places her purse on it before dragging her eyes up my form, along my tattoos, across my chest, up to my eyes.

“I’m not scared of you.” She says it fiercely, and I want to believe her.

Then she lets out a sound, like a sigh and a grumble had a baby.

“I’m acting like an idiot because you’re hot as fuck. ”

My brows shoot up, the world around me freezing for a moment before I bark out a laugh that keeps on going. As I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye, I see her face has turned red.

“I’m sorry,” I say between laughs. “I’m just relieved.”

The color recedes to her cheeks, and she pouts before mumbling, “Well, I’m glad you’re not worried anymore.”

She’s cute. So cute, my dick is threatening to salute again, that tantalizing wildflower scent growing more fragrant with her increased embarrassment.

I find myself circling around the island on autopilot and stopping inches from her lush form, forcing her to look up at me. At six-foot-four, I must be a full foot taller than her, even in her sneakers.

I lean forward just a bit and let a grin stretch across my face. “It’s good to know you’re not scared of me. I’d hate to not be able to get close to a beautiful woman like you. You know,” I get a little closer, “like this.”

I expect her to laugh, maybe blush again and look away.

I’m careful to leave her an escape route, only giving the illusion of trapping her on one side.

But she doesn’t move away, doesn’t even turn pink in the cheeks now.

Her petal lips part, her chest rises and falls with her breath, those emeralds stare into my eyes with a hooded gaze that has me stifling a moan.

She peers up through her coal lashes, and they flutter before she bites her lip, those hips swaying ever so slightly.

I close my eyes, steady my own breathing.

“Two can play that game, Ben.” Then, she does laugh, and my eyes fly open to find her smiling wide before she pats me once on the center of the chest and winks.

When the shock of her reaction wears off, we’re both laughing as I drop my butt into one of the stools, shaking my head.

I’m learning more about Violet by the minute, and every trait she reveals, I love.

I guess that shouldn’t be too surprising, considering our connection.

Although Violet’s scent sings to my senses, she otherwise seems unaffected by me. By my pack brothers.

I have to be careful here. With her.

I don’t think I can survive any more heartache.