Page 28 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

My clothes are gone. Another glance says they aren’t the only things missing. So are the sheets. The pillows, clothes; the fucking rugs. Everything is gone, including the alphas.

If I thought Connor’s shit made me feel bad, this is so much worse. Realistically, I know the room needs to be cleaned before someone else can use it, but I’ve been up for an hour, and they’ve wiped my existence like it was never there.

And where the hell are they? Did the alphas leave me here to find my own way home? I wouldn’t be surprised. That’s exactly the type of shit Pack Parker would’ve done.

I thought they were different.

Instead of falling into hysterics like the prickling in my eyes wants me to do—seriously, fuck being an omega sometimes—I grab my phone, thankful for whoever charged it. Revelry has rideshares for omegas. I’ll charge it to the pack’s card as a fuck you for bailing.

Before I can go into the app, I find my notifications overflowing.

Kai

Check in or I’ll break the fucking door down.

Me

She’s doing well. Fighting on food and drink, but that’s expected. -Connor

Kai

Did you get her electrolytes? She needs electrolytes.

Lacey

She likes kiwi strawberry or strawberry watermelon. Never fruit punch.

Me

That helped. Thanks! -Dez

Maverick

Proof of life, please.

Me

Daphne told me to send you a picture of her flipping you off, but I didn’t think she’d appreciate it later. Just keep the sentiment in mind. -Nate

Mellie

How do we know she really said that?

Me

*picture of an absolutely filthy me with my middle finger up*

Mellie

Seems legit. Carry on the good work.

It goes on forever. A constant stream of advice and helpful encouragements like warm towels after baths and bread is life scattered between proof of life requests.

Just like that, I’m smiling. No matter what happens with Pack Morgan, I have a group of people who love me right here. Even if it feels like my heart is cracking in two, I know they’ll help mend it. They’ve done it before.

Me

Heat’s over. Heading home soon.

Mellie

She’s alive!

Did you get dicked down good?

Me

I’m contemplating keeping these men, so…yes. I’d say so.

Mellie

Damn, girl.

Maverick

Glad you’re okay.

Kai

Did they bond you? We’ll throw them in jail if they did.

Or kill them. Maverick knows a guy.

Maverick

I know nothing.

Feral Kai is in the building. She’s always a little extra hover-y after a heat, but I think being with strangers is triggering her instincts something fierce.

Me

No bonding, but I wanted them to?

Kai

Of course you did. You’ve been denied a bond for so fucking long your omega is practically presenting for them to bite and breed you.

My stomach rolls. On second thought, I don’t want to talk about that right now.

Like clockwork, the post-heat cramps begin, and I rush to get supplies from the bathroom as my period starts. No baby for me.

It doesn’t hurt this time, though. Having a kid with people I just met is a terrible plan. Absolutely horrible. Although, a little Nate would be cute as hell.

Fuck, do not think of him holding a baby. My ovaries can’t handle it.

The small stack of clothes on the dresser are Dez’s workout gear, if I had to guess. Everything’s too big, but I revel in wearing my alpha’s things even if he’s not here anymore.

Lacey

Glad you had fun. Text us when you’re home safe. We’ll come visit in a few days when the hormones wear down.

Kai

Seriously, blink twice if we need to kill these guys. Mav can make it look like an accident.

Maverick

Again, I know nothing.

Me

No killing, maiming or jailing. I’m good. Walking out any minute. Love you all.

Mellie

Same, but if you can still walk, I’m not sure you did your heat right. You should be sitting on an ice pack right now.

I smother my laugh, knowing she’s not wrong.

I’m sore and used in all the best ways, but it’s a good feeling.

Like someone loved me enough to give me the heat of my dreams and more.

The ending could’ve been nicer, but I’ll grab a rideshare and maybe order some takeout when I get home. It could be worse.

Mellie

Seriously, you should be tied down while an alpha?—

Enough of that.

I’m about to look for a snack when I spot something by the front door. A bag full to bursting with pillows and comforters and sheets. I assume it’s the new linens, but when I unzip the top, I scent us .

They packed everything we touched, including the fabric and their clothes from that first day. I like that their things smell like me. Makes me wish I could’ve rolled around on their outfits so they smelled claimed before they left.

You can’t scent mark strangers, Daph. Even thoughtful, gorgeous, god-tier dicked strangers.

I can literally feel myself pouting.

“What’s wrong?”

The yelp is undignified, but it’s the uncoordinated sprawl when I startle that really seals the deal. I’m a mess. My only saving grace is that I’m dress this time.

Fuck me sideways.

Nate bites his lip, holding back his smile as he rights me.

“Where were you?”

“Putting stuff in the car. You were in the bathroom when we got back.”

Which is why I didn’t hear them come in.

Out of the heat spike and haze, it’s finally registering how big Nate is. Tall and thick, like a cozy tree. I spent so much time snuggled into his warmth during my heat, and I already want to climb back into it. My big teddy bear alpha.

The others are easier to ignore the urge to claim, but this man is mine in every way. I took nearly every first he had and don’t regret a thing. I just wish I knew how to move forward.

He’s here. Focus on that.

“You good?” he asks. Now we’re both frowning.

“Yeah. Just updating my friends before I go.”

“Before we leave, Dez and I want to talk to you,” he says.

This is the end; I can feel it. They’re going to bat their eyes and say thanks for the heat, but we’re waiting for our omega and you’re not them . And that’s good. Great, even, because I’m a mess with way too much going on.

“Sure,” I say, trying to keep my voice cool and level.

Nate doesn’t notice, too busy nodding like a bobblehead. “I’ll go get him. Don’t go anywhere.

When he’s sure I won’t bail—a very real possibility—he sprints to the kitchen. There’s some murmuring that barely makes it past my heavy pulse, but I’m too busy suffocating in panic-sour scent to register any of it.

When Dez finally comes over with the other two hovering, he’s got this gentle smile that just breaks me.

In case you missed it, post-heat hormones are the worst. Case in point, I’m snot sobbing over three alphas I barely know giving me the brush off.

It gets worse when Dez cradles me in his lap on the edge of the empty nest, pressing kisses along my cheeks. “What’s wrong, gorgeous?”

Can he not be sweet? I can’t handle it right now.

“You don’t have to be nice to me. Just say it so we can all move on.” I sniffle and he brushes strands of hair off my forehead, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re gonna tell me this was nothing and leave. It’s okay,” I hurry to say., ignoring someone’s growl. “I know what this was. The waterworks are just hormones.”

My laugh is bleak and uncomfortable. Not a chance they believe it.

Dez sinks his hand into my hair, tipping my face to his. “You couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, we’d like to court you.” I must look like an idiot, all gaping mouth and wide eyes because he grins. “I know this is sudden, but you’re perfect for our pack. We’d be stupid to let you go.”

“You want to keep me?” My voice is small, scared and a little desperate.

“Very much.” Nate leans in and brushes his lips over my temple.

Despite my reservations, I want to say yes. Maybe we could go slow, court for a while and get to know one another before making any huge commitments. They could meet my friends, and I’d have time to see if we vibe before we’re packed up or bonded.

Or maybe Jacob was right, and they’ll realize I’m faulty and leave me.

No. There’s no way Pack Morgan is anything like the Parkers. No chance they’ll be so exacting when they were nothing but sweet during my heat.

But that’s a fairytale blip and courting is real life.

My phone goes off and I lunge for it, needing a distraction from my flip-flopping thoughts. “Sorry, could be work.”

Dez’s hands loosen, letting me go. “No worries. Check it.”

I click into my email app, hoping for a new client to distract myself with when I get home. Instead, I find one from Pack Parker.

They’re going after lawyer’s fees in their suit and need my financial records to calculate backpay from Nymph’s profits, too. More money owed. Another noose around my neck.

This can all be over if you come back where you belong, Daphne.

I forgot.

For a few glorious days, I forgot I’m in the middle of a shit show that could ruin my future. My career. There’s no room for romance when I’m barely treading water while my exes steal any buoy I grab.

And what if we did court? We’d be stuck paying off the bride payment until we’re old and grey. Tied to my exes forever.

My thoughts spiral, faster and more desolate with every second. What if Pack Morgan is like my exes? I can’t live with these men, fuck them, run their household and not be bitten into the pack again. Not when last time nearly killed me.

“Daph? Is everything okay?”

My tears and scent answer for me. Dez scoots us back, closing the curtains around the nest so it’s just the two of us.

“I’m so sorry,” I rasp, clinging to him even when I shouldn’t. “There’s so much going on for me right now and I can’t do this.”

Dez squeezes tight, rocking me until I’m less anxiety attack and just anxiety. He tips my head back, brushing the tears away with his thumbs, his lips. “We intend to court you for however long it takes, as slowly as you need. As long as you’re interested in a future with us, we’ll be waiting.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Then you don’t see yourself like we do. Trust me, we’re the ones getting the better end of the deal.”