Page 3 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

Jacob puffs up the way he always does when discussing how well he’s going to treat me. It’s a source of pride for this alpha to know his omega has everything she needs. “We do.”

Taylorson laces fingers together on the desk in front of him as he eyes my men.

“Even without this contract, in the eyes of the law, abuse is grounds for immediate pack dissolution. This includes neglecting basic needs like food or shelter, but also emotional and primal ones as well. Omegas are gentle creatures who need care. Do you acknowledge that if you fail in any of those duties, Daphne may walk away without penalty?”

“We do.”

“We would never lay a hand on you,” Jacob promises, arm stretched my way. When I clasp our fingers together, it settles me. The others’ soft smiles are so full of excitement and happiness that I can’t imagine a world where they’d ever hurt me. How could anyone abuse their soulmate?

Pack Parker signs and Taylorson moves on.

“Since the merger of Barnesworth and ParkerTech is contingent on the bonding of Pack Parker and Miss Barnes, there are requirements you must execute. Failure to complete the bond within ten years, any infidelity—including bonds outside the pack—or neglect against the omega will void this contract. After which, Miss Barnes is entitled to renumeration for her work as the Parkers’ omega and half of all pack assets, to be paid within ninety days.

If Miss Barnes chooses to leave before the ten-year mark, repayment of the bridewealth or terms to do so will be required at the time of dissolution. ”

The merger’s a surprise. I didn’t realize my alphas were interested in the family business, let alone merging our smaller software company with ParkerTech’s much larger device brand.

Corey once admitted that his brother would rather burn it to the ground than help their father.

The hatred is so deep it’s unfathomable, so why are they basing our marriage off a company he couldn’t care less about?

My head jerks back as the last words hit. “Wait. I have to pay if we break up?”

Every eye turns my way and for the first time, Jacob doesn’t watch me like I’m his future mate. He looks at me like I’m a child talking out of turn. “Ignore her. She’s at an inquisitive age.”

The dismissal makes my instincts flare. Maybe that’s why I don’t back down, even when it’s all I know. The dutiful daughter, the good omega, keeping my mouth shut because that’s what’s expected of me.

Well, not this time.

“I’m not trying to be rude, but I didn’t know about any merger or bridewealth. It seems wrong that I should have to pay to leave if things don’t work out.”

Everyone’s eyes stop on me, but Jacob holds my attention. It’s like we’ve never met before. The coldness there unsettles me. “Of course it seems wrong, you’re nineteen. Let the adults handle this, darling.”

Normally, I like when he calls me darling, but this time, it feels wrong. Manipulative. Like he’s just saying without meaning a word. “I just?—”

“Enough, Daphne,” Jacob barks, and my mouth snaps shut. My lips won’t move to speak or argue.

Alpha barks are meant to subdue, to command.

I’ve never had one used on me before and it sends my instincts spiraling.

Looking around, I wait for help, but no one comes to my defense.

Lance’s focus is on his best friend. Corey barely acknowledges anything’s happened at all.

Mother and Father just seem disappointed in me. As if I should know better.

I’ve never felt so disrespected. The desire to burrow into my nest and hide tries to swallow me while my instincts beg me to fix what I’ve messed up.

Soothe our alpha. Be a good omega.

I am a good omega. So, why am I being punished? Tears track my cheeks as I bow my shoulders, dropping my eyes to the floor like the perfect supplicant. Anything to end this horrid, frozen standoff.

Jacob lays a hand on my head, like I’m a pet, and they continue as if nothing’s happened.

Omega instincts are a bitch because, while I’ve never felt smaller, I’ve also never been so relieved. My alpha touched me. He forgave me for my outburst. My inability to speak is all that’s left of the warning he offered.

Mind your place.

Mother waits until the men are occupied, then pinches me hard enough to bruise. “Must you act like a moron? It’s standard to have a failsafe for a contract with so much at risk. Your pack is just trying to protect themselves.”

“From what?” My throat burns from defying my alpha’s bark for those two measly words.

“From you.” She brushes my hair back, frowning at the curls she’s never liked. Too wild. Too uncontrollable. “You’re so young, Daphne. They don’t want you running off without a way to get their money back.”

That’s the problem. I have no clue what they’re talking about. “What money?”

“The series of their devices using exclusive Barnesworth software will bring in revenue for everyone, but the Parkers needed a more secure reason to come to the table. So, we gave them one.”

Me.

“The payment is for our software, but also for you.”

The bridewealth.

My lips go numb. “How much?”

Speaking doesn’t hurt as much this time, and I wonder if it’s intentional on Jacob’s part or if an alpha bark has time limits. I need to do some reading later.

Mother brushes me off like she always does. “It doesn’t matter.”

It does if I’m expected to pay it back if I ever want to leave. “How. Much?”

“Fifty million.”

My stomach rolls, and it takes everything in me not to puke.

I never curse. Never speak an un-ladylike word, but what the actual fuck?!

Even with a sizeable inheritance from my grandparents, there’s no way I’ll ever be able to pay that off. Money I didn’t know about becomes an anchor around my throat.

Mother wraps a gentle arm around my shoulder.

Like a flower desperate for sun, I sink into her synthetically perfumed warmth, loving the feel of her when it’s something I’ve never had.

“Don’t fret. This is normal for arrangements like this.

Besides, if you keep your alphas happy, there won’t be any problems. Right? ”

“Right.” Lucky for me, they’ve outlined exactly how I’m supposed to do that.

The bitterness feels wrong and the unsettled tension in my gut begs me to walk away, but I can’t.

I won’t leave the men I love because a contract is a little off-putting.

Not after waiting so long to have them. Besides, who says we’re going to follow it to the letter?

Maybe we’ll get home and they’ll rip it up, telling me it was all a ploy to make me theirs.

“What do they get from all this?” I ask. The words come easy, thank god.

“Other than the money? Your alphas walk away with ParkerTech, though Charles will still run the day-to-day operations while they oversee him.”

Ah. That makes so much sense. With control of the company, Jacob can exact whatever revenge he wants against his father. He probably wasn’t even part of the contract negotiations, which means my idea of them ripping it to shreds is more realistic than I thought.

I should’ve trusted them.

I owe Jacob an apology later.

The panic recedes. My alphas have a plan. They want me. Have even when we weren’t sure I’d ever present. The money was just a means to get what they wanted: a way to screw over their dad and me.

Everything’s fine.

“Good girl,” Mother murmurs when my cheeks are dry, back straight. “Remind them who they waited for.”

Merger clarified, Taylorson shuffles the pages.

“Lastly, any businesses created and maintained by any party throughout the duration of the bonding will remain property of the parties involved. This will allow Pack Parker to keep their finances separate and allow Miss Barnes to maintain her own financial stability in the case of?—”

“We get it. Everyone keeps their shit. Can we finish? We’re going to be late.”

Excitement steals my breath. Are they going to take me out to a fancy restaurant before dragging me into the nest for the rest of the night? Are we going to christen every inch of the pack house? Will they let me say my apologies on my knees?

I hope so. What a perfect way to show my alphas how good I can be. How much I believe in them.

A few final signatures on the contract, the papers to pack us up and the marriage certificate later, Taylorson tucks everything away.

“Congratulations, Pack Parker. You officially have an omega.” He shakes with my alphas, then reaches for Father.

“I’ll file this and ensure all parties have a copy of the contract. ”

Father shakes once, then drops the lawyer like his touch is offensive. “Send the other copy to me. We’ll keep it safe for Daphne. No need for her to stress about losing it during the move.”

With Taylorson gone, everyone seems to relax. Father pulls a simpering Mother away from her new sons-in-law. His perfunctory cheek kiss feels like the end of a chapter and the beginning of a happier one, even with his gruff reprimand. “Behave.”

Lance tucks me under his arm with that smile that makes my cheeks burn. “We’ll take good care of her, Mr. Barnes.”

“I’m sure you will, boys. Let’s go, Lori.”

“Of course. Good luck, Daphne.” Mother pats my hand and slips out behind him, leaving us alone for the first time.

I want to tell my alphas how excited I am, how long I’ve waited for this, how good I’ll be, but I barely get a breath in before Jacob’s frowning at his watch again.

“We need to go, or we’ll be late for the meeting.”

The words rattle around in my head, sucking the joy away in a slow, painful slide. “Meeting?”

Corey and Lance avoid eye contact while Jacob sighs. “We’re seeing a new client tonight and we still need to finalize the announcement for all of this.”

He waves at our pack like its nothing more than an item on his checklist. Mundane and expected instead of a life-changing event. We just got married, and he’s more worried about the optics than his wife.

Lance shoots a glance at his pack lead before twisting to face me.

His hands feel nice on my skin as they stroke my biceps, scent calming my racing thoughts.

“I’m sorry, but it was a last-minute thing, and we can’t reschedule.

Our housekeeper is waiting for you, though.

She’ll get you settled, and we’ll see you later. ”

“I’ve never even been to your house,” I whisper, trying to curb the urge to cry. Today hasn’t been what I expected, and the optimism I walked in with has slowly faded.

We’re supposed to spend a few hours putting things to rights, then christen my room. The nest. The whole fucking house. Instead, I’m going to be alone in a new home in a new city.

“Sorry, Daphne, but it’s only a few hours. I promise we’ll make it up to you.” Lance runs a hand over my head, tangling his fingers in my curls. He yanks them out with a distracted frown. Fire burns along my scalp, and I barely keep my yelp contained. Just one more thing to deal with today.

“You’ll be home before bed, though. Right?”

“Of course.” Corey slips behind me, lips grazing over my neck. “We have plans for you, omega.”

The giddy anticipation is back, along with a warmth between my thighs I need them to soothe. The urge to hold him closer, to dig my teeth into his pristine neck. “Okay.”

“Thank you, baby. You’re the best.” He kisses me hard, squeezing my hips until they hurt before guiding me downstairs to the waiting town car where my alphas give me one last kiss goodbye.

“We’ll see you tonight,” Lance promises as he closes the door. They’re gone before we’ve even pulled away, and I try not to let it bother me.

That night, I dress in new lingerie, settling into the nest to wait, but my alphas don’t come home.

I do the same the next night, only to be disappointed again.

Every call goes to voicemail, every text is unanswered.

I spend the moments they’re gone in my empty nest, cuddled under clothes that barely smell like pack.

Four days after signing the contract, my alphas finally return with presents and promises that it’ll never happen again. Despite my heartache, I choose to believe them, smiling and laughing through every happy moment as we consummate our union.

But I don’t get my bond, and I never forget the feeling of being alone in the dark.