Page 46 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

DEZ

The initial touches of fall are seeping into Seaport.

Hot, sticky days drowned by blissfully cool waves of rain.

But it’s not the raging storms that pull me out of bed just after sunrise or the work meeting Connor scheduled far too early.

It’s the picture Nate texted the group chat that stole what little ability to rest I have.

The first fingers of peach sunlight brush Daphne’s face as she sleeps, making her hair lighter than usual.

Her skin glows, freckles prominent over the bridge of her nose and cheeks as she rests against Nate’s broad chest. The sheets are low enough to see the length of her spine beneath one of those sinful little sets she likes.

It reminds me of seeing her in Diamond’s, so rumpled and perfect even then.

Nate looks like a lovesick idiot, which he is, but Daphne’s expression is softer than it was during her heat.

She’s at peace. Safe in the arms of her alpha.

I wish she was with me.

We’ve texted since she stormed out, and I’ve tried to give her space even when every cell in my body wants to be at her side.

I’m not sure it’s the right choice, though.

My frustration’s quick to rise, my sleep fitful and sparse.

Nate’s pictures and the glimpses I catch through the window are sustaining me, but even that’s losing its touch. I need more.

I need her .

She’ll tell you when she’s ready to talk, I remind myself, refocusing on the painting in front of me. Adding dimension to Daphne’s hair and the plumpness of her upper lip.

It’s weird working somewhere other than my greenhouse.

It’s the place I feel most grounded and centered.

I could’ve had the original torn down and moved here, but it didn’t feel right to bring something from the past to this new future.

Until the new one’s ready in the backyard, I’m stuck in the garage.

It takes everything in me to walk away from the painting when my alarm goes off for work. Even knowing I’ll be back in a few hours doesn’t stop me from thinking about Daph’s face as I head into the admin side of our building.

Missy’s on front desk duty. Her blonde hair’s pulled out of her face, signature glare directed at the phone and half-zipped coveralls baring a graphic t-shirt telling me to go fork myself, cartoon utensil included .

“Welcome to Morgan Restorations,” she drolls. “How can I—oh, it’s you.”

Her voice drops when she realizes I’m not a client, going from frosty customer service to just frost. Leaning onto the counter, I give her my biggest grin. “Looking chipper as always.”

One lone finger flips me the bird. “Shove it up your ass, Dez. Why are you all so happy, anyway?”

“Connor and Nate are here, then?”

“In the meeting room.” The phone rings, and she stares like the receiver’s going to jump up and bite her. Missy’s the best mechanic I’ve ever seen, but she’d rather deal with ornery bolts and irritating parts than answer a call, and she’s not scared to say it to our faces. “This fucking sucks.”

“You can do it, Miss. Just play nice.”

“I want a raise.” She picks up the phone with an impatient wave of her hand I take to mean go away . “Morgan Restorations. How can I help you?”

I’m still laughing as I walk into the conference room. Connor’s obsession with overseeing absolutely everything means the wall connecting the garage to the admin space is a grid of one-sided glass. Soundproofing keeps the noise manageable, but the whole thing’s too fishbowl for me.

It feels good hugging my brothers again. Having us in the same room. The damage is still there, but that doesn’t mean it’s permanent. We’ve been through worse, and we’ll get through this, hopefully with a bonded omega.

“How’s Daph?” I ask Nate once I’m in my seat.

His eyes brighten, and he shoots me a wicked grin. “Much better now that she’s decided not to fight us on courting.”

Even after signing the pre-bond, I don’t think it’ll feel real until Daph tells me to my face.

“She hasn’t mentioned it to me.”

I couldn’t sleep last night, hoping she’d would text or call about the news.

I was the one who asked her originally, the one who sat in the nest and promised we were fine with however long it took for her to decide on us.

The longer I go without hearing from her directly, the more my thoughts shift to another omega I tried to court.

Days and nights spent coaxing Shelby to talk to me, dinners met with stony silence or false platitudes.

Just enough affection to keep me from wondering if she was interested at all.

We may not have been as close as she was with Connor, but I thought we were getting there.

That she just needed time to settle and balance the responsibilities of a pack omega.

Then the final blow.

I don’t want him as my alpha, Connor. I just want you.

Years of my life dedicated to her, only to realize I was never a choice. That the woman I thought I’d bond with, have babies with, do life with, never thought I was good enough.

Will Daphne really be so different?

Connor squeezes my arm until I pull my eyes off the table. “They’re not the same.”

I swallow, hating how it feels to be on the other side of this conversation. “I know.”

But those feelings of inadequacy didn’t vanish when Shelby did. I’ll never forget the way I crept back to my room after every date, feeling like a fucking failure. Wondering if I could ever win over my omega.

As certain as I am about Daphne, part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Wondering if she’ll decide I’m not worth the effort.

It’s Nate who shakes my out of my funk. “If you think she’s going to pick one of us over the others, you don’t know her at all.”

Maybe that’s just it. “I haven’t spent much time with her since we got back.”

“You should take her out,” Connor says, sliding me a coffee before sitting back with his own.

Nate nods. “She’d like that.”

But what happens when I have her to myself? If I hurt her again, it would destroy me. “I’m having trouble fighting my instincts right now.”

“Because you’re the one who wanted an omega the most,” Connor says easily. “Shelby’s rejection wasn’t a one-time thing, Dez. Your instincts may need some time to trust that Daphne won’t put you through the same shit. That she’ll choose you.”

“And she will, as long as we don’t fuck it up.” Nate grins. “Don’t worry, though. Our girl likes us a little feral.”

“That’s weirdly comforting to know.” The tension in my shoulders wanes and I realize how stressed I was that Daphne wouldn’t be able to handle this part of me, but if anyone knows her, it’s Nate.

“You’re welcome. Now, I need you both to chill out,” Nate says, ignoring Connor’s death glare.

“I’m not trying to be flippant, but we have a miracle on our hands.

An omega that’s scent-sympathetic to all of us.

The more we think about the past, the more likely we are to fuck things up.

Let’s just focus on Daphne and worry about the rest later. ”

He's right, but trusting someone’s intentions is really fucking difficult when you’ve been lied to over and over.

Nate softens, reaching over the table to rest his hand on Connor’s, a pack connection. “I get that this is going to be tough for you, but it’s hard for Daph, too. Just tell her you miss her. That you want to see her. That you’re pacing your room every night trying to fight the urge to break in.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I laugh, throwing a wadded napkin at his face, even though he’s not wrong.

He grins, tossing it right back. “I mean it, D. Text her for coffee or dinner or a fucking hug. Whatever you need. Daph’s trusting us with herself. The least you can do is trust her back.”

Why does it sound so simple when he says it like that?

“I just ask her out?” I ask dubiously.

“Yep, but not tonight. I have plans for us all.”

“Is that a good idea?”

“Trust Daphne to know her limits. If she doesn’t want to go, she’ll say so,” he promises.

My fears keep percolating until Connor finally shakes me. “Aren’t you the one that said we let can’t the past ruin our future?”

I hate when I’m right. Scrubbing a hand over my head, I decide fuck it. Not like I haven’t been through the worst-case scenario already.

Me

I want to see you. Can you fit me into your schedule this week?

My instincts have never been this off-kilter. I need this woman to want me the way I already want her. I need her in my life, in my bed, at my side.

I need her to say yes.

Her response comes immediately.

Daphne

Absolutely. Is everything okay?

I’ve missed you.

Just like that, the tendrils of anxiety winding themselves around my chest loosen. She missed me.

Daphne Barnes, the prettiest omega I’ve ever met, missed me. Thank fuck.

Me

Just need to see you. Been too long.

Does tomorrow work? I’ll be home earlier than the others if you want to come over.

Daphne

Can’t wait. Text me when you’re back and I’ll be there.

A calendar invite pings in the newly updated Pack Morgan group chat—now including one delicious omega—titled, Dez and Daphne Time. Do Not Disturb. It blocks off the entire second half of the day from noon to midnight. As if she wants to be sure nothing interrupts us, not even sleep.

I smile as I add it to my personal calendar. This fucking woman.

Nate’s smirking when I finally look up from my phone. “Feel better?”

“Shut up,” I mutter.

But I really do. Just need to keep reminding myself that Daphne’s worth the discomfort that comes with healing.

Sawyer knocks, slipping inside the conference room when Connor waves him in. “Hey, bosses. You wanted to see me?”

Black, bald, and barely younger than us, Sawyer looks every inch the alpha he’s not. Not that he cares. The beta is the first to jump in and fix things, never scared to point out a flaw regardless of whose idea it is. He’s not the type to take shit from anyone, either.