Page 50 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

DAPHNE

Pack Morgan looks good. Fucking fantastic, really.

At my side, Nate’s wearing a hoodie under his large flannel and cargo pants. He’s even got a bag strapped across his chest. When I asked, he said it’s so I didn’t need to bring my purse. I’ll take care of everything.

And he has.

He drove us here, opening doors everywhere he could. He took me out for waffles and paid with a smile on his face. He brought me somewhere that mattered to him. Someplace that gives me a sense of who he really is.

This alpha gave me his pain, on our first official date because he wants me to know him. It means so much.

Dates with Pack Parker were public and formal.

Long dresses to a fundraiser, dinner at a friend’s restaurant where I was expected to look perfect and act the same.

We never watched a movie together. Never went out to a dive or ate at a food truck.

It was never actually about getting to know one another or interacting with my partners outside our typical environment.

Nate squeezes my hand before we get to the others. “You good?”

“Yes.”

I have to stop comparing them because they couldn’t be more different and as terrifying as it was to commit to courting Pack Morgan, I haven’t regretted my decision.

In fact, the more I consider it, the better I feel surrendering to my desires.

Surrender isn’t about giving up, it’s about power.

Knowing I have it and willingly putting it down for a chance at happiness.

But that doesn’t mean ignoring the warning signs again.

The others finally spot us, and Nate deserves something special for choosing my outfit. The alphas look ready to eat me alive.

Dez meets me first, wrapping me in a hug that feels like everything I’ve needed lately. “Hello, gorgeous. Really living up to the name tonight.”

I don’t respond, too busy checking him out to even think. He’s wearing a dark crewneck sweater over light wash jeans. His face looks freshly shaven, hairline crisp like he just got a cut too.

I’m still gaping when he pulls me into his arms, the rumble of his laugh softening my spine. “Like it when you look at me that way, Daph.”

“How can I not?” Biting my lip, I wave at his body.

His purr is so sweet, I almost don’t hear it. “Save that for tomorrow. You’ve still got one more alpha to see.”

Connor’s hanging back from the rest of us, looking all sorts of uncomfortable. “Hey.”

Thank god for Nate’s massive hoodie hiding me as my fingers twist anxiously.

“How are you?” We say at the same time, cringe, and look away in unison.

“You two are so fucking awkward.”

Dez slams his shoulder into Nate. “Shut up.”

“No, he’s right.” Connor steps closer, scent twisted and obviously uncertain. “Do you want me to go?”

It would be easier. I could spend time with Dez, who’s been absent since the failed dinner, but I agreed to court the whole pack and that’s what I’m going to do.

“No, you can stay.” I take a deep breath, enjoying how his scent shifts to something less sharp. “You look nice.”

He’s wearing loose, straight leg jeans and a leather jacket that looks as old and broken in as the plain t-shirt underneath. He’s dressed up and comfortable at the same time. I like it. Maybe a little too much.

“You look…damn, Daph.”

“Nope. None of that.” Nate pushes between us, cutting off the eye contact that’s making my skin tingle. “There’s no place to fuck, and we all need to have some fun.”

“Wait, we’re racing each other?” I’m not sure why, but I’m excited at the prospect of playing with these alphas.

Nate grins. “Battle to the death, kitten. You ready for that?”

“I don’t know.”

They all share a look, but Dez is the one who asks, “Have you ever done this before?”

“Never.”

Nate looks absolutely scandalized. “Are you shitting me?”

“Not exactly something the upper crust does, babe.”

The biggest man I’ve ever seen fucking melts at the nickname, and I decide I never want to ruin the dreamy way he watches me. “That’s okay. We’ll do partners and you can ride with me.”

“You’re too big for partners,” Dez says, pointing to a sign that specifically says the two-seater karts are for kids and an adult.

“Shit. Okay, we’ll just go easy on you at first.”

“Absolutely not,” Connor and I say together.

Nate pouts with a full lower lip and slouched shoulders that make me laugh. Dez pushes him toward the line. “Don’t worry, bud. Our omega’s gonna kick your ass.”

He winks, and I decide not to overthink the warmth in my chest these men create.

When it’s our time to race, kids pour ahead of us until there are only two karts together.

“I see some empty ones on the other side.” Connor kisses my temple before moving to a kart behind us. Dez does the same, his own even farther back.

“Ready, kitten?” Nate asks.

“I think so.”

“You’ll do great,” he promises, holding me steady as I climb into the little blue go kart. His quiet voice directs me to the pedals as he pulls the harness around my chest and buckles me in until I can barely move.

“Not much room in these, huh?” I joke, a little nervous now that we’re here.

“The karts go fast. Stop fast too. If you’re too lose when you brake, it’ll hurt.”

Oh. That makes sense.

A worker comes over, leaning in like he’s going to tug on my harness, but the second his scent hits, Nate growls. “Don’t touch her.”

The other alpha, mid-twenties and definitely unbonded, tenses. “It’s my job to make sure she’s safe.”

“She is.”

Not interested in holding up the race with an unnecessary stare-down, I wave over the other attendant, hoping I’m not making the situation worse. The last thing we need is another alpha in the mix.

The second they get close, I relax. Bonded beta. Perfect.

Smiling as nicely as I can, I motion to the straps. “Can you check my harness, please?”

The guy looks at the posturing alphas and rolls his eyes, shoving in front of his coworker to yank on my belts. When everything stays in place, he gives me a curt nod. “You’re good.”

“See? Ready,” I assure Nate, patting his hand where it’s splayed possessively over my belly. “Why don’t you take the nice attendant to your kart so he can check your harness, babe?”

The look my alpha gives me says he knows exactly what I’m doing and doesn’t care. “Sure. Come on, man.”

The first attendant hesitates for exactly one second before the beta shoves him away from me. “Seriously, go before he rips you in half. We don’t have liability for this shit.”

When Nate’s locked in and we’ve had the rules drilled into our heads— no being stupid, no bumper cars, stay in your vehicle— they hit a button, and the kart rumbles underneath me.

The noise is a little too loud a week after my heat and the smells are slightly nauseating, but I put on a brave face when Nate rubbernecks to make sure I’m okay.

Chill out, Daph. It’s not that serious.

Totally.

This is no problem.

Easing down on the gas, I push harder when I realize we’re barely moving. Right, they mentioned that would be capped until all the karts were on the track. It’s a little boring, but I think nothing of it, foot to the floor as we pull out of the covered starting area.

All at once, the pedal drops farther and the kart fucking zooms.

Startled, I jerk the wheel too far to the right and crash against the edge of the track. The tire piles stop me from hurting myself beyond the slight pain of the harness biting.

“Daph!”

I twist, gawking. Nate’s out of his kart and running toward me.

“Hey, you can’t get out!” An attendant shouts, but my alpha flips him off.

The other racers don’t stop, though Dez and Connor slow down to check that I’m okay. When I give them a thumbs up, shooing them away, they reluctantly speed off, looking over their shoulders before they’re out of sight.

“You okay, baby?” It’s hard to hear Nate over the engine, but I feel his worry.

“I’m fine,” I promise. “Just wasn’t expecting that.”

“Happens to everyone. I’m going to get you off the wall, and we’ll get back to it, okay? Or do you want to stop? We can if you want.”

“No!” My heart is racing, and the whole situation’s overwhelming, but looking at everyone else having fun makes me want to try again. I don’t want to spoil this. “Put me back in.”

“That’s my girl.” Nate smiles, this beautifully blinding thing.

With the help of the very unhappy beta, they get me out of the wall. With a warning that we won’t have as much time as the others, he sends us on our way.

I don’t wait for Nate to get back in his car.

For three laps, I learn how to drive the go kart. How sharp the corners can be, how high the speed can go. What it’s like to pass someone, not caring that they’ve already lapped me.

And I have fun. A lot of it.

The wind pulls at my hair, biting through Nate’s hoodie and my leggings with the cool fall evening, but I love every second. In fact, when the red light flashes and the car slows, I’m so bummed, I immediately drag the guys back into line.

It goes faster this time, with most of the families heading out to have dinner and get ready for school and work in the morning. I get the first car, each of my alphas reminding me to be careful once the speed goes up again.

We’re buckled and waiting, the kart rumbling underneath me as the attendants go through the rules again.

“No one gets out of the vehicle. If there’s an accident, let staff handle it.” They look directly at my men when they say it and not a single one agrees. I can’t help my laugh as I pull out. We’re so getting kicked out of here, but at least we’ll have fun until then.

The second and third races are a loss for me, but I don’t mind.

Every time I learn a little more about how to drive the kart and what to do on the track.

And every time I drag the guys back into line, they offer tips and support.

Teasing about my mistakes in a way that makes me feel loved, not criticized.

As we line up for the seventh race of the night, Nate slips icy hands under my hoodie, pulling me into him.

It’s not the first time he’s gotten handsy and I can’t say I mind it one bit.

Sleeping in my bed every night means we’re at a different pace than the others.

These casual touches are normal. Needed, even.

“You want to win this time, kitten?” he whispers against my neck.

“Of course I do.” The sun’s setting, stealing the day's warmth with it, but I’m not ready to call it quits yet. I’m enjoying this too much to walk away.

“Good.”

That’s not suspicious at all. “What’re you planning, Nate?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.” His smile presses against my skin. “Just focus on winning and leave the rest to me.”

The attendants eye us warily as we step through the gate and onto the track again. The guys have been model citizens since that first race, but I think they’re still nervous one of them is going to snap if they get too close to me. A very real possibility.

Dez and I head to the front while Nate drags Connor to the back. He’s absolutely annihilated the rest of us all night, to the point that I’m actually excited to see what Nate has in store. It’s about time the pack lead goes down.

Being first on the track is a dream and the second we get the go ahead, I race to keep my spot—against my men, at least. Dez stays close, looking for an opening to pass, but I cut him off at every corner.

Despite their start at the back, Connor and Nate are neck and neck in pursuit of us, slipping past the few remaining racers with ease.

I keep first until we’re near the last two curves when Dez almost gets me.

I cut him off, careful not to hit his kart and keep my place out of sheer luck. In doing so, I see the chaos behind me.

Namely, Nate veering at the last second and nailing the nose of Connor’s cart just as he’s about to speed ahead and pass us all for first.

I hear a shouted, “What the fuck?!” but I’m too busy crossing the finish line to care.

I won. I actually won!

Cheering myself to victory, I lead the cars in, hopping out the moment everything shuts down and flinging myself at Dez. “I did it.”

“Yeah, you did.” He leans me back, kissing me chastely before the bickering tears us apart.

“You fucking hit me!” Connor snaps, shoving out of the kart to whirl on his brother.

“It was a love tap.” Nate doesn’t stick around for more arguing. He bounds past the kids rushing for their parents and hauls me into his arms. “Number one, baby!”

“Number one cheater, maybe.” Connor huffs and I wiggle out of Nate’s arms and tuck myself into his.

“Don’t be salty that I finally beat you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” he teases, kissing my hair and pulling me toward the exit again. “Next time I’m gonna kick your ass.”

I like this Connor. The one that jokes and plays more. It almost feels like we’re learning how to do it together.

“You want a rematch already, or are you scared to lose?”

“As long as you’re here, I’m not losing a thing.” Connor’s grip on me tightens. “But I’ll let you try to beat me again anytime, angel.”

Instinct pushes me to kiss his cheek and I’m ecstatic when he blushes so hard his ears tip red too. “So, you admit I won that race?”

“Uh, actually, I won.” We all turn and find an indignant five-year-old and his laughing parent staring at us. I expect the guys to ignore the boy or brush him off, but Connor goes down on one knee, smiling.

“We meant in our little group, but you’re right. You won. Awesome job.”

The kid sniffs. “My daddies say you have to tell the truth, so I wanted to make sure you knew.”

Oh my god, they’re so cute .

“Thanks, bud.” Connor bites back his grin. “Hey, do you think you could take a picture of our pack? I want to remember tonight.”

The kid looks at his dad, who nods. “I guess.”

Nate fishes out his phone to hand over, and I frown at Connor. “Where’s yours?”

“Left it at home.”

For me. He left it at home so I wouldn’t get upset about it going off.

Oh my god, I’m melting over basic respect. Send help.

Connor grabs my hand. “Come here, angel. Take a picture with us.”

The guys move around me like I’m their sun. Nate warms my back, hands low on my hips. Dez captures Connor and me with arms around our necks, pulling us close with a kiss to my temple. Through it all, the pack lead keeps our hands together, thumb stroking the back of mine.

Even when I throw my pointer finger up. “First place, baby!”

Connor rolls his eyes, but I see the smirk. The way he’s trying to hide how funny he thinks I am.

I see all.

“Can we get another, please?” He asks our photographer before turning to me with a playful glare. “Maybe without the bragging?”

“Ugh. Fine.

The pack and I settle a little closer, smiles wide, hearts quiet, and when the shutter sounds, I know this is a memory I’ll cherish forever.