Page 71 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

Erin, who’s back to cuddling on Travi’s lap, laughs until she snorts water out her nose and her beta cracks up. They’re drunk little lightweights. I adore them.

Lacey, coming back from the bathroom, takes one look at my clawed hands and waves Mellie off. “You, go. I’ll handle little miss feral.”

“Sorry, Daph. Love you!” Can’t help but notice she skirts the back door hard , making sure she’s as far from my men as she can before she snuggles into a new chair. Good.

“You know she doesn’t want them.”

“But my system doesn’t.” Even now, I’m tense, waiting for my friend to cross the line so I have a reason to snatch her by her hair and toss her tiny ass out.

Lacey settles next to me, making sure we don’t touch. “You’re fighting this too hard, Daph. Those guys are so committed, I’d bet they’ve got a ring picked out.”

“You’re not helping.”

“Why? Because you don’t think you deserve your dreams after being dicked around for so long? What did you want most that the alphaholes never gave you?”

We’ll bond you soon, Daphne.

You’ll have your baby in no time.

I don’t have to say it out loud because Lacey knows. Every time I broke down about it, she was there holding my hand and brushing away my tears. How many nights did we spend wrapped up crying in each other’s arms, sharing the pain of a future we weren’t sure we’d ever have?

Lace smiles. “These alphas couldn’t be more different from your exes. I bet the second you mention a baby, they’ll be fighting to get you pregnant.”

“Say the word, kitten. You already know I’ll be first in line to knock you up.

” Nate appears out of nowhere, leaving my heart pounding for more reasons than just scaring me.

There’s a visceral reaction to his words as he speaks to the cavewoman part of my omega brain that’s desperate for offspring to care for and protect. Specifically, his big ass kids.

Fuck, Nate’s babies are going to be giant.

“Do the others want kids?” I ask, worried.

“We do. I’m with Nate. Say the word and it’s on.” Dez promises, wrestling his brother away.

“See?” Lacey laughs as they tussle together before Connor separates them with a frustrated sigh. “Stop stressing about the what ifs and just enjoy this, Daph. One day, you’re going to tell your babies about courting their dads. You want to remember what it’s like.”

She sounds so wistful and haunted, like she’s conjuring up dreams that don’t quite fit anymore. Like she’s given up ever having it.

“I want this for you, Lace.” I grab her hand, cradling it to my chest when she tries to pull away. “No, listen to me. I know you’re scared that it’s not coming, but it is. I can feel it. You’re meant for so much more than a life alone.”

“It’s okay if it doesn’t happen. I have my life and our family. My fans. That’ll be enough.”

But it won’t because no matter how famous Lacey gets, there will always be a part of her that wants the white picket fence and the people inside it.

“Is that what Gabriele said?” I ask.

Lacey looks over at the big alpha doting on his women. “He told me the best things come when you’ve given up on finding them.”

“Exactly. If I can find scent matches out of nowhere, maybe you can too.”

“Maybe. Now, tell me more about this ‘first in line’ business. Sounds like someone has a breeding kink.”

She’s changing the subject, but I let her. I can’t force Lace to believe me and if I were her, I probably wouldn’t either. I just have to hope that fate finds her the same way it found me—unexpectedly and at the wrong moment.

By the time I’ve finished explaining Nate’s least favorite f-word, the rest the girls have joined the conversation.

“Damn. I didn’t know the big guy had it in him,” Mellie murmurs, grabbing a brownie square.

My skin flushes as I remember just how many times we had to change the sheets. Turns out, I can squirt while knotted. “You have no idea.”

We’re still laughing when the ringtone I set for my mother goes off.

Kai plucks it out off the table before I can. She scrolls through, silencing the thread when the notifications keep rolling in and rolls her eyes. “She just won’t give up, will she?”

“Who is this?” Erin sits up, wary and a little protective. She’s an accountant, but she looks ready to fight to the death. Have I mentioned I adore her?

“My mother,” I sigh.

“What did she say?” Travi asks, just as curious.

“Nothing we should worry about.” A few more taps, and Kai passes my phone back.

“Thanks, babe.” The thread with my mother is empty and I already know she cleared the deleted messages, too. Anything to keep me from spiraling.

“You’re welcome. I just hope you’re not psyching yourself out about this anymore.

” She waves a hand to encompass everything, the tiniest smile on her face.

“Some people don’t get second chances at their dreams. Don’t fuck that up because some small-dicked assholes made you feel like they were the end of your world. ”

The longer I’m around my alphas, the more I realize how right she is. “You’re pretty astute, you know that?”

“Keep it to yourself. No one likes a smart escort.”

“Yet your client list is overflowing.”

“What can I say? I’m good at what I do.” Kai tosses her hair, laughing as Maverick nuzzles her shoulder.

“Amen to that,” he mutters, lifting his drink. “To Daphne, for finally accepting that she deserves the world.”

“To Daphne!”

As I take a sip, I find Pack Morgan staring at us with these content smiles that get bigger when they catch me looking.

Cheers to me indeed.