Page 8 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

DAPHNE

The house is lit up when I arrive and a spark of curiosity flits through me. A dash of hope I can’t quell, even when I know I should.

Maybe they remembered after all.

Even if that’s true, they’re still the same assholes they’ve always been. Who leaves their unbonded omega waiting at a restaurant for over an hour on her birthday? My pack, apparently.

I’m not even shocked. The surprise is that after twelve years together and eight years of marriage, I still thought they might do something for me. Show they care. Instead, I got stood up by my pack again. The bar is in hell and I’m begging for scraps.

I’m so fucking tired of fighting for every single thing. This is the last of a thousand cuts. The death of this forsaken relationship and the key to my freedom, because fuck if I stay here for them to tear me down anymore.

The front door opens easily under my hand—unlocked, as always—and a wave of scent pushes out, making me gag.

Almost a decade has changed the scents I once loved from mildly unpleasant to downright noxious.

Corey’s bergamot is nauseatingly potent now, Jacob’s lemon is so sour my skin burns, and Lance smells more like wilted, decayed flowers than he ever did violet.

Every time they come into my nest, I have to soak the sheets in bleach just to rid the space of the smell. Not anymore.

Happy birthday to me.

Slamming the door shut, I kick my heels into a pile that will make Jacob furious, but I’m done caring. Done tiptoeing around his fucking feelings when I’m never allowed to express mine.

The farther in I get, the more I see it.

This place isn’t a home, it’s a status symbol full of all the small ways these men don’t care.

Priceless artwork lines the walls instead of pack photos.

Expensive rugs that itch my feet.Bright lights and cavernous spaces looming over me instead of the darkness omegas crave.

Even the nest is too open and uncomfortable to truly feel safe in.

Pack Parker never wanted me. They wanted an omega. I can’t believe it took me this long to realize.

Pretty little liars , my instincts hiss. Worthless alphas.

We can agree on that.

Each step feels final as I make my way into the den.

My alphas scatter across expensive couches in their work clothes, ties haphazardly dangling against button ups and drinks in hand.

They’re discussing clients again, as if they haven’t just come off a twelve-hour day, all the while completely oblivious to the fact that I’m even here.

I bet they haven’t even realized I was gone.

The resentment that hits is a familiar friend. This pack was supposed to be my dream come true.Instead, it’s been a mediocre nightmare.Alphas who don’t understand me. Men who offered pretty promises they couldn’t keep and whispered lies that ate at me like poison.

We’ll bond you after this case.

You’ll have your baby by next year.

Of course, we’ll take you out for your birthday.

Something happens in my chest; a bubbling pressure that makes me wonder if I’m going to explode with rage. Agony. The helplessness of staring down the barrel of a future I know will kill me.

“I’m done.”

Six letters. Two words. That’s all it takes to seal my fate.

The bubble pops and I can breathe again. In fact, I feel lighter than I have in years. The alphas keep talking, ignoring my statement like they’ve ignored my presence, and I hate them for it. Hate them for all they’ve done and so much more that they haven’t.

“I’m done,” I repeat.

The part of me they’ve been slowly killing is coming back to life, desperately clawing her way to the surface.The backbone is new, but it feels so good to stop lying to myself. I’m not happy and none of this is okay.

I need more. I deserve the life they promised.

Corey frowns as he takes in the pretty dress I stupidly thought would usher in our new reality.

Their bites on my neck, their baby growing inside me.

Now, I see those things for the shackles they would’ve been, and I may be grateful to these men after all.

At least they didn’t trap me here when they had the chance.

It’s a small blessing I take with open arms.

“Where’d you go?”he eventually asks, looking just as messy as he always does. Forever trying to be like big brother.

“To Artisan.” I wait for them to get it, sighing when I get more blank stares. “For my birthday.”

Lance is the only one who has the decency to cringe at their mistake. He should, since he’s also the one who set the reservation. “Shit, is that today? We’re so sorry. There was a client issue and…”

The words don’t penetrate. His charm’s completely useless against a disappointment I don’t even feel anymore.

I’m just…done.

Without another word, I head for my bedroom and the suitcase sitting in the closet. I hear muttering, but I don’t stop. They’re so focused on how to make themselves look better, they don’t even realize it’s pointless.

Locking my bedroom door, I quickly change.

The sweats feel almost as heavenly as throwing the dress into the corner does.

Tossing my luggage onto the bed, I pack whatever I know will sell.

Apology jewelry and clothes that don’t fit fill it fast. Bullshit gifts from trips I wasn’t allowed to go on.

Luxury items still in their wrapping, ready for resale the second I can.

My weekender bag gets my comfort items. The clothes I actually use, the essentials—including my curl supplies—and a few sentimental pieces I want to keep for myself, all placed carefully so they aren’t jostled.

Nothing else feels like mine, so it can rot inside this house of horrors.

In my banking app, I transfer all my savings to an account the pack doesn’t know about. Every cent they’ve given me, every dime of my monthly allowance I’ve refused to spend—it’s all coming with me. Consider it an inconvenience fee for wasting so much of my life.

For safety reasons, I shoot a text to the group chat. Kai told me that the most dangerous time in a woman’s life is when she’s leaving a relationship, and I’m not interested in becoming a statistic.

Me

I’m leaving the assholes.

Who’s got a couch I can borrow? Be there in an hour or less.

Mellie

Me! It’ll be like the Academy all over again.

Lacey

Hell yes. Be right there.

Kai

Same.

Do you need Maverick?

Me

Don’t think so.

Kai

Sending him anyway. Share your location and keep us updated on your ETA.

Proud of you.

These women. By loving me exactly how I am, they’ve made me stronger. If I never fall in love again, I’ll die happy knowing that they’ve got enough to share.

I do as Kai asks, removing my exes from my location too. I’m just stuffing my phone into my pocket when the doorknob rattles and Jacob walks in. Of course, he has a key for the lock. God forbid anyone deny him access to his omega.

It’s not your nest, Daphne. It’s the pack’s. We have a right to be here.

Maverick can’t arrive soon enough.

Jacob’s smug face says everything. He thinks this is just another tantrum, his favorite word for any attempt to fight for my needs. “We’re sorry we missed your birthday dinner. There was an issue at work and?—”

I pull out my phone while he’s still talking—a dangerous game on a good day—and check the alarm system.

Out of all my alphas, Jacob’s always been the most volatile.

Quick to lose it over a messed up meal or a long red light.

He says he’s closest to his instincts, but really, he’s got the emotional depth of a teaspoon and enough intelligence to mask it beautifully.

The app finally loads, confirming my suspicions. “You got home three hours ago. Did you even realize I was gone?”

Shifty eyes are answer enough, but the hurt is a drop in the well at this point.

I grab the weekender and double fist the filled suitcase and an empty one before heading for the door. Corey hovers in the hall, probably hoping his brother can fix things for the lot of them. We all know he’s too weak to do it himself.

“Look, we fucked up,” he starts, glancing between his brother and me. “If you need to take some time at your friends’, that’s fine. When you get back, we’ll?—”

He cuts off as I open the door to my sewing room.

It’s my silent answer. They know there’s no way I’d pack my supplies if I were coming back.

Corey’s face drops in disbelief and panic. Jacob’s neck colors. The petty part of me is glad to see a reaction, even if it’s dangerous to bait an alpha with such little control.

“Be serious, Daphne. We made a mistake, but that’s no reason to be petulant. We’ll make it up to you.”

“This was a make up night, Jacob. You know, the one you suggested after you forgot our anniversary, which was a makeup for when you left me here over the holidays while you went on the vacation that was supposed to be a makeup for forgetting my birthday last year. At this point, I’m not sure how you make it to court on time with all these missed appointments. ”

He huffs, fiddling with his sleeve. “We’ve been working a lot. You know, it takes a lot of money to take care of an omega like you.”

So much so they never realized I stopped using the pack card two years ago.

The lawyer I consulted suggested I wean myself off pack funds to make dissolution easier in the future if I went that route.

Now, I’m glad I did. While it was an adjustment going from privileged princess to making my own money, I thrived under the responsibility.

It taught me I can take care of myself, no partner required.

Taking the sewing supplies I absolutely can’t leave behind, I fill the second suitcase fast, then head for my machine.

When it’s clicked into its case, I turn back to my exes.

Jacob is glaring like he’s going to set my shit on fire, and Corey looks like someone’s ripped up his script and told him to improvise.