Page 87 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

DAPHNE

My stomach rolls as I stare up at the adorable home Dez’s parents live in. The tan ranch style is meticulously upkept, with a covered front porch and a beautiful garden giving color to the neutral palette. It looks like the type of place you’d have family dinners and birthday barbecues.

I’ve never been more intimidated. I’m built for cavernous spaces and silent dinners, not this.

Smoothing my dress does nothing to soothe my nerves either.

After losing my shit in the group chat because what the hell do I wear to meet my pack’s family?

! , Travi and Erin took pity on me. One emergency shopping trip later and far too many stores to count, I landed on this deep purple, long-sleeved maxi.

The ruffles at the bottom give it an airy vibe with fabric thick enough for fall.

My curls twist back in matching crystal butterfly bobby pins that make me smile every time I see them.

My half-sleeve is fully visible and for a moment, I worry that Mama B won’t like tattoos.

Mother certainly doesn’t. Then I look at my alphas and realize she probably won’t give a shit because each one has theirs on display under the rolled-up sleeves of their button ups.

They’ve got their best jeans on, hair styled, scruff neatened up after a group trip to the barber, and?—

Shit, am I drooling?

Considering I want to lick them from head to toe, probably, but it doesn’t change the fact that anxiety is twisting my guts. I hold my breath, trying to find calmness that has left the building. All I have to say is, thank fuck for descenter.

“I’m going to puke.”

Not the first time I’ve said it today, probably not the last, either. Nate lays his hands on my shoulders. “They’re going to love you.”

I can practically feel him thinking, just like we do . Like keeping it to himself is the hardest thing he’s done. It’s comforting to know where I stand with two of these alphas,

Connor’s been texting more since game night two weeks ago, but he’s still working all the time. Snuggling with me for an hour before bed then staying up till dawn at their place. After almost three months of courtship, we’re moored together but still not a unit.

Yet, he slips behind me, hands wrapped around my waist. Offering comfort that brings more peace than I expect.

“I’m not good with parents.”

“Because yours are fucking awful.” Agitation pouring off Nate. In the month since my last court date, he’s only gotten more pissed off about how they treated me.

Connor’s arms tighten around me, then relax again. “My parents disowned me after I divorced Shelby.”

The lore drop distracts me from my doom-filled thoughts and my head whips around, mouth open “Seriously?”

“Mmhmm. Told me there was no reason to waste a perfectly good marriage. I could find a new pack and keep my wife because that was the ‘right thing to do.’ When I told them my decision was final, they told me they no longer had a son.” There’s this agitated energy around him as he roots around for my scent and doesn’t find it.

He finally sighs and stays there anyway.

Rage is swift and hot in my blood. What the fuck is wrong with people? How can you bring a child into the world, raise them to be their own person, then abandon them when they do exactly that? How can you fight for their abusers when all they’ve ever given was money and hurt? It makes no sense.

When we have kids, we’re going to be the best parents around. Our children will be supported and respected and so fucking loved they’ll never feel the lack of it.

I mean, when I have kids.

Because I’m not thinking of a family with these men so soon. Obviously.

“Fuck them. You deserve better.”

“So do you, angel.”

Snuggled tight, we take a grounding breath until Connor smiles against my skin.

“Our parents suck, but Mama B and Will are fucking amazing. When I met Dez in school, he dragged me home the same day. From the moment she met me, I was just another Barrett boy to Mama. She teased me, parented me, loved me more than I ever deserved. She’ll do the same for you if you let her. ”

“I don’t want to let her down.” Like I let my mother down. I don’t say that, but the guys know.

Dez hip checks Nate out of the way so he has space to hold my hand, and my biggest alpha ends up in front of me, cutting off the view of the house and surrounding me with the scents of my pack.

“You could never,” Dez says. “The love my family has is truly unconditional and Mama’s the best support you could ever want.”

“True,” Nate says. “She was my mom’s best friend growing up and they stayed close after graduating.

Mom struggled with infertility and Mama was right there.

When Mom finally got pregnant with me a few years after Dez was born, Mama B held that test and cried.

Threw her the baby shower to end all baby showers.

Was there for every birthing class and appointment alongside my parents and held Mom’s hand as she gave birth.

When they got pregnant with Ella, she did it all over again. ”

I know that support. That love. I get it from my friends all the time, including Erin and Travi. It’s incredible, but those are friends. Family is so much harder to handle.

Corey and Jacob’s parents were awful, and Lance was raised by his grandmother who didn’t like me one bit.

Where did you pick this one up, the shelter?

After a few years of awful comments, I refused to see the bitch. Never regretted my decision, even if it got me in trouble with my pack.

I was never good enough. Never the right omega and I can’t help but wonder if I’m subjecting myself to the same trauma as before.

Dez rubs our cheeks together, staying close when I clutch onto his arm. “They already love you, but even if they didn’t, we would never allow them to be disrespectful. You’re our omega, Daphne. We choose you, no matter what.”

Nate cradles my other cheek and kisses me so gently, I feel my knees waver. “The Barretts are family in every way that matters. When we say they’re going to love you, we mean it.”

I soak in the certainty from these men, their kisses and their touch bolstering me in a way I’ve never experienced. It takes a while, but eventually, my instincts chill. Still braced for impact, but less sure it’s going to come. I’ll take it.

When they’re sure I’m good, the guys grab the bags out of the car. Their items take up one bag together while mine requires all hands on deck. Apparently, drinks was too fucking vague because I got six different sodas, three seltzer waters, too much tea and enough booze to drown an elephant.

From the trunk, Nate picks up a massive box he’s covered with a towel. It smells like sugar and my mouth waters when I wander too close, but he won’t let me see what’s inside. When I pouted earlier, he nipped my lip and laughed his merry way to the car. He does the same now, leading us up the walk.

Pausing on the porch, he rings the doorbell, grinning at me. “Decided we should probably give them fair warning.”

Dez snorts, hand tangling with mine. “That won’t stop Mama from barging into our house.”

Nate shrugs. “Power of osmosis.”

“That’s not a thing,” I laugh and when he gives me this warm look, I realize that was the point. Damn these men for turning me into a puddle of goo.

Blowing him a kiss is as natural as breathing and, of course, that’s when the door opens.

“Aw, cute. Get out of the way, Nate. I want to see my sister-in-law.”

“Fucks’ sake,” Dez mutter.

As soon as Nate moves, I’m wrapped in the tightest hug of my life. Instinct has me stiffen at a man reaching for me and every one of my alphas growls.

“You scared her,” Connor snaps.

“I did not.” I get a whiff of something sweet as the hugger pulls back, takes one look at my face, and deflates. “I did. Shit, I’m sorry. I was just so excited. Forgive me?”

He looks so put out, I give him a wobbly smile. “I don’t even know you.”

Hands yank the guy away, stealing that scent before I can figure out what it is. Caramel something?

“That’s because he forgot to actually introduce himself. I’m Levi, and this is my husband and omega, Omar. Say hi first, babe.”

Omar sags into the embrace with a pouty, “Hi.”

He’s a little taller than me, with light brown skin and the most adorably chaotic black waves I’ve ever seen. Round glasses steal his face, but it only makes the red of his cheeks seem more at home. Like he’s always exuberant and a little embarrassed.

My heart clenches at the forlorn look on his face. Maybe that’s what has me holding my arms out. “Can we try the hugging again?”

“Really?” Even if I am nervous, the way he lights up makes me feel better.

“Yes. Now that we know each other, I’m sure I won’t be as stressed out.”

“You don’t smell stressed.”

“Omar,” Levi laughs, ignoring my pack’s warning growls. “You can’t say shit like that.”

“Sorry! I just meant—oh, whatever.” Omar pulls me into a hug that’s gentle and comforting. I get another hit of his scent and realize its crème br?lée with something else on top. Pistachios, maybe? I wonder if it’s his alpha’s, since I can see the pale flash of a mating bite on his neck.

The longer Omar hugs me, the more relaxed I feel. “You’re a good hugger.”

“I know,” he whispers. “That’s why I wanted to meet you first. Levi says my hugs are like Xanax and I thought you’d be worried about meeting the fam.”

“Terrified,” I confess. “I’m wearing three industrial strength descenters right now and I swear I could sweat through them all.”

His peal of laughter steals a little more of my anxiety and I find it easy to join him. I look over his shoulder at Levi, who mouths a quick, “thank you,” and holy. Fucking. Shit.

The man’s a spitting image of Dez, if he were a few years younger, clean shaven and slightly shorter. They both take after Mama B, except Levi’s skin is a shade darker than my alpha. He also seems leaner, but not by much.

“You’re as beautiful as Nate said you were,” he says once Omar’s decided he’s done with me.