Page 92 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

The urge to keep secrets swells, but I shut it down almost immediately.

If I’d told my friends what was happening with Pack Parker, maybe they would’ve gotten me out sooner.

I could’ve made an exit plan. Gathered enough evidence to prove their neglect so I wouldn’t be so fucked in my court case right now.

I can’t change the past, but I can change how I react in the future.

“He’s hiding something.” I hadn’t realized how much that bothers me until the words tumble out.

Kai’s energy shifts and she straightens, looking far more lethal than I’ve seen in a while. “You think he’s cheating?”

“God, no.” I know in my bones that Connor Morgan is not fucking around on me. “It’s something else. He says it’s not bad and that he’ll tell me eventually, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Especially because he’s gone all the time.”

Lacey squeezes my hand, offering reassurance. “I mean, you said he was busy with a client, right?”

“Yeah, but at all hours of the night? I mean, he’s barely sleeping, and he’s definitely not sleeping with me.” My mouth snaps shut on a wince. I didn’t mean to say that.

Of course, my friends immediately tense. They know what happened with my exes, they know how often I was left alone, and they think they know the damage it did. No one really does, though. That’s a secret I’m not sure I’ll ever expose.

“What the fuck does that mean?” When I don’t answer, Kai narrows her eyes. “Daphne.”

“He hasn’t been in my nest outside of one night and it was over a month ago,” I whisper.

My friends look like I’ve just brained them, but Maverick recovers first. “Are you shitting me?”

“I wish I wasn’t.”

“Has he been neglecting you?” Mellie’s more serious than I’ve ever seen and I think that above everything else makes me nervous.

“No! I mean…maybe? It’s not the same as before, though.”

Her eyes narrow. “You mean, where your alphas were too busy making money that they ignored your need for physical attention and closeness?”

“Okay, maybe it is a little like that. But he’s not ignoring me outright. He’s sending me photos and texts, checking to make sure I’m taken care of.”

“That’s the bare fucking minimum.” Lacey and Mel share a look that tells me they’ve been worried about exactly this and I feel their disappointment like a weight over my shoulders.

Kai sits back, nearly vibrating against Maverick’s chest. “What about the others?”

“Nate and Dez sleep with me every night.”

“That’s good, but you need your whole pack. Especially after everything with the fuckfaces. Do they know?—?”

“ No .” I’ve told Pack Morgan a lot, but there are some things I haven’t been able to voice. Some wounds that still fester because I can’t work through them yet. Until I do, I can’t talk it out with the guys.

“That’s okay, you take your time. We just think it might help him understand this is a biological need to have him around, not just a desire.” Lacey’s so gentle with me, so careful of my feelings while being unafraid to call me out. I need it right now.

“Connor leaves me a shirt every morning on my dresser, so I think he comes in to check on me before he leaves for work. He just isn’t sleeping there.”

Kai sets her still full drink down. “That’s great and all, but I can tell how unsettled you are. Talk to him. Tell him you need more time, or this isn’t going to work.”

I don’t want to give him an ultimatum because history says I won’t end be victorious. “What if he’s trying to let me down easy?”

“Then he needs to be an adult and say it to your face. You don’t deserve this, Daph.”

But that doesn’t change how much it’ll hurt.

Pack Morgan wants to court an omega together. As much as I love Dez and Nate, if Connor walks away from me, will our relationship survive?

Mellie, who’s seen me through some awful shit, reads my face and softens. “You know what? Fuck the boy drama. Let’s forget about them and get wasted. That’ll make you feel better.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” Maverick says.

She grins at him. “Don’t worry, big brother. You’re getting smashed with us.”

“I’m driving.”

“No, you’re not.” Mel turns a wicked look my way. “Daphne’s alphas are going to pick us up. I think it’s time we really trial by fire these men. Starting tonight.”

“Oooh, sleepover at Daph’s!” Lacey crows, tapping her glass to Mel’s before they both chug. When they slide Kai and I’s drinks closer, we share a glance.

“Bottom’s up,” I say, swallowing the rest and motioning to our server for another round.

Kai shakes her head but finishes her drink, anyway. “This is a terrible fucking idea.”

Turns out, everyone was right.

Getting drunk makes me feel better. It’s also an insanely bad idea because not only have my texts to the guys gotten more illegible by the beverage, but Kai’s aggressive tendencies go a little haywire under the influence.

We’re kicked out when she nearly brains another omega for stumbling into Maverick then attempting to slip him her number.

Okay, it could’ve been Mellie threatening to pull her extensions out too. Who knows?

After we’re escorted to the parking lot and asked not to return for at least six months, we climb into the back seats of the SUV.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Mellie’s smile is terrifying. “Your place as soon as you call your alphas.”

It’s the beer goggles or whatever the equivalent is to mixed drinks, but that sounds like the best fucking idea. And I know exactly who I’m dialing.

“‘Lo?” Connor answers, weary yet still wide awake.

I have to squint to see the time on the tiny, blurry screen. After one and I just know he’s in his office working.

“Daphne? Are you there? What’s wrong?” Every question gets sharper, more distressed.

“Sorry to bother you, but we need a ride.”

“Send me your location.”

I’m not sure why that hits so fucking hard, but it does. This man who barely spoke to me earlier doesn’t ask a single question when I call for help. Why is it so easy right now, but so hard every other fucking day?

I hear the door shut and an engine turn over. “What happened to Maverick, Daph? If he left you there alone, I’m going to?—”

“He’s here. We all had too much to drink.”

“Thank fuck.” The relief in his voice makes my chest hurt. How can he act like he’d lose his mind if I’d answered any differently and still be so absent? “Are you somewhere safe?”

“We’re in the car. Sort of got kicked out of the bar.” I sniffle.

“She fuckin’ deserved it.” Kai hiccups from her spot on Mav’s lap and he beams at her.

I expect him to be annoyed or upset the way my exes would have been, but Connor laughs. “Stay there. It’s too cold outside. We’ll be there soon.”

Fifteen minutes of drunken rambling later, I realize with a start that Connor hasn’t come on his own when two cars pull up next to us and all three of my alphas hop out.

“Oh, shit. They look a little feral,” Lacey whispers when Dez rips the door open.

My alpha’s eyes are wild until he finds me completely unharmed and more than a little tipsy in the backseat. “You’re okay.”

“I told Connor I was.” The words slur and I get the barest impression of a crooked smile before he pulls me off the seat and into an embrace so tight my face is smooshed against his chest.

“Pretty sure she has to breathe,” Nate says, twisting his brother so he can plaster himself to my back. “Hey, kitten.”

“Hey, babe.”

The man practically shivers with delight at the pet name, and I decide I’m going to call him it more often. They bicker about who I’m going with until Connor steps in. “She rides with me.”

Oooooooh, I like that.

Mellie elbows me. “Perfect timing to tell that alpha you want to bone him until you’re a puddle on the floor. After he apologizes for being a twat, of course.”

Trying to point at her leads to nearly poking my eye out. “You should come with a muzzle.”

She grins. “I think I’d like that too much.”

That’s probably true.

Connor sets me in his car, making sure I’m buckled, before he takes his own seat and pulls out of the lot. We’re a few blocks from the bar when he asks. “You okay over there?”

“Just tired.” It seems easier than saying I’m sad and confused and completely unsure if things are going to work out between us. Booze was a terrible idea because now I’m in my feels.

I’m an omega. All I have are feelings.

“Rest. We’ll be home soon.”

He keeps his hands to himself the entire drive but when we finally arrive, Connor tries to carry me. Not wanting to be close, I push him arms away. “Not that drunk.”

“You have no shoes on.”

I frown at my feet. When did that happen? “Doesn’t mean I can’t walk.”

“I didn’t realize I needed an excuse to carry you.” He gives me a look , but holds the door open, hand at the ready in case I fall.

The moment my legs are under me, Mellie and Lacey latch onto either arm, dragging me toward the duplex. We’re all unsteady, but we manage to stay upright together.

“Come on, I’m hungry,” Mellie whines.

“We’ve got snacks at our place, if you’re interested,” Connor says, watching me carefully.

“Yes,” she immediately responds. “Sleepover at the Morgans’.”

“I hoped you’d say that.” Connor leads us to the door, glancing back like he wants to steal me from my friends. He doesn’t, but I have a feeling it’s a near thing.

This is so confusing.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Lacey whispers, gingerly taking the stairs with a hand on her stomach. “Why did you let me mix drinks?”

“Did you see the way he looked at her? This was a great idea,” Mellie argues.

Connor unlocks the door, and we burst through in a drunken tangle. My alphas try to corral us into the living room, but it’s no use. Lacey rushes for the bathroom, Maverick is carrying an exhausted, but definitely awake Kai and Mellie immediately runs upstairs to snoop.

“Shit, wait!” Nate takes off after her, Dez right behind. I wonder if they’re worried about her going into their bedrooms.

“No omegas in my alphas’ room. House rule,” I shout, getting only a maniacal cackle in response