Page 94 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

DAPHNE

Two weeks later, I’m somewhere deep in sleep when my phone goes off. Shoving up, I lean over a passed out Dez as much as I can with Nate trapping my legs to the mattress.

“Don’t go,” he mumbles, holding me tighter. It’s a habit of his, one that breaks my heart every time. He and Dez are flying out to pick up parts for their asshole client and a few they actually like. They won’t be back until tomorrow, and it’s made Nate a little needier than usual.

I pet his head, soothing him. “Just need my phone.”

More grumbling. Getting untangled from my alpha is like battling an octopus, even when he’s sleeping, but I manage enough freedom to snatch the device off the nightstand.

“Hello?” I whisper, wincing at my voice in the dark.

“Hey, Daphne. It’s Mark.”

Dread pools in my stomach. There’s no good reason for Nymph’s building manager to call me at three in the morning. “Hi. Give me one second.”

“Daph?” Dez reaches for me, and I can’t help but cringe as I mute the phone. Neither man needs to be awake when they’re leaving in a few hours.

“Everything’s fine. I’m just going to take this quick,” I whisper, throwing back the covers and hoping he can’t smell my stress.

“You sure?”

“Yep. Go back to sleep.”

He kisses my hand as I move away. Not sure he believes me, but he’s too exhausted to fight much. I may or may not have ensured my alphas remember what they’ll be missing while they’re gone.

I wait until I’m downstairs to restart the conversation. “Sorry, Mark. What was that?”

“I said a pipe burst at Nymph.” I can practically feel him blushing as he says the name. Normally, it’s the highlight of my day, but not this time.

My hands shake as I pace the length of the room to keep my nerves manageable. “How bad is the damage?”

“It’s pretty bad.”

I try to convince myself that it’s good that it happened now.

Even a few days later and thousands of dollars of mannequins and toys would be destroyed, but all I can think of is warped floors and ruined shelving after all the fucking work I did to get the building ready. My dream crumbling in front of my eyes.

Then my stomach completely plummets.

Dez’s sketches are at the store. I haven’t framed any of them yet and the water…

Please don’t let it all be ruined.

My throat tightens with a whine, but I hold it back. “Where is the damage? Is the back room okay?”

There’s some muffled movement and then, “Seems dry in here. It’s mostly the front that got soaked. Probably from the renovation crew.”

My knees buckle, forcing my drop to the couch. Losing the store would be hard, but my alpha’s courting presents getting destroyed would be cataclysmic.

As soon as I know the drawings are okay, my mind settles. “I’ll get dressed and head over now.”

“For liability purposes, you can’t come in until we’re sure the floor’s stable,” Mark says kindly. “We’ve already turned the water off, and we’ll start drying the floors as soon as they’re cleared.”

I hate it. Every fiber of my being wants to go fix it, but he promises to update me later, assuring the building owner will help as much as they can before hanging up.

The phone falls to my lap, and I stare at the empty fireplace without seeing it.

Everything feels too much right now and even though my dark living room is too exposed, I don’t want to go upstairs and wake up Nate and Dez.

I know they would support me if I asked, but I can’t do that to them. Not today.

So, I wrap a blanket around my head in the world’s shittiest makeshift nest and let myself break down. I’m talking tears, quiet sobs. The works. Who knows how long I shiver and shake and cry before I feel him. A shift in the air, the comforting scent of my pack lead finally coming home.

Through the blanket he smells the same as always, but I don’t drink him down too deep, scared of what I’ll find.

Since our chat, Connor’s tried to be around more.

Dinner is a non-negotiable affair and breakfast usually is too.

Now, even when he’s not around, he makes sure I know he’s here in the small trinkets that line the shelves in Nymph’s sewing room.

Perfectly at place with Dez’s drawings and the blankets Nate stashes in the corner to make a little mini nest for me.

“Daph?”

I get one little whine out and Connor’s there, pulling the blanket off my face and kneeling at my feet. His hands warm my bare thighs before reaching up to thumb my tears away. “What’s wrong?”

Sniffling, I try to smile but it falls flat. “Hey. I didn’t know you were still coming over.”

“You said you wanted me here every night. I’m trying to honor that, even if it’s too damn late to do much sleeping at all.”

“Talk to me, Daph. I can’t stand knowing you’re upset. Did I do something wrong?” He presses a kiss to my temple, breath ragged. Under my hand, his heart’s racing.

My lip quivers. I don’t want to cry again, but I can’t help it. “It’s not you. A pipe burst at Nymph.”

There’s no room to fit both of us on the thrifted loveseat, so Connor pulls me to the floor and straight into his lap. Long arms wrap tighter around me and his chest vibrates harder. “I’m so sorry. Do they know what happened?”

“I didn’t ask.” Shock held my tongue and now I’m realizing there’s so much I need to do. Insurance to call and contractors to schedule. Plans to shift if the work will take too long. Oh god, what if I have to push the opening?

Connor pets my hair, pulling me firmly into his body. “Breathe, angel. Tell me what you’re thinking, and we’ll work through it together.”

This is what I need. My partner sitting with me, facing the problem as a unit. “Mark said I can’t come in for a few more hours. They’re drying the floor for me.”

“I have a meeting first thing, but I can head over after and make sure the pipe’s fixed.”

The offer’s so sweet, but he’s barely coming home most nights. No way does he have time to help with this. “I can just call a plumber.”

He nudges my face up, pinning me with those ice-blue eyes. “I won’t be upset if you do, but I’d like to help either fix the pipe for you or figure out what’s wrong so you can call the right people. Nate’s father was a plumber, and he taught me a lot before he died. I promise I can do this.”

There it is again, that word. Promise.

Maybe other people don’t take it as seriously as me, but when you’ve had people lie to your face about everything under the sun, words matter. Vows matter. I’ve been so fucking clear with Connor that I can’t handle him breaking promises. That I need his support.

This is a chance for him to prove he’s as all-in as he says. A small promise made and kept to shore up the foundation of this wobbly ass relationship. I just have to accept it.

“Okay.”

His lips spread into a cheesy grin. “Really?”

I try not to laugh at how giddy he is to do some plumbing. “Yes, you can help.”

He kisses me until I have to pull back for air. “Thank you, angel.”

“It’s nothing.”

But we both know that’s not true. It’s asking for help and knowing that my alpha will do what he can to give it. It’s believing that we are more than the sum of our problems. That together, we can fix anything. It’s hope, and it’s as terrifying as it is exciting.

Maybe that’s what pushes me to ask, “Is everything okay at work?”

Connor sighs. “I don’t want to add to your day.”

“Tell me.” It’s practically a plea. This man is so hard to reach, and I hate feeling like I’m holding onto him with fingertips.

“Remember that annoying client I told you about?”

“Yeah.” The one that kept blowing up his phone.

“He’s frustrated that I’m not his go-to person anymore and is getting aggressive. I’m not sure what to do.”

“And now I’m making things harder with this.” A hand claps down on my thigh, startling a yelp out of me. It doesn’t hurt, but it certainly steals my attention. This alpha’s good at that.

“You’re not a burden, Daphne. You’re our omega. Yes, I’m stressed, but that doesn’t mean your problems are inconsequential. I’m sorry I haven’t been here enough to prove that.” He pulls our mouths together, sipping from my lips until I’m putty in his hands. “Tell me you hear me, angel.”

“I hear you.”

We sit together for a long time, trading kisses and whispering plans. The more we do, the stronger I feel. After too long, Connor grabs my hand, lifting it for a kiss. “Come to bed with me, Daphne.”

And I do, knowing that when I wake up, this man will have my back exactly the way I need.

Pack Parker regimented mornings to the minute. They woke up and worked out, ate their plain oatmeal, showered, and got ready for work at the same time every day. If I was up, I got a perfunctory kiss on the cheek on their way out the door, and a half-assed good morning text if I wasn’t.

Things couldn’t be more different with Pack Morgan.

Connor is usually the first out of bed, burning the candle at both ends.

Even half asleep, I feel him kiss my forehead, hearing his sweet whisper as I doze.

Dez is usually next, pressing smiles to my skin even as he grumbles about it being too early.

He tries to paint before heading to work, so he rarely stays long after his alarm.

Nate’s the last to wake, dragged out of the sheets kicking and cursing about leaving me.

We often eat together before they head out and every single one of them comes in to kiss me goodbye before they go.

It’s my new normal and damn, it’s perfect.

Today, I don’t get up with the rest of the pack. I’m too tired after tossing and turning, dreaming about the store falling apart in my fingertips.

“Daph,” Nate whispers. “We have to go, babe.”

I groan, trying to hide in the blanket, but he pulls it back.

“Remember, my parts guy lives in the boonies and service is terrible, so we won’t be able to call much. Connor will be here for whatever you need.”

“Mmkay.” I yawn, then snap my mouth shut for a goodbye kiss that decimates my exhausted soul.

Nate lingers, face pressed to mine. “I don’t want to go.”