Page 19 of Knot Her Reality

“Thanks for playing bodyguard for me, Dr. Abernathy. I think it’s overkill, but I’m glad it’s you and Lucas. At least I’m comfortable with the two of you. I don’t know what I’m going to do when permanent guards get assigned.” I wrinkle my nose before climbing into the SUV.

Finnegan glowers at me. “Do not start calling me that again. Finn or Finnegan only.”

“Whatever you say, Dr. Abernathy,” I tell him with a smile, ignoring his growl of frustration.

Lucas turns in his seat. “I am one of your permanent guards. My company is going to be doing the security, and since I’m here, I figured it would be better if I was one of your guards since you are comfortable with me. Either Finn or I will be with you at all times, but the second guard will rotate. I’ve got a few guys coming down to help out. They’re good guys.”

“Well, thanks for that.” Seeing that Lillian and Dustin are sitting in the last row with Viktor in the second row, I drop into the first row. Alejandro joins me, and I swear I hear Viktor huff behind me, but when I turn to face him, he’s smirking at me once more.

“You ready, omega?” he asks, leaning forward in his seat. It’s harder than it should be to not flinch away from him.

I nod, turning around in my seat. “Yup. I can’t wait.”

Feeling his hot breath on my neck, I realize turning my back on him might not have been my best idea.

“Back off, Viktor,” Alejandro growls.

“Touchy, touchy,” Viktor says with a laugh. “I was just scenting the omega.”

Turning, I see how tense Alejandro’s body is. He looks like he’s seconds away from decking the other alpha. I lay a hand on his arm, waiting until he looks at me before giving him a soft smile. “Thanks for looking out for me, but it’s okay. But Viktor, I’m using scent-canceling products, so you won’t be able to scent me.”

Viktor hums. “Of course. Silly me.”

Facing forward once more, I find Finnegan’s eyes narrowing on Viktor before they flicker to me. He lifts his eyebrows in question, and I just shrug. Sure, he’s weird, but maybe it’s just because he feels awkward. I really don’t want to write someone off so early in the show just because they’re a little weird. Or, in his case, a lot weird.

I was planning to mention something to Bree since Alejandro also thought his behavior was weird, but something tells me I won’t have to. I’m fairly certain that Finnegan will mention it to her.

He looks like he wants to say something but eventually turns around. I lay my head on Alejandro’s shoulder as we pull out of the compound, trying my best to tune out the protesters.

“It’s not natural!”

“There aren’t enough women in the world!”

“Leave women for the rest of us!”

“Omega whore!”

“Fuck, they’ve gotten worse,” Alejandro murmurs, jostling me from his shoulder and instead wrapping his arms around me. “Don’t listen to them. They’re getting ballsy.”

“Fuck them.” Letting myself melt into his hold, I squeeze my eyes shut. There’s a rumble beneath my cheek, and it takes me a moment to realize that he’s purring for me. As soon as it penetrates my thoughts, my entire body goes limp in his hold. Within moments, I can feel sleep pulling me under. Now, that’s an idea—spending the hour-long drive to the lake sleeping.

I jolt awake as the SUV slows, sitting up and looking around. It takes me a moment to realize we’re pulling up to the lake. “Damn, we’re here already?”

Alejandro chuckles. “We are. Once I started purring, you were out.”

“Thanks for that,” I say, ducking my head. I’m not a shy person by any means, but I can’t seem to stop blushing since I started meeting my suitors. I don’t know what’s going on with that, but there’s also not much I can do about it.

“We had a team clear the area before we arrived,” Lucas tells me, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “They’re staying but won’t be anywhere near the lake unless there’s trouble. As Finn said, I’ll remain in the car while he comes with you.”

I nod my head, reaching for the door handle. “I appreciate you, Lucas.”

Hopping out of the car, I stretch my body as the others follow me out. I have no idea what’s up with my falling asleep in cars lately, but it probably needs to stop. It’s not doing great things for my back.

“Have a good nap?” I spin around at the sound of Viktor’s voice, honestly expecting him to be sneering at me from his tone. Surprisingly, he’s not, but that could have something to do with Finnegan standing at his back.

“I did, thank you.” Fighting back an eye roll, I turn my attention to Dustin and Lillian. “I’m so sorry about falling asleep without even saying hello to the two of you.”

Lillian’s smile makes her even more beautiful as she brushes off my words with a wave of her hands. “Don’t you worry about it, Evangeline. You obviously needed the rest, and I can never fault someone for taking what they need.”

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