Page 89 of Knot Her Reality

“Don’t,” Nash says, lifting his head from the book he’s reading. “Don’t cancel on her. We need to give this a chance. If she chooses us, then we tell her about Mal’s family before we bond. But if you can’t do this? Then I think Mal is right and we’re going to be sent home. I don’t want to go home yet.”

Paisley moves around to stand in front of me, biting her lip. “I don’t want to go home either. I like Evangeline. I like Koda. I like the other suitors. I like being here.”

“We have to go home eventually,” I remind them all. “Even if she chooses us, we have to return home. We don’t have a choice of relocating like some of the others—if there are any other suitors not based in Los Angeles. That might make her not want us either.”

“That’s true,” Nash agrees, pushing to his feet before pulling me into his arms. “But we won’t know if we don’t try, will we? Do you not want this, Ana?”

I sigh because honestly? I don’t know. Yes, we wanted to see if Paisley and Evangeline were an omega pair—which it’s clear they’re not. No one except Evangeline is wondering about whether or not she and Koda are a pair. There’s no doubt in my mind that those two omegas are meant to be. So what does that mean for Paisley? Can we be part of a pack with three omegas? That doesn’t sound sustainable.

I can’t imagine having three omegas in heat at once. We’d need every damn suitor left on the show to be a part of the pack if that was the case.

So why are we even bothering? Why do they want me to try? Wouldn’t it be better to just give up and not worry about getting hurt when she sends us home?

“Ana?” Nash prods, and I shake my head to pull myself from my thoughts.

“I don’t know. Maybe? I just can’t see how a pack with three omegas would work. Aren’t we just setting ourselves up for heartbreak?”

Nash runs his hand through my hair. “Is it possible that we’ll fall for her and she won’t fall for us? Sure. That was always a possible outcome. But what if she does? Can you imagine? Yes, three omegas would be a lot of work, but I don’t think Evangeline is planning to choose a small pack, do you?”

Paisley snorts. “There’s no way she’ll have a small pack.”

“Fine, we’ll go on the date, and I’ll attempt to play nice with Tessa.” I pull away from Nash, giving him a soft smile. “But I’m not making any promises, and none of you will hold it against me if I end up not being able to do this.”

A smile lights up Paisley’s face as she leans in to kiss me. “I would never.”

“Neither would I,” Nash assures me before the three of us turn our attention to Malachi, who is remaining entirely too quiet on the matter.

“Hmmm?” He looks up, eyes going wide as he realizes we’re waiting to hear from him. “I’m sorry, I stopped listening. What are we talking about?”

Walking over to him, I slap the back of his head before leaning down to brush my lips against his. “You’re an asshole.”

“But you love me.” There’s no doubt in his words, and there shouldn’t be. He’s right. I do love him. “I also love you, Ana, and I won’t hold it against you. All I’m asking is for you to try.”

“And I will. You’re lucky I love you.” Standing up straight once more, I hold my hand out to Paisley. “Come on, omega. We have a date to get to.”

Now, let’s just hope I don’t ruin the whole damn thing.

“Here, let me get that for you,” Tessa says, pulling out Evangeline’s chair for her before I can even think to do it.

I’ve never been more thankful for my poker face than I am right now. Years of honing it in the courtroom has made me impossible to read if I don’t want anyone to. And right now, I really don’t want anyone in this room to know how much I’m raging on the inside right now.

“Here, Paisley,” I say softly, pulling out her chair and helping her get settled before taking my seat.

Evangeline is grinning as she looks around the table. “It’s kind of nice to be on a date with just ladies.”

Tessa hums. “It is. Don’t get me wrong, I like men just as much as I like women, but sometimes…”

“They’re just a lot?” Paisley offers and the three of them laugh together.

I don’t laugh because I’m too busy trying to keep my alpha side under control. All of my instincts are telling me to prove that out of me and Tessa, I’m the superior alpha. I need to prove that I’m the best; knock out the competition.

She’s prettier than you.

She’s more at ease than you are.

She’s warmer than you’ll ever be.

Each thought is spoken in one of my sisters’ voices, and it’s all I can do to not snarl out loud.

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