Page 20 of Knot My Sin

I’m woefully unprepared for what it feels like to be an omega in the real world.

“Hey, Wren,” Flynn says with a warm smile, glaring at the alphas staring openly at me. “Come sit next to me and please excuse them. My mates are Neanderthals at times.”

Nodding, I can’t bring myself to smile as I force myself to ignore the three alphas slowly surrounding me. Shaw especially is beginning to scent like burned caramel, a sign that he’s unhappy.

Something in me wants to whine and ask him how I can fix what’s wrong, but I force myself to lock it down as my fingers curl into my palms. The sting of my nails digging into my skin helps to push away the haze of pheromones affecting me, and I can finally smell melted cheese, bread, and what I think is pizza.

It’s been years since I’ve had pizza.

“Your name is Wren?” Shaw asks gruffly. I nod as I sit gingerly on the stool. I wish I had more clothes, but it’s nice to be wearing anything other than that ridiculous set of lingerie. “What the fuck kind of name is that?”

I make it a point not to make eye contact with alphas, but I’ll be damned if my stupid scent match is going to speak to me like that. Especially over a name I didn’t choose. Slowly, in an open act of defiance, I meet his eyes, but still refuse to give him my words.

Shaw swallows hard at whatever he must see in my gaze. I’m sure it’s not pretty, and it doesn’t last long before he breaks away.

“Okay…” Flynn says uncomfortably, looking between us as if to figure out what that was about. For once, this was a small way that I stood up for myself, and I shrug at him, because I don’t think it’ll make sense to anyone but me. “Pizza?”

My lips twitch at how he’s trying to smooth things over, so I nod.

“Good, you’ll want to have a full stomach before you leave after all,” Everest says cheerfully.

My hands drop to the stool to hold onto my seat. I’m not sure I heard him correctly.

“Leave?” Flynn asks dully. The scent of curdled milk fills the room, making my stomach pitch. I don’t like how much the idea of my leaving is upsetting him.

The entire reason I’ve been wanting to leave is to make things easier for him. It’ll make it easier for me as well not to be around Shaw, so it is a bit selfish of me.

“Flynn, we don’t need another omega in the house that we don’t know,” Ambrose says gently. “We saved her from the auction, that should be enough.”

The irony of his sentence makes me huff a little. Usually I would be still, stay quiet, but these alphas are idiots.

“She stays in her room and doesn't say a word,” Flynn protests. Reaching out, I squeeze his hand, shaking my head.

“Better this way,” I whisper so only he can hear.

“What did she say?” Shaw asks, leaning over the island with a scowl. “Can she not speak up?”

“She said it’s better this way,” his omega says. “Better for who, Wren?”

Turning to face him, I smile softly and point at him.

“I don’t understand,” he sighs.

“I don’t either, which is why she needs to go,” Shaw grunts. “Did you even shower yet? Why does she smell like nothing? It’s making me twitchy.”

“She showered in the downstairs bathroom, but there was a descenting bar of soap in there,” Flynn explains. “I gave her one of my sweatshirts to wear afterwards. What’s gotten into you three? She doesn’t have any clothes.”

“Handled that,” Everest says proudly, showing off a bag of clothes. “Figured you could eat, change, and get the fuck out!”

“Everest!” Flynn hisses. The alpha’s truthfulness is refreshing. It’s what I wanted this morning, so it really doesn’t bother me.

That’s what I tell myself, anyway. My body feels really weird. I feel hot and shaky, but my skin is beginning to dimple with goosebumps. Maybe I need to eat?

“Pizza?” Shaw asks, opening a box of cheese pizza and handing me a plate.

Being fed by my scent mate. Hmm. Somehow I thought this would be different as a kid. The only reason I even know about this, because I went to school with older kids, and they used to talk about it. It’s a tamer introduction to the birds and the bees than the one I ended up receiving.

Taking a small slice of pizza, I take a bite and put it on the plate before standing and holding out my hand for the bag. Everest stares at me as he reaches to give it to me, beginning to look uncertain as he gazes into my eyes.

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