Page 12 of Big Knot Energy (Shadowverse)

He also lived fairly close.

Before the other two could say a word, I lifted my phone and dialed the number he’d added to his profile. Although, it could very well be the number to the center, but I didn’t care. I wanted to try to get in contact with this man and see whether he’d be willing to do a casual meet and greet with us and Issa, see if she liked him, if they would get along.

And I wanted to try to make it as organic as possible.

After leaving my name and number on a generic voicemail, I turned a grin on my packmates.

“She’s going to hate the whole blind date thing,” Cyrus said, his attention still on his screen as he scrolled through the exact same list the three of us had been scouring. There had only been a few that looked remotely interesting, but nothing as intriguing as the one omega I’d contacted.

“So we don’t tell her. She’s finally getting out of the house. We convince her to join us at the club. She caught me working on some new choreography again—”

“She didn’t catch you. She heard the music and rushed through the house to watch,” Enzo said with a smirk.

That first time I’d found her watching, she’d looked shocked and in awe. After that, she didn’t bother hiding her approach as she made her way down the stairs to plop herself on the floor in front of the mirrors to watch me. And if she noticed how hard I got from her eyes on me, she never made a single comment about it.

“Whatever. We tell her I want her to see the full show. Tell her she needs to finally wear one of those dresses or whatever. Get her out of the house. Introduce her to Aryn and the rest of the crew so she’ll know she’s completely safe even if we have to retreat to our offices or tend to other business.”

“When did you become so…mature and organized?” Cyrus teased.

I lifted my hand and flipped him the bird.

“And poof…he’s a man child again,” Cyrus mumbled with a soft laugh.

CHAPTER 5

Issa

“But why do I need to go?” I asked, sitting on the end of Ax’s bed as he rummaged through his closet.

“Because you haven’t left the house in weeks. And because I’m dancing tonight. And because I’m your favorite alpha in the world.” His head peeked around the corner of his closet, his brows raised. “Enough reasons or did you want me to keep going?”

After a cheeky grin, he disappeared again, the sound of hangers clacking against each other mixing with his frustrated huffs and complaints that he really needed to find somenew shit to dance in.

I had moved in with Ax, Enzo, and Cyrus months ago after I’d finally escaped my abusive asshole alpha.

Notmyalpha. I didn’t choose Antonio. Nor had I chosen the beta I’d only seen twice after the bonding ceremony.

Unfortunately, Antonio’s bite mark was still on my shoulder, something I did everything in my power to avoid looking at afterevery shower and ensured it was covered by clothing. I wasn’t proud of that mark. I wasn’t proud of that bond.

And I sure as hell hadn’t enjoyed the sensation of the bond opening in my chest. He felt heavy. Oppressive. Dark. After that first night, I’d locked down the bond to keep him from feeling my emotions and to avoid feeling an ounce of his evil nature.

At least I did when the asshole wasn’t dosing my food or drinks with sedatives. I’d walked through my life in a haze, like every moment of the last two years was a dream.

That asshole had threatened my sister, had sided with my parents when they’d plotted to take out Cora and her pack simply because she refused to fall in line and obey the rules they’d put in place for all six of their kids. I was one of five betas, Cora being the only omega. She’d definitely had it worse, being trained like a show dog. My parents had made some fucked up deal to sell her off to another powerful pack.

And their plans had blown up in their faces.

Now, the two of us were making our own rules, living our own lives. Or I was trying to, anyway.

“You know I hate being in public,” I called back, leaning back on my elbows as Ax stepped from the closet in a pair of worn jeans that hung low on his trim hips and showcased his round ass.

All three alphas were…well, nothing short of absolute perfection. And saw me as the poor beta who needed protection.

He stepped into the bathroom and my cheeks heated at the sound of the toilet seat lifting a second before liquid trickled into the toilet. The fact he was peeing with the door open while I sat on his bed told me exactly how this beautiful man saw me – as a sister. A friend. A roommate.

When he came back into his bedroom, I quickly averted my eyes as he pulled up his zipper, a wry smirk pulling up one side of his mouth. “Shit. You can look. You know how much I like to be admired.”

Of course he did. That was why he danced on stage with the others at the club he and his packmates owned. He definitely didn’t need to, but he loved it, loved to perform, loved having people fawning over him.

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