Page 106 of Knot the One They Want

Confusion flashes in Daria's eyes, quickly replaced by dawning realization. "You've been watching me," she breathes, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. "I knew it. Iknewyou still cared."

Her words hit me hard. I knew Damien wasn't over her before. Knew that was why he pushed the others to reject me. But hearing the evidence from her lips still hurts.

Damien clenches his jaw, but he doesn't deny it, so it must be true.

The other omega's gaze slides to me, dripping with disdain. "There's no way you've replaced me with this vapid princess."

White-hot anger surges through me, momentarily drowning out the fear and insecurity. How dare she? She doesn't know me, doesn't know anything about what I've been through or who I am.

Before I can open my mouth to defend myself, the alphas leap to my defense.

"You have no right to talk about her that way," Lake snarls, his usually gentle eyes flashing with fury.

"Evie is no one's replacement," Cole adds, his massive frame practically vibrating with rage as he stands beside his brother. Asher, too.

Damien steps forward, his presence commanding everyone's attention. "They're right. Evie," he says, his voice ringing with conviction, "is our omega. Our mate."

Daria's eyes widen, her gaze traveling to my neck. I know the moment she spots their marks peeking out from beneath my collar. Her face contorts with rage, all pretense of vulnerability vanishing in an instant.

"Youmarkedthis stuck-up bitch?" she shrieks, lunging at me with clawed hands. She manages to grasp my arm with her stiletto claws, but I'm too stunned by the surreality of her antics to even process the pain.

Everything happens in a blur. The alphas move as one, forming a protective barrier around me. Damien and Lake wrestle Daria back, while Cole catches me as I stumble.

"Are you alright?" Asher asks, his hands ghosting over me, checking for injuries.

I nod, too stunned to speak. Daria continues to struggle against Damien and Lake's grip, her composure completely shattered.

"Please," she wails, her mascara running in black rivulets down her cheeks. "Take me back. I'll do anything. I changed my mind! You can't do this, you can't give what was supposed to be mine to that chubby, prissy little bitch!"

"Shut your fucking mouth!" Damien's alpha bark—even if it sounds more like a roar—echoes through the room and everyone goes dead silent.

Including Daria.

In fact, her whole body freezes as if she's just been struck, her eyes growing wide.

"That'll be the last time you or anyone else utters a word against my mate," Damien says, his voice as cold as ice, his expression carved from stone. It's a warning, and not just to Daria. I'm pretty sure I just heard Vivienne gulp across the room. "Security," he snarls, his voice colder than I've ever heard it. "Get her out of here before I violate my own rule about never hurting an omega."

As burly security guards drag a still-screaming Daria away, the families close ranks around us. Carl places a protective hand on my shoulder, while my father hovers awkwardly nearby, looking torn between concern and embarrassment. He really hates when anyone makes a scene.

Sometimes I'm not sure how he's stayed married to Vivienne all these years. At leastsheseems to be enjoying herself, even if she isn't at the center of the drama for once. But after Damien's threat, she knows better than to try to get in any more of her typical barbs.

"Are you sure you're alright, dear?" Carl asks, his eyes kind as he looks down at me with more concern than my own family has ever shown me. I realize now I was right to be nervous about this night, but not for any of the reasons I thought. None of the Blackwood pack's family members have been anything other than supportive and welcoming to me so far.

I manage a shaky smile. "I'm fine," I assure him, looking down at my arm. Daria's claws left marks, but they're not even bleeding. "Just a few scratches. Nothing serious."

But as the adrenaline fades, I'm hit by a wave of emotion so strong it nearly brings me to my knees. They defended me. In the face of the omega they once rejected me for, the woman I was so afraid would steal them away if she ever came back... Now she has, my worst fear came true, and they choseme. Without hesitation.

"Evie?" Damien's voice is soft, almost hesitant. I look up to find all four alphas watching me with a mix of concern and... is that fear?

"We're so sorry," Lake says, reaching for my hand. "We never thought she'd show up here, never wanted to put you through that."

"Do you..." Asher swallows hard, his usual confidence nowhere to be seen. "Do you want us to take you home?"

I blink, surprised by the vulnerability in their expressions. They're afraid, I realize. Afraid that Daria's appearance has shaken my faith in them, in us.

I can't help but smile, my relief a palpable thing that soothes my shaking hands. "No, of course not. It's Lake's night. There's no reason to let her ruin it."

Relief washes over their faces, and I feel the last of my lingering insecurities crumble to dust. These men, these amazing, complicated, frustrating men, love me. They chose me, marked me, defended me.

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