Page 10 of Knot the One They Want

When we finally pull up to the house, I'm out of the car before it even comes to a full stop. I stalk up the front steps, my heels clicking against the stone.

I'm almost to my room when I hear Vivienne's voice, low and venomous. "You'd better watch yourself, Evangeline. Those alphas are not to be trifled with."

I pause, my hand on the doorknob. Slowly, I turn to face her, my lips curving into a razor-sharp smile. "Neither am I."

She scoffs. "You may think that obstinance is cute now, but you're running out of options. And your father's patience."

She turns and stalks off on her heels, and I let myself indulge in the childish urge to stick my tongue out at the bun wound as tightly as the rest of her while she retreats.

And with that, I slip into my room, closing the door firmly behind me. I lean against it, my heart racing in my chest.

Another potential pack down.

I'm eleven for eleven at this point, which would be an impressive record if—and only if—the game was to get rid of them.

Not to find one to keep.

CHAPTER 4

DAMIEN

Who the hell does she think she is?

The click of my loafers echoes through the music room as I pace after the dinner, fury radiating from every pore while I wait for the others to join me. Genuinely, who the hell does she think she is, waltzing into my family's estate with that sassy mouth and those defiant eyes?

And her scent…

A prickling feeling works its way down my spine at the mere thought of it. It lingers, even now, tormenting me. The scent of honey and vanilla. Of sweetness so delectable it took all the self-restraint I had not to grab her, put her up on the table, and devour her.

And I know I'm not the only one. I half-expected the others to acknowledge it then and there, despite the filthy looks I was giving them in warning. To act on the mutual realization we all had the moment we walked into that room.

Evangeline Beaumont is our scent match.

Of fucking course she is.

But it changes nothing.

As rare as omegas are, most alphas will go their entire lifetime without finding a scent match. An omega who's tailoredby nature itself to be their perfect fit. Finding a pack increases the odds a little, a numbers game if nothing else. But it's still playing the lottery, and most packs who can get their hands on an omega don't sweat it, even if there's always the risk that their scent match will come along.

Depending on how shitty those alphas happened to be, they might ditch their chosen mate for their scent match.

I had never been one to put much stock into fate. I believed in owning my choices. In loyalty. So even if the sight—and scent—of Evangeline had been enough to throw me in the moment, it didn't change anything. I still had every intention of running her off.

Now, more than ever.

It was just going to be a lot harder than I thought, and not simply because she happened to be our scent match.

I took one look at her—all silky hair and soft curves—and assumed a few cutting remarks would send the spoiled little omega running for the hills. And yet, that dinner was the first time anyone, especially an omega, has ever put me on the defensive.

Asher saunters into the room with Cole close behind him, the musician's casual footsteps almost as annoying as the smirk on his face. He slides onto the piano bench and cracks his knuckles. "Well, she certainly gave you a run for your money, didn't she?"

I shoot him a glare that could freeze hell. "Shut up."

But damn him, he's right. Little Miss Sunshine stood her ground, throwing my insults right back in my face with a sweet smile. I hate her for it. Hate her for not cowering like the rest. Hate her for the way my throat tightens when I remember the fire in her eyes.

Lake leans against the wall, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "She's beautiful."

"And witty," Cole agrees as he lumbers through the door and sprawls out on the couch. "She'll be tougher to scare off than we thought."

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