Page 113 of Knot All is Forgiven

Jordan is not anOmega that I could call delicate.

That's not an insult. It's just a fact. She's tough. She always has been. Seeing a softer side of her these past few weeks has been strange but welcome.

It's like I'm getting a glimpse of who Jordan could have been if my pack wasn't full of thick-headed boys.

But right now, she feels breakable in my arms. Her body is limp, her breath slow as I pull her to my chest and try to soothe myself by basking in her pheromones. Tart mango and salted lime nearly overwhelm my senses.

Once Icarus fell out of guard, he was taken down to an Alpha floor for a quick once-over. Alpha guard and Omega drop arenot common conditions, and it's unknown what kind of health effects they can have. Cyrus went with him, and Simon went to grab coffee.

Leaving me alone with my Omega.

Despite our connection at the rage room, I still wonder if I have fully earned her trust and forgiveness.

Our relationship feels different, better even, but maybe her heart is still holding out.

"Any change?" Slime's voice rumbles behind me.

I sigh, burrowing my face in her neck. "No, not as of yet."

"You did great handling Icarus," he says as he slumps into an uncomfortably firm metal chair.

"I have some experience handling unruly Alphas." My face heats with a memory of him wild with a rut, and I try to look anywhere but directly into those piercing hazel eyes."Sorry, Si, I didn't mean to bring up old memories."

"It's fine. We don't have to talk about it. How do you know so much about Alpha guard?" He tries to deflect.

"My Pa went into it once. We got into a car wreck, and Dad got hurt, which made Mom drop. It was just the four of us in the car, and I was only like seven, so I got an up close and personal crash course." I adjust my hips to wrap Jordan up in me as I turn to get Slime better in my line of sight. "Pa felt horrible after, but it's not like he could help it. His packmate and Omega were in trouble. It'd happen to any of us, I think."

"Even though we're not much of a pack anymore?"

I whip my head towards him, glaring. "How can you say that? We've been living together since Jordan came back in our lives. Icarus just said he wants to form an official pack with the four of us."

He ruffles his hair, wincing as his fingers get snagged on knots. "I know, I just…"

"You just what, Simon? You're looking for another reason to leave me?"

"Leave you?" He sputters, looking up at the ugly can lighting. "What do you mean leave you?"

"You left saying we weren't a pack, heartbroken over Jordan. Jordan is in my arms, and you're still saying we're not a pack! How am I supposed to think it's anything but that?"

He shushes me, peering through my arms to ensure Jordan is still sleeping. "I wasn't leaving you, you know that."

"No, I don't know that Slime," I snarl, "how could I? We fuck a few times, and you go running."

He leaps to his feet, pointing a furious finger at me. "How are we still having this conversation? It's been nearly a decade, Rafe."

I hate myself for letting it affect me so much. I hate that he can hear the hurt in my words. "We've been sleeping beside one another for weeks. Are you going to tell me it means nothing?"

He throws his hands up in the air. "It means there are only three beds in the condo, and someone has to share, Rafe."

"Bullshit!" My heart is in my throat, and my eyes burn. "How many times have you woken up with your legs entwined with mine? Your head on my chest?"

He avoids my question and gaze, frantically running his fingers through his hair.

Is he really still saying that there is nothing between us?

That he doesn't feel this, too?

"Rafe, I'm not sureif this is a good idea," Simon whispers against my lips. "Last time we were drunk."

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