Page 136 of Tangled in Knots

I can see the alpha’s logic, yet don’t understand where he’s leading. Now that he’s no longer traveling, he’s laser focused on his family. Meals and working out, he insists they happentogether in an effort to spend time together, and I can see the care he takes when preparing meals.

Kane fits in an extra hour of workout time, which is doing incredible things to his already chiseled body.

Everything he does tells me he knows he fucked up and wants to do better. His actions and his words scream it. Jed doesn’t realize it, but he’s giving me the best type of care an alpha can give when trust has been breached. I’m simply confused as to why he can’t see it.

Based on what Damon told me, I expect it’s because it’s hard to believe anything can be enough when you’re faced with your mistakes.

The large room the charity event is in has waiters walking around with food and drinks, and people talking. Everyone is dressed in formal wear, their masks firmly in place. There are people I can recognize like the Kelly brothers, while others are a mystery.

Maybe it’ll be easier to speak to Adira like this. I have so much I want to say, but the words get choked down by guilt and shame. I need to change, because my alphas won’t let me disappear.

A woman with blonde hair piled at the top of her head is walking next to a beautiful brunette, pulling my attention completely to the brown-haired bombshell. Adira is wearing a dark green and black strapless dress, and the material reminds me of mermaid scales that flow down it.

There’s a large slit up her leg, making my mouth water as I watch her follow Aisling around.

The masks aren’t keeping her identity secret from me at all.

“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Jed mutters, his gaze pulled to watch her. “I have to go talk to people. You can stalk her if you want.”

“How about speaking to her too,” Damon sighs. “When you two just appear out of the darkness, it fucks with her head. Stopfeeding the monsters in her dreams. That’s the best thing you can do.”

“Fuck,” I whisper. “Do you need me for anything else?”

“Nah, you already told us where the exits were last night,” Kane says, amused. “I doubt we’ll get into any real trouble here.”

“Don’t make me knock on your head for luck,” I mutter, moving away to shadow Adira. She appears to be polite, rarely speaking unless spoken to. I wonder how she got roped into attending this.

When she whispers something to Aisling and begins walking to the side door to leave the room, I follow. There are too many people here for her to go off on her own. I did a deep dive of the guest list, of which she wasn’t on.

There are members of an omega group I know use their position and organization to traffic vulnerable or ‘loud’ omegas.

Fucking ROWS and Emilia Richardson. I hate how protected they are, and I don’t think it’s just by Rock, either. If that was the case, we’d be able to wipe them off the chess board as a player completely.

I hate politics and the balance needed to coexist with others.

Kane is rubbing off on me.

“Morris, I’m trying to take a break from people,” Adira says over her shoulder as I lope slowly behind her.

“You can do that while I watch,” I growl. “Do you have any idea who is at this event?”

Turning, the gorgeous omega shrugs. “Aisling asked me to keep her company, so I’m here as moral support.”

“I noticed you’ve been quiet, following her around, but you’re too beautiful to be ignored,” I say, continuing to walk toward her.

Adira stands firm, but her fingers still tremble. I hate that she’s so afraid of me. Her hair is pulled away from the front of her face, while it curls and tumbles down her back.

“I’m keeping as low of a profile as possible, but I can feel you watching me,” she says. “It’s unnerving.”

Adira’s gaze runs down me, her lips parted as she takes me in. “Jed made me get dressed and come,” I sigh. “I hate suits.”

“Hmm,” she says, reaching out to rub her fingers over my shoulder. “They don’t hate you. I’m not the only one who has a way of getting noticed.”

“I give really great ‘fuck off’ vibes,” I grunt. “The only attention I want is from you. I don’t want to hide anymore. Most people only see me as a beta, which typically suits me, since they ignore me, so it’s easier to do my job.”

“I’m an excellent example of how well you do your job,” she says, dropping her hand.

“You were never a job for me,” I confess, stepping forward again, so she has to look up at me or gaze at my chest.

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