Page 207 of Tangled in Knots

“Kane!” I yell, but there’s really nothing that can be done, since he’s already stalking toward the asshole who wasn’t watching.

The alpha appears to be a football player, young and dumb. It’s really too bad. He’ll remember this moment for a long ass time. Turning off the car, I sigh as I get out to follow him. Jed grunts in annoyance, but because the little shit almost hurt Adira, he isn’t far behind me.

“I’m fine,” our little omega says as she sees us. The alpha who almost took her out turns, eyes widening as he sees how tightly Adira is being held by Damon.

The truth is, it’s the only thing keeping him from jumping the dick.

“Oh shit, did I almost hit you? I’m so sorry,” he breathes. “Seriously, it wasn’t my intention to swing my arms so wide.”

“Maybe watch your surroundings next time,” Damon growls, his voice so deep and dark the hair raises on my arms. It speaks of death and pain.

“Of course,” the alpha says, nodding. He watches as we approach, surrounding Adira to make sure she’s alright.

“You’re sure he didn’t hurt you?” Kane growls. They rarely are on the same page, but appear to have found something they seem to agree on.

“I felt air coming toward my body before Damon snatched me up,” Adira says. “I’m fine, and I’m perfectly capable of defending my own honor. Thank you though.”

It’s an unseasonably warm day today, and she’s wearing a sweater dress and tights paired with a warming vest in case she’s cold. I know Adira is wearing her knife along her thigh. I’d prefer for her to wear her gun as well, but she says it’s more difficult to do, since she’s not used to the weight. Instead, she has it in a compartment of her school bag in case she ever needs it.

I hope she never does, because that feels too far for me. I’ll have to work on a way that’s more comfortable for her to wear without flashing it to the world.

“I’d really prefer if you did not cut my knot off to defend it, please,” the alpha says, covering himself with his hand. Apparently, Adira’s dress rode up when Damon grabbed her, showing off the knife on her thigh.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Adira grumbles, moving her dress back down. “I’m Adira, and I really am fine.”

“I’m Bentley,” the alpha says. “I swear I wasn’t raised in a barn. My brother would slap me upside the head for almost hurting you.”

“Well, I don’t know him to tell,” Adira says sweetly. “I’m fine, I swear.”

Bentley gazes at Kane for a second as if he may know him before shaking his head. It makes me wonder if he may have gone to the Amateur Fight Night.

Gabriel wants him to attend a few more fights, but Kane said it would have to wait for a while.

We all need to make sure our affairs are in order before we commit to anything, not to be morose.

“Thanks, Adira. Can I say hello if I see you around?” he asks. Damon glares at him, while Bentley sighs. “She’s in one of my classes. Ignoring her is rude. I swear I can’t win here.”

Adira’s lips twitch as she steps away from Damon. “Most people ignore me on campus, so I’d like that,” she says.

My brows draw down at the idea that people go out of their way to ignore her. That pisses me off. Having only Damon to spend time with on campus doesn’t sit well with me. While the world isn’t the kindest place, I do want her to have friends.

“Yeah, I kind of noticed that,” Bentley murmurs. “You’re scary, Adira, but I also don’t think people need to skip around shitting rainbows and unicorns.”

Jed snorts at his words, because Adira does have a wicked resting bitch face. Even now, she doesn’t give her smiles out easily to strangers. If her pack has to work for them, then so should they.

“If I at least look scary, I’m less likely to need my knife on school property,” Adira says with a shrug. “I’d like to keep my scholarship. See you around, Bentley.”

Accepting her dismissal, he says goodbye and moves on. His friends appear to whisper as they follow him and Bentley rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

Smirking, I jerk my head in the direction of the parking lot before we get campus security called on us.

Following my lead, the pack walks with me back to the car.

“Has anything like that ever happened to you before?” I ask as we walk.

“Not like that, but people aren’t always the nicest when I walk by,” she says. “Especially when my face was all fucked up. Teachers were nice, but the students were assholes. I just want to get my degree and leave, I’m not here to win any popularity contests. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the full experience of being picked up by you all, but what gives?”

We may not have told her we were going out together.

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