Page 18 of Knot That Delicate

"Why two deadlocks?"

Asher snorted. "Well, that’s a bit of a funny story. We have several family members who are omegas. Omegas tend to be shorter, as you know."

I glowered at him. "I’m not that short," I grumbled.

He laughed. "Compared to me, you are. But one of our little sisters is tiny. She’s barely four feet tall, and when Dylan installed the deadbolt, he installed it at the top of the door, where no omega could freaking reach. So, we had to install another deadbolt at normal height to stop her from trying to murder us."

I chuckled. "That was probably a normal height for him. He is a giant, after all."

Asher nodded. "I was in complete agreement. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s not to upset the omegas. They are vicious little creatures when they want to be."

My mind drifted back to what I had just escaped, to the knife in Alex's throat. We definitely could be vicious when the moment called for it. "We’re also the best cuddlers," I said with a smile.

Asher pouted. "I wouldn’t know. My only family members who are omegas are my sisters, and they don’t really care to cuddle me. I’ve got some beta and some omega sisters. They would rather cuddle up with each other or with the hot alphas who just moved down the street." He laughed, imitating their girly voices.

"Are they in a Haven?" I asked.

He nodded. "They are now. They moved in when they were fifteen. They love it there. They’ve been there for several years now and are constantly messaging me about all the fun things they’re doing. Though, my elder sister Lucy, now has a family of her own, a pack of her own. I’m expecting the phone call once we are back in the city that she’s pregnant, and we’ll need to go over to her place and decorate the nursery, build all the furniture for her."

I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I listened to him talk about his family. His entire face lit up far brighter than it had been before. The love for them was so evident on his face. It reminded me of my own family.

"Anyway," he said, going back to the topic, "I think we should get you set up in the bathtub. After that, how about some buttered noodles? I’ve got the chicken cooking now."

The groan that escaped my mouth at his words was almost pornographic. "You know what? That sounds amazing. Show me to the bathroom." I smiled.

Asher pushed away from the counter and gestured for me to follow him.

I looked down at the floor with a pointed look. "I’m going to make a mess everywhere," I said. In addition to dripping all over the carpet, I was covered in mud.

Asher just shrugged. "We’ll clean it up. Unless you want me to carry you into the bathroom," he teased, waggling his eyebrows.

I shook my head. "Not today, Prince Handsome," I said, walking ahead of him, even though I had no idea where I was going.

Asher gasped. "She called me handsome!" he said in an excited tone, making me laugh.

Where on earth did this alpha come from? He was just a golden retriever who made amazing food and knew how to healpeople. Why on earth hadn’t he been snapped up by an omega long ago? What was wrong with him?

I turned to look at him, my brow furrowed.

"Say what’s on your mind," he said.

"Why hasn’t an omega snapped you up?" I asked. "There’s gotta be something wrong with you.”

Asher laughed, but this time, it was such a large belly laugh that he bent over with it. "Oh, there’s plenty wrong with me," he said. "I’m a mess. Don’t worry, you’ve got plenty of time to figure that out. Now, go have a bath," he said, pushing me in the direction of a room. "I’m going to go start cooking, and I expect to see you once you are thoroughly soaked—and far more friendlier, because everyone’s friendlier when they’re clean."

"Except Dylan," I said.

"Except Dylan," Asher agreed.

I quickly scuttled into the bathroom and closed the door, throwing Asher one more smile as he danced down the hallway.Danced,like actually shimmying his hips like a psychopath. I had lived with an actual psychopath for several years. Asher was the fun kind of psychopath, who was probably just a bit dented in the brain, in my opinion.

"Feel free to use any products you find in the bathroom," he said as he retreated, wiggling his bum at me.

"You're not winning any dance competitions!" I shouted back with a laugh.

"Taste is a matter of opinion!" he declared, turning the corner back into the kitchen and leaving me alone.

Once I was sure he was gone, I turned back to the bathroom, closing the door and locking both deadbolts. I could just reachhigh enough to lock the top one.What on earth?What was that giant Dylan thinking when he placed the deadbolt so high up? Thankfully, I wasn'ttooshort, so I could reach up and just grasp it with the tip of my fingertips.

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