Page 23 of The Knot Before Christmas

“Fuck yeah, I do,” he says. “I can’t explain it, but the idea of not having her in my life feels like I’m being suffocated. I want to get to know everything about her. To spoil her, give her the world. To show her that just because the people in her life failed her doesn’t mean I will. She was given to us for a reason, Will. I’m not just going to let her go.”

“What if Nick doesn’t want her.”

“Do you?”

I don’t say anything. Because I’m not sure. Yes, I want her, but I also don’t because this wasn’t in the plan. This is too much of a change. This sends our plans way off course.

I need out from under my father’s thumb. I don’t want to take his place in the family, neither does Nick, and Ian sure as hell doesn’t.

An Omega is someone else to worry about, to factor into every job, our lifestyle. It’s a distraction Nick doesn’t want.

“Would you leave the pack if we chose not to take her with us?”

“Yes,” he replies without hesitation. I’m not surprised. Ian is the softest one of us all. Don’t get me wrong, he can handle his own, knows the business well, and has killed his fair share of men.

But he’s also a kind soul, a hopeless romantic, and has been dreaming of an Omega of his own for years now. I should have known the moment we found out Nova was our scent match, he wasn’t going to let her go.

I nod, my eyes fixating on Nova. She’s clinging to Ian, a small whimper leaving her parted lips. My body urges me to check on her, to make sure she’s okay.

But Ian holds her closer, causing a little content sigh to leave her lips, and it sparks jealousy within me.

“We’re stuck here for a while. Nick said our guy isn’t coming for the shipment. We need to bring it to him. Too many eyes.”

“I expected as much.”

“But we have food and everything else we’re going to need,” I tell him.

“Did he get Nova the suppressants and scent blocking pads? I tried to call him, but he didn’t pick up. It said the text went through, though.”

“I didn’t see any when I was unloading things. I’ll ask him about it tomorrow. But I do have her bag. It’s in the living room.”

“I’m sure she would be happy to have it. Although I do like her in my clothes.” He chuckles. “Makes her feel like she’s mine.”

He’s happy. He’s already head over heels for the Omega. Nick isn’t going to be happy with this outcome.

But for now, I guess we just take it day by day, learn to live with one another and deal with what hits us as it comes. The rest can wait until it’s time to deal with it.

“I’m heading to bed. Are you staying here?”

“Yeah. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

As I shut the door and head back to my room, I get the same feeling—like I’d rather be back in that room, in Nova’s bed with her.

I’m going to have to avoid her as much as I can, let Ian be the one to deal with her. If not, I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be able to deny this bond between us.

I’m fucking screwed.

Chapter 7

Nova

My heavy lidded eyes blink open. My body feels worn out and tired, my belly cramping. There's a wetness between my thighs. It’s slick. So much slick.

Rubbing my thighs together, I moan, my swollen clit aching to be touched.

Maple syrup cloaks me like a warm hug. Groaning, I roll over to see that Ian’s sleeping next to me in the bed.

My body stiffens as I blink at his sleeping form. He’s on his back, arm draped over his face.

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