Page 42 of The Knot Before Christmas

“Anything you want, Little Doe?”

Little Doe. Fucking hell. Even the nickname has my pussy clamping.

I look up into my Alpha’s eyes. My Alpha. Because that’s what he is, and I’m a fool to think otherwise. He looks down at me with adoration. The insecure Omega in me says it’s all an act, that he’s just playing me, but I know it’s all self-sabotage, because the way that man looks at me can’t be faked.

I’ve heard stories about how fast things can happen between Alphas and Omegas. The primal urges, the hormones, our biology all play big factors, but I’ve never experienced it for myself.

It’s not exactly like the stories I’ve been told, maybe that's because of the circumstances and how we found each other. It also doesn’t help that one of my scent matches is a raging asshole and the other one doesn’t seem to want this anymore than his brother does.

But there’s a pull between Ian and me for sure. And maybe one between Will and me. But that one I’ve been fighting, because I’m not about to make a fool of myself. It’s already going to be hard enough to feel the rejection for real when we leave this house.

So, you would think that would mean I’d do whatever I can to keep distance between Will and me, right?

Yet, when he stands up and tells us he’s going to go shovel, now that the snow has slowed a bit, while Ian makes supper, I jump to my feet and offer to help, getting a meow of protest from the kitten as I place her on the couch.

Will looks at me with a raised brow.

“Are you sure about that?”

“I need some time outside of this house.”

“It’s dark out.”

“So?” I frown. “I’m not afraid of the dark.”

He chuckles. “Good to know. But what I mean is there’s not much light outside apart from the porch light. Might make things difficult getting around.”

“If you can do it, so can I.” I place my hands on my hips, raising a brow. “Is this you telling me you don’t want me to come?”

His eyes flare, and I swear I hear him muttering something under his breath that sounds an awful lot like, “Trust me, I’d love nothing more than for you to come.” But maybe that's just my ears playing tricks on me.

He raises his hands. “You wanna come help me, by all means, little Omega, join me.”

My belly flutters at his words.

“Good. Because I was going to come even if you didn’t want me too.” I grin as I move past him to go upstairs and change into something warmer.

As I pass, this time I know for sure I hear him whisper under his breath. “Again, I want nothing more than for you to come.”

I nearly trip over my feet, head whipping around to look at him. But he’s putting on his coat and boots, not looking at me.

Ian chuckles, getting my attention. “Have fun, Little Doe.” He winks before heading into the kitchen with the kitten in his arms.

When one thinks of what it might be like to be kidnapped, I’m almost positive no one expects it to be like this. It’s almost like having roommates and hating two of the three of them.

Okay, maybe I only hate one of them. Will’s growing on me. Even though I sure as fuck don’t want him to.

Nope, Nova. We are not going to think about that right now.

Running upstairs, I quickly change into something warmer, a little too eagerly I might add. Excitement courses through my veins, but I pay that no mind, because then I’ll overthink, again.

When I make it outside, I find Will standing at the end of the stairs, two shovels in hand.

“Where did you find those?”

“In there.” He nods his head toward a building a few feet away from the house. I squint, trying to get a better look at it. He chuckles. “It's a garage.”

“Oh, right.” I nod. “This place has a lot of little buildings on the property.”

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