Page 71 of The Knot Before Christmas

They both shoot me a glaring look. “You shut up,” Ian snaps. “You can’t say shit. You’ve been down here while we’ve been doing all of the work.”

“Not my Omega, not my problem.” I shrug.

I’m surprised when Will is the one to get in my face. “Fuck off with your bullshit. You might hate her, and I get why. You were hurt. But she’s not Raina. Bad things aren't going to happen to her.”

Raina. That name sends a shot of ice to my heart. My lip peels back into a snarl. “You can’t make promises like that. Not when you damn well know what kind of life I live.”

Ian’s face softens. “Then we take things slow. Don’t claim her until it’s safe to do so. But for now, no one is here but us. Stop treating her like shit when she doesn’t do anything to warrant it. She might like the little game you two play, just don’t take it too far. You harm her Nick, I’ll hurt you.”

The two of them zombie walk into the kitchen. I follow behind them, anger and frustration flowing through my veins. I hate this, I hate all of this.

And I hate how right he is.

There’s a lot of reasons why I don’t want an Omega right now, one being my line of work. People get hurt, used as pawns, and it doesn’t end well.

If people knew Nova was mine, what would they do to her?

I can’t even think of that right now.

Shaking my head, I go to the fridge and grab the premade sandwiches I prepped and place them on the table in front of the guys, then lean back against the counter to watch.

“Food,” Ian groans, taking a bite.

“We need to get Nova to eat something. Or at the very least drink something,” Will says around a mouthful of his own food.

Ian snorts. “Easier said than done.” He looks up at me. “You thought she was bratty before? That girl is down right stubborn when she’s in heat.”

“One thing on her mind.” Will chuckles.

Ian grins. “Well, four things really. Cocks, cum, knots, and orgasms.” He shakes his head. “As much as I love that girl, as much as it’s pure fucking ecstasy being inside her, and I’d pay a million dollars easily, just to hear her moan and see her shatter with bliss, I don’t think I can take much more,” he whines, putting his hands on his face.

Love? Is he crazy? He doesn’t even know her. It’s only been what? A week, maybe a week and a half.

How can you love someone that fast?

But that's the way of our world, isn’t it? Alphas and Omegas are just built differently. Everything is warp speed, instant.

It’s in us to want to please an Omega, to take care of them, protect them.

Add scent matches into the mix and you’re royally screwed. Another reason I resent Nova. She took that control away from me, that choice. And no, she didn’t ask for it anymore than we did, but here we are.

I always knew there could be a chance that we’d find our scent match. I just didn’t think it would be here, now.

Scent matches are rare. Some Alpha’s and Omega’s go their whole lives never meeting them.

So why now? Why us? Why her?

I must have gotten lost in my own thoughts, because when I come back to reality, my ears are met with snores.

“Fucking hell,” I sigh, shaking my head in pity at my two brothers who are sleeping. Will has his face down, forehead on top of the sandwich and Ian is leaning against his hand, with a bite of food still in his mouth.

Letting out an annoyed sigh, I grab a bottle of water and head upstairs to check on Nova.

The higher I go, the more her scent hits me.Fucking hell, she smells like sin and bad choices. Like Heaven and Hell rolled into one.

Like mine.

“Fuck.” I mutter, opening the door and finding Nova naked, sprawled out on the bed. She’s moaning, her hand working hard between her legs, searching for some relief.

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