Page 11 of Knot Dead Yet

“Her sister Serena is somewhere in the house too. Likely spooked by all the noise.”

Kienna continued to pet the cat, swallowing hard a few times, and then said, “I’m sorry I flipped you out there. I hope you’re not hurt.”

I’d totally forgotten she did that already. My teammates checked me harder in practice games. Being the fastest in the pack, I got to her first, and I totally deserved the flip. “It’s us who need to apologize to you. You were just defending yourself. We never meant to scare you.”

“I know,” she sighed and laid her cheek against Molly’s head. The cat was eating up the attention. “I hadn’t planned to run, but… just…”

I nodded. “I get it. We can be a lot, and then add on top of it that you’re an Omega and there’s the Alphas who…” I shouldn’t even get into it, but I needed to know how shefelt about it. “I realize that only makes it scarier for you to suddenly find yourself surrounded by three compatible Alphas. They aren’t normally like that. They’re awesome guys. Not only are they part of my team, but we’re a pack.” No, I shouldn’t be going on about my pack. The main concern here was her. “What’s more important right now is how you’re doing. How are you feeling? What can we do for you?”

“I don’t know. I’m feeling everything, a big stinking mess of stuff. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. None of it.” Kienna leaned back with a small groan. “I should be on my way to Fargo preparing to get on a flight to go see my bestie. Really, I should have been in Ireland, but my dad had to go buy a stupid hockey team. Sorry. I’m sure the team is great.” I dipped my head at her, taking no offense. “Now I’m sitting in a bathtub in a house in the middle of nowhere with a cat as big as a lion and a pack keeping me hostage.”

“You’re not a hostage.” I hoped she really didn’t feel that way. “You can leave at any time.”

Kienna raised her brows and glanced at the window. Maddox’s big shadow loomed outside.

Yeah, she had a point. “We will take you where you want to go to make sure you get there safely.” As she opened her mouth, I held up a hand. “No, we can’t take you south. We do have a practice early in the morning that we have to be at, but anywhere in Winnipeg. You must have a hotel where you were staying.”

She huffs. “I’m not going back.”

“But your father—”

“My dad can stuff it,” she growled through gritted teeth.

I tensed, sitting on the edge of the tub. My hands clenched into fists as a surge of fury lit through me. I barely knew Birk or what he was like. What if he... Oh fuck. Was this why she was without a chaperon and running for the border?“Did he hurt you? If he did anything, we’ll protect you. No one will ever harm you again.”

“No.” Kienna held up a hand to calm me and bent forward to place it on my knee. “It’s okay. Your worry is very sweet. My dad isn’t like that. He’s a good guy. Concerned with business and now his hockey team, but he rarely even raises his voice at me. And let me tell you, I’ve given him plenty of reasons to do so over the years.”

I released a long breath and shook out my hands as if that could fling off my sudden anger. I’d been ready to go to war for this Omega. I’d like to think I would do so for any female in trouble, but Kienna had me hooked somehow.

“He barely even knows I’m there.” She sighed and sat back, continuing to pet Molly. The cat reached out a paw and tapped my hand to get me to pet her too.

“I’m sure that’s not true.” How could anyone ignore this vibrant beauty?

“Oh, it is. I was stuck in my hotel room for three days because he was busy. I hate being stashed away like that, like I’m some fragile thing that will break if I’m let around other people.” Kienna huffed.

I gave a little laugh. “Oh man, you’re totally not fragile. My back can attest to that.”

This earned me a smile, and I was suddenly glad she flipped me now. I needed to see her smile more. I wanted to hear her laugh.

“I’m so sorry about that,” she apologized again, but there was still an amused glint in her eyes. “I’m just glad I remembered the basic self defense one of my friends taught me. No way would they teach Omegas that at St. Anne’s, but I think Omegas need to learn to defend themselves the same as any other woman.”

“I completely agree. I could teach you some aikido moves, if you’d like.”

“Yes, I’d love that.” She blinked. “Like right now?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “No, not now. Bathrooms are horrible places to practice.” I glanced at the door. “We should probably leave the bathroom anyway. Everyone is waiting for us. They’ll keep their distance if you want them to, but… It’s going to be hard on the guys. I’ve never seen them react to an Omega like this.” I’d never been this attracted to a woman either, but I didn’t have Alpha hormones making me crazy. It was just this beautiful woman with the mightiest fire in her. “Are you okay to do that now?”

Kienna nipped her lower lip, hugging Molly closer to her. “I guess now or later, it’s not going to matter. But,” her cheeks flushed nearly as bright as her hair. “Do you think I could borrow a pair of pants from someone?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll go get those and bring them right back to you.” I hopped up and went to the door.

“Alderic,” her sweet voice stopped me, and I turned around. Oh that incredible smile. “Thank you for coming to talk to me.”

Warmth spread through me. “You’re welcome. I’ll be right back.”

I exited the bathroom and headed to the kitchen to ask Tiergan to get one of his sister’s old pair of pants. His sister was in Ontario going to university, but she had to still have clothes at the house.

Kienna was a girl that I could easily fall for. She was beautiful, wild, and took no shit from anyone. Most people would say I didn’t stand a chance. Omegas only ever wanted an Alpha, and Betas got friend-zoned. Sure, they had that whole Alpha-Omega pheromone thing going for them, but Betas could make excellent mates too.

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