Page 15 of Knot Made to Break: Part One

“I’m not—” The words caught as a sob clawed its way free. Tears burned hot against my lashes, blurring my vision until the world shimmered before me. “I can’t be what you need.” The sentiment was barely above a whisper, but they heard it nonetheless.

“Hey.” Dimitri’s deep baritone sliced through the haze clogging my senses, dispelling the shadows that threatened to drag me under. “Look at me, little Omega.”

Somehow, I dragged my eyes up to meet his, the simple command resonating within me and demanding my obedience without stealing my autonomy.

Beneath his steadfast appraisal, I felt utterly stripped bare. Every fear and insecurity laid raw before him.

“You areeverythingwe need, Kitania,” he murmured, daring to reach for me again. I didn’t stop him, and his hand captured mine. His thumb traced over the delicate bones of my wrist. “And we hope to be everything you need as well. We know you’ve been through hell, survived things we can’t even begin to imagine. And fuck, we would’ve given our lives to save you from having to suffer through that kind of torture and pain. It makes me see red just thinking about it.” His hold tightened fractionally before relaxing once more. “But it doesn’t change the way we see you. You’re our mate. Our Omega.” He let the weight of that statement set in before continuing, “It’s early days, and you need time to heal. There’s no rush on this. We can take our time, get to know each other. We’ll gladly spend every day for the rest of our lives proving how cherished you are, if you’ll let us.”

A cry slipped free, a haunting melody. My heart thundered against my ribs, torn between aching disbelief and a desperate yearning for his words to be true. To be enough.

Growing up as a foster kid, all I’d ever longed for was to be wanted. Loved. Chosen. Those desires hadn’t changed whenI designated as an Omega. Living at the OMA, surrounded by other Omegas who were making matches, all I hoped for was to find my pack. Then those monsters had taken, and all my hopes and dreams shriveled and died.

I may have fantasized of rescue, of Alphas who would pull me from the wreckage that my life had become and do just this—promise me the world—but fairytales weren’t real. Despite the numbness I shrouded myself in, that little voice in the back of my mind knew there was no happily ever after for me. Not afterthem.

I closed my eyes, willing the phantom feel of unwanted hands on my body away.

My scent soured, the stench of it making evenmynose wrinkle.

“Hey,” Tommas soothed. “You’re alright. You’re safe. No one can hurt you here.”

Except he was wrong. The Valentinos might not be able to physically reach me, but their impact would follow me like a shadow.

Giovanni shifted closer, the weight of his presence nearly physical. The man demanded attention just by breathing. “My brothers are right,Dolcezza,” he rumbled. “You’re ours to protect now, and no one hurts you and gets to continue living.”

“Fuck, man. You’re going to scare her,” Marco hissed, scrubbing a hand down his face, looking exasperated with his brother.

“What?” Gio shrugged. “Dimitri killed a guy in front of her, but I can’t make a tiny little threat?”

My eyes widened.

Marco tilted his head to the ceiling as though praying for patience, then leveled Giovanni with a look only a brother could perfect. “You just had to remind her of that? Don’t you think she’s traumatized enough?”

One of Gio’s eyebrows rose. “I think she’ll sleep better, knowing Antonio is no longer aproblem.”

Tommas’ gaze ping-ponged between the two of them. “The man has a point,” he told Marco.

“Ignore them,” Dimitri growled, but there was no danger behind it. “My brothers might be a bit much sometimes, but the sentiment wasn’t wrong. We protect our family, and that includes you now. If you’ll have us?”

“I-I have to decide now?” I squeaked.

But in my heart, I knew there was no other answer to give them except ‘yes.’ There was no denying their scents called to me on a soul-deep level. I just hadn’t realized how impacted I’d been by them. Past the fear and the shock of the evening—of the last eight long, brutal months—was intrigue, attraction, and a visceral reaction to their scents. I’d never experienced anything like it. I was dirty, exhausted, and scared, and yet, my body was hyperaware of the four brothers. My nipples were hard, and my core was slick and aching.

My reaction was exactly how the OMA had described meeting your scent matches, something all Omegas longed for. There was no refuting the biology of it. The only question that remained was, did I still want to find my pack?

Yes.The answer was clear and decisive amidst my roiling thoughts. I might not feel worthy, but that didn’t stop the longing in my heart for the life I’d always wanted.

Tommas flashed me a lopsided grin, the dimple in his cheek deepening as he winked at me. “There’s no reason to look so scared, Butterfly. Dimitri meant what he said earlier. We’ve got time to let this thing develop naturally. But in order for the OMA to allow you to stay with us, in order for us to keep you here and keep you safe, we need to declare our intent to court you.”

“And if you don’t?”

Tommas’ smile dimmed, but it was Dimitri who answered. “Then the OMA will force us to return you.” I could hear the tinge of ‘angry Alpha’ in his tone, like the first warning rumble of thunder. “If I’m honest, I don’t think my Alpha will allow me to let you go, knowing I wouldn’t be able to secure your safety. All I want to do—allanyof us want—is to protect you, Kitten.”

“Stay,” Giovanni half-ordered, half-pleaded, and for such a gruff man, the note of vulnerability I heard shook me to the very center of my being.

It was on the tip of my tongue to say “okay” when Marco stepped closer, peering down at me with an intensity that pinned me to my spot.

“Regardless of how it might seem, this decision is yours. The power is in your hands,” he promised. “Where it always should’ve belonged.”

---