Page 28 of Knot Happening

I was so focused on my destination that I didn't notice the two figures emerging from the shadows until it was too late.They converged on me with an unsettling combination of gentleness and urgency, their hands gripping my arms to steady me.

"Easy, sweetheart," one of them murmured, his voice a deep rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.My eyes darted to the other, and I recognized him instantly.Jin.

My heart pounded in my chest as they removed my mask, the fabric sliding away to reveal my identity.The moment their scents hit me, a tidal wave of recognition washed over me.The heady aroma of cedarwood and spice mingled with the rich notes of bourbon and cedar, igniting something primal within me.

I stumbled backward, my eyes wide with shock."You—" My voice was a whisper of disbelief as I looked from one man to the other."You're my...my scent matches?"

The rugged man with long, dark hair, nodded, his hazel eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that took my breath away."I'm Axel," he said, his voice soothing the jagged edges of my panic.

My mind reeled with the implications.These men, these virtual strangers, were bound to me by fate, or biology, or whatever force governed the world of omegas and alphas.And yet, they were not just any strangers—they were members of a motorcycle club and, in Jin's case, a stalker who had watched me for gods know how long.

The relief that came with finding my scent matches was tainted by the uneasy realization that I was trading one set of complications for another.How could I trust these men, especially when their lives were so entwined with the dangerous worlds they inhabited?

But as my heat drew closer, instinct took precedence over reason.They were my scent matches, and that bond was undeniable, a beacon in the chaos that had become my life.

"I...I need to get to a safe house," I stammered, my voice barely louder than a whisper."The Omega Underground—they gave me the address."

Axel's grip on my arm softened, his touch a strange comfort amidst the uncertainty."We'll take you there," he assured me, his tone leaving no room for argument."You're safe with us."

Jin, who had been silent until now, nodded in agreement, his dark eyes never leaving my face."We won't let anyone harm you, Darcy."

I swallowed hard, the weight of my situation pressing down on me.Trusting them went against every self-preservation instinct I had, but the pull of our scent match was impossible to ignore.With a resigned nod, I allowed them to guide me through the city, their presence a shield against the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

As we made our way to the safe house, the first tendrils of heat began to unfurl within me, a relentless reminder of the trial that lay ahead.I could only hope that the sanctuary awaiting us would provide the solace I so desperately needed—and that these two alphas would prove to be the allies I required, not just by fate's decree, but by choice.

thirty-one

DARCY

The first waveof heat hit me like a freight train, a tsunami of need that crashed into me without warning.One moment, I was walking beside Axel, the rhythmic sound of Jin's footsteps echoing behind us, and the next, I was doubled over on the sidewalk, the world around me blurring into a haze of pain and desire.

A whine escaped my lips, the sound high-pitched and needy, betraying the feral creature my heat was turning me into.My body ached for release, the cramps twisting my insides into knots that only an alpha's knot could unravel.

"Axel," I gasped, my voice barely recognizable to my own ears."Please."

He didn't need any further prompting.With a gentleness that belied his size, he scooped me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest.I clung to him, my fingers scrabbling at the fabric of his shirt, seeking the warmth of his skin.

The scent of my slick filled the air, a potent mix of coconut and vanilla that mingled with the cedarwood and spice of Axel's natural aroma.The barriers I had so carefully put in place were utterly useless now, soaked through by the relentless tide of my heat.

I found myself nuzzling into the crook of Axel's neck, my lips brushing against the rough stubble of his jawline.I kissed him, my mouth moving of its own accord, driven by a need that was as primal as it was undeniable.

When my tongue flicked out to taste the salty tang of his skin, I discovered the warm, metallic flavor of blood.Without thinking, I began to lick at the wound on his shoulder, the taste of him grounding me even as my heat spiraled out of control, ignoring his answering hiss.

By the time we reached the safe house, my slick had left a trail on the concrete, a glistening testament to the intensity of my need.Axel shouldered the door open, and we tumbled inside, the door slamming shut behind us with a finality that echoed in the silence.

I was dimly aware of Jin moving around us, his presence a comforting backdrop to the storm raging within me.But it was Axel who consumed my senses, his scent, his warmth, his very presence as an anchor in the tumultuous sea of my heat.

I pulled him into a kiss, our lips crashing together with a desperation that spoke volumes.His tongue tangled with mine, the taste of him igniting a fire that threatened to burn me from the inside out.

Suddenly, Jin was there, his fingers gripping my chin as he tore my face away from Axel's.His eyes bored into mine, the bourbon and cedar scent of him cutting through the fog of my heat.

"Darcy," he said, his voice firm yet gentle."Can we take care of you?Is there anything you don't want to do?"

I blinked up at him, my thoughts scattered by the intensity of my heat.But in that moment, I knew one thing with absolute certainty: I trusted these men, my scent matches, to see me through this.

I nodded, the motion jerky and uncoordinated."Anything," I whispered, my voice raw with need."There's nothing I don't want to do...with you."

Jin's expression softened, a flicker of relief passing over his features.He released my chin, and I turned back to Axel, my body moving of its own accord, drawn to the promise of relief that only he could provide.

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