Page 30 of Knot Happening

thirty-two

PIETRO

The screen flickeredwith a grainy image of our omega, her face drawn and eyes wide with fear.I traced the line of her jaw with my gaze, a possessive growl rumbling in my chest.The city's labyrinth of CCTV cameras had finally yielded a clue to her whereabouts, leading us to a nondescript safe house in one of the city's quieter boroughs.My connections had been invaluable, but it was the primal pull of our scent match that truly guided me.

I turned to Vasili, one of the few men I trusted implicitly."Watch over her," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within."Let no one past these walls.You have my blessing to use lethal force if necessary."

Vasili nodded, his face a mask of determination."She will be safe, boss.I swear it on my life."

Harlen's gloved hand closed around the lockpick, his movements precise and unhurried.The door swung open, revealing a dimly lit hallway that pulsed with the intoxicating scent of coconut and vanilla.My breath hitched as the full force of the scent of her heat washed over me.

I clenched my fists, feeling the beast within stir with a desperate need to claim, to rut."Ty che, suka?"I muttered under my breath, a Russian curse slipping out as I fought for control.

Harlen's dark gaze met mine, a silent understanding passing between us.

"We need to ground ourselves," Harlen said, his voice barely above a whisper."Can't lose it now, not when we're so close."

I nodded, inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling slowly through my mouth.The scent of dark chocolate and coffee—my scent—mingled with the sweet notes of coconut and vanilla, creating a heady aroma that was uniquely Darcy.It was a scent I would spill blood to protect.

"Da, you're right," I agreed, switching to English for Harlen's sake."We need to be strong for her.She's scared and in heat."

The creak of the front door echoed through the safe house like a gunshot in the stillness of the night.I exchanged a glance with Harlen, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.We had come too far, risked too much, to let anything jeopardize Darcy's safety now.

I motioned for Harlen to stay behind me as we moved silently down the hallway, our footsteps muffled by the worn carpet.The scent of a stranger—a male, an alpha—hung heavy in the air, a challenge that set my teeth on edge.

The door to the living room was slightly ajar, and I could make out the silhouette of a man standing with his back to us.My hand instinctively reached for the gun holstered at my side, ready to protect what was mine.

With a swift kick, I pushed the door open, the metallic taste of impending violence coating my tongue."Who the fuck are you?"I demanded, my accent thickening with the surge of adrenaline.

The stranger turned, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of us.He was tall, lean, with an air of quiet danger that seemed to fill the room."I could ask you the same thing," he retorted, his voice steady despite the standoff.

Neither of us moved, the air crackling with unspoken threats.And then, almost imperceptibly, the stranger's posture relaxed as he took a deep breath.A chuckle escaped his lips, a sound so unexpected that it momentarily disarmed me.

"Well, isn't this a twist of fate," he said, a smirk playing on his lips."Seems like we're all scent compatible with each other."

The realization hit me hard, leaving me reeling.The sweet, heady aroma that had been driving me insane, pushing me to the brink of my control, was laced with something else—something dark and rich, like bourbon and cedar.

Harlen stiffened beside me, his own recognition dawning."Son of a bitch," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

The stranger—Jin, I presumed—looked between us, his smirk growing wider."Didn't see that coming, did you?"

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over us like a shroud.The implications were staggering.Darcy, our omega, was bound to all three of us by the same primal connection.It was a tie that transcended logic, a bond that demanded recognition.

"We all want to protect her," Jin continued, his voice laced with an earnestness that took me by surprise."I've been watching over her for years, keeping her safe from the shadows."

I studied him for a long moment, trying to reconcile the image of this stranger with the reality of our shared bond.Trust didn't come easily to me, especially in a world where betrayal could come from even the most unexpected of places.

"We need to work together," Jin said, breaking the silence."For Darcy's sake."

Harlen stepped forward, his eyes reflecting the same conflict I felt."And how do we know we can trust you?"he asked, his voice cool and measured.

Jin's gaze was steady, his resolve clear."You don't," he admitted."But I'm willing to take that risk if it means keeping her safe.Aren't you?"

The challenge hung in the air, a gauntlet thrown down between three alphas who were now inexorably linked by fate.It was a tenuous alliance at best, fraught with potential for conflict and chaos.

But as the scent of our omega grew stronger, the choice became clear.We would have to set aside our suspicions and work together, for Darcy's sake.The alternative was unthinkable.

"Fine," I said, my voice carrying the weight of my decision."We'll work together—for now.But make no mistake, if you betray us, if you harm her in any way..."

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