Page 10 of My Knotty Mountain Men

It’s not like I’d have a lot to leave behind. I mean, I love my job, and I’d miss it, but I live in staff housing. I could stay here, start a new life with a pack. Withmypack.

I smile to myself, joy and excitement filling me at the possibility that I’ve just found everything I’ve been dreaming of for years.

The universe works in mysterious ways, that’s for sure.

“Hey,” a groggy voice makes me jump, startling me as I step outside the bathroom. “Sorry to scare you,” Nolan chuckles.

“Hey.” I give him a shy smile. I like Nolan. He’s a Beta, but he’s pack. He’s handsome, sweet, and so kind. If I join them, I’d want him too.

“How are you doing? Ready to run?” he asks, giving me a grin.

“Not yet.” I laugh.

He steps closer to me, and a wave of cinnamon bun hits me. I swallow down the moan that threatens to slip. “Good, because we would be devastated if you did.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering to touch me more. I shiver as my perfume fills the air.

Nolan doesn’t make a sound, but I see the way his nostrils flare and his jaw clenches. Betas aren’t as affected by Omegas’ pheromones as Alphas are, but sometimes it can attract them. And from the look on Nolan’s face, he likes how I smell.

“I don’t want to run. But I’m still in shock, you know? It’s all a little overwhelming. I know that this is how things tend to happen. One day, you’re just outside living your best life, and then the breeze catches a scent that changes your life for good.”

“It is a lot.” He nods. “It’s a big change for all of us. I’m sorry if the guys are intense, but like I’ve mentioned before, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” His soft smiles make my belly flutter every time.

“So have I,” I whisper, a blush taking over my cheeks. I look away. “I’m twenty-eight, and I’ve never had a heat before.”

“You haven’t?” He says it as if he understands but is also eager about the new development.

I look back at him and shake my head. “I’ve been through a lot in my life, and my doctors think I’ve been suppressing my heats because of the trauma.” I shrug. “I’ve gotten used to the idea that it may never happen. I’ve tried to find a pack, you know? But in the end, none of them were people I could see spending the rest of my life with. So, I put all of my time into work, and the years kind of just... went by.”

“We’ve been the same way. We’ve been on a few dates with some local Omegas, but none of them were the right fit. They never made it past the first date.” He chuckles. “We had a few Beta girlfriends, but again, not anyone we could see spending the rest of our lives or building a family with.”

“I’ve been on dates, but nothing more,” I admit, biting my lower lip. “I’ve never been with an Alpha before. I’ve, ahh... never really been with anyone before.”

His eyes widen. “As in... ever?” I nod, my cheeks blazing. “You’re a–”

“A twenty-eight-year-old Omega virgin who’s never had a heat, yes. I’m such a freak show I should be put in some kind of a book about anomalies,” I finish for him in a disgusted tone.

“Hey.” He cups my face, causing me to suck in a breath, my belly-warming. “Stop that. You’re not a freak. You’re Violet,ourOmega. Someone we can’t wait to get to know, to spoil, to treat like the queen you are.”

I whimper as I find myself leaning toward him. “I want that.” My eyes fill with tears.

He wraps his arms around me, and I feel safe. “You’re going to get that, Sweets. And anything else your little Omega heart desires. We’ve got you now; we’ll take care of you. Just give us a chance, okay? I know my Alphas will love you so hard. They’re a little much, but they mean well.”

I don’t know much about Thomas and Aiden, but I do like how they respond to me. My Omega side is preening at the primalness that overtakes them when it comes to me, and I want more.

“Come on. Let’s get you back to bed. We can talk more in the morning.”

“Okay.”

Nolan tucks me in and kisses my forehead, whispering a goodnight before leaving the room. I want to call him back, ask him to sleep with me instead of lying here alone.

I’ve been alone for so long, and now I have my Alphas in the next room. I hate this. I know if I go into their room and crawl into bed, they wouldn’t mind. But there’s a part of me—the logical part—that tells me they are still strangers, and I need to give it time.

I really need to find out how to shut that part of my brain off because it’s totally killing my vibe.

Chapter 6

Thomas

I’m grinning like a fool as I brush my teeth. This is crazy. There’s no way this is real.

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