Page 65 of Knot Happening

“I’m here to celebrate his birthday. Not show himmybirthday suit,” I sass.

“Umhum.” I don’t love the way he smirks at me like he doesn’t believe a word I just said. But I can’t deny that I like the way he looks me up and down, as if he’s imagining what this dress might look like shoved up to my hips…

I also can’t deny that I’ve been imagining the same things, or that I picked this dress with them in mind, hoping Kodiak would love it on me. He and his brothers are a pack, and I knew I’d see them tonight, but I hadn’t connected the dots fully in my mind.

What it would mean to show up to this party, knowing how Kodiak likes me. How Declan wants me. How Hayden feels for me.

I know I want them. Just like, I know this is a terrible idea. I can’t want them. Or any Alphas. Alphas are a big no no. Yet here I am, giving into the instincts I’ve been completely out of touch with for years.

Then there’s Easton… How would I fit him into all of this? Does he even fit? How do I want him to fit? Is he a friend or something more? Could he be something more? Why do I always have so many questions?!

Declan helps me get a drink, and is about to introduce me to some of the other party guests, when Kodiak climbs onto a chair.

“All of you are friends. Some of you are mated. Some of you aren’t. But that Omega eye candy right there?” Kodiak points at me and my eyes go wider than the moon. “She’s claimed. No touching unless you want to lose your fucking hands. Look at her all you like, I understand it would be hard to resist. But never touch. And always speak to her with nothing less than respect.Friendly, but aware that you’re not getting within ten feet of being in her pants.”

“What the fuck.” I throw my free hand up, ready to run away and hide. Everyone in the room chuckles, they’re used to Kodiak by now, I’m sure. But Declan steps into my body. His front pressing into my back almost fully.

“Just so everyone is clear, he’s not talking to Hayden and me, Little Omega,” he chuckles, when my only response is to sip my beer. What do I even say to that?

There’s a woman across the room, standing with a group of men, and from here, with all the other scents in the room, I hadn’t caught hers yet. She’s an unmated Omega. My nostrils flare, and my hackles rise. Kodiak just made a public claim for me, but an unmated Omega in their home?

I swallow thickly. I’m used to unmated Omegas at work. There are a ton of them, but that’s very different. That's work. Neutral ground.

She laughs at something one of the Alpha’s says, her head tipping back, her slender throat exposed to the room. I picture myself launching my beer bottle at her head, like a hormonal little psycho Omega.

I’m going insane. I’m clenching my jaw, one hand wrapped tightly around the neck of my bottle, the other fisted at my side. I’m tense and trying to remind myself that these Alphas aren’t mine. I don’t have a claim.

I want to strangle that pretty fucking neck. I spin around, Declan watching me with an amused smirk, still standing inches from me. I press my head under his chin, inhale his scent, and then mark him. Then I mark him again for good measure.

“Is that so, Little Omega?” Declan’s voice is raspy, as he speaks only loud enough for me to hear him. “Are you making a claim on the Hayes Pack? In our home?”

“Not sharing,” is my unhinged growly reply.

I’m hopped up on hormones and instincts right now. Not acting like my normal self. And I don’t give a single shit.

Hayden walks up beside us, grabbing his own drink. He notices the claim I’ve just made and frowns. I don’t have time, though. He’s my next target. I’m in his arms and wrapped around him in a second, beer still in hand, but Declan takes it, allowing me to get a better grip on Hayden.

“Oh shit, did she get a whiff of Monica or something?” Hayden asks, and I pause. I narrow my eyes on him, upper lip lifting in a snarl.

“You know. Her. Name?” I ask slowly. His eyes go wide with panic. He said he hasn’t knotted anyone since me. Maybe he lied. Maybe she’s the one he fucked. Have Declan and Kodiak fucked her? The growl in my chest is vicious as I nuzzle my way under his chin, and scent mark the fuck out of him over and over. I’m aware that he’s walking, but it’s not until I lift my head that I notice we’re in another room.

“Jesus, what did I miss? It smells like a god-damned bakery from heaven in here,” Kodiak rumbles as a door clicks shut behind him. “I don’t like that all our friends can scent her…like this.”

I wrestle my way out of Hayden’s arms, and make my way over to Kodiak. The smirk on his face, when I leap into his waiting arms and greedy hands, is everything.

Slowly, some of the fog of crazy wears off. Still, I mark Kodiak. Three times feels like enough. I take his hand in mine and mark his wrist, though, just to be sure.

“We’ll keep her in here until she settles. And I’m not sure. She was fine, and then she was marking us. Hayden brought her in here when we realized after the fourth mark that she wasn’t done with him,” Declan says, but I’m still distracted. I give Kodiak a few sniffs, making sure he doesn’t smell like even a hitof another Omega. It would be a shame to have to rip his throat out with my teeth on his birthday.

That was fucking crazy, get your shit together.But I can’t, not until I know…

“Did you fuck her?” I growl, and Kodiak lifts a brow.

“You’ll need to be more specific, Pretty Gift. I’ve–”

My snarl cuts him off, and he chuckles, his large hands gripping my ass cheeks give a little squeeze.

“If you mean anyone at this party, no.” Kodiak watches me, his eyes locked to mine. I glare, searching his scent for a lie, but find nothing. Declan’s next.

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