Page 107 of Knot Happening

“Jeez…” I whisper, my blush heating my cheeks, even as my scent gives away my desire.

“I realized my plan was fucked up, and was going to tell you about your meds, but then you got kidnapped. Now we’re here, and I thought you deserved to know how I feel about you. How I truly feel. I don’t want to just be your friend, Tatum. If that’s what you need, I’ll take any piece of you I can get, but… I couldn’t take it if I didn’t at least tell you the truth.”

“I don’t want to just be your friend, either,” I murmur. “I don’t fuck my friends…” Easton searches my face for signs that I’m lying, and the hope in his eyes is so strong, that it seeps into my being. To the core of my soul.

“I want this pack. All of you, just as you are. But you four have to…want meandmy Omega.” I add, biting my lip. Looking away from Easton, I catch Kodiak’s eye first. He smirks.

“Oh, you thought I was going to give you up? Very cute, my Pretty Gift. Easton might be a homicidal little psycho, but he’s grown on me. After all, he’s been flirting with me for months now. Marking my things with that fucking brownie scent?” Kodiak chuckles, grabbing Easton by the hips and dragging him into his lap and away from me. I watch as the Alpha bites the Omega’s neck just enough to make East go limp in his hold, eyes falling shut, lips parting on a moan.

The scent of brownies hits us like a bomb going off, and I moan too.

“Jesus, I think he likes that,” I whisper, making the others growl.

“I would bond Santa Claus if it would make you happy, Starlight,” Hayden murmurs in my ear, but I know Easton hears, because his eyes pop open. Kodiak releases him from his teeth, but keeps him pinned in his lap. “But… I happen to like Homicide, as I like to call him. Suits him better than Easton,” Hayden teases, and East flips him off.

I have to turn around when Declan is quiet for too long. Sitting on the chair adjacent to the love seat, he leans forward looking lost. The second I lay my eyes on him, my heart pinches. I let my instincts guide me into his arms, and I straddle his hips, taking his face in my hands, and making him look at me.

“What's wrong?” The purr I release to soothe him comes so naturally to me now. The suppressants I took for three years messed with my system so badly, I was basically a Beta. Fuck, I missed this part of myself. The caring. The compassion. The…love.

“I’m not… I think you deserve better than me. I feel like I haven’t proven myself worthy of you. I haven’t offered you what you deserve…” He holds my gaze for a long moment, his blue eyes searching my face.

“What have I offered you?” I whisper. The truth is, I don’t deserve them. “You gave me a job. Took over paying for my mom’s care. You ate me out onyourbirthday…and in return, I ran for the hills.” I shake my head, sniffling as I drop my hands to my lap, and lean back. I can’t look at him.

“No. No, don’t devalue yourself like that. You made me feel…” Declan grips my chin, tilting my head up until I have no choice but to meet his eyes, “alive.”

Without another word, I’m lifted off the couch in his arms, his grip sure. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hang on as he starts moving through the mansion. With ease, he jogs up thestairs. We turn a corner, away from their bedrooms, and down a short hall leading to one room. He stops there, hand on the knob.

“You made me feel like everything I’ve ever done actually meant something. That being an Alpha means something. I want to be your Alpha, Tatum. I want to be the best fucking Alpha any Omega has ever had because of you. For you.” Declan’s words flood my heart with joy, and I have to hold back the happy tears.

Could this end in pain? Yes…but what did Dream tell me that night? Something like not to miss out on happiness today, hiding from the pain of tomorrow.

Declan opens the door, but rather than leading me inside, he lowers me to my feet.

“Close your eyes,” he whispers, his brothers and Easton joining us in the hall. Easton is looking into the room behind me, but I can’t tell if he’s nervous, or just tired from the last ten hours with me…

“Never had a nest,” he murmurs, but before I can ask him the questions flooding my mind, I’m spun around and hands are over my eyes in a flash.

“We…well, we spent the night moving your stuff. When you got here, we had been at your apartment, grabbing the last of the things from your mother’s room. But the first thing we did was fill this room.” Declan whispers into my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

“We’ve been filling it since my birthday,” Kodiak adds cheerfully.

“I’ve been collecting items for three years, actually…” Hayden grumbles, and I can’t help but smile.

I don’t think I’ll ever forgive his mother for the three years we lost. Or myself. But I also can’t hate her. There are pieces missing. Like why Kodiak killed his father, but if he doesn’tregret it, when he was only a kid… Well, that says a lot, doesn’t it? I can guess, after what Hayden told me she accused him of…

“I’m ready,” I whisper, sure that I know exactly what this room is now.

Declan leads me a few steps forward and then releases me. I keep my eyes closed, breathing in the scents.

Sea salt and lavender, for Hayden. Vetiver, for Declan. Bergamot and sandalwood, for Kodiak. And brownies… They even brought Easton’s scent from my nest… I don’t know why, but that, above the other wonderful things, makes me cry.

They recognized his scent, knew he was the one trying to hurt them, but because his scent was in my nest, they brought it to me…

Finally, I open my eyes.

Chapter Forty-One

Tatum

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